The Consulting Times

It's no secret, we live in the world of "big box" alternatives.  More and more, the businesses we've relied on for products and services are being replaced by the super marts with larger inventories and smaller prices.  This is the age of the "deal".  So when we're embarking upon  a real estate transaction, the notion of shopping for real estate services that let us keep more of our hard earned dollars is certainly tantalizing!  But, as Mom used to tell me, all that glitters is not gold!

Last summer, my daughter had a very interesting experience, and the more I thought about it, the more I recognized how strong the analogy was between her decisions (and their subsequent consequences) and those made every single day by prospective buyers and sellers of real estate.  Let me explain.  Shannon is a very independent, self sufficient young lady.  She has a job that she loves, writing and editing for her local online newspaper.  Last year, as one of her work assignments, she trained for and participated in a local marathon race.  Right from the start, she knew she had to replace her running shoes...they were old, and worn, and simply not up to the task ahead.  Now, I will say that was not an easy decision for her.  She's frugal.  She watches her budget.  And she doesn't replace things just willy nilly.  So when she said she needed new running shoes, I knew for a fact she NEEDED new running shoes

In a recent article in Inman News: Mortgage bankers oppose workouts for bankrupt homeowners, Matt Carter reports that legislation that would allow judges to modify the mortgage loans of troubled borrowers who file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection would increase the interest rate on loans with small down payments by up to 2 percent, according to testimony by the Mortgage Bankers Association at a hearing on HR 3609, the Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007.

In a recent article, the founder of a leading online real estate referral site, tried to make the case to beleaguered real estate agents that buying leads is good for their business and intimated that failure to buy these leads from third party companies (such as theirs) is to miss out on business.

First, let's start with the basic premise - I agree with them that there is a cost to agents of obtaining business. Whether they do old-fashioned farming, mailings, phone calls, or put your resources into your client base and get your business from referrals, business has to come from somewhere and it has a monetary cost.

Every seller is a "For Sale by Owner." Every buyer is a "do it yourselfer." It is simply a matter of how much of the work in a real estate transaction is contracted to a real estate professional. From none to the entire transaction. Or in industry speak, from the stereotypical FSBO for a seller to a "full service" listing.

I recently had time to surf around the Internet and came upon this terrific article regarding the top five real estate myths, that even some agents believe, from a well respected real estate publisher and investor, as well as a friend of mine, Rennie Gabriel of Gabriel Publications.

This article originated from Parade Magazine, an insert into many major newspapers. Rennie's comments are in response to the misinformation that abounds in that article, which, for the most part, I wholeheartedly agree with him on.

A couple of days ago in an article for Inman News entitled "Realtor® Ranks Swell but their Pocketbooks Don't", Glen Roberts reported what we agents already knew: that despite the huge increase in housing prices over the last ten years with the accompanying public perception that agents are making gobs of money, the truth is quite different.

In actuality, Realtor®'s median income was down 3.2% in 2006 compared to 2004, while their 2004 median income had dropped 5.6% from 2002. Roberts quoted Chang-Tai Hsieh, an associate professor of economics at University of California, Berkeley, who said that the median-income drop for Realtors®

"is clearly driven by the fact that there has been excessive entry in the last two years. You would expect to see some exit in the near future, but as soon as housing prices pick up we're going to see more entry and then that's going to drive down (income)."

WHY CAN'T THE CONSUMER HAVE BOTH?

In a recent article in RIS Magazine, Brian Buffini, founder and chairman of Buffini & Company made a very interesting observation: despite the fact that 80-90% of real estate buyers start their home search online, how many, when browsing homes online and finding one that they like, would actually go to the next step and click "Add to Shopping Cart?"

The papers and newsmagazines have been filled of late with articles about the crisis in Sub-Prime loans issued over the last few years. Seems as though many buyers took out loans that they clearly should not have: loans that sucked them in with a great interest rate for the first year or so and then boom! A monthly payment that doubled or worse and sending many new homeowners into forclosure and financial ruin.

In real estate, quality is essential for keeping the most money in your pocket when you ultimately close. But should that mean that you are locked into paying by commission in order to get that quality? I believe the answer should be no.

Of course, after you have explored and weighed different options, based on your individual needs and comfort level, you may find, as many consumers do, that a traditional commission is the best choice for you. And that's perfectly fine. But you should make that choice because it's the BEST option, not because it's the ONLY option.

One of my goals in writing my book "Ripping the Roof off Real Estate" as well as in developing the Accredited Consultant in Real Estate (ACRE)™ course for agents is to see the real estate industry evolve similarly to how the financial industry did 20 years ago.

This past Sunday, the cover article of Parade Magazine was entitled "Do You Have a Better Idea?"  The article talked about how solving problems can be accomplished by simply looking at the issue at hand and "thinking out of the box". From the "Forever Postage Stamp" to increasing the supply of organ donors, the article offered many examples of how we can devise simple solutions to big problems by simply borrowing an idea from another country, industry, or context and applying it to a problem.

A similar point was made by my colleague and friend, Ken Deshaies, in the foreword of my new book "Ripping the Roof off Real Estate". Ken noted that the authors of the book "Blue Ocean Strategy" described how major business successes over time have come from innovative business leaders re-imagining the business at hand.

Property and homes are commodities, pure and simple. High demand and low supply drives prices higher and the asset becomes more liquid (easier to sell). Low demand and high supply drive prices lower and assets become less liquid (harder to sell). Market value is ultimately determined by what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller willing to take. I hear the following statements from consumers: Well, I can't sell for less than my tax assessment! My home is worth at least my appraised value! My neighbor said... My Mom told me... The one down the street sold for...and my home is better... Zillow says...