Hello everybody-
I live in a townhouse development with about 300 houses and started sending out post cards to my neighbors and offering my services. I got a call from one of the neighbors and he says that he wants to sell the house.

I'm going there tomorrow night. I have my listing presentation ready.

Since I'm all new at this, but what do you experts bring with you on a listing presentation?

What kind of contracts, agreements, paper work?

Honestly, I passed my exam on the first try, but the school training was only to prepare you for the exam. Now that I'm ready to start doing business, I realize that I don't know anything.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I work with a small brokerage firm and they don't really do training, but if you have any questions, they'll answer them. When I asked my broker the same question, he said that every agent is different. I didn't like the response, so I'm turning to you pros and hoping to get more answers.

Thanks in advance.

That seems a bit odd to me. I have a mentor that has been helping me since I started in my office. Does your state have a regular listing agreement? You would need something like that as well as something to put it into the MLS if your brokerage is a member of that. We have other things, too.

Maybe you could ask your broker if he could offer some advice or go with you?
JMO

ShawnR-
thanks for your feedback. I'm in PA and yes, we do have a standard listing agreement, I'm just a bit confused about what other documents should I bring with you. When does a seller's disclosure need to be filled out? Those type of documents.

Again, I'm new, so I apologize if my question seems silly, but the brokerage has a sales manager who's located about 20 miles away in another office and the broker is always really busy, so it's kind of difficult to get answers from them. I've been researching a lot on my own, but always find the question that I don't know the answer to.

Thanks again.

Russell,
If you are getting no training and your broker is unavailable to answer your questions then you really need to move to a brokerage that offers training to help get your started. Brokerages that offer no training to new agents have no stake in their sucess. If you are getting no answers now it will not improve. Move to a new office Now before you list the property and then list it at the new office. Go out and interview at least 3 brokers tomorrow and pick the one that offers the best initial training and support.

Create a check list. If your using any sort of digital contract creation system (like WinForms in California), there is a checklist of the forms you will need included in that product.

Bring 3 copies of your listing agreement and two copies of sellers disclosure. If they are unwilling to complete the disclosure right there, you should at least leave it with them to fill it out.

I don't know about where you are, but general policy out here is that the sellers must fill out their disclosure in their own hand - don't fill it out for them.

If they are in a development of some kind, you will need the paperwork for that as well - to get the CC&Rs, financial info, etc. There is a standard release form for that stuff that the sellers have to sign. I like to get that on the front end so that I have it when the time comes.

I like to also give my new listings a copy of a blank purchase agreement. Just so they can have it. I have a little sheet I give them with it that gives them a quick rundown on the purchase agreement and what the various parts are about in lamens terms.

I also give them a "staging your home checklist" to help them get ready for selling the home.

Just get all the stuff done you can get done. The listing is of course the key piece.

R

Hey Russell!

I also live in Bucks County. Whereabouts do you live?

And if you want to check out a company who provides PLENTY of training, let me know.

I ALSO AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD MOVE QUICKLY TO A COMPANY THAT WILL HELP YOU I HAVE ONE OFFICE IN TOLEDO OHIO AND ONE IN COLUMBUS AND WHEN ONE OF MY AGENTS CAME ON BOARD IN COLUMBUS I DROVE THE 2.5 HOURS TO BE WITH HIM ON HIS FIRST LISTING APPOINTMENT. SUPPORT IS KEY FOR YOU. NOT ONLY THAT YOU COULD BE A RISK PROBLEM BEING NEW AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS OFFICE?

Thank you all. I truly appreciate your advice and suggestions. The office is located in Feasterville, PA and the broker is a friend of the family. He gave me a pretty good commission split and promised "hand holding" type of training, whenever I have questions.

But it seems like I always have questions and feel kind of awkward calling him all the time. Another issue is that I just started doing real estate recently and part time. Gotta keep my full time job for now... family, kids, etc. But I'm really trying hard to balance everything equally. That means I can't go just to any brokerage. Not everyone will accept a part-timer. And I can't do training in the evening, because there's no one to teach. So that leaves me to kind of work harder just to get the answers.

Again, I truly appreciate your honest answers and thanks to folks like you, I think that's where I'll get my questions answered.

Thanks again.

Congrats on your 1st listing appt! I take the seller's disclosure & leave that with the seller. Tell them it's their homework & that you will pick it up a day or two later. You want them to fill out the sellers disclosure honestly & not feel rushed while you are sitting there waiting for it. You just need to make sure you have it back before you get an offer.

Good luck!

RebelBroker-
thank you for a very detailed reply. One thing that I'm not clear on though. You're saying:

"If they are in a development of some kind, you will need the paperwork for that as well - to get the CC&Rs, financial info, etc. There is a standard release form for that stuff that the sellers have to sign. I like to get that on the front end so that I have it when the time comes."

The house is located in a development of about 260 townhomes. What do you mean when you say that I will need the paperwork for that as well - to get the CC&Rs, financial info, etc. What are CC&Rs? And what type of form are you referring to?

Again, I appologize if my questions sound "inexperienced", but that's exactly what I am, but thanks to all of you, I'm learning something new every time.

Thanks.

You might be surprised at how many brokerages will take on part time agents now days. I sure was surprised. Almost all of them in fact.

I always bring along the Agency discloure, Listing agreement, & transfer disclosure. I let them know to be completely honest on the TDS. Im amazed your broker gave you NO training. Thats scary. I couldn't believe how many classes Tarbell Realtors made me do AFTER i got my license. I mean the day after i passes they made me do a 2 week 8am to 4pm class on everything you can think of. Plus they still have me do 1 class a week for 3 hours and different stuff to keep my education up. It's helped ALOT.

Thanks for your feedback.
I bet all that training answered all the questions that I have. The problem is, I'm doing it part-time, so for me it's impossible to go through 2 weeks of training.

Like I said before, he's willing to teach me everything there is, but because of the time constraint, it becomes close to impossible.

I'm a tough person by nature, so I'm sure I'll get all my questions answered and thanks to people like you, I'm on my way there.

I guess I'll have to learn it the hard way.

Thanks again.

Im still working a 32-40 hour a week job. My boss is just very cool. I've adjusted it to be 30 hours a week at tarbell and 30 at work. Tired yes, but it takes that to suceed. Make a daily planner and stick to it. Consistency suceeds. One day soon ill be able to make the full time switch but for now its working for me. Yes the training did help ALOT and answered every question i had. We went page by page over every possible disclosure and contract in california which is ALOT of paper work. It's like writing a novel.

We went over farming, how to convert for sale buy owners to listings or into comission contracts if you bring them a buyer, open houses, internet marketing, Buying agent, selling agent, double-agency, mortgages, title, escrow, etc. I couldn't believe the wealth of info i got in 2 weeks. I still continue to do a few hours of class a week cause you can never know too much. Especially since things seem to change yearly.