Coldwell Banker getting sued over affiliate companies.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by cbottger

No James I would not consider that a marketing skill but you don't hear me putting down a whole organization because of what a few un-ethical people within an organization choose to do.

When that organization does something to prohibit it, it will be worthy of defense. Until then, while it turns and looks the other way, it is a part of the problem.

Frankly, I am thankful for their actions. I need actual cases of such things to cite as I try to shift the local public's attention toward the misdeeds of the real estate salesmen who are attempting to control home inspectors through legislation.

[jbreazeale]

Well, hell, and gee golly James....I think I have found something I agree with you on! I'm still for licensing. Just not for realtor-written legislation that allows them to get around their own COE (as yes, Coldwell Banker has been doing).

Just for the record for anyone concerned...I'm not anti-agent at all. I know a number of them who are straight arrows. Several I'd trust with my dog. But agents have too much power in the process, whether you live in a licensed state or not.

[Nick Gromicko]

There is a BIG difference between paying a phone company to be in a telephone book and paying a REALTOR who has a fiduciary duty to their client to not only avoid conflict of interest and recommend the best inspectors based on merit, not based on which inspector paid them the most... but also has a duty to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest.

A phone company does not have a principal/client relationship (they are not paid by you to represent your interests) like a lawyer or buyers-agent does and so does not have any interests that conflict.

Some states and home inspector licensing boards specifically prohibit inspectors from participating in preferred vendor schemes. None specifically permit it. None that prohibited it ever went back to permitting it. At least 3 different legislation for state licenting prohibits it. A business ethics expert who has given NACHI TV an interview says it is unethical. Principal/agent common law prohibits it. NAR's COE prohibits it. NACHI prohibits it. ASHI prohibits it.... Scumbag NAHI permits such bribes.

[Jeremiah Anderson]

I receive referrals from Realtors who work out of Coldwell Banker Burnet brokerage offices in Minnesota and I'm not on any preferred list.

Must be one or two offices doing this here

[Blaine Wiley]

Originally Posted by gromicko

There is a BIG difference between paying a phone company to be in a telephone book and paying a REALTOR who has a fiduciary duty to their client to not only avoid conflict of interest and recommend the best inspectors based on merit, not based on which inspector paid them the most... but also has a duty to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest.

Very true, however in my many years I have met very few Realtors who had a clue about what a good inspection is. Ask the average agent and often they will tell you it is their job to "get the best deal" for their buyers, therefore they are very price conscious. Thus, the newer, cheaper inspector is often the choice, rather than the more experienced, more educated inspector that charges 50 or 100 bucks more. I don't believe there is much training for Realtors on how to find the best inspectors. The Realtors often choose the WDO companies here that provide free inspections and provide treatments, rather than the guy that charges $75 and doesn't do treatments. Is that finding the best for the client, or the cheapest?

I've answered the phone many times over the years and simply been asked "what do you charge for..." When I answer, do you want the cheapest, or the best, the answer is invariably....both.

I have two Coldwell Banker franchises in my area with several offices. The only thing I've ever been asked to do to place brochures in any of their offices is to provide them a copy of my license. I can't say the same for some of the smaller independent "Mom and Pop" operations.

[David A. Andersen]

I have been blessed!
Of all the Realtors I have worked with in the Nashville, TN area in the past 11 years, only 1% of them were not professional and caring Realtors.
I guess that is why I drive so far to keep servicing this area of the state! These agents come from some 20 RE Offices (not just CB).

Yes Jim, it's all referral!
But in this case, all the good agents are doing the referrals to other good agents. RE Offices call me annually to update my information and put me on a list. My name has only been put on a list when nominated by one of their agents. I also get on a list when I am asked to provide training at a RE Meeting/function.

There are hundreds of agents in the area and I only work with a select few (about 60), but I have seemed to have attracted the best of the best. They make my life pleasant.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dandersen

Of all the Realtors I have worked with in the Nashville, TN area in the past 11 years, only 1% of them were not professional and caring Realtors.

Assuming that the above statement is correct...

There are hundreds of agents in the area and I only work with a select few (about 60), but I have seemed to have attracted the best of the best.

...then what does this mean? 60 out of "hundreds" is considerably less than 99%.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by bwiley

Ask the average agent and often they will tell you it is their job to "get the best deal" for their buyers, therefore they are very price conscious.

I agree that there is a method to this madness beyond saving money.

Your cheapest inspector will not be your most experienced. He will, however, often be your most desperate and in need of business. I would guess that the desire for future referrals would weigh heavily on his mind as he worded certain conditions in his report.

Low fees depend upon volume, which the unscrupulous salesman could promise the author of soft reports.

Of course, no one who frequents this message board would ever, ever consider doing anything like that just to make money.

[John McKenna]

Realtors and Inspectors make bad example when they
work together to serve each other, instead of their Client.

http://realtytimes.com/rtapages/2006...ctorethics.htm

This article relates to Nicks original post with this link

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...EG6MOEHFL1.DTL

[David A. Andersen]

How about when the Realtor and Inspector work together to better serve the client? It must be bad, just because!

[David A. Andersen]

Assuming that the above statement is correct...

Why would you *****ume anything else, Oh yea, I forgot who I'm talking with.

...then what does this mean? 60 out of "hundreds" is considerably less than 99%.

Did you go to the school of moron?
99% of the Agents I've worked with. I only work with about 60 on a regular basis. You can screw up about anything can't you?

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dandersen

Why would you *****ume anything else, Oh yea, I forgot who I'm talking with.



Did you go to the school of moron?
99% of the Agents I've worked with. I only work with about 60 on a regular basis. You can screw up about anything can't you?

Me thinks you dost protest too much.