Realtor rant...

[Baz]

I bought my current home directly from the owner - we both saved $.

[billybek]

The lady down the street lost her husband recently and she has been hounded by realtors looking for a listing.
Frickin vultures.
(Not you Jake! You're OK...)

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Gogar

REALTY seems to be the profession of choice for every late '30s, early '40s liberal arts major with no actual career direction or professional passion I know.

Dude, why do you have to go raining on my Plan B?

[A930Rocket]

She needs a holiday weekend to show it to her friends? I'm calling BS on this one.

Might be time to find one that works for you.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Dude, why do you have to go raining on my Plan B?

No kidding! I figure everyone else in AZ has tried their hand at it... Why not me?

Maybe I can sell some houses to some clown attorneys?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Tobra

She is going to have a party at your house. If you are going to vacate it for her, set up video surveillance of the property that goes to a remote DVR.


If this can be done without penalty, absolutely.

California is more progressive

But he's not in California. Seattle is in Washington state.

You're welcome.

[speeder]

Moses, just tell her no-can-do. She can show it to other agents some other time. Tough schit.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Moses

When I bought my present home, I was pre-approved for a price of $580,000. I had ONLY the cash to cover a down payment, so I asked my realtor to not show me any properties listing for more that that price. He showed me a house that I fell in love with. Until he mentioned it was listed for $880,000. I told him to write an offer for $580,000. He refused.

A week later I walked up to the house and made my offer in person to the homeowner. Turns out they owned several houses outright and were still making a nice profit at $580,000. They accepted my offer.

The realtor who refused to write the offer? He got full commission.

That's usually for selling agents not buyer's agent. I could be wrong, but I have never sign anything with a my buying agent (I always use the same woman) for purchasing any homes.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by Moses

They are actually among the busiest in the area. Go figure...

That's a real shame! I can tell you what that firm's reputation is worth in your contract with her though: exactly .5 diddlysquat.

[dennis in se pa]

A good agent is worth 3%. The buying side is going to want to see a 3% co-op or they might not show your house. That comes to 6%. Finding an agent who will work for less is possible if you are in the over $200,000 range, or if the agent is desperate for business. Real estate is like all other things....only 20% of those participating are competent. This particular agent seems a little fishy.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Why do realtors universally suck so badly? Seriously. I don't know of any other "profession" that has such a low bar for expectations of professional conduct - particularly for the salaries that these people try to rationalize. I've dealt with at least a dozen over the years and they've all been scumbags to varying degrees.

Originally Posted by Gogar

REALTY seems to be the profession of choice for every late '30s, early '40s liberal arts major with no actual career direction or professional passion I know.

Yes and yes. I think the bar to entry is painfully low and they are left totally unsupervised, stupidity and incompetence is the result. I may be listing my house in the next month and plan to interview multiple realtors with the hope of finding a good one, which in this context means someone competent that actually creates a professional listing on the MLS. That's really the only value they provide as a seller.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

.... I may be listing my house in the next month and plan to interview multiple realtors with the hope of finding a good one, which in this context means someone competent that actually creates a professional listing on the MLS. That's really the only value they provide as a seller.

Matt, I don't know how your area is, but around here real estate has been booming the past year or so. Houses in desirable areas aren't staying on the market very long, with cash buyers lining up and paying full asking price (from '05-06 levels). I'm also seeing lots of FSBO (Help-U-Sell, etc.) that seem to move just as fast and will save a decent chunk of the selling realor's commission...maybe something to consider??? Good luck!

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by Z-man

I'm selling my house, and my realtor isn't like that -- I've texted her at 9:30 pm, 7:30am - whenever - and she will get back to me quickly. I've texted her around both of those times asking if I can call her - and she says no problem. She always gets back to me when I ask her to follow up via email text or phone. She's even answered my call during a showing!

Not all real estate agents are bad - but they are very few and far between. I guess I got lucky...

-Z-man.

Yeah, that's why agents burn out-people text them at 7am and 9 pm on weekends, holidays etc. You have to work 18hrs a day 7 days a week. No respect for private time or space.

Moses-she likely missed your text-its why I hate text messaging for business. Check with her again, likely an error.

As to some of the other comments, you want the house vacant for a brokers open house, standard deal. The choice of weekends is unfortunate.

And yes, there are a lot of dilettante agents, but a good one is worth the commission. I see it every day

[herr_oberst]

Is she assuming that she will be the listing agent and the buyers agent?

In other words, why is she contracting for the full 6% - does she then split the commission with the buyers agent?

(And if it were me, I'd send spies over on Memorial day...but I'm suspicious that way!!)

(I've dealt with great agents and terrible agents. I don't have anything against the profession.)

[onewhippedpuppy]

KC, Wichita is pretty slow and steady, we've been around a 4% appreciation rate for forever. I've been remodeling for over three weeks, it's going to be top notch when we sell. But I doubt it goes for over asking price.

[javadog]

In this day and age, it's not likely she "missed" your text. Ignored? Yes. Forgot about it? Yes. This is not a person I'd do business with. Fire her.

Prospective buyers are often uncomfortable viewing a house while the owner is present. Agents? They couldn't care less. They aren't buying the house, just getting familiar with it. Having the owner around to answer any potential questions might be advantageous. I don't see the reason she wants you to vacate the house.

Holiday weekend? What a lousy time to schedule anything like that. 99% of the population is going to take advantage of the first long holiday this year. It's been a while since the last long holiday.

So... to recap.

Look into firing the agent.
Tell her to go pound sand this Saturday.
Enjoy your weekend.

JR

[look 171]

Could it have been a mistake that she's hosting an open house and not caravan on a holiday since most buyer will stop by to take a look due to the fact its a holiday and most people are not working? I would want to take advantage of that if my house is for sale.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by javadog

In this day and age, it's not likely she "missed" your text. Ignored? Yes. Forgot about it? Yes. This is not a person I'd do business with. Fire her.

Prospective buyers are often uncomfortable viewing a house while the owner is present. Agents? They couldn't care less. They aren't buying the house, just getting familiar with it. Having the owner around to answer any potential questions might be advantageous. I don't see the reason she wants you to vacate the house.

Holiday weekend? What a lousy time to schedule anything like that. 99% of the population is going to take advantage of the first long holiday this year. It's been a while since the last long holiday.

So... to recap.

Look into firing the agent.
Tell her to go pound sand this Saturday.
Enjoy your weekend.

JR

I agree 100%

When I sold a house recently a friend of mine who was a former agent told me to remember that the realtor works for you, not the other way around. There number one thing is to keep communications open with the seller. Find a different agent.

[cabmandone]

OP,
Ask yourself this, If I was a Realtor, would I take part of my time for Memorial Day weekend to preview a new listing?

I was a Realtor and there's no way in hell I would. What I'm getting at is, how many agents do you suppose are going to show up at the listing preview? I would suspect few unless your listing is in a VERY hot area with a large number of buyers.

On the subject of your current agent, go to the Broker and tell them you'd like another agent to handle your listing then explain why. I'm sure the Broker will assign a new agent rather than lose what sounds like a very good listing.

[911SauCy]

This is timely...

Wife and I've been searching a nice town in CT for almost a year now with very little luck, working with the owner of "the" real estate company for this small town...she's a great lady and unbelievable resource. Despite my initial skepticism,

Last Thursday we see a nice 2600sf home comes up, nice neighborhood, tons of kids, sizable 2-car ...and the house, if paralleled to cars, is in blue ribbon concourse condition. Our decision was made on the spot and we made an offer that night.

Listed at 452, closest comp sold for 420, 6 months back. We offer 9% under asking to start the ball rolling, 410.

They counter at 450 and their agent, who hasn't seen the house and works for a 3rd party relocation agency out of state, tells us they will not move from 450. Why? Because its in line with neighborhood comps.

We countered at 420 and noted we would comfortably go higher if she could provide comps we must be missing. She can not produce any comps and told us the owners are "waiting for a better offer"

We told the Cee U Next Tuesday...to pound sand

Unfortunate as the house would be a perfect fit, the buyer needs to sell, and she will lose the deal to greed.