Real Estate Industry Alert: How to Protect Yourself Against Class-Action Lawsuits

Guys, you've probably heard about the class-action lawsuits targeting realtor organizations, MLS groups, and large franchises.

The plaintiffs claim that they were unaware they were paying both their own fees and the buyer's fees. The lawsuits aim to either eliminate seller-paid brokerage fees or ensure transparent disclosure of these fees. While similar lawsuits have been filed in the past, these recent cases are gaining traction, resulting in settlements.

For instance, a New England MLS paid a 3 million settlement to resolve the issue.

This poses a significant challenge to our industry's business model, which has operated on the basis of sellers covering the REALTOR fees for decades. We may face a future where we have to approach buyers and inform them that they must pay their fees at closing and make a choice regarding representation. If they want me to represent them, we'll have a conversation, sign a document, and they'll agree to pay me a fee at closing if I successfully find a house they like. While lenders may offer financing options, it's not always straightforward.

Therefore, it's crucial that we initiate these conversations.

The first step is to develop a buyer presentation. Every time we meet a buyer for the first time, we should take a few minutes to show them how we work and explain our process, just like we do with sellers. At the end, we can ask for their loyalty and seal the agreement with a handshake.

This will help us become more comfortable discussing these matters with buyers. The next level would be to have buyers sign an exclusive buyer representation agreement, which may be required in some states. For those who haven't done it yet, I recommend pursuing the Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) designation. This program, which I taught for the National Association of REALTORS, will guide you through the process and prepare you for potential industry changes.

These lawsuits may trigger a significant shift in our industry within the next few years. It's important to think ahead and consider how we can adapt to potential changes. Let this information prompt you to think differently and become forward-looking in your approach.

*******
Why do Brokerage Owners, Office Leaders, Team Leaders, and Solo Agents choose Jim to be their coach?

+ 32 Years of Real Estate Sales, Management, and Coaching Experience
+ Top 1% REALTOR Himself (he has been in the trenches)
+ Opened his First Real Estate Company at 23
+ Grew his Real Estate Company to 17 Offices (largest in Oregon)
+ His Current Team Closed $1.4 Billion in Sales in One Year
+ He is a Current Real Trends Top 500 Broker

When you work with Jim there is no "team" of coaches - you are being trained by Jim and tapping his knowledge and experience.

When your office or team joins our brokerage coaching platform, every agent at your firm will tap into our training and coaching resources.

These benefits include:

20 Weeks of On-Demand Lead Generation Coaching: Access our extensive coaching program, offering daily guidance for 20 weeks, empowering your agents with proven lead generation strategies.

Extensive Downloads Library: Gain access to a vast collection of resources, including scripts, texts, emails, drip campaigns, checklists, systems, forms, and more, all designed to enhance your agents' productivity and success.

Marketing Assets: Stay at the forefront of real estate marketing with new social media and digital assets delivered to your team on a weekly basis, ensuring you have the latest tools and strategies to effectively reach your target audience.

Live Monday Coaching: Kickstart your week with our live Monday coaching sessions, where we deliver the biggest and brightest ideas in the industry. Gain invaluable insights and stay ahead of the curve.

Live Wednesday Coaching: Join our tech and marketing experts every Wednesday as they dive into the hottest real estate tech and trends. Discover innovative tools and strategies that will give your agents a competitive edge.

Live Friday Coaching: Tap into our live podcast series, where we interview some of the biggest names in the real estate industry. Learn from the best and gain inspiration from their success stories.

At eRealEstateCoach.com, we are committed to helping you and your team thrive. Productive agents become raving fans helping you attract the top talent in the industry.

Visit https://www.erealestatecoach2.com/explorecoaching to learn more.