Jeffrey Bastress

I feel your frustration. Trying to schedule 7 showings where selling agents accompany is near impossible as 4 out of 7 normally will not even return the call. When you follow up they can't be there themselves at the time requested so they didn't bother to call back. Forget agency and compensation issues, as these are simply over many agents head. Start with lockbox 101. I swear if the showing instructions were that a key is under the mat...I would still get calls from agents at the door with Buyer over their shoulder calling me to ask..."which mat?" I thought also that the downturn would help eliminate bad agents, but I am afraid the opposite has occurred to often. Many bad agents are the spouse of a bread winner and in it for the hobby or that they simply love just looking inside other peoples homes and income is not the driving force...and they keep on keeping on. Where as many great agents cannot continue to maintain their lifestyles and have bailed due to lack of income to support their families. So bad agents have compounded the problem, as there is not enough business to go around as it is, and the precious deals they screw up or miraculously close are making a bad name for the industry and taking deals off the plate of professionals that would earn their due. So as I know this will not change, we have come to know this now so well. States need the license income and NAR and state boards need the membership income. The easier in the better for them. Oh well...keep on keeping on in Massachusetts still. Jeffrey Bastress Startpoint Realty jeffrey@startpoint.com www.HomesByJeffrey.com blog: www.RealtyRag.blogspot.com

We are trying to be as paperless as possible, but run into digital signature issues with the mortgage process, especially FHA that requires original signatures on all disclosures during the process and closing. Talk about wasting tree's....it is the mortgage application, disclosures, closing documents in triplet required by investors as a huge road block in an entire transaction going paperless. Nice driving and video skills I might add.... Jeffrey Bastress www.Startpoint Realty jeffrey@startpoint.com www.HomesByJeffrey.com blog: www.RealtyRag.com

I agree that having 200 great buyers on my site closing 50 is better than the cost of securing 800 buyers on your site that close less than 50. I have done the math and tracked clicks to closings since 2001. By far my greatest lead source of top quality buyers and sellers specifically looking to buy or sell is through Homegain....hands down. Consumers that find me through buyer link or agent evaluator are well qualified buyers and sellers as they specifically had to click on several links directly related to their specific real estate needs before landing on my site and registering to work with me. You can spend many thousands of dollars and great quantities of time trying to be SEO ranked or buy generic or specific keywords, or you can listen to one that has done all that and can't say enough about Homegain buyer and seller leads as being far and above the best and most motivated consumers. Using Buyer Link and Agent Evaluator since 2001 I have earned well over $1,000,000 in commissions from Homegain leads. So as long as your not in Central Massachusetts, I say try it...you will like it. If your in my neck of the woods...then disregard this tip:) Right on again Bernice! Jeffrey Bastress Startpoint Realty jeffrey@startpoint.com www.HomesByJeffrey.com blog: www.RealtyRag.com