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It’s fun to guess what real estate agents want for Christmas this year.
Sure, there are endless gadgets and goodies out there, but a bottle of premium whiskey, a coupon for a full-body massage, or a cup proclaiming it’s the hottest thing since Vesuvius may scratch the surface, but real estate agent gifts There are several others. It will continue to be noisy long after Christmas is over.
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Without further ado, here’s what real estate agents really want this holiday season.
1. By the end of 2024
Seriously. Let’s put this behind us and move on with hope that 2025 will be a better year. In fact, everyone is already saying this is the worst year since 1995, so I don’t think it can get any worse.
In the infamous words of Sergeant Bilko, “I can’t feel anything below my hair. Stop the bad guys.” I agree.
2. Guarantee that lumps of coal will be distributed equitably.
We all know that children who misbehave during the year are said to be given a lump of coal in their stocking at Christmas. I can’t think of anyone in particular, but I can think of a few attorneys who might qualify this year. And we’re not thinking of a “single” coal. A few dump trucks might be a better option.
3. Lower interest rates
The beginning of the mess we’re in now is high interest rates (ignoring the recession, foreclosure crisis, pandemic, etc.), and most agents I know are hoping that sooner or later rates will improve. I’m here.
4. A brokerage firm that clearly prioritizes the needs of its fiduciary clients over its desire to oust the Chinese Communist Party.
This falls into the “don’t get me started” category, but as I’ve already done it, agents at smaller brokerages in particular should be aware of the “off-market listing heist” that some large brokerages are attempting. ” I hope to put an end to it. In my opinion, brokerage firms are prioritizing their agents’ desire to eliminate clear cooperation policies over their fiduciary duty to their clients.
5. More sellers
We need more sellers, especially in expensive areas like the San Francisco Bay Area.
Huge capital gains, the very real fear of not being able to find a replacement home due to record-low inventory, and significantly higher property taxes when purchasing a replacement home in California (even if the price of the replacement home is Given that (even if high), below), those with mortgages currently below 4% are in golden handcuffs. Sellers have many great reasons not to sell.
Factor in the high costs of preparing your home for the market and the possibility that you won’t be able to get an affordable insurance policy on a replacement property. This is the perfect storm that is causing sellers to hunker down and stay put.
6. Increase in capital gains tax deduction
As mentioned above, the current $250,000 per person deduction may be OK in some parts of the country where you can buy a small property for $250,000.
But in the Bay Area, even if the partners’ deductions add up to a total exemption of $500,000, sellers who bought a home years ago for less than $200,000 are now selling it for more than $1.5 million. As a result, we expect a capital gain of more than $1 million. . What is the motivation to sell?
7. Mainstream media values truth over ratings
We have seen sensational mainstream news coverage that is patently inaccurate, especially when it comes to news coverage surrounding lawsuits against NAR.
The amount of damage these thieves do is impossible to calculate.
Instead of mainstream media understanding the facts and reporting them as they are, how about fines for fake news? Oh, wait, then maybe we’ll have to fine politicians too, even those in high office.
8. No more lawsuits
Please stop it already. Seriously. The only individuals who benefit from this are the lawyers who are looking under every rock to get a windfall. The United States, like many other countries in the world, should have a law that says if someone files a lawsuit and loses, they must pay the other side’s legal costs.
9. 12 days of 5-star reviews
If you think about how the song “The 12 Days of Christmas” works, you’ll get one review on the first day, two reviews on the second day, and so on until the 12th day. That’s 78 5-star reviews. You can also add this. Definitely on my list!
If you flip this around, you’ll actually end up with a review that stays on Yelp. For a team like ours, that number would be much higher than 78. For some reason, Yelp thinks there should be closer to 150 5-star reviews on the Yelp page. It’s not recommended at this time, but there are only two negative reviews left (both of which are flippant).
10. Ability to post reviews about clients
A good review includes: “The client was a pleasure to work with, responded quickly, and really appreciated our expertise. I would happily recommend them to anyone.” There is.
However, a review for another customer said, “Stop. Flat. Think. About. That.”
11. Insurance companies willing to expand into states such as California
We understand that this represents a major change in the laws governing insurance companies in states like California, but we currently require insurance at the time of a new purchase rather than adding it as an add-on to the purchase contract. I wish there was a feature that would make it easier to find.
12. Agent answering the phone
Come on, Santa, we’ve been asking for this for years. You need an agent who actually answers your calls. Perhaps 2025 will be our lucky year?
13. Clients who don’t ask for rebates
Real estate agents have become commoditized and are generally no longer considered the professionals they deserve to be. This is in contrast to lawyers, accountants, and even auto mechanics and plumbers.
Potential customers believe that we are all the same, so we look for agents who will take the “deal” at the lowest possible price and ask for kickbacks in the process. We want clients who understand our value and provide compensation without argument.
And I think I have to add that we want to work with real estate agents who are actually competent and deserve to be compensated.
14. Confession Agent for Buyers
This is a holdover from last year. Santa hasn’t delivered it yet, so I’m asking again. It could be a serum that we scrape off the papers we hand out, or a “detector” like a heat gun that remotely measures temperatures during the coronavirus pandemic, or anything that works. we just want it. now.
15. Buyers who understand the new fee rules
It’s now mandatory to fill out a Buyer Brokerage Agreement before showing a home, and it’s great to have buyers who understand the new rules and are willing to sign the new form.
16. Buyer agents who understand the new commission rules
Now, you need to fill out a Buyer Brokerage Agreement before showing a home, so make sure you have a buyer agent who understands the new rules, knows how to fill out the forms correctly, and can effectively educate buyers about the new reality. That’s great. .
17. Buyer Agent Reading
I posted this in 2021: “Listing agents go to great lengths to post important information for buyer agents, including directions, instructions for making offers, etc. Most The MLS offers a confidential comments section that gives the listing agent the opportunity to provide important information to the prospective buyer’s agent.All the purchasing agent needs to do is actually read the description. Only if possible.”
Still waiting.
18. Professional Agent
Many of us were shocked earlier this year when the Consumer Federation of America released numbers showing that nearly half of all real estate agents in the United States had sold one or fewer homes in the past year.
Agents who have been in the industry for a while, or who can be classified as “seasoned,” are hoping that in 2025, the bar will be raised and professional standards will dramatically improve. This opinion is also reflected in the Opportunity Report.
19. Clients who understand that we actually know more than they do.
One of my kids has a mug that says, “Don’t confuse Google Search with my medical degree.” One of her frustrations is that many patients think they actually know more than she does and post negative reviews when she disagrees. Even with the knowledge she has gained from years of real-world clinical experience, her specialty requires a one-year fellowship, four years as an intern, and the amount of education required to earn her degree in the first place. All included.
But 30 minutes on Google trumps them all.
It’s the same in the real estate industry, where customers are more likely to believe their uncle who sold their house 30 years ago or their colleague who bought it during the foreclosure crisis.
20. Contractors appear
If they show up on time on the promised day and stay until the end, we’ll keep them busy. It would be nice if they were kind to our customers and cleaned up after themselves. It’s really easy.
Please, Santa, give us a “nice list” of qualified contractors instead of the “naughty list” that many of us seem to have right now.
21. Mandatory AVM Education Class for All Clients
We’re all tired of hearing what a particular client thinks a property is worth based on a website’s AVM (think Zestimate). We currently have documents showing AVMs from four major websites on the agenda to stay ahead of opinions on value. In most cases, prices vary widely. A class aimed at all potential clients would hopefully solve this problem.
22. Essential Truths in Advertising Training for Listing Agents Who List at Exorbitantly Low Prices
There are a number of agents in our market who believe it’s okay to list a home hundreds of thousands less than market value in order to get as much attention as possible. One California agent was fined last year for abusing this practice, which amounts to at least false advertising. There was also one item on the market for $1. In my opinion, properties should only be listed at a price acceptable to the seller. Just a thought.
23. Children in action at open house
Call me old-fashioned, but I believe parents should teach their children to behave well, especially when in other people’s homes. I know, I’m an idiot. Some agents in our area post very specific instructions in the foyer of open homes, explaining that anyone who lets children run randomly around the property will be asked to leave. there is.
Instead of real estate agents acting like the Grinch and having to chase away potential clients, they’d like Santa to somehow solve this problem. You might be able to spray pixie dust on your open house before your clients arrive. I know that cat owners can purchase self-dispensing cat pheromone sprayers to keep cats under control. Is there something like that for children?
24. Market recovery in 2025
Our list last year also included a request for a better outlook for 2024. In the words of Agent Maxwell Smart, “That’s all we missed.” Santa, let’s try again. I hope I get better results this time.
We wish you all a wonderful holiday season, Merry Christmas, and a prosperous 2025.
Carl Medford is the CEO of the Medford team.
