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easyfoodnetwork · 4 years

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It’s Time for the Hospitality Industry to Listen to Black Women

History shows us that the novel coronavirus will impact black women restaurateurs, and their businesses, much harder

Before the pandemic, our nation was in the early stages of battling an epidemic that plagued our beloved hospitality industry: the biased structural policies, born out of our country’s legacy of racism that guaranteed that black Americans would continuously work at a deficit. Painfully honest conversations — dissecting the ways in which decades of systematic racial and gender inequality festered in the industry — had finally begun to gain traction in on- and offline spaces. But, collectively, we’d barely broken through the dysfunctional infrastructure that allowed certain groups to fail harder and faster when COVID-19 struck.

Chef Deborah VanTrece was ringing the alarm prior to the coronavirus pandemic. She regularly brought discussions of industry inequality to the table through her dinner-and-conversation series that centers black women in hospitality. “It was something that we had just started talking about at Cast Iron Chronicles, and a lot of other chefs were talking about it,” says VanTrece, owner of Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours in Atlanta. “But the conversation wasn’t finished. It still isn’t.”

“As much as we’ve accomplished, I still feel isolated and that I am by myself. I don’t think any of us should feel that way. We should be checking on each other. It’s like [coronavirus] happened and every man for himself,” VanTrece says. “And when I think about it, we were pretty much like that in the first place; that’s why it’s so easy for it to continue now.” Isolation has become a theme in our shared new normal of stay-at-home orders, but what VanTrece is describing is a sentiment long echoed by black women in the industry. Yet seeing the divide continue during these times is heartbreaking for VanTrece. “If we were ever needing to be one, it’s now. We need to be one.”

Black and brown voices are largely excluded from overarching conversations that will define the future of our industry

As we grapple with lives lost and the magnitude of devastation caused by novel coronavirus, accountability and transparency seem to be overshadowed by crisis-led pivots while we brace ourselves for what’s to come. And yet again, black and brown voices are largely excluded from policymaking and overarching conversations that will define the future of our industry. In the face of this pandemic, some may say the pursuit of equality has been railroaded, maybe even understandably so. Others see the crisis as a hopeful confirmation that institutional change is inevitable. Because if not now, when?

In order to know where we are going, we have to understand where we’ve been. Black restaurant owners, black women especially, are in a more precarious position from the get-go. According to the latest figures, from 2017, black women were paid 61 cents for every dollar paid to their white male counterparts, making wealth generation much more difficult. And while one in six restaurant workers live below the poverty line, African Americans are paid the least. Access to capital has been a steady barrier of entry, especially for black women. Black- and brown-owned businesses are three times as likely to be denied loans, and those that are approved often receive lower loan amounts and pay higher interest rates. For a population more likely to rent than other demographics, offering up real estate as collateral for traditional loans isn’t an option. And even for those who own a home, the lasting effects of redlining, predatory and discriminatory lending practices, and low home valuations are palpable.

In other words, the wealth gap, combined with a lack of access to traditional loans and investors for start-up capital, puts black women at a disadvantage before they even open the doors of their restaurants. “A lot of us have had to build our businesses from scratch, and that may be through personal savings and loans, through family members, credit cards, or we have refinanced our homes,” says chef Evelyn Shelton, owner of Evelyn’s Food Love, a cafe serving comfort food in Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood. “We are in uniquely different positions when we start, which makes where we are now even more difficult.”

In the East Bay, chef Fernay McPherson, owner of Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement, a food truck turned brick-and-mortar now located in the Emeryville Public Market food hall, is offering a limited carryout menu in an effort to keep her staff afloat, noting that some are single parents. “I was a single mother, so it’s a lot to take in when you’re thinking, ‘How am I going to feed my child? How am I going to make rent?’” During the Great Recession, McPherson was laid off and had to short-sell her home. She started Minnie Bell’s in 2009, as a catering company, while also working full-time as a transit operator in San Francisco. “It was hard being a mom, driving a bus, and trying to operate a business. It was a lot on me. And my decision was me. To work for me.”

Working multiple jobs is a necessary for many entrepreneurs whose bootstraps are shorter to begin with, says Lauren Amos, director of small-business development at Build Bronzeville, a Chicago incubator that advocates for South Side business owners. “We’re talking about people literally working a full-time job, supporting themselves and their family while still pursuing this dream of opening a business,” she says. “And they’re doing it out of their own physical pocket.”

McPherson, a San Francisco Chronicle 2017 Rising Star Chef, says it was tough getting a job in the restaurant industry after culinary school. “I came into a white, male-dominated field and I was a young, black woman that wasn’t given a chance. My first opportunity was from another black woman and I worked in her restaurant.” Access to a solid professional network, including mentors, is absolutely as vital as access to capital — social capital is another part of the ecosystem, and can be a bridge to resources necessary for growth. But without the right connections, strong networks may be hard to plug into, and exclusion from these networks can have a stifling effect on one’s career.

McPherson has steadily established a solid network over the years. Now, she’s envisioning what her post-pandemic future will look like, including a possible alliance with other women chef-owners. “We’re talking about collectively developing our own restaurant group, in a sense, where we can build a fund for each member, build benefits for our employees, and build career opportunities,” she says.

In coming weeks and months, people in many industries will be taking stock of what could have been done better. But for now, McPherson’s most pressing need is capital to be able to restart.

Studies show that African-American communities were hit hardest by the Great Recession. According to the Social Science Research Council, black households lost 40 percent of wealth during the recession and have not recovered, but white households did. Unemployment caused by the recession disproportionately affected black women, a double-edged sword for many of whom worked lower-wage jobs that relied on tips. The costs of these disparities are far reaching. Six years after a defunct grocery chain shut its doors, creating a food desert in the Chicago South Side neighborhood of South Shore, a new grocery store finally opened — just last December — a few months before the pandemic.

Black communities are undervalued. “Mom-and-pop,” a term of endearment that acknowledges the fortitude and nobility in owning a small business, is rarely applied to black-owned businesses. Racial discrimination and biased perceptions of black-owned restaurants in black communities costs them billions of dollars in lost revenue. Disinvestment in these communities sets the landscape for quick-service restaurant chains to flourish, as professor Marcia Chatelain eloquently lays out in Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, all of which presents added pressure for the competing independent restaurant owners, whose margins are already miniscule.

“We’re truly hanging on by a thin thread,” Shelton says. She encourages local legislators to call on neighborhood restaurants and caterers to feed people who are food insecure, as well as individuals at the 3,000-patient field hospital erected at McCormick Place, the Chicago convention center that already houses Shelton’s now-closed second location. Meanwhile, Shelton regularly delivers meals to the ER staff at a neighboring hospital, paid for out of her own pocket.

Disparities in restaurants are emblematic of the nation. Indicators show that African-American communities are hit the hardest by COVID-19. ProPublica sums it up: “Environmental, economic, and political factors have compounded for generations, putting black people at higher risk of chronic conditions that leave lungs weak and immune systems vulnerable: asthma, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.” And a lack of access to quality health care means the novel coronavirus has the potential to disproportionately decimate black communities, and the independent restaurants within them, if adequate support is not provided.

History shows us that the most vulnerable are left behind, and a similar pattern will likely occur post-pandemic. “The difference is the ability to be able to bounce back,” says Build Bronzeville’s Amos. When the pandemic hit, her organization swiftly aligned with other South Side organizations to urgently deliver vital information to small-business owners through grassroots efforts. “This is not a drill. Now is the time for all of us who want to be resource providers and boil it down for people,” Amos says.

Recognizing that communities with the most funding will have the greatest chance for survival, Amos leverages her relationships and personally calls and sends texts to restaurateurs conveying time-sensitive information like grant deadlines — she has become a lifeline for vulnerable small-business owners during this critical time. Amos has also extended assistance to Dining at a Distance, a delivery and takeout directory, after noticing its site had robust coverage of hot spots in the city, but little representation of South Side restaurants. Amos became a link and added a slew of South Side restaurants to the platform, noting that consumer-facing exposure is urgently needed. “A grim reality is that we have to capture these dining-out dollars now,” she says, “because there will come a point where people will stop ordering out because it just won’t be fiscally responsible for them to do so.”

As we envision a new path for the hospitality industry, black women must be central to the conversation: Their journeys hold wisdom that is widely absent from in-depth studies and data. And there’s no better industry to lead change than one known for breaking bread.

To support her community and staff, VanTrece has launched a pay-what-you-can menu at Twisted Soul, thinking of the model as a fundraiser of sorts. “This is a whole new pricing structure. You’re not pricing to pay the bills and pay the rent,” says VanTrece, whose landlord told her she wouldn’t have to pay a late fee on her rent, which is $10,000 a month. In addition to cashing in her credit card points for gift cards for her staff, she’s turned her restaurant into a hub where they can quickly grab necessities like a hot meal and toilet paper. It’s a service most of her team participates in. “But then I have some that are just scared,” she says. “They don’t want to come and I can’t blame them.”

On a recent Friday, a carryout fish fry was on VanTrece’s menu, a reminder of the ones she grew up going to during better days. She looks to the past for guidance often. “At Cast Iron, we always talked about the strength and the tenacity of our forefathers, and I’m calling upon that strength now to keep me putting one foot in front of the other, because there are times I just want to roll over,” she says. “And I can’t do that. I fought to get this far and I’m going to continue to fight through this.”

Angela Burke is a food writer and the creator of Black Food & Beverage, a site that amplifies the voices of black food and beverage professionals. Shannon Wright is an illustrator and cartoonist based out of Richmond, Virginia.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/3bi4741 https://ift.tt/3bj5Juk

History shows us that the novel coronavirus will impact black women restaurateurs, and their businesses, much harder

Black and brown voices are largely excluded from overarching conversations that will define the future of our industry

In coming weeks and months, people in many industries will be taking stock of what could have been done better. But for now, McPherson’s most pressing need is capital to be able to restart.

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cathrynstreich · 5 years

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Coronavirus: How Brokers Are Responding and Adapting

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all industries, including real estate, pushing brokerages to adapt new methods of communication and transaction processes, and create contingency plans and precautionary steps to keep everyone healthy.

Brokers and agents are having to react quickly. Like everyone, Rett Harmon, principal and REALTOR® with CENTURY 21 Novus Rettro Group in Georgia, is figuring it out day by day.

“Nobody knows what to do,” says Harmon. “We are all trying to protect everyone we work with and their families. There is no exact procedure for handling something like this. I think everyone is erring on the side of caution.”

What’s changed since the emergence of the virus? On the surface, the markets remain active. Interest rates are at historic lows and several brokers and agents have been managing multiple offers in the last week.

“Overall, demand remains strong across our footprint,” says Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate in the Pacific Northwest. “So far, we have seen a continuation of the robust spring market with low inventory and, as a result, have seen little effect on how quickly a home sells, which does put pressure on buyers to see homes and make offers on homes that pique their interest.”

There is one, segment, however that has been noticeably impacted: sellers. With each passing day, the environment shifts a little more.

Ali Berry, broker/owner of Quest Realty in Michigan, says that he’s started to see a good amount of people who want to wait to list. Their primary concern? Having strangers walk through their home and unknowingly spread the virus.

“I think we will have a lot of people that are reluctant to list their home until things really blow over, which will further increase the lack of supply, creating an even hotter seller’s market for those that do list now,” says Berry.

Harmon agrees that COVID-19 is impacting sellers the most, slowing down showings and open houses, as well as other in-person meetings.

“Their kids are also home,” says Harmon, “and sellers are paranoid about the germs. It’s the same with listing appointments.”

As with anything, however, there’s a spectrum, says LP Finn, operating officer of Coach Realtors®, which spans from Queens to Suffolk County, N.Y.

“The impact is noticeable on many fronts, and I think we’re seeing that with our sellers. Homeowners on one end of the spectrum are very concerned, while the other end is saying, ‘Bring on the buyers,'” says Finn. “We also have the same kind of spectrum with our agents.”

The buzz phrase right now is “social distancing.” What does that mean for an industry that thrives from in-person interactions?

Social distancing is the best way to slow the spread of the virus and “flatten the curve” so that the healthcare system can manage the number of people who are sick at one time, according to health experts.

“Social distancing is becoming our new norm,” says Matt Dolan, managing broker of Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty in Massachusetts. “We are taking extra precautions to stay healthy and developing specific protocols for our line of work.”

Even office-level interactions, however, have been sparse as a precaution.

“We have asked our agents to work remotely as often as possible, scheduled our team meetings to be hosted via video conference and we have also asked our brokerage, escrow and lenders to utilize DocuSign when acceptable,” says Gil Torres, broker/owner of Exclusive Realty & Mortgage, based in West Sacramento, Calif.

Most brokerages have recommended that their agents work remotely, if possible.

“With any situation in real estate, it’s important to plan for all potential outcomes, yet have the flexibility needed to be nimble as things change,” says Scott. “We’ve been working closely across departments and keeping in touch with our office leadership and brokers to understand the current situation and anticipate future needs. Above all, we are ensuring our plans and recommendations are in alignment with current Department of Health guidelines and our brokers’ needs.”

How are brokers shifting their business model during this time?

Finn says it’s simply about modifying the business.

“We are working on a three-part plan: people, production, prudence,” says Finn. “With step one, we’re really trying to show care and concern for people when working with them. We ask ourselves, ‘How can we accommodate their feelings?’ because we have a responsibility to them.”

In terms of production, Finn is proactively increasing engagement between upper management and the leadership team, and between the leadership team and agents, to create an open flow of dialogue.

“Prudence—this is more internal, but we have to make prudent business decisions that will allow us to weather storms and protect our company—all while not reducing service or our fiduciary responsibility to our sellers for as long as we can,” says Finn.

Dolan is taking a similar approach, focusing on three things as well: safety, technology and experience.

“Safety comes first. We are taking precautionary measures to protect our clients and other industry professionals,” says Dolan.

Then, as health guidelines necessitate less in-person contact, staying connected via technology and social media is more critical than ever. Agents are relying more heavily on automated programs that help them manage the increased need to engage with clients and prospects virtually. RISMedia’s ACESocial program, for example, has seen an increase in demand as real estate professionals seek to increase their role as a trusted advisor and information source in this uncertain time.

“Technology is coming to the forefront,” says Dolan. “We are using technology and providing creative solutions to bring new options to buyers and sellers. And experience—in difficult times, we lean on our learned knowledge and apply it to these new challenges.”

Daniel de la Vega, president of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty in South Florida, agrees that brokerages should keep supporting agents and clients as much as they can—and for this, technology is the answer.

“We have the technology, tools and culture to ensure we don’t miss a beat,” says de la Vega. “We are leveraging technology, including our in-house digital texting assistant, OTTO, so agents can easily text with any questions that might arise.”

What does this mean for showings and open houses?

Brokerages across the U.S. are taking steps to prevent the spread of the virus during open houses and showings, whether by holding virtual open houses, scheduling appointments, disinfecting before and after or canceling them altogether.

Dolan says he is being extra vigilant about wiping down surfaces, doorknobs, cabinet pulls, etc., and asking prospective buyers to remove their shoes upon entering a property.

“When driving clients in our cars, we are extra mindful of cleaning off seats and disinfecting surfaces,” says Dolan, adding that, ideally, clients are driving their own cars.

Melinda Estridge, owner of the Estridge Group at Long & Foster Real Estate in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, has been bringing Clorox wipes to her open houses, also wiping down counters and doorknobs before and after the open houses.

“I think there may be more of an issue in the coming weeks,” says Estridge, “but if a buyer views a house with an agent and they use plastic gloves to open doors, etc., then there should be no threat to a buyer being exposed.”

“This past weekend we had open houses via appointment in 20-minute windows,” says Finn. “People could come see the house, but they had to make an appointment online or through the office.”

Harmon is also taking greater advantage of social media, reporting that some agents have been doing live Facebook videos of a property instead of holding public open houses. So far, they’ve had a good response.

Scott says his brokerage has added a new addendum to listing agreements that addresses open house and showing concerns.

“Should a seller choose to move forward with an open house, they can select a public open house or private showings,” says Scott. “For the former, this open house would be a metered open house, only allowing small groups to enter the home at one time.”

Scott says these measures will help ensure that only serious buyers are allowed into a home and that the homeowners and agent are more protected.

Many areas have opted to cancel all open houses out of an abundance of caution. Westside Estate Agency sent a message to all agents, for example, briefing them on a new policy to discontinue open houses for the time being. In San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, Sotheby’s International Realty asked its agents to cancel all open houses following a health directive that prohibits any gatherings that bring together 10 or more individuals at the same time, in a single confined space, according to an email sent to RISMedia.

Virtual options are becoming more commonplace.

Mariana Pappalardo, team leader of the Mariana Pappalardo Group at Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, based in San Carlos, Calif., is leaning on a virtual tour app called Yaza.

“I’m trying not to feed into the fear,” says Pappalardo. “We just get as many tours on Yaza so our customers can start touring the properties right away. I recommend that agents collect content and share it with everyone who isn’t able to go to an open house or showing.”

Peter Sisson, CEO and co-founder of Yaza, says he saw a sudden change this past weekend, particularly in reference to Sotheby’s International Realty’s decision to cancel open houses.

“Lots of agents are wondering how they will be able to stay on the job and earn a living without putting themselves, friends and family at risk,” says Sisson. “With Yaza, the agent records narrated showings once and then the homebuyers tour houses in the app from the safety of their homes. This way, they only need to visit properties if they know they want to make an offer.”

Other companies, such as Propy, a virtual closing software platform, and Ideal Properties Group, a NYC brokerage, have been providing online services that can help agents continue working with buyers and sellers without causing too much disruption, all while ensuring they stay healthy.

“Showings on Demand is Ideal Properties Group’s way of addressing the current need of our associates, customers and clients,” says Aleksandra Scepanovic, managing director of Ideal Properties Group. “We are acutely aware of everyone’s need to minimize social exposure and congregation. By scheduling, organizing and hosting showings and open houses one-on-zero (agents will be broadcasting from a home to a virtual audience), agents continue to have an ability to service their clients.”

Natalia Karayaneva, CEO of Propy, says she’s observed a noticeable impact to the industry and a trend toward online collaborative workflow or virtual closings.

“Propy’s collaborative closing platform allows buyers, agents, brokers, title companies and lenders to close entirely paperless and contactless, and securely,” says Karayaneva. “We have seen a spike of $100 million in transaction volume from Asian homebuyers investing in U.S. properties, as well as a spike of inbound requests from brokerages to use our transaction platform in addition to or in replacement of SkySlope and dotloop.”

Title and notary services have been speedbumps in many brokers’ transactions during these last few weeks, and many are turning to virtual solutions. Jeff Hall, division president of Florida Title & Guaranteed Agency recently emailed Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty agents, notifying them that all associates have the capability to work remote, and that the company will be providing remote notary services for those who need it, although it is subject to lender approval.

The rental segment is also experiencing changes.

Similar to residential sales, the rental industry is focusing on virtual transactions and showings.

Lindsay Dillon, vice president of Partnerships & Marketing at RoOomy, a virtual staging and 3D modeling company, says that with virtual tools, today’s renters can experience a property’s key features from afar and “shop for their future space before stepping foot on the property.”

Lou Baugier, CEO and co-founder of Vero Leasing, agrees, stating that not everything can be put on hold during this pandemic.

“There are still expiring leases and renters looking to move for a variety of reasons,” says Baugier. “That said, brokers and landlords are forced to think differently about how they connect with prospective tenants and the tools used to convert them from leads to renters.”

A program like Vero Leasing, says Baugier, can take just 30 minutes or less to apply for, sign a lease and secure an apartment, which is a shorter time frame compared to the five- to eight-day industry standard.

In terms of property management, Harmon says everything has moved online as they are closed to the public.

“Tenants who are paying rent can pay online or can use our rent drop box,” he says.

Despite the concerns and fear of the unknown, spirits remain high. Brokers shared the following thoughts:

“Be smart, use common sense and use this time to brush up on skills,” says Harmon. “Stay in touch with the people you know digitally or by phone to see how they are doing. Don’t panic.”

“There’s a lot of noise out there, so we are trying to cut through all that to provide focus and prevent inaction,” says Finn.

“The ultimate goal is to ensure that our clients do not experience a change in the level of service that we provide, while doing our part to reduce the spread of the virus,” says Dolan.

“The health of our clients, sales associates, managers, staff and community is our top priority,” says Mayi de la Vega, founder and CEO of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty in South Florida.

“We hope the steps we take now will help meet the strong demand we are still seeing,” says Scott. ” We send our prayers and love to those who have been affected by the coronavirus in our local communities and around the world.”

“We will continue to monitor the updates concerning our industry, state and local communities,” said Carrie Zeier, owner and CEO of RE/MAX Elite, based in Palm Harbor, Fla., in a statement to her agents. “This is not a time to panic, but a time to come together, stay informed and practice safe precautions in order to avoid business disruptions.”

For more information and resources, please visit:

CDC.gov/Coronavirus

WhiteHouse.gov

NAR.realtor/Coronavirus

How Coronavirus Affects the 2020 Real Estate Market

The State of Housing: Experts Discuss Global Influence, Trends, Coronavirus and Other Challenges, and Potential Solutions

Working Remotely With Your Team and Your Clients

Liz Dominguez is RISMedia’s senior editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at [email protected].

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realestatedigitalsales · 6 years

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Real Estate - Hiring a real estate agent when you buy a home: Avoid these mistakes

By Peter Warden Real Estate - If popular perceptions of real estate agents were accurate, nobody would use them and the whole profession would die out. A recent MSNMoney survey found that real estate agents are considered only slightly more trustworthy than members of Congress by the general public. In reality, many do valuable work that provides significant benefits to their clients. The trouble is, others are lazy, greedy or uninterested. But how do you find the former and avoid the latter?

What’s the point of a real estate agent?

Unless you work in property investment, you’re unlikely to buy and sell homes often enough to really understand the process. And today those processes are ridiculously complicated. To start with, there’s a long list of players: from home appraisers and inspectors to loan officers, title insurers and attorneys. And they all insist on using their own jargon, impenetrable to anyone normal. Then there’s the bureaucracy: mountains of forms and documents and records. That’s why many homebuyers prefer hiring a real estate agent. He or she can: Help you understand the neighborhood (“The property next door is a fraternity house, just so you know”) Assist in filtering out houses that won’t work for you, saving you time (“This HOA does not allow clotheslines”) Deal with bureaucracy and explaining title issues, easements, HOAs, liens, etc. (“The easement means people can cut through your outdoor kitchen to get to the beach.”) Help you negotiate the transaction, including earnest money, price, and who pays what closing costs (“This is the customary split, but we can negotiate that if your closing costs went to Vegas — and stayed in Vegas”) Keep you from being “out of contract,” which means missing deadlines, and which can cause you to lose a home you want (“It’s okay that your appraiser’s car didn’t start; your contract has an automatic extension for this.”)

Real estate agent vs. Realtor®

Realtors® are real estate agents who are members of an industry organization with a registered trademark. This group is called the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). The NAR has a code of ethics that its members must follow. However, lawyers, lobbyists and auto dealers also have trade organizations, so… Still, membership may indicate a commitment to professionalism. And there is some oversight because the rest of the members don’t want a few bad apples contaminating the whole warehouse. You probably needn’t make NAR membership a prerequisite when hiring a real estate agent. But, the organization does offer the opportunity for members to gain additional training and designations that might work for you. For example, ALC, (Accredited Land Consultants) complete a rigorous education program, develop a specific, high-volume experience level, and must adhere to an honorable Code of Conduct.

The buyer’s agent

The real estate agent from whom you buy a home works for the seller. Because the seller pays him. So, no matter how nice and caring he appears, you’re nothing but a paycheck to him. In some states, it’s actually illegal for one agent to represent both the buyer and seller. Understand that if you are a buyer trying to pay as little as possible, and the seller wants to get as much as possible, one agent can’t possibly serve you both to the same extent. And guess where the listing agent’s interests lie? Some buyers are uncomfortable being outgunned in this way. They choose to use a buyer’s agent. This evens up the fight because you too have a professional who’s committed to protecting your interests. Some benefits of having a buyer’s agent A good buyer’s agent should: Save you time by steering you toward homes that will meet your needs, not the ones she can “double end” for a bigger commission Get information about the sellers (hello, Facebook!) and the property while protecting your privacy Preview properties and know what’s available, including some that may not be formally listed Have local contacts that can get you early viewings Understand the dynamics of the local market so you don’t pay too much Negotiate a great deal for you Help you with the necessary paperwork from your initial offer through to closing Troubleshoot the entire process Just make sure the agent is working for you exclusively. If you sign a “dual agency deal,” your agent might end up working for the seller, too. And that defeats the purpose of hiring a real estate agent of your own.

Real estate agents to avoid

Those are some of the key tasks a good agent will fulfill. Now you need to find a good agent. And that means one who has a real commitment to promoting and protecting your interests, not one of these clowns. Desperate house lies In the classic movie “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Jack Lemmon plays Shelley Levene, a real estate agent who used to be the top salesperson. More recently, he entered a spiral of decline, largely because his clients and colleagues can smell his desperation. An agent who sells one place a year and whose Mercedes will be repossessed if he can’t get you to BUY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW is not going to be acting in your best interest. Desperate people do not make good decisions, and you need a real pro on your side. There are plenty of real-life Shelleys in agencies across the country. Avoid anyone who applies inappropriate pressure, glosses over important information or makes you feel uncomfortable. Psychopaths In the same movie, Shelley’s boss is Blake (Alec Baldwin). Blake’s the opposite of Shelley: successful, hard-nosed, and someone who thinks that empathy is for losers. Blake may be a winner, but the only reason he doesn’t stab you in the back is that he’s worried about getting your blood on his $5,000 suit. If he saw an opportunity to add 10 cents to his net worth, he’d take it — even if that cost you $10,000. A noteworthy study in the book Freakonomics found that on average, real estate agents are primarily interested in closing quickly and getting paid fast. This may not be in your best interest if you’re not ready to move, require a long escrow or need to sell another home first. And the “get ‘er done” mortgage guy they refer you to may cost you plenty, but they don’t care because it’s not their money. You don’t want that. You want a real estate agent you can trust to put your interests first. Most will, including many great closers. Zombies In the brilliantly funny but somewhat gory “Santa Clarita Diet,” real estate agent Sheila (Drew Barrymore) is a zombie. Luckily, she’s a high-functioning one, which means she can sell homes. She has a freezer full of body parts from neo-Nazis she’s viciously slaughtered. If you’re not a neo-Nazi, you’re safe to purchase a home with her. However, you’re less safe with another type of zombie that infests the world of real estate agencies. These share the mental sharpness and travel speed of the drunken, dead-eyed wanderers you see at downtown zombie crawls. In other words, they move in slow motion and are deeply stupid. Under no circumstances should you pierce such an agent’s brain with a bullet or sharp object, no matter how great the temptation is. Instead, choose a real estate agent with intelligence, knowledge, expertise and motivation. Dilettantes Dilettantes take the hobby approach to real estate. They might be pasty post-grads living with their parents, pretending to have gainful employment — while actually spending their day’s training for video game tournaments. Or ladies who want “jobs” that require them to buy nice clothes and go out to lunch a lot. Or folks who have so many “side” gigs that you can’t tell which is the “real” gig: bartending, dog walking, Uber or real estate. The point is that none of these people care enough about the job to do it full time and make the commitment to be professionals. So why commit your trust to them?

What to look for in your real estate agent

You’ll probably want to choose someone who’s: Been personally recommended — Ask colleagues, friends and neighbors if they’ve used a great agent Local — Knowing the local market and having an established network of local contacts is essential Experienced — Sometimes the enthusiasm of youth is valuable, but normally solid professional experience pays dividends. Look for someone who sells real estate full-time and has had a license for several years Committed — A full-time agent is good, and one who has not worked for 15 agencies in three years is better Qualified — In some states, you barely need to mist a mirror to get a real estate license. However, experience, work ethic, continuing education and special additional training indicate someone worth considering Reputable — Check with your state’s licensing board for complaints against every agent you consider. And consult Yelp, Google and other online resources Supported — Nobody’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Make sure someone will fill your agent’s shoes during vacation periods and family emergencies Successful (where it counts) — Not only must your agent be good at selling homes generally; he or she must work your territory. A heavy-hitter who sells multimillion-dollar mansions might not remember your name if you’re looking at $100,000 condos, and a “fixer-upper” specialist may be out of his league in the luxury market. The good news is there are likely to be plenty of agents near you who tick all those boxes. Read more https://global.goreds.today/real-estate-10-years-later-many-underwater-counties-have-not-escaped-the-housing-crisis/ Read the full article

#RealEstate-Hiringarealestateagentwhenyoubuyahome:Avoidthesemistakes

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djgblogger-blog · 7 years

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The small hands of Moroccan recycling

http://bit.ly/2vz09A2

A wastepicker working in the streets of Casablanca. (Photo Pascal Garret, July 2013) www.bab-el-louk.org, CC BY-NC-ND

This article is based on a series about recycling documented in the 2017 book What to do with leftovers? Re-employment in Accumulation Societies. The photographs by Pascal Garret, sociologist and freelance photographer, who collaborates with social scientists on the theme of waste recovery and recycling.

Casablanca, Morocco, summer 2016. With constant heat often above 30°C, garbage can quickly suffocate the four millions inhabitants of this city. But as visitors navigate through the second-largest city of the Maghrebian region, small hands are making sure that large quantities of waste do not pile up on landfills by offering them new life.

These men and women belong to populations that anthropologist Delphine Corteel and sociologist Stéphane Le Lay (ERES, 2011) have called “waste workers”.

Despite their tremendous and tiring work, they remain excluded from the Moroccan society because of the uncleanliness of their work, and the nature of their living spaces.

They live on the margins of legal urban areas, in slums and makeshift houses, which are regularly demolished or threatened by real estate and urban projects. While working in the streets, they are often victims of violence either committed by the authorities or other inhabitants.

We conducted interviews with many members of this community from 2011. Our objective was to show that these waste collectors, sorters, semi-wholesalers, recyclers and transporters often consider their work as a real profession and believe that their role is essential, especially given that environmental issues have never been higher on the agenda.

According to our multi-site surveys, more than a third of Casablanca’s household waste would escape rejection from landfills.

Far from presenting an image of misery and exclusion, we wish to portray this population free from the stigma that usually accompanies activities linked to waste.

Overview of one part of a waste recycling area in Casablanca, Lahraouine. In the background, you can see the social housing district of Attacharouk. (Photo Pascal Garret/MuCEM, January 2015)

Situated on the outskirts of Casablanca and in a topographic depression, the Lahraouine district remains virtually invisible from the outside. Most workers live in neighbouring douars (slums) where running water is absent and electricity is supplied by generators or illegal connections.

Several real estate projects have put pressure on the city to revamp the district and get rid of its slums. As the waste collectors do not owner their lands and there’s no rehousing project, they live in fear of eviction.

A bouar returning from his tour in the outskirts of Casablanca. (Photo Pascal Garret, May 2016)

This bouar (the word is derived from the French word éboueur for garbage man) returns from the city with a cart filled with his daily collection. But the increasing number of containers buried in the affluent neighbourhoods of Casablanca reduces access to this waste resource.

More often than not, the bouara (plural for bouar) have to limit their work to open bins in working-class neighbourhoods. They are also more tolerated in these areas than in the city’s central districts or middle-upper class areas. In the latter, police can harass them, even arrest them and confiscate their donkeys and carts.

Inside view of a gelssa of Lahraouine. (Photo Pascal Garret, April 2017)

The gelssas (a term derived from the verb gels, which means sit down in darija, the language of the Maghreb region) are enclosures of various sizes surrounded by palisades (metal sheets, tarps, boards or dried waste that form a kind of wall) where the bouara centralise their harvest after each city tour.

Their collection is sold by weight and consists mainly of cardboard, plastics, metals, glass, fabrics and vegetable waste. Valuable objects, after changing hands several times, will eventually end up in one of the city’s flea markets (joutiya). Nothing that can be used is left behind.

A worker sorting waste in a gelssa specialised on plastic materials. (Photo Pascal Garret, May 2016)

The bouara of Casablanca can make about €20 daily, but many must rent their equipment (cart and animal) from their bosses for €2.

Some gelssas are versatile sorting and recycling sites (plastics, wood, metal, rags), where materials are sorted by type. Others specialise in a particular material, as is the case below for plastic.

There is no electricity in the gelssas and this machine is powered by a generator. (Photo Pascal Garret, April 2017)

After collection and sorting, some materials have to be compacted and crushed to take up less space, which adds value. The materials will then be sold to informal sector wholesalers or to the formal sector through pick-ups or trucks sent to carry the waste.

Women sorting plastic waste. (Photo Pascal Garret, May 2016)

In Lahraouine, we have not seen many women in the gelssas. Among the 3,000 active waste-recyclers we roughly counted, the majority are young men and we estimated that there were only 500 to 600 women. They are only assigned to sorting tasks.

The economic crisis in Morocco has led to an increase of waste workers in Casablanca.

The sheds of waste collectors are themselves made with waste. (Photo Pascal Garret, January 2015)

Waste collectors come, for the most part, from the countryside to escape poverty. Some of them originate from very remote villages in the eastern regions of Casablanca.

Many, especially youngsters, come and go according to agricultural cycles. Nearly 19% of Morocco’s agriculturally dependent rural population still lives in poverty or in danger of becoming impoverished. These seasonal workers are hosted by relatives in the douars of Lahraouine or live in sheds inside gelssas.

The boss of a gelssa posing with his horse. (Photo Pascal Garret, January 2015)

This boss of a gelssa employs several waste collectors. He owns a few carts pulled by a donkey or a horse, and is a “middle-income earner”.

There is a very strong hierarchy in the world of recycling. At the lower level are the simple bouara and women who sort and earn low incomes. At the end of the higher range are the bosses of large gelssas who own one or more trucks and plastic crushers.

Gelssas bosses are very familiar with the cost and value of materials on the market and keep themselves updated through the internet or their mobile phones. They know exactly where, to whom and when to sell to get the maximum benefit from their wares.

A waste collector at work in the Mediouna dump. (Photo Pascal Garret/MuCEM, January 2015)

Situated about 20 kilometres south of Greater Casablanca, the Mediouna’s landfill receives nearly 3,500 tons of household waste each day, brought in by the trucks of waste-recycling companies.

At this site, which should normally mark the end of life for Casablanca’s waste, some 600 illegal waste collectors extract about 1000 tons of materials daily that will be re-injected into the informal and formal recycling circuit.

The business of recycling factories and export wholesalers depends heavily on the activities of street collectors or the Mediouna landfill from whom they buy recovered materials at a lower cost. Secondary raw materials produced by the formal sector of the economy are largely derived from the work of these hidden workers.

Blurring the borders, this small world of informal workers is thus – directly or indirectly – well inserted in the economic chain on every level: local, regional, national and even international. The PET brought in by waste collectors, for example, is exported to China.

Many of them have also fully understood and integrated environmental arguments. One, called Mustapha, told us in an interview in 2013:

We contribute to the economy of Morocco. It is thanks to us that this waste is recycled instead of being simply buried or burned. This is our livelihood, it’s our survival and it makes our community live

This wholesaler even tried to create an association for the waste collectors of the Lahraouine district in order to get them officially acknowledged and organised. But so far he has faced indifference or opposition from the authorities.

His failure highlights the perpetual stigma attached to the profession of waste collecting. It also shows their isolation and relegation to the spatial and social margins of the economic capital of Morocco.

Yet, elsewhere in the world, innovative experiments, mobilisation of reclaiming communities and associations are signs that integration, access to social rights and, more broadly, recognition or informal waste collectors are possible.

Bénédicte Florin and Pascal Garret also collaborated for the Vies d'ordures, waste economics exhibition at the Museum of Civilisation of Europe and the Mediterranean (MuCEM, Marseille), March 22 to August 14 2017.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above.

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wionews · 7 years

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World Environment Day: The small hands of Moroccan recycling

By: Bénédicte Florin and Mustapha Azaitraoui