What Makes a Realtor Worth the Commission He Charges?

Recently, while on Facebook, I got into a deep conversation/debate with a young man who decided to call my friend and Real Estate Broker Debbie Kueber of Coldwell Banker Kueber a liar. He did this because of his feelings over the fee that real estate professionals charge when they rent an apartment. I decided to reply to this young man. Below is what I wrote. I have changed HIS name in order to protect his identity.

Dear friends, I've been on both sides of the rental commission issue. At a point in my life, I was the one using a broker to find me an apartment, and I couldn't understand why I was paying him 10% of the yearly rent in the form of a fee (Charlie, that's more than a month buddy). Now that I am the one that helps people find apartments, I can shine some light on the WHY.

Dear Charlie L., since you decided to call Debbie Kueber a liar, I will address you first. There are some companies that charge a month's rent, and some that charge 10% or 15% of the yearly rent. There are some that charge less. There is no set industry price, because believe it or not Charlie, THAT IS ILLEGAL. There are also apartments out there that are O.P. apartments. Charlie knows everything so he must already know what that means so this is not for him. I am going to tell everyone else since NO ONE else is as smart as Charlie L. (sarcasm is so much fun). "O.P." stands for "OWNER PAYS." In many cases, the owner decides that our services are worth it for him/her to pay us a broker fee, at which point we get to pass the savings onto the renter. Don't celebrate just yet. This is usually the case for much higher end apartments (EXPENSIVE or LUXURY APARTMENTS).

Looking for apartments is stressful, time consuming and sometimes nothing more than a dead end for us Realtors. Remember that Realtors do not get paid a weekly salary. Friday is not payday for us. Yet we don't charge you a penny to put you in the car and take you to an apartment. We don't charge you a penny to speak to you and listen to your needs in order to find you an apartment or a home that will make you happy. We don't charge you a penny to take your phone call while in the middle of having dinner with our children so that we can help ease your apartment hunting worries. We don't charge you a penny to prepare your documents for the landlord, and to act like matchmakers, helping landlords and tenants find someone they can both love and trust. We don't charge you for the FULL DISCLOSURE we provide when helping you find that perfect apartment. We don't charge anything up front for our efforts, and in the end you may find a way to cut us out of the deal by either going with a different agent or finding an apartment on your own. It's OK, we wont hate you for that either. In the end, we charge a fee for the work we've put in, and we only collect if we produce a result for you, the client. Would you show up to your job knowing that you may or may not get paid in the end? That is exactly what Realtors do every day.

I find it funny that a person will go to the dentist, the mechanic, the movies, a bar, the barber, an attorney, a restaurant, etc. (notice the wide span of professions) and they will pay whatever that professional wants to charge, but they come to us and before they even shake our hand or say hello, they say they don't want to pay us. I've seen people happily spend $5 a day on Starbucks coffee, five times a week and twice on Sunday. Charlie L., that's about $1,820 a year but I'm sure you already did the math. Others spend just as much if not more on Lotto, cigarettes, etc. But they decide that paying the person that is helping you find a place to live is not worth it. WoW! That's because some people think that all Realtors do is show houses and apartments, and then we go back home to our mansion and a toilet made of solid gold... lol.

We don't just show houses and apartments. We are professional advisers, hunters, match makers, therapists, security experts, organizers, administrative assistants, tour guides, taxi drivers, resume builders, educators, personal assistants, image consultants, mediators, advertisers, interior decorators, marriage consultants, psychiatrists, marketers, counselors, and so many more things every single day we show up to work, and we do it all with the understanding that we may or may not get paid in the end.

BY THE WAY, if there are any landlords out there reading this, think about this conversation the next time you decide to rent the apartment on your own or sell your home on your own. Get ready for a few Charlie L. types to show up to your door. Not fun at all.

George L. Rosario
Real Estate Salesperson
Coldwell Banker Kueber
67-13 Myrtle Avenue
Glendale NY 11385
917-945-4211 -CELL
347-671-SOLD -Direct
BigGRealty@gmail.com

http://www.georgerosario.com/

$80,000,000 for a New York Coop? Bring it ON!

I read an interesting blog post about a record setting coop sale in New York City. After reading it, I felt it necessary to add to it in the form of a comment. Below is the link to the blog post and the comment I made to the post.

$80 MILLION CO-OP PRICING RECORD SET IN NEW YORK

There truly is no other place like my New York. We’ve seen many record breakers come out of our great city. While some outsiders will immediately state that they don’t think our real estate is worth the “astronomical” prices they sell for, the other 52,000,000+ outsiders who visit our city every year, many of them for the first time know what it feels like to step foot in this city. New York is a magical place that truly embodies the greatness of our nation. From the food, to the culture, to the art, to the shows, to the architecture, to the landmarks, to the healthy mix of locals and foreigners, to the uniqueness of the air all around us, this is absolutely the one place no one should ever keep off their bucket list. I could write a thousand line poem and still not be able to capture the romance of our city. I could write a thousand page essay on the sheer greatness of our skyline, and still sound illogical to anyone who’s never experienced it first hand. Yes, our real estate is priced much higher per square foot than any other major city in the US. Yes, our monthly rentals are higher than most mortgages in the rest of the world. But we are New Yorkers. We are happy to pay to be a part of the greatest city in the world. $80,000,000 does NOT scare our buyers away. Bring on the next one! We are ready!

Please tell me what you think about my comment. You can post a comment to my blog or you can email me your comments. Please excuse any typos you may find. I wrote this comment on my phone while riding the L train back home from the city. Thank you for reading.

	George L. Rosario Real Estate Salesperson, Coldwell Banker Kueber Phone: 718-628-0100 Mobile: 917-945-4211 Website: http://www.GeorgeRosario.com Address: 67-13 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale NY 11385

That Silver Lining... Singing In The Rain

I am an optimist. I believe that we can get some good out of everything and everyone that we come across. I get this from my grandmother. Yes, my parents are positive people. Yes, I make it a point to surround myself with positive people. There simply was no one more positive or optimistic than my grandmother. I think of her often, especially when life makes me want to quit, and I picture her pointing her wrinkled old finger at me and telling me to push through it. 

This brings me to a day like today. It is a cold, rainy November day here in New York. We have thunder, lightning and strong winds in the mix as well. I wish I could post some of the faces I've seen today. People get so grumpy in this weather. I saw so many slouched shoulders, wrinkled frowning foreheads, clenched fists, and annoyed grins, all on my way in to work. 

Those that hate this type of weather must hate me. The only time the rain bothers me is if I've planned a trip to the beach and have to cancel it. Other than that, the rain is my friend and one of the best business partners I've ever had. Yes, those that hate this weather absolutely detest me. 

How do I know I am hated on days like these? Well, because I am genuinely happy. I love this weather. I love what it does to my city. I love what it does for my professional life. I know that rainy days are productive days for my team. We get so much more done. We stay on track and make some of the best moves on days like these. How?

Think about it. When the weather is ideal for people to go for a stroll, many of them come by the office. Many of them are not real buyers, sellers or clients. The real to not-so-real ratio from walk-ins and appointments on "beautiful" days is about 3 out of 10. Rainy days are the total opposite. When it is "ugly" outside, 9 out of 10 walk-ins and appointments are solid. It is also easier to get to my appointments because the rain keeps most of the crazy, time wasting people indoors. The real buyers, the real sellers and those motivated to do business come out on days like these. All others cancel appointments because of the weather. That opens up the day and lets us handle real business. As for the 1 not so ready person who walks into the office on a day like this one, I use that motivation to turn him/her into a “very ready” buyer or seller. So yes, the "messy" weather is great for my business.

The next time you see someone smiling from ear to ear on a rainy day, ask if he/she is in real estate, or if they are in a client service based field. I bet if they are successful Realtors who value the time they spend with real clients, they will probably answer yes. 

As for me, I'm off to do a little singing.

George L. Rosario
Real Estate Salesperson
Coldwell Banker Kueber
917-945-4211 -CELL
718-628-0100 -Office
718-628-0399 -FAX
BigGRealty@gmail.com

www.GeorgeRosario.com

Serving the Greater NYC Area

Why do I exercise?

Everyone should exercise. So why don't more people choose to be healthy?

They truth is that unless we focus more on a reason for working out, and less on the act of working out itself, we may never see more people living more active, healthier lives.

So why do I exercise? Well, I will start off with 7 great reasons why I push myself to eat better, stay fit and live a healthier lifestyle which includes regular exercise. Those seven reasons which are at the top of the "why" list are in age order, George Jr. Christian, Isaiah, Justice, Antonio, Emmanuella and Evangelia. Those are my amazing children. They deserve a father that can participate in their lives. I can play ball, skateboard, dance, swim, play tag, climb trees, skip rope, wrestle, ride bike, master the monkey bars and do all the fun activities that children love to do. I am also taking out some insurance for a long life. I want to see my children grow. I want to be a part of their lives for as long as I can possibly can. So, I exercise.

This brings me to yet another 2 very important reasons why I exercise. As of Mid-December 2014, I will be a 42 year young grandfather to two grandsons. That's right! I am a grandfather. I don't want to be one of those grumpy, tired old men who shush their grandchildren whenever they laugh too loud. I want to be right next to them when people complain about US making too much noise. I need to be healthy to keep up with them.

So why am I posting this on my real estate blog? Well my dear friends, exercise has made my business a much more successful one. When other agents start losing steam and want to quit, I am just getting started. When other agents can't make the trip from point A to point B because they are too tired, I am already planning on making it to points C, D, E, F, etc. I don't quit because my body doesn't quit. I can outlast agents who are half my age. My mind is clearer, my body is more energetic and my goals are met!

Exercise also helps me stay focused and positive. When I start off my day with a 5 mile run, or an hour at the gym, I detox my brain and remove all those mental toxins that deter me from focusing. The mental clutter doesn't matter. All that matters is the next quarter mile, or the next rep, or the next press. I forget about the negativity that we sometimes (more often than I care for) face in our industry. I don't worry about the one that may not sell, or the one that went to someone else, or the deal that is taking too long to close. I am only focused on my physical goal. That is the best meditation for me.

I am an exercise junkie. I love it! It is definitely a lot cheaper than the other ways some people cope. I don't need to drown myself in drinks, or suck on a cigarette, or deposit God knows what stimulant into my body. I love the high I get when I complete my physical activity for the day.

Of course, as modest as I want to remain, there is no better compliment than that which I can give myself when I look in the mirror and love what I see. I am now 42, and in better shape than when I was 20. That is a great feeling.

These are just some of my reasons for exercising. They may be good enough for you. They may not make any sense to you. That's the beauty of exercise. Your "why" is yours and is designed to meet your needs. So go out there and find your "why", but please do it before it is too late.

679 Blue Ridge Dr, Medford, NY, 11763

679 Blue Ridge Dr, Medford, NY, 11763



If you like golf, tennis, fresh air, swimming pools, billiards, luxury, resort lifestyle, BBQs in the summer and great scenery in the winter, then you have to come see this property. An excellent find for anyone who wants to live the resort lifestyle without leaving New York and without having to sell an arm and a leg to afford it. If you have children, the school district is great! If you want to be close to the city while NOT being in the city, this property is great. Enjoy breakfast in your own quaint breakfast nook, or a quiet afternoon in your spacious den, or a wonderful family dinner in your formal dining room. Invite the family. Invite the friends. There is plenty of space for everyone who comes over. Do you have a lot of stuff? That's fine! This unit also has a storage unit that comes with it. Do you drive two cars? You get two parking spots with your unit. You will be living right on the golf course, overlooking the tee. What else can anyone who enjoys the finer things in life ask for?



Don't miss your chance to see this one. Isn't it time you started living life?

George L. Rosario

Real Estate Salesperson
Coldwell Banker Kueber Realty
67-13 Myrtle Avenue
Glendale, NY 11385

718-628-0100 OFFICE  

718-628-0399 FAX 
917-945-4211 CELL

http://www.coldwellbanker.com/website/glrosario