Stephen Long has heard this excuse more than once. Did you get the home inspection report? Yes. Did you read it? Well, no, I did not open it. In this BIC TIP, the Notorious BIC explains why that strategy does not work: if it is in your inbox, you have to open it, and material…
Writing an offer is not a solo sport. In this BIC TIP, Stephen Long, who is both a broker-in-charge and a mortgage loan officer, reminds buyer agents to build a good relationship with the lender and to check in before the offer goes out. One of the most common mistakes he sees is asking for…
Artificial intelligence is everywhere in real estate right now. It writes listing descriptions, drafts emails, summarizes documents, and promises to save you hours every week. In this BIC TIP, Stephen Long offers a simple caution: AI is there to assist, not replace. Use it, but make sure you are the intelligent one in the room….
Buyer agents, do you like getting paid? Silly question. In this BIC TIP, Stephen Long shares a practical way to protect your compensation: get a Form 220 Confirmation of Compensation executed, and if you cannot get it signed before going under contract, attach it as an addendum to the Offer to Purchase and Contract. The…
Come on, baby, light my fire. Or at least light the pilot light. In this BIC TIP, Stephen Long tackles a question that lands on broker-in-charge desks every season: what are the seller’s obligations for utilities under the Offer to Purchase and Contract? The short answer is that the seller needs to turn on and…
The buyer walks in for the final walkthrough, looks around, and asks the question: where did all the furniture go? The listing said fully furnished. The flyer said fully furnished. Now the house is half empty. In this BIC TIP, Stephen Long explains why this happens and how to prevent it: if it is not…
Do you like your money? Would you rather keep it or hand it to the IRS? In this BIC TIP, Stephen Long shares what he calls one of the coolest things he knows in real estate: the capital gains exclusion on the sale of a primary residence. It is the only instance he is aware…
Directional signs are one of the oldest marketing tools in real estate, and they still work. But put one out at the wrong place or the wrong time, and it can disappear faster than a lowball offer. In this BIC TIP, Stephen Long reminds brokers to know your sign ordinance before you plant anything in…
Every spring, North Carolina brokers face the same two deadlines, and every spring somebody misses one of them. In this BIC TIP, Stephen Long, the Notorious BIC, keeps it simple: there are two huge things you need to do right now if you want to keep practicing real estate. Pay your license renewal fee and…
Finally, it is here. Stephen Long, The Notorious BIC, announces that May 15th marks the opening of the North Carolina real estate license renewal window. The Commission only allows renewal between May 15th and June 30th, so now is the time to act, and there is a big warning for firms tucked inside this tip….
What actually makes a bedroom? It sounds like an easy question, but Stephen Long, The Notorious BIC, points out that the North Carolina Real Estate Commission has no defined measurement of what makes a bedroom. Floor plans vary too much. That means brokers need to think carefully, and do their due diligence, before they put…
Listing agents, do you like money? Then this one is for you. Stephen Long, The Notorious BIC, has been fielding a lot of questions about how to complete the compensation section of the listing agreement. The paragraph has three key subsections, B, C, and D, and knowing what goes where is how you make sure…
