Thanks, Technical Reinforcements!

Now, THAT's Service

One of the biggest emergencies a Realtor can have is to have scheduled showings and a waiting client -- and no way to get into homes because their SmartKey is malfunctioning.

That wasn't quite my predicament late this afternoon -- my showings are scheduled for tomorrow morning -- but close enough.

James Allard at Technical Reinforcements arranged to be available by phone at 7:30 p.m. tonight, and remotely walked me through a problem with my proxy server setting ("proxy server what??") in less than 10 minutes.

Problem solved, showings saved.

Total cost?

$0 -- Technical Reinforcements doesn't charge existing clients (I am) for phone support.

All the company asks for in return is some positive word of mouth.

Done!

P.S.: the service I got was no fluke: Technical Reinforcements is the top-rated company on Angie's List locally for "Computer Repair & Services."

"Hut. Hut. Hut."

Quarterbacks, Football and Otherwise

"5897."

"T-Y-R"

"927-5201 "

"525-8800"

"377."

Brett Favre at the line of scrimmage?

Try, the listing agent (me) imparting to the Buyer the various house codes and contact information at the closing (my client, the Seller, was out-of-town, and had pre-signed).

Those numbers and codes (not the real numbers) correspond to: the code for the lockbox (left on the front door); the security system code; the Seller's new home number; their handyman's number (scheduled to do a repair, post-closing); and the code for the garage pad.

As I always like to say, "the listing agent is the quarterback of the deal."

Told "No," But Hearing "Yes"

Showing a Home
Without Permission

Showing a home without permission is a big MLS no-no: any Realtor caught doing it is automatically on the hook for a $1,000 fine.

But the operative word is "caught."

Unless the homeowner happens to be home, it's one of those transgressions that you'd guess frequently goes undetected.

And even if it is, it's up to the client to "press charges," with assistance from their Realtor.

That means filing an ethics complaint, and documenting the allegation with evidence that the showing was rejected, and that the listing agent's electronic lockbox was accessed by the offending Realtor (mechanical lockboxes generate no such log).

A certain Realtor active in the west 'burbs' is very lucky that I have especially gracious clients, and accepted an apology from him rather than having him fined $1,000 (he was showing multiple condo's in my client's building, and apparently, wanted his clients to see the full range of choices. When he unexpectedly found my clients home, he told them a baldfaced lie that he had a confirmed showing.)

P.S.: memo to MLS: I'd actually recommend a smaller fine; $1,000 is so draconian that I'm guessing many wronged home sellers (like mine) decline to impose it, or fear some kind of retribution if they do.

P.P.S.: want a guaranteed way out of paying that $1,000? Write an offer on the property.