Small Business Insights with Laura Fisher
Small Business Insights with Laura Fisher
Real Estate Broker - Suzette Peoples
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Meet Suzette Peoples, a FIVE STAR REALTOR ® in Texas Monthly Magazine- 5 time winner! Listen how she runs her business and cares for her clients.
Find Suzette:
Peoples Properties | Facebook, Suzette Peoples | LinkedIn, suzette peoples (@SuzettePeoples) / Twitter, Providing Real Estate Services in Sugar Land - suzette peoples, Peoples Properties, Texas Real Estate Consumer Protection Notice, https://www.trec.texas.gov/forms/information-about-brokerage-services.
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Welcome to small business insights where back office conversations give us insight to what's really going on. Is it grit or luck? That gives a small business owner an advantage? Let's find out. I'm your host, Laura Fisher. Well, welcome today I have in the studio Suzette people's from people's property, she's a real estate broker and owner say hello, Suzanne.
Suzette Peoples:Hello there, Laura. How are you?
Laura Fisher:I'm good. So this is our first time in the studio and a long time, so we're gonna get used to this. So Suzanne, you were recommended to me by Ken Qasr. And he said, This is a fascinating lady, your self starter, would you say that's true? Oh, yeah, definitely. Let's start off. How long have you been in Texas
Suzette Peoples:since 1981. got here as fast as I could.
Laura Fisher:Where did you grow up
Suzette Peoples:in Florida? Miami is the last place I was living.
Laura Fisher:So were you in high school at that time?
Suzette Peoples:No, I was out of high school by then.
Laura Fisher:So I graduated in 1982. From high school and get rid of my 40th high school reunion. Wow. And I lived in Daytona Beach, Florida. Okay, that time when I was there, it was not a good time to be in Miami because of all the refugees. Yes, yes. Is that one of the reasons why you left Florida?
Suzette Peoples:Yes. Because everybody kept asking me if I spoke Spanish. So it was getting kind of frustrating. And when I came to Texas, it was like, especially Houston. I was so amazed how friendly everybody was. Yeah. When they move over when you're driving. I'm like, Oh my gosh, they move over. Yeah, I loved it here. Everybody's very friendly. So you haven't left Texas since then? Nope. Stayed on the north side, then moved to the south side. And so you have family here and Sugar Land? Well, my son is here in Houston, and my daughter is in Dallas. So she loves Dallas.
Laura Fisher:We were talking earlier and you're an Aggie mom. So you got an Aggie in the family. Yep,
Suzette Peoples:that was a nice thing to see my daughter do it engineering and got a master. So we're proud of her. And my son is doing real well. He's in the medical field. So we couldn't be prouder.
Laura Fisher:That sound like some high achieving children. Yeah, we were lucky. All right. So Suzette, let's talk about your business. So tell you are now a broker. But that's not how most people start off. Everybody starts out, you have to be a realtor first. For those that don't know, just kind of walk us through the process of the career development of how someone becomes a broker?
Suzette Peoples:Well, you have to be a realtor, I think the criteria now is at least two years or so many hours. And you have to take a class and test. So you have to actually get a broker's license, and you have to as a realtor, you have to be sponsored by a broker. So to become a broker, you have to have been a real estate agent for a while. And then you take a lot of tests and pass those tests. What's more fees?
Laura Fisher:Yeah. What's the difference between a real estate agent and a broker?
Suzette Peoples:Well, a real estate agent is just your average realtor that gets a license and practices real estate, they can sell commercial, residential, whatever. There's different trade real tour and then an agent, real tours associated with the National Association of Realtors. So that's a different designation. So
Laura Fisher:they're like certified. Yes.
Suzette Peoples:It's a different organization, we're actually in a different level, I would say. But then, you know, you have to work under a broker. So that's why I got my broker's license, because I always thought well may not stay with this company. If I want to go independent, I need to be a broker.
Laura Fisher:So he said, It sounds like a mentor, but it's really not a mentor.
Suzette Peoples:Well, there's supposed to be monitoring agents. I mean, that's what they're there for is to regulate, monitor train, you know, they're responsible for those agents that are beneath them.
Laura Fisher:Do they have legal differences between an agent and a broker?
Suzette Peoples:As far as well the broker is responsible for the realtor so everything they do, they can be liable for everything that that agent is doing right or wrong. So they all have to have the responsibility. Yes.
Laura Fisher:Okay. So so back back to the just general real estate. So what there's REMAX there's all these different franchises? Yes, franchises that so how does the franchise work and then the broker because then I see you know, a name associated with REMAX,
Suzette Peoples:right and when I was with REMAX, it was a co broker. So you you are not responsible. You have brokers that are responsible for the agents. So if you work for REMAX, they have a designated person who is the broker for those agents and they're responsible for them. You can be a co broker. So there's several agents out there who are co brokers, we have our broker's license, but we're not responsible for those agents. Okay, so does it just pay more fees? And just it's a different designation? Okay. Yeah.
Laura Fisher:So as a consumer me not knowing any difference I call, let's just say I call on a listing, right? Because then that happened, people will look it up and they don't really know the difference. So I'd say I see something on Windsor Park Drive and Houston and I call the listing agent. Right, right. What what does that mean? I mean, well, they're not usually this. What does that mean?
Suzette Peoples:Okay, you have a listing agent who is responsible for the listing. They represent the sellers best interest, they have listed the property With that seller owner of that property, the seller, right, so they have hired that realtor as a listing broker to represent them. Okay. And when you call that broker, you're talking to the agents representing the seller right? Now you may decide, okay, in Texas, you cannot represent the seller and the bottom, not allowed. I didn't know that. Yeah, a lot of people don't. So you have to go intermediate. And intermediary only puts you in the position of negotiating the contract, can't represent the seller or the buyer, you're just in the center, bringing the parties together, and you have to stay neutral, which I decided many, many years ago. Now, that's kind of impossible. Well, a lot of people do it. And I don't do it anymore. My attorney said, You're just waiting for a lawsuit. So stay out of that just and I realized two, buyer really needs representation. There's a lot going on, there's a lot of legal papers that you're dealing with, and a lot of knowledge that I've gained over the 30 years, that buyers really need to be represented. And you need full representation, and you need someone negotiating on your best interest on your behalf. And in your corner, and I get a reputation as a tough negotiator. Well, that's what you hired me to do.
Laura Fisher:So you you lean more towards the buyer. Now both pretty much
Suzette Peoples:both, but you know, again, I think the hardest thing and is remembering who you represent. And that's why don't do intermediate or because you can't represent either party, you're bringing them together. So there's too many very variations in there that come up in complex to me. So I always tell when I have a listing and somebody calls about my listing, I tell them, do you have an agent to represent you, I'll be happy to get you somebody refer him out.
Laura Fisher:And that's unusual. That's not common.
Suzette Peoples:That's pretty unusual. Most Realtors want to make a double deal, because the commission is let's just say it's all negotiable. But let's just say it's at a 7% commission. So if I don't have a buyer agent that I have to share it with, I can take supposedly the whole 7% Well, it's not about money. It's about representation. So many, many years ago, I decided that this is not in the best interest of the consumer, or even the seller, because nobody's really going to bat for you. And right. I mean, I just did a deal with my son. And boy, that other agent didn't like me, I get a reputation out there that I'm actually have a reputation one office, I found out that a sous that's a tough negotiator. And she's tough to deal with. And I'm like, okay, but that's because I'm representing my seller. I'm not representing your buyer, and I happen to know more than you do in this process, then I'm gonna win in this game that we're playing of negotiating. And I just take care of my clients, and it comes back to me most of my business is all referrals.
Laura Fisher:So when you negotiate, you're not just negotiating on price. What are the kinds of things? Well, you're negotiating
Suzette Peoples:on repairs, you're negotiating on the whole contract and how it's written and written to the best interest of the seller. I can't tell you how many times I've had agents miss things, and then they get mad at me. And I'm like, Well, you missed it, you were supposed to give me this document in a certain amount of time. And you didn't get it to me. So now you owe me or they don't read them? Well, and I think a lot of them get lazy, and they don't think about how responsible it is to write a contract and follow that contract. And I think too many times agents are all in the same office. They're all buddies with each other. And they're all friends and they socialize. And I'm like, but that's not what I'm here for. I'm here to take care of my client, and you didn't do what you were supposed to do. Yes, I could have called you and said you missed this, can you get this to me. But that was not my responsibility. If you didn't get it to me, then there's a repercussions to what happens when you didn't do it. And then they were all grumpy at me because they're like, all you had to do is pick up the phone to set and I'm like, but that's not my responsibility. Now you owe my son this. Right? And it's gonna cost you $250. Right? Better than a new survey. So that's that's what my responsibility is. And there are many times where even my seller negotiating repairs. Just they look at me and go, Sue said, I would take this deal. I'm done. I said, No, we're gonna get you some more money. This is not going to cost as much to fix these things. Let's give them try this allowance. Right? And then we get it done. They're like, Oh, my God, you just saved me five grand, right? Like, well, that's my job. Right? I love saving my
Laura Fisher:money. Right? You can't do that. If you're representing both sides.
Suzette Peoples:You cannot. And I loved I think the biggest thing I get is helping my seller save money. And or my buyer, you know, getting a better deal and negotiating. You know, we have multiple offers going in and my son got the deal. Right? And so I still can't believe out of that deal went down but we were very lucky. And he's as we kept saying, you got the best Realtor in Houston. And you better listen to her. So he did and it worked out well. He got a really good deal.
Laura Fisher:So let's talk about your your business. So it is people's people's property. That's pretty easy to remember people
Suzette Peoples:I got lucky I got a husband that last name of people so it worked
Laura Fisher:out So, so you're the broker, right? Does that mean you have agents,
Suzette Peoples:I used to have a whole team. When I was with REMAX, I had a whole team. I found that with the team, yes, I became top 1% in the nation, I got all the awards you could get. And the problem I had, and this was 10 years ago, was, and I'm finding it's happening now a lot of teams are dissolving. And because what happens is, it becomes a business that you run instead of selling real estate, and talking her clients one at a time. So you do that much volume, you're too busy managing people, right? I hate to do, right, I am not the manager, my husband manages people, and he doesn't Well, I'm in sales. And I love marketing. And I love selling, I don't like managing women or men or whoever. And it just drove me nuts, because I spent more time in the office managing right than I did getting to talk to my customers and deal with my clients on a one to one. So about 10 years ago, I said, Okay, we're done with the team dissolved, the team, went back to myself as an individual did more quality than quantity, pick and choose who I take and list and buy and work with. And it works. I mean, I have the best client, if they know they get me, they don't get somebody learning, they don't get an assistant. And I think that's what the consumer wants right now. I think they realize these big teams are great. Because you can always reach somebody, but Right. Okay, but are you getting the right person? Or it's, you know, you get my knowledge, my experience my attention to your property. And so I don't have a lot of volume. So it's wonderful.
Laura Fisher:When you're not a part of something like REMAX, are you giving up on marketing? Or are you able
Suzette Peoples:to at all didn't hurt me a bit, actually, the and I'm not saying anything negative about any of the franchises but what worried me the most was a client had said to me, if you were with XYZ company, I wouldn't list with you. And I went, Wow, he's just because this I had a bad deal with this agent at that company. And I went, Okay, now you're starting to socialize me with a name and a brand that could change. And I've worked too hard with my name and my brand, to let that happen. So that's when I went independent and said, you know, what they're hiring me and who I am not who my company is. And they know I can get in the same exact not knowledge, experience marketing exposure that they can get, because we have technology. So it's out there.
Laura Fisher:So all the follow up and everything you get well, what are your tools that you use?
Suzette Peoples:Well, I have great software company called Top Producer. And that is where all my marketing, okay, keep in touch with my clients and all that.
Laura Fisher:Is that specifically for real estate? It is doesn't
Suzette Peoples:need for that. And like right now I'm doing a huge bailout, I do a calendar magnet every year. And so I'm pushing that out right now to past clients and some farming areas, meaning I pick neighborhoods that I like that I work in, I live near, so I get them the calendars every year.
Laura Fisher:So you can have gone out on your own if you weren't a broker. Is that right? That's correct. So you had your planning ahead. Worked for you? Yes. And it also allowed you to have that leadership role with big franchise. Right, right. Well,
Suzette Peoples:I think it's just a matter of if I was always concerned. And it happened, the franchise I was with was sold to another franchise and didn't tell anybody. It's just the next morning, if anybody was moving over, and they were mad, I'm glad I got out of there when I did. But that was my other concern is that at any time you're with a franchise, that franchise could be sold, things could change, and then you're left in the cold, right? So I thought, No, I'm gonna take care of me and get my broker's license be independent, and you
Laura Fisher:don't have any of the tools because I'm sure the franchise has all the tools or software.
Suzette Peoples:I have access to all the same tools. That's good. Yeah. So that's what I saw to the technology was coming in, I knew it was there. And I could use all the same tools. I mean, it's just not it's the name is different.
Laura Fisher:So, alright, so we're gonna take a quick break. And when we come back, I wanted to talk to you a bit more about what is negotiable. When you're selling a house or you're buying a house, maybe from the consumer side, okay, the best way to work with a realtor. Okay. All right, so we'll be right back right.
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Laura Fisher:Alright, we're back with Suzette people's from people's property here in Sugar Land is Your is that your home base? Sure. Yeah, yep.
Suzette Peoples:We're Ben County.
Laura Fisher:So Oh, that's pretty large territory.
Suzette Peoples:Yes, I'll go all the way up to full sure if I have to. Well, that's a growing I got new clients out there too. Now. That's awesome.
Laura Fisher:are so we weren't talking about the consumer side of dealing with a real estate agent or real estate broker. So tell us what's how do we start? How does someone start and what's negotiable? Those are the
Suzette Peoples:Okay, well The first thing I would do is interview realtors. Find yourself a good realtor that's been in the business long enough that has the experience the knowledge, the credentials behind them, and that you're comfortable with. Because they're going to represent you and you want them to have the same personality, as you know, those the business enough to represent your best interest and knows what you want. Okay? I think that's the first key is finding and being loyal to that one realtor, if you like that realtor, and you get along really well, because this is a long term relationship. Sometimes I can be with clients for six months to a year, okay, but you don't want them motivated just by money only. And then it's like, you're just another number, and they have 510 buyers are working with. And it's a relationship that you have to create with them, that you have to feel honest with them. And they're honest with you, and they're looking out for your best interest. So when you tell them what you're looking for, then they know what to look for out there in the marketplace. And I think that's the key because right now, the market has changed a little bit. But we're still in a hot market 300,000 or less. There's still bidding wars going on. So I mean, I have two clients right now yet one looking under three. And you know, every time we look at a property, is it we're not gonna be there long. Any and he's like, Oh my gosh, I already have offers. I'm like,
Laura Fisher:yes. So there's really kind of a, like 350 and below a 300.
Suzette Peoples:And below, right in that 325? Yes, because that's your first time homebuyer, okay, that's your investors are buying, they're still buying out here, they're paying cash. So, and there's a very limited market. It's very, very slim pickins. And so that's where, you know, a buyer twins, how motivated they are, how fast they need to sell. But you my son was a perfect example. It was like, Oh, hurry and find me, some hurt me find me something, I'm like, I only want you to be in a certain project. I only want you in this neighborhood. No other neighborhood. This is my favorite. I picked it up. And we had to wait till something comes on the market. And you have to have patience. And when one came back on the market, I say, Oh, this is the one. Let's go after it. So I think the key is, is again, keeping an eye on the market. hjr.com is our Houston Association of Realtors. I like that that's the best site, because that is our mothership. When I take a listing, I put it in there first, all your other like realtor.com homes.com Yeah, they all go in there, and they Mineko in there every day. So you want to get in there go fast, you go to H ar.com. That's a good tip. Yes, because that's the most recent of anything new coming. And I even have access as realtors, we have access to what is called coming soon. The consumer does not have access to that. We know when something's coming on the market, right? So we can actually get a hold of that realtor and say I got a buyer let me know when you're coming on the market, what are you waiting for? And then I can get that information to my client as quickly as possible. So the best thing to do is get a good realtor, get a loan relationship. I even have a buyer's agreement that says you're hiring me as your agent, I recommend every consumer do this. If you're going to hire a realtor, get a buyer's agreement, the buyer's agreement actually specifies what my responsibility is to you to to the consumer. So the buyer, so the buyer can say, Well, I do you have to tell me if the guy died in there? No, legally, I do not have to tell you that unless I know it. The seller doesn't have to tell you that unless the property caused the death. So you see, buyers don't know this. If it's bothers you enough, that you say Suzanne, I don't wanna buy any house that someone died in natural causes or whatever. Then I need to tell them we have to do our due diligence and find out what happened. So you
Laura Fisher:would you would you're saying let's talk about this stuff before we start looking at houses natural buyers agreements because
Suzette Peoples:I could be with Fung Shui. I mean, they really they have Fung Shui. And I had a book on Fung Shui because I had to like okay, what are we talking about here? That's interesting. I'm like, okay, the stairs can't go out the front door. Okay. Then, you know, I know properties because I've sold so many. I mean, I think I've sold I was thinking the other day, how many have I actually sold it on 30 years, it's over almost 700 homes. So it was kind of nice to know that my mom was hit the 1000. But I know the inventory. They know the neighborhoods, I know the floor plan, right. And I think that saves time too. Because if they're telling me they have to face a certain direction, or they, you know, don't want to to store they don't want the master up or down, then I can look at those things. So just save time. So you're not just I call them tour guides. And it drives me nuts when realtors are showing my listings. And I'm like, could you not see that this had the master was up? Right? And they wanted the master down? Why are we looking at my listing. But again, I think a lot of times you have to stop, talk to the consumer. See what he wants. Get your list of must have and the wish list? Yeah, because there's a big difference between what we must have and what our wish list is. So we just try to get that information to the consumer and sit down with them. And I think that's the most creative core point, when you get a client, you have to listen. And you have to really know what, who, who's making the major decision, especially if it's a couple, right? And you're going, okay, who's gonna really make this decision here goes, you know, who's gonna win? Now,
Laura Fisher:before they come and talk to you, you should already have some kind of something from the bank that says, Yeah,
Suzette Peoples:well, once I get with them, you know, even if they haven't talked to the mortgage company, I give them lender suggestions, okay? Because I have some good lenders out there. And that's another thing you got to be careful with. Some of these lenders are saying it's the bait and switch. Okay, we're gonna, you know, our interest rate is now 5%. And like, no, Mark, it's five and a half. Well look at the closing costs, because I used to be a loan officer and a processor. So I kind of know these little tricks of the trade. So I said, Well, wait a minute, let's compare you to two different lenders, and see who's really giving you the better deal. Because you may be thinking the rates lower, but then your closing costs are high. Yeah, it's Yeah. So you gotta really look at the bottom line, because that's the key is, is they're trying to get you in the door at five and a half. Now, how
Laura Fisher:would I even know that about all those different fees in that trick?
Suzette Peoples:Well, because what I do with my with my client is I go ahead and get your closing cost estimate from the lender. And they may come down, they don't even meet him in person anymore. It's terrible. Everything's online. So you have to go online and make loan application with them and ask for a closing statement. They should give you a closing cost estimate, and then get it from the several and then I'll compare them all and let's look at the bottom line. I mean, what are they charging you for this? Five and a half? 2% 1%? Right. Let's see what you're really paying for.
Laura Fisher:Man, that is it scary. That's the value that you offer right there?
Suzette Peoples:Well, I used to be a loan officer Prosser worked for a mortgage company. And during the foreclosure days, it was one of those tough times I think the hardest part in real estate. I think every religion should go through a tough time. Because boy, do you learn how to market in a foreclosure market. Every other house was on foreclosure and you're trying to sell against foreclosure properties. I learned all over Houston because I worked for the mortgage company. Once I got my license, they said, you have to leave because conflict of interest. So they gave me all the listings. Oh, so they said can you go to Clear Lake I'm sure I'll go anywhere. That's right. So I went anywhere. I drove all over Houston. And I learned every market in Houston, I think I was sold in every subdivision. But it was a it was it was an easy way to get business. But it was a hard way to keep it. Because they after it took you six months to sell the house back then. Minimum. And after six months, if you didn't sell it, they're moving on to another realtor.
Laura Fisher:That's right, because it's your fault is right.
Suzette Peoples:So that that toughened me up real quickly in the business, but back to buyers. So once you establish what you want, where do you want to go? And again, the knowledge of a realtor knowing neighborhoods because, you know, I don't sell in The Woodlands because that's just out of my territory. I don't know it enough. And again, I think Laura, my my concern is to consumer, what I know about four pin County in every neighborhood. Okay, let's just say for instance, Missouri City versus Sugarland. There's different entities over there. There's different homeowners association, maybe there's a different city. There's different rules and guidelines, and how's that value holding up in this market? Versus Sugarland, so I know this because I live here I work here I sell here. I don't know what the woodlands I don't know which neighborhood is higher priced or lower price or the lot sizes and traffic problems or all that man, how long is really going to take you to get out of there. That's right. But you know, I know a lot sizes of it. Each neighborhood I know the builders in the neighborhood. I mean, I have a filing cabinet full from back in the 19 from 1990. A floorplans. I'm all the builders so I even may have your floorplan. So that's knowledge that I have that I thought, well, I shouldn't be selling in another neighborhood that I know nothing about. Right? Especially with all the flooding going on. You can ask neighbors, but it's still okay. When they say their house flooded. You're like, Okay, your property line is your property and that goes to the curb. So if that water came over that curb and come in to your property, your property flooded.
Laura Fisher:Yeah, I wouldn't. During Harvey our house did not flood but it did come up.
Suzette Peoples:So the seller disclosure, they changed it now to say property and versus house. I'm like, Okay, there's difference if your house flooded versus your property. But see, people were getting confused and saying, Oh, my house never flooded. So my property didn't flood no your property flooded if it came over the curb, and went onto your property line. So now they just make the difference of the two. Because every all the realtors were complaining and all the sellers were complaining because
Laura Fisher:well now we all know what our elevation is.
Suzette Peoples:Exactly. Your insurance company is happy to tell you. Yeah, so that's information to me is knowledge that, you know, I get nervous when I see you know, people working with a realtor that doesn't even know the area and like they had no clue about our homeowners association, and that's another thing I got. That's a big deal. Oh, yeah. And they were laughs analogies doesn't have to be in compliance. It's not it's not written in the contract. And they're like, I thought it's required not not required. So, again, knowledge is king. And I think if you're gonna get a realtor, make sure they know the area, they know that I mean, I don't sell. I mean, I'll refer them out if they say they're going to Conroe or something, I don't know that nipro not gonna be of good help you unless you're building a brand new home. That's a different story. Like Del Webb right now, I saw a client, she's moving to Fulshear Del Webb, I haven't even seen the property yet. But I know from the floor plan and the neighborhood map, I knew where she was going what she was doing. But that's buying a new home. That's totally from ballparks. So we do represent buyers with new homes as well. So you're hiring Realtors knowledge, negotiating, you were talking asking about negotiating? You know, you have to look at every transaction, is it I look at as like my money. See, my husband handles our money. And he worries about that money. I worry about my clients money. And I worry about every time I had a client once he was buying a brand new home, and the builder was supposed to pay this$50. So we got to closing I'm like, why is this $50 on her side? And she's like, well, I don't know if the builder put it there. So no, it's not supposed to be there. So she went back to the builder. And sure enough, it was supposed to be the builder. And the mind buyer looked at me and said You are worried about$50 that's it your money? Yeah, it should. I should. That's what I'm here, it's what you hired me to do, is to worry about your money. That's dinner one. So that's my thought process is I like to worry about my clients money. And I like to make sure they're getting a good deal. And even if it's a buyer, like my son, it was like, Okay, let's see what we can negotiate here. You know, we got a new roof on the deal. And I mean, why not? And I had a good roofer that put it on there gave us all a good deal. I mean, that's my responsibility is to take care of the negotiating. And, yes, there are times when I get frustrated with my sellers, and they're going to just let it go, let it go. We want to close we don't want to lose, this buyer will pay it we don't mind. I'm like, Oh, you shouldn't have to pay it. But I have to let go and their money like my husband's it's their money. They want to get that fire an extra five, let them have it.
Laura Fisher:So how do you make money. So you get always a commission, a percentage of
Suzette Peoples:the well, as a listing broker, we go to the seller, and we sit down with them and say, Okay, here's what I charge. And whether it's 7%, then it's a matter of my side is four, and then the buyer's agent who I bring in, or somebody brings in, we're gonna pay them three. Okay, okay. So that way that buyer agent is getting paid right now, a lot of that some of that softball changing because some, I can't even get into that. But it's all negotiable. But right now, once a listing is in the MLS, which is our H AR, it says on there, how much we're paying the co op agent, whether it's a co op, being Co Op, I really don't do Co Op anymore, everybody's kind of going away with that, that means that agents is cooperating with me. So it's still representing me because they don't have a representation with the buyer. We don't really do that anymore. We pay a buyer's agent. So we want you to represent the buyer. Now, they may not have it in writing with a buyer's agreement. But I'm not representing that buyer. You are
Laura Fisher:so on those upfront agreements, yes. Is that when you negotiate the percentage? No,
Suzette Peoples:it's actually already, when I sit down with the seller, that's when we negotiate to commission, what I'm gonna get paid and what the buyer's agents gonna get paid.
Laura Fisher:What if you have some of these really expensive houses? $1,000,000.02 million dollar home? So it's the same 7%?
Suzette Peoples:It's all negotiable. Okay, it really is. It depends on the client, whether if the past client, whether they're buying another house for me, I mean, it's all between me and that seller what we want to do. Okay, I get that, you know, when I tell this is what I tell sellers, you get what you pay for. And I've seen many, many times discounts, agents, discount buyers, sellers, whatever. And they all cried to me later, I'm going well, they weren't getting paid much. What do you want them to do? Yeah, you know, it's like, it's like, you go to an attorney. He charges a retainer fee. He charges you a fee? Do you want that attorney that wins all the cases. And you know, he's not gonna be cheap, because he wins. And he knows that judge. And how many times do you go to court? Right? So it's the same thing. I feel like when you hire a real estate agent, we're professionals, and do you want the best, then you're going to pay for the best. And I'd be nervous if they were discounting? Because I'd be the one Why are you discounting? If you're really good at what you do? You shouldn't have to discount, right? So I look at that. I know what I do. And I know I'm good at what I do. And I've saved my clients. 1000s So they're looking at me going Oh, you were worth every penny, because you just saved me five grand. Well, I knew
Laura Fisher:we were talking earlier. Before we started recording, you have a lot of repeat business, lots of referrals. 90% Yeah. And it's not just like, it's not repeat Well, referrals and repeat. Like people are moving around. And like we talked about Eric blossom, who's been a guest on my show. You've sold him what five?
Suzette Peoples:Yeah, five times.
Laura Fisher:That's not right.
Suzette Peoples:She said that. We're now at seven times with her.
Laura Fisher:Oh my goodness. Yeah, she's
Suzette Peoples:still got one more house to Yo, she's got it rented right now. So I, I helped her buy an investment property. And that was the best thing she ever did, because she was making good money on that one. So it's a good feeling when they're loyal, they come back to me and they know I did a great job and I make them money. Right. And I think that's the key is what I love doing is the best. The best form of advertising is past clients talking about you, in the best way.
Laura Fisher:100% Yeah, so people's property is who we're talking to today. Suzette people's and I certainly have no reservations, I would call you 100%. Ready? Absolutely. Because you are an advocate that can you love what I do? Yeah, absolutely. So before we close you, you mentioned to me that you wrote a book. Oh, yes, I did. I'm not here to promote your book. But I mean, it well, it's, it's Oh, my gosh,
Suzette Peoples:it was supposed to find it on Amazon, if you want to, there's none left, that I have a few originals left. But it's a women's book, motivating women. Because I was in American business women association for over 30 years. And I saw women not having a lot of confidence. And the success of being a business owner or being independent or doing what you need to do to be successful. And not loving what they saw in the mirror. So the book is actually it's all about U U. U is the name of it. And it says love what you see in the mirror. Awesome. That was a great little book, fun to read. Well,
Laura Fisher:I need to check it out.
Suzette Peoples:You do I got one for you. Don't
Laura Fisher:worry. Oh, good. Alright, so tell my listeners how they can reach you. The best way
Suzette Peoples:to reach me is people's properties.com. Or you can you can definitely call me on my cell phone is 832-573-8230. My email address is Suzette people's at a let's see, I'm at comcast.net.
Laura Fisher:Okay, well, I'll have that all in the show notes. So okay, if you're in the car, you can just scroll down. And on the end, you can read all the notes and a little bio about her as well. Well, Suzette, I really enjoyed this.
Suzette Peoples:Well, thank you. I enjoyed it too, Laura,
Laura Fisher:thanks for asking me. You're welcome. Now, there is something I do at the end of my show. Okay. And we didn't talk about this earlier, but I have a closing line. And I didn't know if you wanted to try saying it. Okay. It says because at the end of it, I always say Until next time, you better be up to something. Do you want to try that? Because the reason why I have that saying is because any entrepreneur, any business owner I've known they're always what? They're always up to something. Yes, we are. Yes. So can you try saying it until next time,
Suzette Peoples:you better be up to something sounds good. All right. Thanks, Laura. All right, y'all
Laura Fisher:have a good week. Bye. Bye. Thank you. Thanks for joining us this week on Small Business Insights, make sure you visit our website at Fisher podcast.com where you can follow the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast platform so you'll never miss a show. If you enjoyed and found value in today's episode, we'd appreciate a rating and review on iTunes or simply share it with a friend that would help us out to make sure you tune in next week for our next episode. Until then, you better be up to something
