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Home » Columnists » Biographies »

New MLS system nothin' but trouble

By Kris Berg, Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

Dear San Diego Association of Realtors,

To better serve me, you recently gave me a new MLS system. You call it Tempo 5. I am writing to thank you. Although I never asked for my former and, dare I say, functional MLS to be replaced, you seemingly knew exactly what my clients and I needed. Granted, you never solicited my input, but you sensed the latent demand. You somehow knew that I was too busy trying to make a living to conceive of the ways in which my business profitability might be enhanced through a much more stout, content-rich search experience. That was the intent, right?

   more...

Top producer club seeks new rock stars

By Kris Berg, Tuesday, June 3, 2008.

Before I was in real estate, during those heady years of steady paychecks, paid vacation, retirement benefits and weekends off, I was familiar with the term, "Top Producer." This label, trumpeted with pride, was usually followed by the words "Million Dollar Club." I didn't know what a Million Dollar Club was, but I knew a million bucks sounded like a lot of money, so it was a natural leap to assume that members of this club were not overly consumed with the price of Wonder Bread.  more...

Sphere of influence has new meaning

By Kris Berg, Tuesday, May 27, 2008.

Fellow agent and Inman News columnist, Alison Rogers, recently spoke of the friends-and-family plan when it comes to buying and selling real estate. This made me chuckle knowingly, for I have been burned more times than I am willing to admit by the "I have a friend" rejection. Occasionally, this friend will turn out to be a very competent, even proficient agent. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Licensed agents in my state alone total 87 quadrillion to the 12th power. Every one of them is the friend or family of someone, yet I will wager a bet that not every one of them is among the very best real estate has to offer.  more...

Sweating like a short-order cook

By Kris Berg, Tuesday, May 20, 2008.

There is a fine line between service and servitude.

Real estate is a lot of things for the agent. It is consulting; it is business administration; it is public relations and marketing, and a lot of dry number crunching and contract management. Mostly, though, it is a service industry. So, where does one draw the line between providing exceptional service, when and where the customer demands it, and holding the line of professional decorum?

For me, this is a question as loaded as "what's for breakfast?" My children don't want three-squares served up over conversation and bonding. They want sustenance (or as we call it in our house, a doughnut) on the run.  more...

And the Lifetime Achievement Award goes to ...

By Kris Berg, Tuesday, May 13, 2008.

"What a babe!" I said.

"He's so old!" she countered.

This was the exchange my daughter and I had while watching the most recent (2,895th) Annual Academy Awards. Sure, this was months ago, but I am still stinging from my youngest one's carbon-dating methods. And the object of my art appreciation wasn't Martin Scorsese or even Jack Nicholson.  more...

Little voices drive an agent crazy

By Kris Berg, Tuesday, May 6, 2008.

Editor's note: Inman News would like to introduce the first column in what will be a regular series from well-known real estate blogger and broker associate Kris Berg.

It has been one of those weeks. If there was ever a career that took multitasking to extremes, it is real estate. The little voices just never give it a rest.

When was the last time you updated that Web site? Haven't twittered much lately, have we? Why does the face in your Facebook look suspiciously like a default question mark, doofus? Two whole friends! My, aren't we the popular one?  more...

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