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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate, Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker (Fred Griffin Real Estate)

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Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

when I was actively listing property, I would document every conversation on the inside cover of each deal folder.... now, don't laugh about a "deal folder".... 15 years ago, there were deal folders!!!  I filled one file drawer each year... alphabetically filed by buyer's last name first (they would be the next seller and I was a listing agent!!).... anyone could take over any one of my deals and know exactly where I was with it and all conversations were there....

Nov 05, 2018 12:15 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

Wow, I did not know. 

Thank you, Fred, for bringing it up and great answers. 

Now I know.

Nov 05, 2018 11:29 AM
Rainmaker
554,600
Francine Viola
Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA
REALTOR®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

Yes, that's the same here but I keep everything and upload it all to the cloud ... forever!  Even benign texts and emails I keep - sometimes that can establish timelines that might be useful later on down the road.  There is no harm in retaining these kinds of records even though I'm not required to.

Nov 05, 2018 11:01 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Part of the documents a broker is required to keep for a minimum of 4 years is "ALL COMMUNICATION", so text and email are included.

Nov 05, 2018 10:53 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes but only if the file has problems. If I think that the seller or buyer would love to sue everybody in sight, you bet.

Nov 05, 2018 01:54 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I do keep them regardless of what the law requires.  It's just good business to do so. 

Nov 05, 2018 01:15 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I don't know if they require it.  But, I do keep them.

Nov 06, 2018 05:37 AM
Rainmaker
716,049
Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations

No I don't think so in AZ - not a requirement. Emails are easy to keep and archive in a client e-file. I do that. Text is almost impossible as a user. However, I think some providers like Verizon does keep them in archives for you for a few years (or used to....).

Nov 06, 2018 05:20 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

We are not required to keep them, but i do keep them.

Nov 06, 2018 05:06 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

It's definitely encouraged and there's one particular file right now that I'm making sure I have everything ever communicated... 

Nov 06, 2018 04:53 AM
Ambassador
5,229,945
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

We are not required to but, we are strongly encouraged to do so...and I am sure to do it with each and every client.

Nov 05, 2018 10:08 PM
Ambassador
3,164,269
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

honestly Fred I know of no requirement by the real estate commission in GA for such, however I require it.  Not EVERY communication for all clients, but depending on the deal, the other agent... sometimes every communication for that deal.  But important ones for all.  I put in our efile and print a copy for the paper file (yes, I still keep paper files)

Nov 05, 2018 06:34 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Not required, but, I do keep track of emails. 

Nov 05, 2018 06:26 PM
Rainmaker
883,565
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

I Keep everything!  They come in handy!

 
Nov 05, 2018 05:09 PM
Ambassador
6,393,154
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

All that is stored somewhere in the file cabinets of Google, and possibly in some Russian agents computer.

Nov 05, 2018 03:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I honestly have no clue, but assume they do.  It's California after all.  I keep them backed up with the transaction when technically possible.  I think I have a copy of damn near every email I've ever sent or received since the days of Prodigy internet (not the dial-up app, but actual internet service) somewhere in my house.

Nov 05, 2018 02:27 PM
Rainer
135,724
Jerrill Ewing
N & J Lake Properties, LLC - Eatonton, GA
Builder

not sure if the commission requires it, but my broker does.

Nov 05, 2018 02:24 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Not required by law, but a good idea.

Nov 05, 2018 02:14 PM
Rainmaker
531,677
Marie Story
Coldwell Banker - Pinecrest (Miami) - Pinecrest, FL
Broker Associate, Pinecrest (Miami) Specialist

Yep, I keep everything!

Nov 05, 2018 02:06 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

We are not required to preserve text messages. We would be prudent to do so, IMO, in this everchanging world in which so much information is now shared by text messages.

Nov 05, 2018 01:59 PM
Rainmaker
758,035
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

After it's closed & provided there were no issues I do a Hillary & delete, delete, delete. 

Nov 05, 2018 01:23 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,381
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

emails yes! Texts, no. But I probably should!

Nov 05, 2018 01:19 PM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Thank you, Fred. 

Great question. 

Nov 05, 2018 11:42 AM
Rainmaker
711,852
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Important information.  We move copies of emails and texts into the cloud for storage.

Nov 05, 2018 11:39 AM
Rainmaker
508,218
Joseph Domino 480-390-6011
HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Made Easy

Yes, keep all communications as well as logs. Easy to do. You never know when it may come back around.

Nov 05, 2018 11:30 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,571
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Not yet Fred Griffin . If they start to it's just another reason I'm glad I've retired now.

Nov 05, 2018 11:29 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,163
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I started keeping messages for 1 year....

Nov 05, 2018 11:07 AM
Rainmaker
7,835,438
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Nope.

Nov 05, 2018 10:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,374,323
Joyce Marsh
Joyce Marsh Real Estate LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Joyce Marsh Homes

I keep a record of all texts and emails as well as well documented notes about verbal conservations. 

Nov 06, 2018 05:58 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

As far as I know there's no legal requirement, but strongly suggested. And I save everything in any event.

Nov 06, 2018 05:38 AM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

They are not required in our state.  Depending on the transaction, sometimes I require agents to keep them and make them part of the file

Nov 06, 2018 02:37 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Same in CA, texts will not work, even most clients use texts these days. 

Nov 05, 2018 11:57 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

N ot required but I do most of them anyway

Nov 05, 2018 06:46 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Good question.

Nov 05, 2018 05:29 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

They can be used as evidence at court in CA

Nov 05, 2018 03:40 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Fred,

Our filing system, kept everything...it was in the beginning of the Internet, we kept message slips meeting dates, notes...A

Nov 05, 2018 02:28 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Emails yes but not texts.

Nov 05, 2018 02:25 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

It is not mandatory to keep text or emails but from a broker's standpoint it is a good business practice.

Nov 11, 2018 08:16 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

We're not required to keep them, but I do hang onto mine.

Nov 11, 2018 08:13 PM
Rainmaker
4,936,558
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Does not require but I do keep them

 

Nov 10, 2018 11:47 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,472
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I absolutely do, you never know when you may need them.

Nov 10, 2018 08:33 AM
Rainmaker
577,750
Gloria Valvasori, Accredited Senior Agent
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE SIGNATURE SERVICE - Mississauga, ON
REAL Experience | REAL Commitment | REAL Results!

It is not required by law here, but I always keep them.. you never know what could happen.  For the first time in more than 30 years as an agent, I had a buyer who did not close on a property last week. I am now gathering and printing off all emails, text messages, and making notes on conversationsin chronological order as to when they happened and what was said.  

Nov 06, 2018 10:37 AM