Phillip Jones

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Kristin, In response to your first reply (quoted below). Does your firm offer all 4 levels of service or just package A? I'm just curious. I know that most "legacy" firms in my area only offer 1 level of service (package A) and it is largely a "take it or leave it" approach. They may move a little on the fee changed, but the concept remains rigid. As we all know, this is a relationship driven business. These days almost everyone knows or is related to a REALTOR. If the majority of Real Estate firms still only offer package A what will consumers choose? They will choose from what is presented to them from their trusted friend/relative or strongly recommended REALTOR. Package A of course! Only when our industry shifts to offering more than package A to consumers will we be truly able to judge the merits of the other options available. Lets empower the consumers and give them choices. Good selling and thanks for reading. Regards, Phillip E. Jones, Broker/Owner Your Choice Real Estate, Inc. The Best Value in Real Estate! 151-18 College Drive Orange Park, FL 32065 Phone: (904) 298-2679 Ext 501 Toll Free (888) 490-0671 Ext 501 Fax: (866) 923-9990 www.ycre.net QUOTE: Submitted by Kristin Noll-Marsh on October 23, 2008 - 7:27am. "We cling to a antiquated commission model as if it were our birth right, yet all around us service industries have adapted to what the consumer needs and wants." Do we cling to the model, or does the consumer? Consumers have options and can get what they want. 1. They can pay a success-based commission, where the agent takes all of the up-front risk and doesn't get paid unless the property sells. 2. They can hire an agent on fee-per-service. 3. They can hire an agent for a flat fee to put the property in MLS and do the rest themselves. 4. They can do it all themselves. What do they choose most of the time? Package #1. They don't want to take any of the risk, they don't want to do the work, they don't want to pay upfront marketing costs and they don't want to pay us by the hour - especially in a market where the houses are taking so long to sell. And buyers don't want to pay us at all. So, who is clinging to that model? Us or them? I don't know about Teresa, but in my store there are cheaper cereals without the box and expensive bread actually IN a box. I buy the cheaper cereal in the box - but then I get a limited choice of flavors and they aren't the "real" thing. I buy my bread in the bag. Even there I have a choice of the cheap store brand or a more expensive bag brand I buy. But I can't see paying twice as much just for something in a box. (Most people don't and that is why I really don't see that brand too often.) I have choices. But, I certainly wouldn't expect to get the box cereal for the same price as the generic bag cereal or even my favorite bread for the store brand price. So, when it comes to real estate, why should a consumer expect to get option #1 but only pay the price of options 2-4?

Kris, Congrats on your move. Just a few pieces of advice.. 1. Keep costs under control, be cheap 2. Always focus on the customer needs, the revenue will follow 3. Online is where it's at - print is dead - pound those keystrokes everyday! 4. Take a day off every week - don't get burned out. Good luck and keep us posted via your blog. Regards, Phillip E. Jones, Broker/Owner Your Choice Real Estate, Inc. The Best Value in Real Estate! 151-18 College Drive Orange Park, FL 32065 Phone: (904) 298-2679 Ext 501 Toll Free (888) 490-0671 Ext 501 Fax: (866) 923-9990 www.ycre.net

I'm SO glad to see this! I hope they nail them to the wall! There are so many of these types of unlicensed businesses now. It's very sad how they prey on the public and steal the equity of the homeowners. Many of the companies I've observed have the owner sign a quit claim deed in exchange for a nominal fee, the deed is then recorded at the clerk of court. Then the company rents the property back to the owner or to another party while marketing the home for sale. The have obtained ownership rights for a nominal fee and they promise to make the mortgage payments on behalf of the owner. What if they forget or just plain lie and don't do it? The homeowner is now on the hook, but has signed away their equitable title and ownership interest. In the meantime the mortgage company is unaware of the deed being signed and recorded, or they would enforce the "due on sale" clause. Hopefully the local news organizations around Florida will pick up on this story and make the public aware of how these "save your home" programs work. Regards, Phillip E. Jones, Broker/Owner Your Choice Real Estate, Inc. The Best Value in Real Estate! 151-18 College Drive Orange Park, FL 32065 Phone: (904) 298-2679 Ext 501 Toll Free (888) 490-0671 Ext 501 Fax: (866) 923-9990 www.ycre.net