What to look for in a realtor?
- Thread starter Sigarms
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bunyip
Elite Member
I think we have the most useless agent around, never returns calls, no updates, our agent got sick but we had no idea then we were told that no one had our number.
Does not inspire confidence and we are withdrawing from the market for a month or two then will start again, commission is supposed to be negotiable but most wont budge from 2.5% plus costs.
Does not inspire confidence and we are withdrawing from the market for a month or two then will start again, commission is supposed to be negotiable but most wont budge from 2.5% plus costs.
dragoneggs
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Lots of people think it's easy money. Husband sets up good looking wife that wants to get out of the house. Not to stereotype but there is some work to understanding the market, and a lot of foot work, coordinating contractors, etc. to make it happen.
I always felt they that realtors are overpaid... but I think the ones that make a good living selling, are earning it for the most part. Sure there are probably many that get a nice check on a sale but you have to repeat this on a regular basis and there is competition. Connections, networking, and pushing for opportunities takes time.
A part time realtor is not who you should be dealing with.
I always felt they that realtors are overpaid... but I think the ones that make a good living selling, are earning it for the most part. Sure there are probably many that get a nice check on a sale but you have to repeat this on a regular basis and there is competition. Connections, networking, and pushing for opportunities takes time.
A part time realtor is not who you should be dealing with.
OP
Sigarms
Super Member
I honestly believe this guy worked hard.
He lined everything up for me, gave me quotes before any work was to begin (such as painting the kitchen, cleaning out the house, lining up lawn care people, having someone replace the boiler). Considering I put in the first boiler in around 94, the boiler price he got me was way better than I expeted installed. Biggest pain was getting someone to hookup the water and sewer on OUR timeline, but he (the realtor) got it done.
Communication was excellent IMO. Probably more than 250 texts between the two of us over 6 months, but keep in mind, the house was supposed to close at the end of July and it ran a month over. As far as the original closing date being missed, after what my realtor sent me, I believe it was on the lenders side that caused the delay.
As far as commision, perhaps 1% higher than the national average in the US, but there is no way I can complain IMO because he actually pretty much got what he said he was going to list it for it.
This realtor does seem a little different IMO. Drives a large Ram truck, doesn't overly dress, and when I asked him about the realtor business, he said he got in it because when he tried to sell his own home, he got more than frustrated with the realtors he had to deal with, so he decided to do it himself. Everyone I talked to per the people who did work at the house really seem to like him as well. Seems like he has a good gig going with all the people he has in his "network". My cousin recommended him to me and she is actually now using him to sell our old family house (her mom originally got the "family" home).
Best part was last night. Making a toast at dinner, my wife informed my dad his house finally sold. Should of seen the smile on his face. Pretty much the only house he ever lived in after he got out of the service, and he couldn't wait to unload it.
The ironic part is an old kayaking buddy is a realtor near my dad. The guy wouldn't even return my phone call when I was looking for one.
He lined everything up for me, gave me quotes before any work was to begin (such as painting the kitchen, cleaning out the house, lining up lawn care people, having someone replace the boiler). Considering I put in the first boiler in around 94, the boiler price he got me was way better than I expeted installed. Biggest pain was getting someone to hookup the water and sewer on OUR timeline, but he (the realtor) got it done.
Communication was excellent IMO. Probably more than 250 texts between the two of us over 6 months, but keep in mind, the house was supposed to close at the end of July and it ran a month over. As far as the original closing date being missed, after what my realtor sent me, I believe it was on the lenders side that caused the delay.
As far as commision, perhaps 1% higher than the national average in the US, but there is no way I can complain IMO because he actually pretty much got what he said he was going to list it for it.
This realtor does seem a little different IMO. Drives a large Ram truck, doesn't overly dress, and when I asked him about the realtor business, he said he got in it because when he tried to sell his own home, he got more than frustrated with the realtors he had to deal with, so he decided to do it himself. Everyone I talked to per the people who did work at the house really seem to like him as well. Seems like he has a good gig going with all the people he has in his "network". My cousin recommended him to me and she is actually now using him to sell our old family house (her mom originally got the "family" home).
Best part was last night. Making a toast at dinner, my wife informed my dad his house finally sold. Should of seen the smile on his face. Pretty much the only house he ever lived in after he got out of the service, and he couldn't wait to unload it.
The ironic part is an old kayaking buddy is a realtor near my dad. The guy wouldn't even return my phone call when I was looking for one.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Good to hear your positive results. I've had good and bad experiences with realtors, but overall, most are just forgettable. The good ones get the job done, provide solutions to problems and streamline the entire process. The bad ones make stupid suggestions, lie instead of finding the correct answer and seem to have a list of horrible people that they rely on to solve issues.
One of the services I offer to clients is to provide my personal opinion of a house that they are considering buying. I do not and cannot by law provide a home inspection, but I can give them an idea of what it will cost to fix or remodel the house. Twice while doing this there was a home inspector there doing his inspection. I never met either of them before, but after telling my clients that I would not buy the house due to a list of issues that I saw, they both came up to me and told me in private that they felt the same way, but couldn't put what I said into their reports. Every time that I've done this, the realtor is there with us and some are very helpful and others have told some ridiculous lies. Mostly I just talk to my clients, but a few times I've called the realtor out on their lies and it just gets worse from there.
One of the services I offer to clients is to provide my personal opinion of a house that they are considering buying. I do not and cannot by law provide a home inspection, but I can give them an idea of what it will cost to fix or remodel the house. Twice while doing this there was a home inspector there doing his inspection. I never met either of them before, but after telling my clients that I would not buy the house due to a list of issues that I saw, they both came up to me and told me in private that they felt the same way, but couldn't put what I said into their reports. Every time that I've done this, the realtor is there with us and some are very helpful and others have told some ridiculous lies. Mostly I just talk to my clients, but a few times I've called the realtor out on their lies and it just gets worse from there.
I just sent a nasty gram to a realtor who has a 1.3 acre trailer lot listed, adjacent to land I look after. I pointed out that despite his description you can not ATV out of your back yard, because the abutting landowner (our client) doesn't allow them on their property, and owns 2000 acres of land behind and across the road from his listing.
If I was a real *head I would go put up one of our 18"x24" signs stating "NO ATVS ALLOWED" on the trail just inside our line.
If I was a real *head I would go put up one of our 18"x24" signs stating "NO ATVS ALLOWED" on the trail just inside our line.
Shaneard
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We've had 2 realtors from 2 different companies and both of them sucked.
First one, long story short we kicked her to the curb. She said "I will get your key out of the lock box on your back door tomorrow". I informed her #1 we don't have a back door and #2 you never brought a lock box. We still haven't gotten our key back from her.
Second one, we had our place listed with her for 6 months, I have yet to meet her. We had someone come by and tell my wife they had tried to contact her and haven't heard anything. My wife tried contacting her. Nothing. I sent her a text (not a nice one), she contacted my wife and said she had been out of the country. Nobody from the company filled in for you? Our contract ran out so we went with for sale by owner, again.
First one, long story short we kicked her to the curb. She said "I will get your key out of the lock box on your back door tomorrow". I informed her #1 we don't have a back door and #2 you never brought a lock box. We still haven't gotten our key back from her.
Second one, we had our place listed with her for 6 months, I have yet to meet her. We had someone come by and tell my wife they had tried to contact her and haven't heard anything. My wife tried contacting her. Nothing. I sent her a text (not a nice one), she contacted my wife and said she had been out of the country. Nobody from the company filled in for you? Our contract ran out so we went with for sale by owner, again.
Industrial Toys
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Around here, there is one guy that seems to move more real estate than everyone else combined. That is the type of person I would go with, provided people that used him give good references. Could be one of those that get the listing because they make you believe they can get you top dollar, then convince you to take a low offer!
two_bit_score
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Real Estate sales has always been known as a trade where 10% of the people make 90% of the sales/commissions.
My agent was great holding weekly open houses and pumping out the listing on the net, sold my house in 2 weeks. Now when my wife bought this house and sold her last home she used the buying agent ( who apparently had no selling experience ) she was constantly pressing to lower the price and we listed it $10K under market value to begin with on the first week. After 3 weeks of her pressing to lower the price we switched agents ( got a full release from the first ) and the new agent sold it in a week and got us $20K over our asking price ($10K over market ) but Im wondering how or why youre getting 2.5% - 3% commissions? Here its 5-7% easily.
