Underhanded REALORS (Philadelphia, Scranton, Lebanon: for sale, real estate, houses)

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

I thought I would share this with the forum since many of you have houses up for sale or are looking to buy. I just found this out yesterday when I spoke to my realtor who is wonderful and professional. Another local realtor from an agency in Milford and it begins with E -told my realtor that he would have never shown my house because we are offering a five percent commission instead of the six to eight. He said he would never take anyone else to see our house because of the rate! The people he took here are very interested in the house but who knows what lies he made up! My advice to anyone that is looking for a house; is to be careful of some of the low life tactics that some of these agents use. After all, showing a house for 15 minutes and making one thousand five hundred isn't all that bad.....is it? I don't know if I have a a legimate beef with the realtors association but if there is something I can do we are going to turn him in. Most of the realtors are hard working people.....but some of them leave a lot to be desired!

[ff18wife]

I would definitely complain to the realtors association or even licensing board. If he/she said that about your house, what has he been doing to others? You never know.

Even if it turns out to be nothing major but crappy selling practices, I would think it should be investigated.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Hi FF,

Yes, I think this is sad. Also, I found out today that when someone goes to a realtor that the realtor decides what houses should be shown. My advice: Wake up buyers, do your own work and ask why are they pushing a particular house! FF, so what we did was offer a one percent extra bonus to the seller and that agent is banned from showing our house. Now, that is what I call: "Cutting off your nose to spite your face" ROFLMAO!

The Hat

[scrantonluna]

Had a realtor screw me about 2 years ago when looking for a home, simply because I was already working with a realtor and he would have to split the commission. I was able to get in to see the property first, made my offer, and their realtor stalled the reply a full three days (it's supposed to be returned within 24 hrs), allowing him to get the full commission and even create a bidding war. By the time they got back to me it was 10k over asking price.

[bels7]

There are honest, competent realtors and there are those who are self-serving and underhanded. That's life I suppose. We need to be careful.

But I can assure you, that as a buyer, the realtor would never decide what houses to show me. Because I go through the listings myself, and I tell the realtor which ones I want to see. If he or she balks, then I find another agent. As a buyer I do not commit to any one realtor or buyer's agent. Only as a seller do I sign a listing agreement which ties me to a particular agent, but only for a specific period of time.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Scranton,
That is messed up what happened to you. I think it takes a long time to build a good reputation and a second to lose it. I am passing the word on this one. And, boy can I talk!

Bels, we are very lucky to be working with a wonderful agent who is honest and works hard. Our first agent was a list collector and had our house shown twice in 3 months. The one we have now, I need a cleaning lady to help me. Sometimes, we have 2 showings at one time. Many buyers are not as savvy as you are. making decisions! Many are coming from Staten Island and other areas where they let the agents decide what houses to show! That is why I am saying WAKE UP! the market is slow and some of these agents are thinking in advance for the holidays!

I am sure now after the carrot I am throwing them; the house will go fast.

[I LOVE PA!]

There was a time when the commission was between 6 and 8%. Now it is pretty standard across the board that it is 6%. When I sold homes during the persiod of 'flexible' commissions, realtors always tried to get you to go with the 8% with the tactic that they would try to sell your house more than the houses that were listed for 6%. They have since gotten away with this practice.
Every realtor has their favorite houses to show. And the favorites differ from realtor to realtor, that's the nature of the business. They have a right to show what they want and what they don't want. When I sold my last house, there were 10 agents in the office, it took a year to sell and there was no shortage of lookers. My house was shown about 60 times in that year, and at least 45 of the times it was by the same realtor. As far as multiple listing...I had about 2 out of the 60 that were not from my listing office. Multiple listing is great for advertising, but most realtors prefer to sell their own office's listings because they make more. When I was in the buying end of the deal, every realtor showed me only their own office's listings. I had them all geting mad at me, like I was switching hair dressers, but I needed a house.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Thanks for the headsup PA! It is definitely a heads up for all BUYERS not

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Thanks for the interesting information. It is definitely a heads up for all BUYERS not to led by the nose. Do your own homework and make these realtors work for you! If I were an agent I would work hard and not be greedy. The money will come, but once your reputation is ruined, word gets out fast, especially here in Milford, Mayberry RFD.

[Gretchen570]

Hi Folks,
I have to tell you that I personally have witnessed the most phony and super plastic appearances by certain realtors..especially the ones doing development.(it is just the truth..not singling anyone out here).She(the one I saw)" acted" for a very wealthy customer as if he were so right about everything he wanted to believe he was right about...but was totally wrong about!!!! It was as if everyone knew it but her!She kissed his rear-end so much , that even another several people said to me later, doesn't he see what is happening here!?? She told him everything from how right he was in politics to how right he was to not marry the poor girl he'd just gotten pregnant and promised to marry for the previous years! She even told this poor girl,that "she" would never be "her" friend,because she was "always going to be best friends with him"! Sick.
Other people witnessed this disgusting display and just looked on in horror, she was not very nice to do this at all. She did not care.
It was to the point where I just shook my head.
You see, I also am a realtor, but I never got on that train, nor will I.
I work in other areas as well as doing listings.I actually work privately for REIT's ,acquisitions/dispositions and also have my license but utilize my education more to do my research than anything.I help anyone out that I can, many many times I get nothing more than the satisfaction of helping someone out, and if that is what I am called to do, then so be it. Please know, on another note, that I personally have encountered realtors in seminars I attended from Philadelphia all the way to Lebanon county and back up to Hazleton, that some simply do not care. They do not care, that is, until it gets down to the bottom line. I actually had one of these so-called realtors tell me that she personally would not even list something unless it were well over 200k! I was infuriated and astonished at this. Not only was she a snot, but she was litterally putting out all of those people! This is SUPPOSED to be illegal of course. Proving things like this can be difficult however and I might add that the case you are building above is largely based on here-say as well. ..Unfortunately.
I also have a legal background, so I am very familiar with the fact that the real estate industry is rife with tons and tons of laws that do the american public absolutley no good.We dont need more laws ..we need more integrity.
If people would simply be abled to put themselves in the other persons shoes this kind of thing would not happen. I try to put myself in the other persons shoes whenever doing any deal.I know that there are other folks out there that do too. Just stay away from the fashion photographer types..you know ..bling bling..flash and all that. I do most of my work in a pair of blue jeans and remain professional.I cannot tell you the last time that I got 6%, I usually negotiate that and it is for their benefit and because I want the work. I drive a Buick.not a Benz.Dont want or need a Benz.

I truly hope this helps.
PS I dont want my picture in the paper!!!
I just want to work!! Right now I have had the good fortune of having sold some properties. I am managing a portfolio of over 22 million dollars. Greed gets you nowhere.
I am also trying to help to rescue some horses , so if you know anyone who wants a horse there are 20 of them that need a permanent home.
Please if you know anyone refer them to craigslist in the pocono area.Thank you ..
Look under land wanted...)