i-Hudson Realty NY -- carrie gingrich

Thinking "ok - we are no longer able to cold call" - then, "it's certainly cheaper than sending mass mailings" - sending flyers of my listings got me several nasty messages to remove names from my list -- including one renowned broker. But I receive tons of flyers from my colleagues in the industry -- why not just click "delete" if we can't have them cramming up our system? We already have limited resources unless we have tons of money for formal advertising. Recognizing the pitfalls in online marketing -- I place restrictions on who receives emails on my lists. I do think however that we should make it a practice to send our listings to each other globally. I know that several brokers have blocked their agents from both sending and receiving -- what a suppression on creativity. How many other modalities can we use since cold calling has been snafued by the government? Oh well, as my old broker said, "out of perhaps 1000 calls you can get one customer" -- probably the same with email marketing.

I can envision major brokerages providing their best agents with a combination of salary and commission. Their less than producers should be required to prove themselves in order to be salaried. As for us small brokers -- I can envision providing substantially higher commissions for talented agents in essence creating a type of mini-broker -- this encouraging proposition could only enhance professionalism. In the long run, this might even out competition between the small and large brokers as a small salary may not be the best incentive for a top producing agent who may have to compromise commission in order to receive a salary and alternatively could assist a talented agent who is in need of a steady income.

Unfortunately, discrimination is very much with us in the housing industry, including the real estate market on every level. It is an ominous presence forgotten until someone making a dumb statement, such as, "I won't sell to them," reminds us that racism and prejudice continue to thrive. I believe the Federal guidelines to fill out certain paperwork for loans are also discriminatory in nature. Moreover, well-meaning realtors seeking listings and sales might find themsselves caught up in a nasty web of illegal discrimination. We all have to strive harder to do the right thing.