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+--- Thread: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums (/showthread.php?tid=6394)
Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - cynmkolohe - 11-02-2009
Hi all,
I'm starting this topic hoping that the focus of the thread "Crime in Fern Acres" can be more useful to DMarie, who asked the original question.
The original question about Fern Acres was asked in another forum where there are very few participants who actually LIVE in Puna. As I often do, I sent a private message through that forum to someone interested specifically in the Puna district to direct them to PunaWeb. There is a wealth of information here that can benefit those searching for various perspectives. (However, every time I send someone here, I now preface it with a disclaimer--letting them know that this forum can be a little more rough-and-tumble than others that are more highly regulated. There is value in that too, in my opinion.)
There is a fine line that we agents must walk when commenting on specific neighborhoods or geographic areas--especially in writing. Facts are facts and are permissible. Judgments that smack of "steering" or violate certain ethical boundaries are, of course, not appropriate. Sometimes the lines get really blurred, especially when an agent feels he/she is 'known' in the forum and relaxes into short answers or casual banter. The intent of a particular comment may not have been malicious, but the message can be lost through the communication channel.
I read PunaWeb often, but participate as a Realtor only when I feel I have something clearly relevant to contribute to a particular question. In those cases, I use my signature because I am required to do so by my company. (That policy is in place to ensure that readers can easily find my license number if there is a problem.) I've also asked questions here for my own benefit and gotten good information from the gardening forum (and I've sold a bed to a couple in Black Sands through the Classifieds).
Everyone is entitled to an opinion about Realtors/real estate agents, but for the sake of new members (some of whom I've sent this way), I do hope that the "real estate" debate can take place on threads separate from requests for information. It would be sad to lose potential future community members from this forum because they get overwhelmed by on-going debates between long-time members after just one post....
Cynthia Hoskins, R(S)
http://twitter.com/Cynthia_Hoskins
Clark Realty Corporation-Hilo
http://www.clarkhawaii.com/
RE: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - EightFingers - 11-02-2009
So......real estate agents should not express an opinion (good or bad) on a forum under any circumstances even if they state it is solely their opinion? Ie: It's rainy in Fern Acres of the coqui are bad in the middle of HPP, etc....is forbidden?
I assume it is up to the potential buyer to surmise all this under "due diligence".
If I asked my agent something on the order of, "What do you think about this?" and they clam up, my first thought is he is hiding potential problem(s).
Just wondering....it sure opens up a whole new world of "buyer better do his own homework".
RE: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - cynmkolohe - 11-02-2009
Not at all what I'm trying to say...
It's more about providing context to comments in written form online and being cautious about strong personal commentary that can be perceived as "steering." What is posted in an online forum is subject to misinterpretation, so giving context to an answer helps avoid misunderstandings (even months or years down the road when someone searches an archived answer).
Regarding the things you listed, most agents I know detail all that with buyer clients. And advise Sellers not to try to hide them. Most Realtors/real estate agents I work with advocate disclosure. It protects everyone in the long run.
Cynthia Hoskins, R(S)
http://twitter.com/Cynthia_Hoskins
Clark Realty Corporation-Hilo
http://www.clarkhawaii.com/
RE: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - missydog1 - 11-02-2009
I would just like to say that John's comment was very clearly banter. I mean, he put three
indicators that it was banter. I think it's a fair point that erasing the sigline info makes it all the more clear, but John always posts his sigline identifying himself, just as some others always post the blog link or sigline saying. I did not think it was a big deal, and I did not understand why all the fuss was necessary.
btw, it is typical of John that when someone asks for an evaluation of a neighborhood and he has a serious professional opinion to offer, he says "PM me" rather than posting it. I have noticed that numerous times.
RE: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - asly - 11-02-2009
I second what Kathy is saying. I took John's comment as friendly banter myself.
RE: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - DickWilson - 11-02-2009
Hear, hear, lighten up and get off John's ass. It was a joke people, take it that way. If you don't see that, there's not much hope forya.
dick wilson
"Nothing is idiot proof,because idiots are so ingenious!"
RE: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - John S. Rabi - 11-02-2009
There is a better joke to follow, Bullwinkle is filing a complaint against me as we "speak." Now, that really is not a joke! [:0][:0][:0] I guess see you in court.
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,PB,ABR,CRB,CM,FHS
808.327.3185
johnrabi@johnrabi.com
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"
RE: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - DickWilson - 11-02-2009
So John, how did you pee in his cheerio's? Guess if he has money to throw away on some stupid ass complaint, maybe he could put it to better use, like buying a sense of humor. Thought also occurs that if he really goes forward with this idiocy, a print-out of this thread should establish that no one else thought there was anything but humor in your post.
dick wilson
"Nothing is idiot proof,because idiots are so ingenious!"
RE: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - TheodoreJay - 11-02-2009
The reaction to John's comment was overkill.....obviously he doesn't like all the rain on the east side but the obvious
was a clue he was just making a humorous comment. Don't know how you could twist that into a complaint of any real substance.
RE: Realtors/Real Estate Agents in online forums - holahan - 11-02-2009
i can't recall john ever representing himself as anything BUT professional, friendly or helpful on this forum. his attention to this forum and to this "side of the island," in regards to answering user's questions regarding real estate and more should be applauded.
cynthia, you take exception to his "in jest," comment regarding rain in fern acres yet you respond similarly about "feisty," participants several posts later. all of it seems in fun and with aloha, including your reply.
a formal complaint? [V]
smile everyone, this is the LEAST of our worries right now...