Why Use A Real Estate Agent ? (edit/delete)

There are many discussions going on across North America about the value of using a real estate agent. Below is a copy of an email I recieved from a customer and my response. This was a retired couple. He was a lawyer. I think the email speaks for itself. My response also speaks for itself. Natasha is my daughter who is our general manager.

An email from one of Hants Realty's customers

by Luke Matthews on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 4:17pm

This email just made my day!!

Hi Larry. Every time I drive through Brookfield, I say to myself that I must e-mail you, because every house in the village that was for sale when we listed ours is still for sale. So we want to say a very big thank you to you, and of course to Natasha. You were both patient, helpful and cheerful when we needed it. (Especially when I got ticked and was ready to pull the plug!) You are good at what you do, and we tell everyone we see what great service we had from you. Best of luck to you.

Sincerely, Jean and Don.

Here was my response

Hi Jean. Thanks so much. Appreciation is the greatest human want mainly because it is so rare. It is people like you and Don that keep our little family enterprise going and make our efforts all worth while. Give Mark my thanks for recommending me to you and from my family to yours.

God Bless !!

Larry

Larry Matthews is a recognized expert in Nova Scotia real estate. He is licensed as a real estate broker, real estate appraiser and mortgage broker. The Nova Scotia Legislature has passed a resolution recognizing Larry and his wife Peggy for the success of their company Hants Realty Limited. The Municipality of East Hants awarded Hants Realty Limited with a certificate of recognition for providing 25 yrs of quality service to the residents of East Hants. Larry is an author,photographer,artist and publisher. http://www.easthants.com http://www.larrymatthews.com

 

A Time Of Change

         As we all watch the events taking place in Egypt most of us realize that the world as we once knew it is no more. So much change that we can not be blamed for feeling over whelmed. We can no longer think these changes so far away will have no impact here in North America. Well folks here is my opinion or two cents worth.
           First I would like to tell you about an real estate appraisal seminar I was on in New Brunswick about 2 years ago. On that seminar one of the course instructors was an expert on world demographics. He informed us that everyone in China and India wanted the same lifestyle as we have here in North America. He also said if that were to happen tomorrow it would take 5 planets to support that kind of lifestyle for everyone. You see the Internet has taken the blinders off of humanity. Dictators and religious fanatics or corrupt governments can no longer suppress the millions of people who want what we have. What is that ? Freedom,hope,opportunity,shelter and food. The word we have heard from Egypt a lot is dignity. Simple human dignity. Something we tend to take for granted.
       The rise in China and India's competitive position in the world has been dramatic. Our North American style of government is ignoring the single biggest problem we are facing. The North American worker can no longer support the taxation from inefficient and wasteful government administration and bureaucracies and compete with the workers in these other countries. As other countries strive for the lifestyle we have we are watching that lifestyle being eroded by the increased competition from these countries for jobs and the inefficient administration of our own democratic governments. As more and more of these countries break free of suppression and democratize there will be even more competition for jobs and the life style we all want. That is a reality that we have to accept. The question is how are we going to compete and maintain a standard of living with-in this new world reality ? There is only one solution. Government has to be stream lined. We have to become more productive and innovative. More efficient and make our governent more accountable. We have no choice. If we do not have the political will to accomplish this we will eventually be dealing with so much unemployment and such a lowering of our standard of living that it will be us in the streets demanding our governments step down and the history books will record the demise of the prosperity of North America. What do you think ?

Larry

Larry Matthews Experience In The Real Estate Industry

Larry Matthews AMP DAC
President/Broker Qualifications
One of Nova Scotia’s most experienced real estate professionals .

1. President/broker Hants Realty Limited for 33 years
2. Licensed selling real estate for 35 years
3. Certificate of recognition from the Municipality of East Hants for providing 25 years of quality real estate service.
4. Licensed Appraiser NSREAA # 901078 Royal Banks and Scotia banks list of approved appraisers 30 years. DAC (Designated Appraiser Commercial ) CNAREA. Canadian National Assoc of Real Estate Appraisers. CIBC’s list of approved appraisers. NAS approved appraiser , Solidifi approved appraiser, and Genworth approved appraiser.
5. Licensed mortgage broker. AMP (Accredited Mortgage Professional) CAAMP Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals
6. President/broker Hants Financial Services a full service mortgage broker.
7. President Kimnat Internet and Print a full service multi media firm responsible for Hants Realty Limited’s unique marketing strategy for real estate in central Nova Scotia. Includes
Publishers of the Flyer Alliance sent to 15,000 households and business’s monthly.
8. Recognized by the Nova Scotia legislature for his success in the real estate business (see attached resolution)
9. Just recertified for the next five years through the Nova Scotia Real Estate Appraisers Assoc. (NSREAA)
10.Taken all required courses through the Nova Scotia assoc of Realtors (NSAR) see attached list.

RESOLUTION NO. 4969

MR. JOHN MACDONELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas 25 years ago the real estate business in Hants East was practically non-existent; and
Whereas Mr. Larry Matthews founded Hants Realty, and through vision and dogged determination kept it alive until it blossomed into the thriving operation it is today; and
Whereas on Saturday evening, November 16th, Mr. Matthews and his wife, Peggy, were honoured by friends, peers, employees and clients by celebrating Hants Realty's 25th year of operation;
Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly congratulate Larry and Peggy Matthews of Hants Realty for their confidence in the growth of the communities of Hants East and their tenacity in seeing their business rise to success.
Res. 4969, Matthews, Larry & Peggy - Hants Realty: Anniv. (25th) - Congrats., Mr. J. MacDonell 12079 Vote - Affirmative
RESOLUTION NO 4969 ADOPTED BY THE NOVA SCOTIA LEGISLATURE .
Activities of Larry Matthews AMP DAC
www.easthants.com/realestate , receiving over 4,000,000 hits per year, www.larrymatthews.com www.hantsfinancial.ca www.homecredit.ws www.yourfirsthome.ws www.novascotiaappraisals.com

Type	Description	Date Entered	Ticker Date
CPE	Risk Management For Errors & Omissions	04/06/2009
CPE	Complaints & Solutions	29/05/2009
CPE	Understanding Designated Agency	29/05/2008
CPE	Agency Fundamentals	14/05/2007
CPE	New Forms 0607	06/10/2006
CPE	Your Practice Guide And Legislation	14/06/2006
CPE	Mortgage Fraud	12/06/2006
CPE	Carry Forward 3 Credits from 20042005	01/09/2005
CPE	Organizing For Success	15/06/2005
CPE	Mandatory Broker	01/06/2005
CPE	Send Lawyers, Guns And Money	30/05/2005
CPE	Carry Forward 3 Credits from 20032004	04/09/2004
CPE	Mandatory for Brokers/Assoc. Brokers 2003/04	22/06/2004
CPE	Privacy Act for Brokers	24/09/2003
CPE	Carry Forward 3 Credits from 20022003	03/09/2003
CPE	Carry Forward 3 Credits from 20022003	03/09/2003
CPE	CMHC Mortgage Financing: An Overview	28/05/2003
CPE	Mandatory 02-03 - Practical Guide to Agency	16/05/2003
CPE	Carry Forward 3 Credits from 20012002	04/09/2002
CPE	Carry Forward 3 Credits from 20012002	04/09/2002
CPE	Approved CPE Equivalency (6 credits)	28/06/2002
CPE	Broker / Associate Broker Mandatory Course	03/06/2002
CPE	Salesperson Mandatory Course - Residential	08/02/2002
CPE	Insight into Prop Condition & Inspect of Res. R.E.	11/05/2001
CPE	Real Estate Mandatory Course for 2000-01	09/05/2001
CPE	CMHC Mortgage Financing: An Overview	07/06/2000
CPE	Broker/Manager Mandatory Course for 1999-00	01/06/2000
CPE	Today's R.E. Professional And Consumer Protection	17/06/1999
CPE	How To List and Sell Small Businesses	10/06/1999
CPE	Canadian Criminal Law & Selling Real Estate	19/06/1998
CPE	Title Searching in Nova Scotia	15/04/1998
CPE	Broker/Manager Update Course	12/06/1997

How to Run a Successful Real Estate Brokerage
Real estate companies are faced with a challenging time of change and uncertainty in today’s rough and tumble business climate.
The two main business models fee driven or commission driven are getting harder and harder to realize a profit at the end of the year. No matter who is paying the bills the individual agent in the fee driven business model or the company in the commission driven model. Both are struggling with reduced cash flow and ever increasing costs. Franchise fees are expensive and there are few solutions in sight. No one can squeeze more than 100 pennies out of a dollar. The big question for company owners, franchise’s and brokers is how do we adapt ? How are we all going to survive in this competitive industry ? The answer to that is all are not going to survive . Many are going to fail and leave the business. Agents and companies alike.
There is a desperate need for a new business model and the changes will be radical. You see most change comes from radical people not those that conform as most of those in society do. The real estate industry has been off the rails for a number of years. In the chaos of changes like agency, self regulation and the internet one key individual has been over looked. That individual is the customer or consumer. The industry has stopped giving the customer what they want which is value for their dollar and a simplified home buying and selling process. You see the consumer does not care about agency, our regulations or our industry. We have been forced to spend more and more time catering to industry requirements and been left with less time to help our customers solve their individual and unique real estate problems.
This article is not meant to be an attack on our industry but it is meant to be brutally honest and to call a spade a spade. It is also not meant to be an attack on any individual agent. Most good agents want to do a good job for their customers. Those agents want a business model and a system that enables not hinders them from doing that. That is the challenge facing our industry today. Every franchise advertises the notion that they have the best system. Many agents are brainwashed to believe in that system until they are broke and forced out of the business. Our industry is notorious for attacking those who try to do something different. I know because I have experienced it. Through 35 years I have overcome it and in spite of what others think have devised a system that works by placing my customers first. By doing what is best for my customer. By helping them navigate an ever confusing system that is designed to keep them poor. By helping them overcome all those problems in life they will never teach you how to overcome at your local real estate board. You see our customers are moving through this journey called life. They need someone who cares about their problems and helps them and supports them through difficult times. Someone who gives them advice and direction even though there maybe no money involved. Someone who understands that help may not be appreciated at the time but the return on that investment in time will come down the road. Down the road when they send you their son to you to help him find his first home. Or they call you when they buy a home with their new spouse.
That customer care is the foundation of my business. I have many other secrets with my system but that is my number one secret. Don’t focus on the money. Focus on what is best for your customer and the money will come.
This is my first article in How to Run a Successful Real Estate Brokerage. I hope you found it interesting and I thank you for taking the time to read it.
Larry Matthews AMP DAC
President/Broker
Hants Realty Limited
http://www.larrymatthews.com/