Where would you tell a friend to live?

[Devany]

It also helps to have a realtor with an MBA, one who really understands business, contracts, negotiating, liability etc. But like Kathy says, with island properties (as in many areas of business here)much of it is about networking, who you know and establishing relationships.

An agent who has time for you, who makes time for you, who really cares about your best interests, not just a commission is vastly important. When we started our home search I contacted over 5 agents who never responded to us. This was only 18 months ago, so you cannot blame it on a Bull Market. Finally through a good friend, we were connected with one of the best brokers we have ever dealt with on any of many transactions on the mainland. He spent many 12 hour days with us over the course of our three buying trips here.

A realtor here also needs to go the extra mile if the client is off island. Inspections and repairs all have to be supervised by the agent. Our broker even took us around to the utility companies to get service established the day we closed escrow. He received 20 large boxes at his office because there was nobody at the house to receive them. He then drove them over to the house for us so that basic living essentials would be at our house when we arrived. He had the house professionally cleaned (on his dime) before we arrived since it had been empty for two months. he met the exterminator there for the monthly treatments. He stopped at the house every few days to make sure everything was OK. After a storm he repaired a gutter that came loose and picked up fallen branches. He lined us up with contractors and over saw the work being done while we were still on the mainland. He also worked with our landscape maintenance company to be sure all work was being done properly. He met us at the airport with leis and drove us to get our autos at the port. He helped us with referrals for everything from insurance agents to dentists. That is what a good agent can do for you. I have friends who moved here and got NO HELP whatsoever from their agents. Not even a thank you gift. Our broker gave us a multitude of fruit trees and exotic spice trees/vines and had them professionally planted as a housewarming gift. And he took us and the sellers to a celebration dinner at the Yacht Club. What that broker did for us was crucial in the ease of our acclimation to the island. A realtor that stays with you after his check has been cashed is someone that you will use for life. Someone who does not garner your respect on the other hand will be replaced, just as Kathy did with her several agents.

Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com

[Bullwinkle]

All true

But as long as the agent works for a commission, The buyer should always be aware the agent has a dog in the fight. Because of the commission structure There is a conflict of interest built in to the transaction. That is why in my opinion the whole real estate transfer system as it exists smells of fish.

The MLS and online services like zillow and trulia will eventually replace the traditional agency system because of this built in flaw in my opinion

[Blakeyboy1]

<Blake is just reading and absorbing but not contributing to the topic at the moment>



-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/

[John S. Rabi]

quote:

---

Originally posted by KathyH
...So I think it is not right to say that having CRS puts you in the top 5% in US...

---

Kathy, I think what Jeff meant was that only 5% of the real estate agents have earned the CRS designation. (I believe there are only about 10,000 who earned the CRB designation.) It takes five years to complete the classes required for these designations and most of those classes are held on the mainland, so we didn't just have to pay for the classes, we paid for the airfare, hotel, etc., too.

Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,PB,ABR,CRB,CM,FHS
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"

[Bullwinkle]

As to designations ... who awards them? ... independent academic institutions (universities etc) or real estate professional organizations - not a flame attempt just curious


aloha

[Punatick]

John....you are absolutely right. I wish more consumers understood that the CRS and CRB are not easy to get and require a huge commitment form the practitioner and a substantial amount of transactions under their belt before they even qualify to apply for the designations. My simple point is: that the odds are better in finding a competent Realtor if you start with the CRS site. Much better than the odds of working with the 66% of the Realtors in the USA that have never actually completed a transaction. Not slighting anyone, as some of the agents mentioned above are ones that I would list my home with, regardless of the designation. Jeff

[Bullwinkle]

http://www.crs.com/


"Reasons to Join
How can you get the edge over your competitors?

By joining the Council of Residential Specialists, you will reach a higher level of success.

Here's why REALTORS® want to belong to the Council of Residential Specialists.

Education.
CRS members can take CRS Courses throughout the U.S. and abroad that result in the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation — the most rigorous and professional residential designation available to REALTORS®.

Referrals.
CRS members can profit from a dynamic, international qualified referral network of over 45,000 members. Networking is available locally through the Council's Chapters and CRS Courses, nationally through events such as the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Convention, Sell-a-bration®, the Council's annual educational conference, and the Professional Accelerated Career Track educational programs, and internationally through the Council's electronic and print directories. Some members attribute up to 75 percent of their income from CRS agent-to-agent referrals

Knowledge.
CRS members receive The Residential Specialist magazine six times a year, which is written for you, the residential specialist, who primarily sells residential real estate. The magazine provides the information and tools you need to be successful in selling residential real estate. You'll find timely, practical and fun-to-read information on how to be a better residential sales agent. You'll read about models of success, including top performing agents, who offer you their insights on the profession and how to succeed. In addition, you can buy selling and listing tools through books, audio and video tapes written by the leaders of the profession at a discount through the CRS Online Store.

Experience.
CRS members comprise just 4 percent of all REALTORS®. CRS Designees earn an average of $110,000 annually and nearly three times as much as the $37,300 that the average REALTOR who sells real estate earns.

Belonging to the Council of Residential Specialists will enable you to achieve your fullest potential.



*Offer valid only for first time applicants inside the United States, its insular possessions and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Previous members will need to reinstate their membership. $19.95 of annual dues is applied to your annual subscription to The Residential Specialist Magazine. Electing not to receive the magazine does not reduce your dues rate."

looks mostly like a magazine / networking pitch to me

[John S. Rabi]

quote:

---

Originally posted by KathyH
...I would like for the agent to be there with me during my home inspection, if it's an older home, but that doesn't seem to be the norm here if the buyer can be present...

---

Kathy, real estate agents are not home inspectors and lack the knowledge needed for the home inspection. Our E&O (Errors & Omissions) Policy especifically forbids the agents to do home inspections, therefore, we are not present at the inspection when representing the Buyer. When we represent the Seller and the Seller is not available, we let the home inspector in than leave the premises.

Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,PB,ABR,CRB,CM,FHS
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"

[Devany]

One nice thing for off island buyers, our inspection service provided a DVD with the entire inspection on it and because the guy knew we were off island he also captured some general footage for us. I cannot tell you how many times we watched that video over and over in the 5 months between getting the inspection and moving in. It was not only helpful,we could see our new house and the views in it too. It was much better than still photos for seeing the few things that needed repairing.

Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com

[John S. Rabi]

quote:

---

Originally posted by KathyH
...I am quite sure you are right about the E&O; it is just my experience that agents have never used that as the reason they can't be there...

---

Kathy, you should subscribe to the online "RIS Media" real estate publication. There is hardly a single issue without some home inspection nightmare story where the agents were held responsible by the courts. There recently was a story about an agent who was just as helpful as yours explaining the dry rot, but she still was held liable. (I have never attended a home inspection because I can't even change a light bulb, but that's another matter.) [] Our E&O Insurance Company gave as a form with the following language that all of our clients are required to sign.

The agents of Typically Tropical Properties are not trained and not authorized to do property inspections for our clients. Professional inspections are absolutely essential: there is no practical substitute for a professional inspection as a measure to discover and investigate the defects or shortcomings in a home. Typically Tropical Properties recommends using a professional, licensed/certified property inspector for all inspections, regardless of representing Buyers and/or Sellers.

BTW, you would be surprised how many real estate companies are operating without E&O insurance!

Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,PB,ABR,CRB,CM,FHS
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"