I have an REO Listing, Now What?

Having done a number of REO listings over the years, it is still a relatively new field for many of us. I am not an expert, I learn something new every day. Please keep in mind this is meant to be humorous!1 - Got an email today from my asset manager letting me know that I was selected to market and list their property. First though I have 24 hours to obtain an occupancy verification, gain interior access to get pictures, find out the HOA company information and any past due amounts, gain access to all the county records to do a quick search to see if any liens on the property, do a BPO on following that particular companies requirements, find out if there are any utilities on or other pertinent information that I need to pass on to my client. Oh, I best find out what the fees are for getting it switched over into my name along with the deposit required so I can make sure I have enough in my bank account to accept this listing and service it properly for by having all the utilities in my name and which I pay for (of course I get reimbursed as long as I turn in my bills and proof of payment in a timely manner and agree to wait for the payment - most of the companies I have chosen to work with pay very promptly - those that don't go on to find out agents).2 - Whew, got that all done, wait a minute, what are all these other tasks now? They weren't there a minute ago?? Oh, now I have to do a personal property evaluation form and they want pictures of each item (good thing I thought ahead and took pictures while I was doing the interior BPO pictures.) And what's this? Because I marked that the property was occupied, I have to now offer Cash For Keys? What are all these forms? I have another 24 hours to get this done? No problem, I will go back to the house, knock on the door and since I know the family is out I will leave the letter and my card in a envelope taped to their front door (don't forget the picture of that) and if they do answer, I will explain what I am offering and give them the number to the Loss Mitigation department if I have received that. I will set up a time within 2 weeks to a month to allow the occupant to find a new place to live and then I will meet him and get the keys if the property is left in clean condition.3 - Now that the home is vacant (trashed out if it was not an occupied property when I took it over), rekeyed the lock, made sure I had the right combination for the private contractor lock box and have placed a proper MLS lock box on the property, now I can notify my Asset Manager we are ready to rock and roll. Oops, I haven't gotten the listing agreement with the amount they are allowing me to market it at, so I have to remove the sign from the yard cause I can only put it up when I have a signed listing agreement. BUT I can keep the sign in the yard that says the home is in the process of pre-marketing and in case of emergency to contact me at a specific number. I don't accept any offers at this time, but I do keep a running tally of the names that call so that I can call them after I have gotten the listing in the MLS.• Are you wondering why I placed the MLS lock box on the house if there is a private lockbox? Well, I am blessed to have an association whose lockboxes keep track of who entered the property so I don't have to keep a running log of whose has called in to get the lock box code, my log is printed out weekly and placed in the file so when I do my monthly marketing report on that property I can give my AM the correct number of showings and in the meantime I've been able to call back for feedback to since the buyer's agents sometimes forget to call and give that. It's a team effort and I don't mind as I would expect it if I forgot to call and give feed back.4 - Well, now we have the listing agreement all taken care of and I am ready to MARKET AND SELL! First, I am going to go back to the property, make sure all the utilities are on, light bulbs are not burnt out, place a fragrance pot in a couple of rooms, set the air conditioning at about 80 in Summer at 65 in Winter so that when the home is shown, clients are not uncomfortable, I want them to think they are truly home so it will sell better. I am also going to place brochures on the counter, information about special financing and contacts for them to be able to call to see if they can help with the loan. I also leave my agency disclosure brochure, my cards, and if there is an HOA then I try to leave copies of at least the rules and regulations and contact information in case the client and other agent want to gather more information. I also want to make sure the yard looks good and if not I get the landscaper to mow it,5 - OK, the house is set up. I can go back to the office, or home since it is probably about 8 PM and put in MLS and call the people that have been calling about it since the in case of emergency sign went up.6 – Been a month, had 5 offers and they've all been turned down. When will people realize that the pricing is normally set within a realistic range and these 40% and 50% offers are not going to cut it, but I present all offers! I got a task from my asset manager that my Monthly Marketing Report (similar to a BPO) is due in 2 days. Oh I forgot to take pictures yesterday when I was over for my weekly checkup on the property, now I have to go get updated pictures and get them sent in with the new solds and listings that have happened in the last 30 days. Maybe they will lower the price, maybe they won't. My job is to get them the best price possible for the property, not price it at a give away amount! It takes a little maneuvering sometimes to get that right price. But they have lowered the price a little now, and so I go in and redo the MLS, redo the brochures, upload the new MLS to my asset manager, replenish the brochures at the property and call the people that have shown it to alert them to price drop.7 - Just got word after month two and another MMR (Monthly Marketing Report) that the price is down again. Wow, my phone is ringing off the hook from that ad I put in the paper. This price is really a great price and seems to be attracting a lot of attention. Listen to my efax tell me I have three faxes waiting, TERRIFIC, multiple offers on this property. But 2 of the agents didn't call to let me know they were submitting offers.8 - I start filling out the forms for the new offers, oh no, those two agents that didn't call me and just faxed over the offers did not include their contact information, no letter of preapproval on one, no proof of funds on the other, and I have no way to easily find their phone numbers. So I put everything off to the side, go into my MLS system to the agent roster and hope that the name that is scribbled on the last page where they signed it is legible and now I start calling the numbers to verify their contact information. I hope that since it is after hours, they have updated their cell number in the agent roster so I can contact them tonight and get this submitted. Great, it's 11 PM and I've got all these offers submitted in the system and I am closing up shop!9 - 1 PM the next day, I get an email from my AM, notify all parties involved we are in a multiple offer situation and to submit their highest and best offers by 5 PM the next day. Back on the phone, contact all agents and make the notifications and wait for the new paperwork. In the meantime made a notation in the MLS so that other agents will know what is going on and that they have to submit their highest and best by 5 PM the next day.10 - New offers are in - 1 at the same price and two updated ones and look there, three more new ones. And who said there were no multiple offers anymore. Way to go to all you agents out there with buyers!! Ok, all offers are submitted again, now I am off to bed and hey it's only 11:30 PM.11 - Start the next day off, excited cause I know that one of those offers is going to be accepted. Wow, locked up the office tonight and no emails, calls or information from my Asset Manager.12 - Day two - still no word13 - Day Three - I've gotten calls from agents wanting to know if I have heard anything yet. No, nothing yet,14 - Day Four - Yeah, an email! Offers 1,2,3,5 and 6 are rejected. Offer 4 is accepted with the counter proposal paperwork and all addendum's attached. I notify all the rejected agents that their offers have been rejected, I call agent with offer 4 and let them know that I am forwarding the paperwork for review and signatures and I have 24 hours to get it back to my asset manager. Mind you, offer was an all cash offer, but had a couple of contingencies on it and offer 4 was the same price, all cash but no contingencies. The bank accepted the easiest one with a quicker close date as the only counter proposal. Mind you offer 2 was higher than all of them, but was a conventional loan with 10% down.15 - Day Five = Got a call back from the agent with offer 4, his buyer has decided that he is not willing to meet the contingency with the new closing date and has chosen not to sign anything. He had given his highest and best offer! Back to the drawing board. To cut a long story short, we were able to get Offer 5 resurrected and put on the agenda to close. Got everything to lawyers, agents, etc. set up closing date in 2 weeks. I am all smiles!!16 - Day before closing, I get a call from the sellers attorney that the deed had not been recorded yet and we are not able to get the closing done in time because the deed is still in transit and it will be a few more days. Ok, no problem!! I call the buyer's agent and alert them and suggest we get an extension signed for 10 - 15 days or earlier, make sure the buyer's attorney has been notified and wait this out.17 - My asset manager calls me, they never call me they only email me this is scary, and ask if I can help the process along by going to the courthouse and seeing if there is anything I can do to walk the deed through for signatures. Ok, sure I will be happy to. I've learned, don't upset the people at the Recorder's office and don't upset the people at the Master In Equity office. I do my due diligence, find that the deed is actually at the recorder's office, they are recording it as I stand there, I go back to the office, call my asset manager and I am a hero!!16 - Ok, closing is just a couple of days late, but that's ok. Now I have to get all the lock boxes off the property, remove all the information from inside, pick up my sign and call and have all the utilities removed out of my name. I then have to get the utilities to send me an expedited bill as I only have 10 days after closing to get ALL bills submitted for payment.17 - Closing is done!!! Check is in my hand!!! Whew, that was good!18 - 30 days have gone by, I still haven't received my check for my utility payments, collection call made.19 - Oh look, three new listings just came across the email - and I wanted to be an REO agent WHY???The above is purely HUMOROUS only! I love what I do and it is an exciting business. I meet great people and have wonderful experiences to share. Please though, if you are thinking of becoming an REO agent, do your due diligence and research. Understand that your asset manager and banks have guidelines they must follow and you have guidelines you must follow. It is your responsibility that you are legal and ethical in everything that you do. If you are a member of a local, state and National Association of REALTORS you have a Code of Ethics that you must follow and you need to make sure that you keep yourself AND your asset manager out of trouble. Your biggest job outside of marketing and selling that property is to make your asset manager's job easier so they can get the other 200 files on their desk completed a little faster, and they will remember you and the extra efforts you did to help get the property sold AND closed.Remember, when the closing is done, send your thank you cards to everyone and include that Asset Manager also. They may have missed their bonus because of the delayed closing and they may need a little smile to cheer them up to help remember you on the next go round of properties in your area.Under Promise, over supply and as always - Have A Better Than Great Day!!
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Comments

  • Thanks for the post! I am new to the industry with only a handful of REO listings - and I enjoyed every minute of each "mess" I was in. Glad to see you enjoy the excitement and I am happy to see I am not the only one.
  • Great blog! Very informative.
  • Beth,
    This was a great reminder to ME that I am not the only one dealing with the sometimes "behind the scenes drama". But, the variations in each transaction is what makes this world or REOs fun, exciting and challenging!! I LOVE IT!! Great summarization; thanks for sharing.
  • A day in the life of an REO agent! Wow! No wonder I am so tired at the end of the day! Every transaction has its own specific personality too.
  • Hi Beth, I received my first 3 REO in one day, all at the same time. And the beginning process went exactly like you stated. I've learned to take photos whenever I visit the property. I've also learned to prioritize my day when I'm dealing with these. Yes they do take up a lot of time initially, but the contacts that come from them are so worth it.
  • Beth, this was a great post! I love that you kinda "glossed-over" what we do as REO agents. LOL! I've wanted to write a post like this but never thought I would have the time to actually finish it. Since you wrote it, I'll just comment on it! :) I always try to help agents break into the REO industry and I love helping people, but so many "see the glory, but don't know the story". I actually partner with an asset manager to train agents in REO basics, but until you experience the stress of deadline after deadline, after deadline, after deadline, to net an average of 2.1% commission in a good month, you really can't appreciate it. And in the end, you summed it up perfectly...always over-deliver. I hope EVERYONE reads this post.
    Much success to all.
  • Great blog!!!
  • Hello Beth. I like the end of your blog that reminds us that we need to send "thank you" notes and cards to the AM's and Pre-marketing team that prepares us for the assignment. We tend to get so busy with closing out the transaction that we forget to say thank you. It goes the same for a buyer that chooses you out of a host of other agents. Thank you.
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