Help Buying a House? (Millinocket, Eastport: flat fee, insurance, inspections)

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by ILUVMAINE

Forest,

You tell it like it is!

I am sure that you would do likewise if put into such a position.

[WhoFanMe]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

WhoFanMe -
People are people, some people are honest and do their best to be good; others do not.

I am not aware of any profession that has any lock of good folk, including clergy.

However there are trends. Trends form our stereotypes.

People who gravitate toward being a police officer, tend to be folks who really should not have that kind of personal power. We can see this in every state, every city. I chose to go through a Police Academy and to serve as a LEO, as an alternative to spending more years living underwater; it was the only option available to me at the time. However while working LEO duties I did have the opportunity of working with folks who had chosen Police work to be their primary career field. Thieves can put on a uniform and badge, it does not change them from being a thief.

I am sure that some realtors are good and honest folk.

However the career field has it's own stereotypes, and I have dealt with realtors who fit those stereotypes. This is why stereotypes exist.

Most ministers have a soft-spoken calm manner, therefore the stereotype for that career field is what it is. Not all ministers are soft-spoken and calm, and some are child predators.

The stereotype of realtors is most certainly NOT one of conforming to any "code of ethics".

Complete strangers can come together on this forum, and while coming from totally different backgrounds, we can agree on the 'realtor' stereotype. Why is that? Well, because we are not babes, we have dealt with realtors, and obviously your clean crisp and ethical image that you try so hard to project simply does not jive with our shared reality.

Sharks could be said to operate according to an ethical code, they eat everything.

Realtors, well, never mind. I have explained why I do not trust realtors. I have fought realtors numerous times. You can say that they are bound by some ethereal code, fine. I have spent far too much time fighting realtors, I have spent far too much money due to the incompetency of a realtor.

Men may have honour, men may be honest, men may work to be ethical, and men may choose to be a realtor. But those qualities are attached to that man, they are not attached to the profession.





Or jab your face with a fork until the desire leaves you.

If the desire stays, jab, again and again, eventually the desire to deal with a realtor will leave you and you will be a far better person for having learned to deal directly with such a desire.

May God bless you.

forest, I am truly sorry you feel this way. It seems that the actions of a few tend to spoil it for the rest of us.

[moughie]

forest, did you ever stop to consider that whofanme's professional character and sense of integrity may NOT fit into your narrow definition of a realtor?

Sorry you have had such lousy experiences with realtors. We have all had our share of positive and negative experiences, but I certainly would not jump out and judge ALL realtors as bad. Give him a break!!

[elston]

I had a very good experience with my last realtor, and even after 4 years we still have conversations on the phone and keep in touch. Not close friends but friendly--she did a wonderful job for us, because she came to understand us and what our individual desires were and what was important to us in a home. As I seller, I still have trust in my realtor, (he brings in lots of showings); I see some realtors who who seem less well prepared or qualified to do their job professionally. (But I was a social worker and I could say that some in my profession were less than stellar.)

[mollysmiles]

Elston, you bring a good point to the table. I know one realtor who sold us our house in Eastport, and I love her to bits. BUT, I trust her. I've know her my entire life, and because of that I never had a doubt that she'd find a good fit for us and what we were looking for. That being said though, there are definitely realtors in my area to avoid like the plague--they simply are incapable of telling the truth. Two of them I have had personal conversations with regarding certain properties, and later discovered what was said to me was a flat out lie--and they were simple, silly lies, but if they're lying about the little stuff, you have to wonder. There are others here that although I haven't had personal experiences with, the "word on the street" is to avoid them. If you are working with a realtor, my advice is to spend time talking with him/her, listen well....get to know the person, and follow your instincts. It's really important that you take the time and build the trust....and I think the good realtors know that and promote that. Just like in any part of life, you can tell which people really care

[moughie]

Great post, molly and oh so true!

[WhoFanMe]

Very good point molly. Many people spend more time shopping for Christmas presents than the professional that will be handling arguably the single most important purchase or sale in their lifetime. If you are selling your home, interview 2 or 3 and choose the one who's marketing plan, philosophy and company best fit in with your beliefs. If you are buying a home, don't be afraid to interview 2 or 3 agents and look for recommendations from other satisfied clients before you sign on. Most agents have their own web sites where they can spell out exactly how they work and who they work best with. Most importantly, find somebody who has the courage to tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. Good REALTORS will treat these as job interviews and strive to earn your business. Two way communication is critical in a successful relationship - if you don't have that, you are in for difficult ride.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by moughie

forest, did you ever stop to consider that whofanme's professional character and sense of integrity may NOT fit into your narrow definition of a realtor?

Sorry you have had such lousy experiences with realtors. We have all had our share of positive and negative experiences, but I certainly would not jump out and judge ALL realtors as bad. Give him a break!!

Yes I have.

"professional character and sense of integrity" are traits that a person may have.

Those are not traits inherent in any singular profession.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

Elston, you bring a good point to the table. I know one realtor who sold us our house in Eastport, and I love her to bits. BUT, I trust her. I've know her my entire life, and because of that I never had a doubt that she'd find a good fit for us and what we were looking for. That being said though, there are definitely realtors in my area to avoid like the plague--they simply are incapable of telling the truth. Two of them I have had personal conversations with regarding certain properties, and later discovered what was said to me was a flat out lie--and they were simple, silly lies, but if they're lying about the little stuff, you have to wonder. There are others here that although I haven't had personal experiences with, the "word on the street" is to avoid them. If you are working with a realtor, my advice is to spend time talking with him/her, listen well....get to know the person, and follow your instincts. It's really important that you take the time and build the trust....and I think the good realtors know that and promote that. Just like in any part of life, you can tell which people really care

Well said

[elston]

I would no more catagorize and castigate all realtors than I would all farmers or loggers or carpenters. Lately there has been a lot on the news trashing contractors...and I am sure that there are unscrupulous charlatans -- but I am also sure that there must be some decent guys/gals trying to earn an honest living and contribute to their communities.