just got a request for a $45 interior....didn't know that i worked for free....geez what is wrong with these companies? i have been doing this for 8 years and this is getting absured....

The person in my area who accepted a hyper-rush drive-by for less than $85 needs a beating!

8 years....that speaks for itself. There are a lot of people that have jumped on the bandwagon in the past few years (just in time to clean up after the party) and may believe that 45 is the norm or perhaps it's that when one is starving to death even a bug looks like a feast. (Survivorman or Man vs Wild) The business world works based on the supply and demand balance. Right now there's an oversupply of hungry agents in relation to the number of BPOs. Hence, blast emails and folks scrambling for them, mills dropping their fees and folks scrambling for the crumbs, obnoxious QC jerks and those that tolerate it (whine but return). My average drive by is about $55.00, low by some standards, huge by other standards, but acceptable by my standards. Acceptable since they're all with listing clients. Now if my business starts to go up in smoke, maybe bugs will take on a new flavor. From another perspective, most of my listing clients need a second opinion. Would I rather have that second performed by another agent that's a strong lister or by a mill groupie? They do serve a purpose.

Desperate people do desperate things. Our local board went from 1600 agents in 2006 to about 400 now. It is the nature of the beast.

Those who can weather the storm will be rewarded on the other end. It is not pleasant when it is happening but, for those agents who are between a rock and a hard place, I believe they will only be able to postpone not reverse what is going on for them. When they are finally forced to give up MLS access etc., due to expense, things will start to turn around for the mills and the BPOers as far as compensation.

Just as many agents will be kicked to the curb some of the mills will be as well. It is the way a free market system works and while it may not be the optimal system it is the best we as humans have been able to come up with at this point in our evolution. (I think we have advanced faster than we have evolved).

IMHO It is a function of the employment market. Those who left jobs to get into RE have found that they have no options to get a job again due to the current economic climate.

Someday REO companies will give full commissions on listings but that is probably far in the future. Just as BPO compensation will come back but not for a while. I find it hard to judge those who are in that desperate situation. I know it is making it hard for others but they are just trying to hang on.

I am reminded of that every time I approach an occupant for a CFK. There but for the grace of God (however you may define yours) go I.

I am a firm believer that you should never take away someone elses hope as it may be all they have left.

Try to be kinder than necessary to those who are less fortunate than we have been. It will not make your rates go up in the short term but it may buy you a lot of good Karma. Just IMHO.

Let me not judge another person until I have walked a mile in their shoes.

Thanks Grampa...

I joined this forum for information.

But I have found ....something..... more.

Grampa

Thank you .......This post was much needed. Last Thanksgivig, I started a project with portions of this post in mind. I never intended to get anything in return....just wanted to help. It's unreal for some of the positve things I've received since then......I'm going back after it at the end of this month. Thanks again........It just warmed my heart.

Well said Grampa thank you!

Grampa,
I've always followed your post, I don't know you and I don't have to, I just feel that they are written from someone with wisdom and compassion. I'm a firm believer of a greater blessing on being a giver rather than a taker, and I think you know that principle too. As far as my own experience, yes I've been there, I had to wear those shoes and walk a road that I didn't want and that noone would, but when you have a family to support and no more choices then guess what??? you do it. I've known successful REO brokers that are even in a worse situation, they get paid nothing just to gain some business from the Lender/AM. I love what I do and try to improve and better it everyday, I started my REO biz less than 2 years ago so far I have 3 REO accounts and many BPO mills. and planning to grow as many on this forum. God bless you all!!!

Grampa - What you can run into in this biz saddens me sometimes.

I was inside a new REO assignment on Saturday to evaluate it and take photos for the BPO. Hanging on the door to one of the bedrooms was a birthday card to a daughter that had written something like "I'm sorry I cannot afford to buy you a nice present".

That really puts a human face to the present economic climate when a child's birthday has to be skipped due to a $ CRUNCH.

If I turned you down the first 10 times you sent the order to me do you think I am gonna say yes? The fee is still $45 and I still am saying NO! Seriously....you think they would catch on....

dawn, what company are you talking about? There are many doing this so it would help so we can move this to the appropriate thread.

ort