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So I might be selling the old homestead...and I'm trying to figure out which realtor to go with.
What do YOU look for in a realtor?
Look for honesty and integrity first. Be wary of those who are willing to tell you whatever they think you want to hear (especially when it comes to the estimated sale price of your home) in order to get the listing.
Choose someone who you are personally comfortable with. He or she will be a big part of your life for the next six months or so.
Look for recommendations from friends and neighbors who have recently sold their home.
Quote:
Originally Posted by S.I.B.
Any thoughts on going with a local independent broker vs. somebody associated with one of the big companies?
Both have their good and bad points. Smaller companies can tend to be more flexible. The bottom line though, is pick the right agent. The individual agent is much more important then the company with which he is associated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by S.I.B.
Anything I should be looking to avoid?
Avoid anyone who does not make a full time living selling real estate. Be especially wary of "friends" in real estate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by S.I.B.
What commissions are typical these days?
I am prohibitted by law from discussing commission rates in a public forum. But, some advice: 1) Do not choose an agent based solely on commission rates. You sometimes get what you pay for. 2) Pay attention to the "split", ie the way that the commission will be split between the listing broker and the selling broker.
Look for honesty and integrity first. Be wary of those who are willing to tell you whatever they think you want to hear (especially when it comes to the estimated sale price of your home) in order to get the listing.
Choose someone who you are personally comfortable with. He or she will be a big part of your life for the next six months or so.
Look for recommendations from friends and neighbors who have recently sold their home.
Both have their good and bad points. Smaller companies can tend to be more flexible. The bottom line though, is pick the right agent. The individual agent is much more important then the company with which he is associated.
Avoid anyone who does not make a full time living selling real estate. Be especially wary of "friends" in real estate.
I am prohibitted by law from discussing commission rates in a public forum. But, some advice: 1) Do not choose an agent based solely on commission rates. You sometimes get what you pay for. 2) Pay attention to the "split", ie the way that the commission will be split between the listing broker and the selling broker.
I had a very good experience using a friend who worked part time ...twice.
I had a very good experience using a friend who worked part time ...twice.
What can I say....she really cared.
Crooks
There's an old saying: If you don't have a friend in real estate, you don't have many friends at all.
I'm glad it worked out for you, Crooks. But I have to say that your case is probably an exception. I would no more use a part time real estate agent then a part time dentist.
There's an old saying: If you don't have a friend in real estate, you don't have many friends at all.
I'm glad it worked out for you, Crooks. But I have to say that your case is probably an exception. I would no more use a part time real estate agent then a part time dentist.
You know I respect your opinion Tom.
Im just sharing my experience.
As a buyer and a seller it worked out pretty good.
Forgot to mention...a few months ago we randomly met with a guy at one of the bigger companies. He went on and on about how great HE was and how he's the top producer at his firm and blah blah blah...and then in the last 2 minutes of our discussion, he mentions that he'd be sharing the listing with another agent as his company.
I was like, WTF? You just spent close to an hour selling me on YOU and YOUR talents...and now you tell me that somebody else will have an equal stake in selling my house. It felt like the old bait and switch.
Sounds a little odd. But there could be an explanation. Some agents work in teams very effectively. Many of the top producers have other agents who do a lot of the leg work for them. I would ask him to explain exactly who will be doing what.
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