The staff here at The Rep Report hope you are finding the web site to be a useful resource. New members continue to register and we receive e-mails and phone calls on a regular basis from interested parties. So, it appears that The Rep Report is being utilized and enjoyed.
A few months back, we asked for articles to publish. That offer will not expire. We would like to receive your articles for publication and we still need writers and editors that can assume editing responsibility for sections in our new magazine style coming in January.
We have been calling potential contributors by phone to deliver our offer personally. We have commitments from a small but diversified group that will be contributing material on a regular basis. If you have not heard from us yet, rest assured that you will - we're going through the list of registered users.
The following article was submitted by Wallace Fleming, a Property Preservation contractor in Illinois. We hope you enjoy his writing.
I was contacted today by a field rep and "called out into the street" so to speak. Within just a few words it looked like it was going to be another high noon shootout.
I, like the majority of you, wear many caps. One of the companies my wife and I operate offers over twenty types of Field Services including mortgage work, insurance work and preservation work. We do a lot of Vacant Property services and private investigations of financial and real estate matters. When I was called out into the street, I was wearing the CAP I wear as editor of TheRepReport.
I have never even met the caller but we have talked many times. Our relationship has developed into what I would call a friendship because both of us are going on "gut instinct" and our first instincts of each other appear to be correct. We talk openly and honestly with each other. So, it was very important to me that I find out as quickly as possible why I was in trouble with the caller.
It appears that the caller was calling as the representative of some visitors to TheRepReport that were offended by the publication of a recent article.
I was quick to point out that some articles are published for their "shock factor" and publication or non-publication of any article should not be taken as an indication of TheRepReport choosing sides. This naturally led to the question of whether or not TheRepReport may be sitting on the fence.
TheRepReport is published by Gulf Thunder Corporation, an Alabama Corporation, and was incorporated with the intent of establishing interactive computer services. TheRepReport is the first interactive computer service of Gulf Thunder Corporation and is focused on the field services industry. So there is no choosing of sides and no fence sitting - TheRepReport reports and accepts interactivity from its readers.
The caller brought to my attention that a post in the Insurance and Mortgage Field Services Group on Yahoo stated "PLEASE SOMEONE CALL THEM OUT.....( REPREPORT??? please ask them how this new policy is beneficial". for everyone involved. It only hurts inspectors.)
It was then I realized that I was guilty of something I have accused others of in the past - keeping some things too private. In defense of TheRepReport, I told the caller that I had responded to that post. A request was e-mailed for more information that would provide a foundation for further research. No response was ever received to that request. So, without something concrete to start with, no further investigation would be warranted. Without something to work with, I had to assume that the reported incident could not be verified. Another email request was sent earlier tonight. There has been no reply.
Now here's where I messed up. No one knew I had responded because I had sent my request off-board. So, the pre-trial verdict of guilty looked like a done deal. Again, in defense of TheRepReport, an article that was made available to us was printed. If responses to our email inquiries had been received, there may have been additional articles or a decision made to not publish some articles.
I once worked for a guy who's favorite saying was "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die". Well, most field reps I talk to want to see some things change but they are not willing to do anything to bring about the change. Ninety-nine point nine percent will do as I did - keep the comments in a yahoo group or off board entirely.
Picture yourself as a traveler looking for work. You come upon a nice little town that looks like a nice place. You see help wanted ads in the newspaper and respond. You are told that you will get rich working only four hours a week taking pictures. Yes, there is a little paper work too but it's not that bad. Of course, we require you have insurance, reliable transportation, high speed internet, etc. But it's all justified. You're going to get rich! Somewhat doubtful, you try to find out about this company but there is nothing in the city directory. There is nothing in the newspaper archives except for past help wanted ads. There is no information at the Better Business Bureau, The Chamber of Commerce or the court house. So, what do you do? You take the job not knowing that there are fifteen reps down the street talking in hushed whispers at the Local coffee shop.
I promise you that at any point in time, there are over one hundred ads running looking for your replacement. Why is that? It's because the person looking for work has absolutely no way of gathering the information needed to make a smart decision - in other words, an easy target. That's your fault and my fault. Everyone is keeping quiet thinking they are protecting what they have while exactly the opposite is happening. The silence is the perfect environment for those that may want to take advantage.
There were voices crying out in the wilderness before TheRepReport came along. They're still there shouting out their warnings and waving red flags with pretty much the same results they have always had. Who said "There is none so blind as those who will not see"?
If you truly want change, it is only going to come through education. There will be far fewer applicants trying to take your job when they know what you know.
An article inThe Sun Courier reports Robert Klein honored:
BROOKLYN HTS. Robert Klein, founder and chief executive officer of Safeguard Properties, was honored as Outstanding Person of the Year by the Cuyahoga Valley Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Oct. 23 at the Independence Holiday Inn.
Klein was selected as this year's recipient for the award based on his commitment to the Cuyahoga Valley region through economic growth, as well as community service.
Headquartered in Brooklyn Heights, Safeguard has grown into a 450-employee company over the course of 17 years, with a network of contractors throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Property Preservation