by davidlosh@davidlosh.com » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:09 pm
There are good Real Estate agents that most people never hear about. Ric Wall, The Ravencrofts, and the DeMartinis come immediately to mind. The DeMartinis are more main stream, but Laurie Jorgenson or Bob Melvey are hard working agents that are more self reliant.
It's actually a very long list of good people who live the business of Real Estate. Chuck Cady is to me the very best in the business, and David Rush is an extremely honorable, fair, smart, and dedicated advocate for his clients.
These are names on signs you drive by while thinking all agents are as seen on TV.
The industry as a whole is off center, that's for sure. Big Corporate handlers have been playing a numbers game of throwing people into the business. They make money on split commissions and desk fees so they don't care.
Skyline Properties is the perfect example of a couple of guys who net, net, net over One Million Dollars per year for collecting desk fees from "agents." Yes that was a Million Dollars a piece for each of the owners.
So when you relate to the Corporate talking heads they are representing the Corporation. Real Estate agents are independent contractors who work within the framework they chose. You will find good agents in every type of company.