Robert O'Haugherty's (bananathyme) Blog

There is currently underway a transition from virtual tours to video tours for realtors.  Having owned my own production company for a number of years, I find this new approach to have it's good and bad side.  I believe a video will be more discriptive of a property than a virtual tour and a bett...

In Texas Realtor, Aug '08 issue, Randy Jeffers tackles the above question in his article "Can't We Just Avoid Politics?"  As someone who avoided politics other than voting, I didn't understand the procedures and the business of government.  But now I realize that political involvement is a requir...

During a listing appointment, my client never mentioned the mineral rights and I didn't ask.  During the listing period of over one year, the mineral rights issue went from obscurity to front page news overnight.  I decided to go to an MCE class on what they were and found the MCE class standing ...

"Learn, Network, Grow Your Business" is the theme from TAR for this year's convention and trade show in San Antonio, TX, September 6th thru September 11th, beginning with the 2008 Governance Meetings and continuing the 2008 Convention and Expo. For those in the Great State of Texas, I want to urg...

Marcus & Millichap has a "Retail Research Special Report" for midyear, 2008. for their particular regions nationwide.  It's a very good report and gives you alot to "talk about" to your clients.  See them at their website: www.marcusmillichap.com.  They also have a Hospitality Report which covers...

Need some help here.  Listed a property and during an open house, a potential buyer came in and wants to negotiate a lower commission from me based upon the premise that he is, in reality, paying for the commission.  In light of a Buyer's Rep Agreement stipulating who pays, and here in Texas, all...

Here's something new I learned today.  A realtor friend's listing on a $1,100,000 home in Keller is expiring in a week and the owner doesn't want to renew and wants a different realtor.  Ok.  Our friend has had the listing for at least six months in a slow market and has put a lot of work into ma...

Here's a new one.  While writing an offer, the husband and wife get miffed at each other and start disagreeing on how much money is to be spent buying the house they wanted.  It escalated from there to name calling and then silence.  Eventually, they signed off on the offer, but not before changi...

In Denise Lones article "How To Insulate Yourself Against Negative News Reports", in Broker/Agent Professional Magazine, May/June 2008 edition, she recommends agents to think about what the media throws at us about not only negative press about real estate but many other issues they report on.  S...

1.  They continue follow up on leads they already have.  They have goals set for each month's production and they follow up on enough leads to accomplish their goals.  They know how many listings and sales they need each month.  One hour, 3 days per week for these follow ups. 2.  Big producers ar...