The Concert for New York City was a benefit concert, featuring many famous musicians, that took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Aside from performing for charity, the concert was an attempt to honor the first responders from the New York Fire Department and New York Police Department, their families, and those lost in the attacks and those who had worked in the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in the weeks since that time.
The concert was organized by Paul McCartney and included many of his legendary British contemporaries, including The Who, Rolling Stones bandmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, David Bowie, Elton John, and Eric Clapton.
Musically, the audience responded most fervently to The Who, roaring as they came on stage with a roiling “Who Are You”, drowning out the band on the famous “It’s only teenage wasteland” refrain of “Baba O’Riley,” and reaching a peak of excitement with “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The backdrop for the band consisted of an American flag alongside the British flag, showing solidarity. Vocalist Roger Daltrey’s final words to the crowd of first responders and their families were: “We could never follow what you did.” This performance would turn out to be bassist John Entwistle’s final performance in America with the Who; he died of a heart attack only eight months later. Multi-instrumentalist Jon Carin, who had worked with the band during the group’s 1996–1997 tours, played keyboards at this performance in place of longtime keyboardist John “Rabbit” Bundrick. Zak Starkey is on drums.
We had broker preview today in Del Mar Heights. I like to provide a full lunch buffet – having food and drinks keep the agents around longer, they view more of the home, and we get to talk amongst ourselves.
I miss the old days when we actually drove around together to view homes on caravan day. The best was back in the 1980s when a bunch of newbies hired on at Century 21 Campbell & Associates in Mission Valley (which later became Merrill Lynch Realty). Because it was a big office, (there were over 70 agents), every week there were several new listings to preview – and we would drive together and talk shop. It was a great way to grow up in the business, and several of us are still in the business – Jeff Campbell, Mark Freed, Marti Gellens, and David Cabot.
It’s why Kayla and I are on caravan each week, to talk shop.
We do get to chat it up with our fellow agents while visiting each house, and when you are the host like I was today, you can get into some extended conversations.
I brought two trays of sandwiches, chips and pickles from Panera, and a large pizza from the local Bellasario’s Pizza around the corner. The food was a hit, and many agents sat down for a spell to chat.
Two agents were discussing the broker ‘pitch session’ on Monday afternoon down at Hotel Indigo. They said two agents ‘put a deal together’ at yesterday session, and were admiring the other times that has happened.
I was biting my tongue, but I didn’t say a word. At least not until one of them asks, “What about you Jim, how come you don’t go to the pitch sessions?”
I said, “Because I think they are unethical.”
Jaws drop immediately, and I explain that it is my belief that these backroom off-market deals made at private broker pitch sessions are not right for three reasons:
1. They deprive the seller of full exposure, and potentially a better offer.
2. Any below-market price hurts the neighborhood comps.
3. It deprives other agents from having a chance to earn a commission.
One agent described a case where one of the sellers had Alzheimer’s and was living at the house, and I agreed that in a case like that I could understand the sensitivity. But every other listing should go on the MLS for full exposure.
Thankfully, Jo Ambrogio was there, quietly eating her lunch. She is a long-time local broker (licensed since 1977) and still very active – we usually see her driving by herself during broker preview each week. Jo added,
“Nobody sees my listings until they go on the open market.”
And that was the end of the discussion.
As the agents filed out, they all thanked me for the food and lively conversation, and I think a few people will be thinking differently about the next broker pitch session they attend.
We ended up having over 50 agents come by today. I told the seller that 40 of them probably didn’t have a buyer, but will be talking about the house around the water cooler. The ten that might have a buyer will probably turn into 2-3 showings.
I cringed at his thought of pricing your home 10% to 15% above comps, but with the hysteria over real-estate-entertainment TV, people will believe it just because it came from Josh. His other tips are HERE in the full article.
Today there are exactly 700 houses for sale in NSDCC (numbers below have overlap due to range-pricing). Last year there were 413 new listings in January – prepare for more inventory coming to market!