COmmission & Realtors

As a Mortgage Loan Officer, Real Estate Agent/Advisors (REA) relationships are the bread and butter of my business. One of my main sources of referrals comes from REA. I am not writing this post to brown nose with them, I am writing because I want them to get the honor they deserve.  Listen-these people need a standing ovation! You as a consumer have no idea the amount of work they put into their jobs.  I know the stereotype is that REA's are over paid for the work they do. I hear statements like, "How hard can it be to let someone into a home and write some paperwork?" "I can't believe you will make x.x% on the purchase of this home!" "I can totally do this myself, the REA fees are ridiculous!" "All it takes to become a REA is a few classes and a test."

I am going to take a second and give you a snapshot of what it looks like to be married to a REA and walk you through the first 30 minutes of Spencer's schedule. My hope is maybe just maybe your tone will change when you realize what it is like to walk in the shoes of REA.

• 7:00 am
  • ​Spencer alarm goes off, he taps snooze and glances at his phone to find text messages from current, future and past clients:
    • "When will our walk through be scheduled?
    • "Do you know why we are still getting mail from the previous homeowners we lived here? We have been getting it for two weeks now. Can you remind them to change their address?"
    • We would like to see these three homes over our lunch break today. Do you have time? Do these homes have any offers?"
  • Requests sent to Client about walk through time slot
  • Email delivered to Listing Agent on property that closed two weeks ago to remind sellers to change their address
  • Text message back to client about mail request completed
  • Research on properties for noon showings; email to listing agents sent to look into offers for the three homes, checking if any properties have a 24 hour notice needed for showings, schedule showings on two homes that do not need 24 hour notice, respond back to client with schedule of showings
  • Sends text message to current lunch commitment first meet with clients to push back lunch to accommodate showings
  • ​Scan emails for any pressing time sensitive messages 
  • Looks over his phone, "Good morning babe, how did you sleep?"
•  7:30 am
  • ​Spencer attempting to get into the shower, while the kids are arguing about who is going to sit in the end chair of the dining room table awaiting their breakfast. He serves them breakfast, makes coffee and heads back upstairs for a shower...ding ding ding his phone sounds:
    • Reviewing new text messages returned to him from walk through commitment, and lunch showings sent prior
    • Clients message says, "Oh can you actually add this house as well to our showings at noon?"
    • Received email back on the offer he sent last night in regards to the counter offer the listing agent sent
      • ​Reviews offer and takes notes to respond to the buyers
    • Opens a text message from a second client who submitted an offer earlier yesterday wondering if they heard back from their counter offer...ding, ding ding...the messages keep flowing!

DO YOU GET THE POINT YET? He has not even opened his eyes before his phone is on rapid fire. I know what you are thinking, can't he wait to take care of this stuff? No he can't, why? because if he does not get to it someone else will. Our society is pretty demanding when it comes to the home buying and selling process. As a general statement, most consumers think REA do not deserve to make what they make, so it is a common thought to blow through boundaries and make their commission "worth it". It is also a common assumption that the Agent is only working with you. Let me bust your bubble, a Full-Time agent needs to keep as many balls in the air as possible to keep the momentum of their commissions constant. They are not only talking to you. They are also talking to the client that they have been showing homes to for 3 years. Their newly widowed aunt who does not like technology and wants everything in paper, or the neighbors who are calling off their listing sign because they want to know how much Jan and Bob are selling for.

I am sharing all of this not because I want you to feel bad for them, rather I want you to understand that they are worth their commissions. It takes being intentional, disciplined, organized, and a crazy amount of patience to do what they do.  They do not get to put an away message on their emails, or postpone responding to a client about showings over lunch. They are honestly ALWAYS on! 

If you know a REA and you know they are really good at what they do. Do me a favor and give them a hug, a shout out or a simple, thank you for all their hard work and dedication.