Robert Schmalz's (eaton9) Blog

There have been a lot of posts and comments about strategic short sales. I heard about this first here on AR about 1 week ago and didn't know this was possible. In my market Santa Monica Real Estate I have not come across anything like this. I have handled one Brentwood House Short Sale and 3 San...

Why do I keep saying I am surprised by the actions of a rude and unprofessional agent. I keep posting about this and Active Rain is truly here for me as a catharsis.  It is a beautiful Saturday with a nip in the air and I have a full day of appointments with two clients. I thought it would be a g...

Dealing with agents is like drawing a lottery ball from the wheel of dreams. All we can hope for is to get the ball with an agents name that has some professionalism. When taking your buyer from Listing to Listing how nice is it to walk into a Brentwood Condo and it looks great. I asked the agent...

This is the second of two posts about a talk I gave concerning New vs. Old Marketing. Your comments are always appreciated and I have a power point presentation that I gave out that you can cut and copy for your own needs. Just send me an email at bob_schmalz@wlaregroup.com and I will get it righ...

I gave a speech at a conference on Santa Monica Real Estate at the Chamber recently. This is a an excerpt from that speech. Of course it does not only apply to me selling Santa Monica Houses , it involves all Real Estate;St Petersburg Condos and Albany Town Houses you name it, it is effected. It ...

This is why I love living in Southern California, on the West Side of Los Angeles. A Brentwood House for $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 no big deal. Santa Monica Condo for $8,000,000 with panoramic views , very nice but does not blow me away. Show me a Malibu mansion with views like this, now my breath...

You know if it wasn't so sad and it didn't cost me a sale on the buy side of a Santa Monica Condo , that cost $685,000, I would be laughing. Some of the agents are like watching the Keystone Cops, Laurel & Hardy and The Three Stooges all in one. This last deal fell through with; I believe his nam...

How many of you operate with a Buyers Exclusive Contract?  Will you start working for buyers before they sign one? How many are afraid of asking in these rough times? Most of all what is your comeback when you do ask and the buyers say they don't want to have an exclusive contract and that they w...

Good morning fellow AR members, maybe you can help me out here. I keep reading the great results that Active Rain has helped Brokers and Agents find clients. Some say clients found them on the Rain and others say there listings, promotions, and neighborhood posts have brought them clients. In the...

This is a second in a series I am posting that I am showing some of the graphics I utilize in my listing presentation. Once again please feel free to cut and paste for your own use. I made this one myself so there is no source I need to credit. If you have any probllems cutting and pasting send ...