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Having a realtor show your home is also a bad idea. They are walking into an unknown home they have never been in and they know almost nothing about it. I am not sure what benefit that is supposed to have for buyer looking at it with them.
As a seller, I cannot tell you how many phone calls I got having to go through realtor middle-men asking all kinds of important questions about my property. If the buyer was present at the showing, a person would be there who actually knew something about the property, and they could actually answer questions without having to wait for realtors to track owners down and relay info through 3 phone calls days later.
However, I do agree that there are way too many over-emotional sellers out there who would not do well being present;
The main part being that home owners do not know how to use psychology and lie properly to manipulate buyers. That in itself, is an art that good realtors excel at...And before I am bashed, my own mother is realtor, so I know this based on personal exp.
Like I said, after the terms of the offer were agreed upon, I wouldn't mind touring the home with the seller present, so they could fill me in on the smaller details. But I don't want them around on the initial home tour. I want to be able to speak freely without feeling constrained, and I don't want to have to worry about offending the seller on the very front end. (I don't want to offend them at any point, but especially before any terms of an offer are discussed.)
Having a realtor show your home is also a bad idea. They are walking into an unknown home they have never been in and they know almost nothing about it. I am not sure what benefit that is supposed to have for buyer looking at it with them.
As a seller, I cannot tell you how many phone calls I got having to go through realtor middle-men asking all kinds of important questions about my property. If the buyer was present at the showing, a person would be there who actually knew something about the property, and they could actually answer questions without having to wait for realtors to track owners down and relay info through 3 phone calls days later.
Actually, that's not exactly true.
Many many realtors preview homes for their clients. They definitely want to see it before bringing a buyer to it.
In addition, it's the realtors job to research the home and its past history. They do this thru county records and even go out and talk to others familiar with the property to "get the scoop".
Those realtors calling and bugging you for info are doing their job for their buyer clients.
Many many realtors preview homes for their clients. They definitely want to see it before bringing a buyer to it.
In addition, it's the realtors job to research the home and its past history. They do this thru county records and even go out and talk to others familiar with the property to "get the scoop".
Those realtors calling and bugging you for info are doing their job for their buyer clients.
I wonder how many sellers have had a realtor who is doing a future showing, actually do a "preview viewing" to learn about the house, and then also do all of the other research you mentioned?
I have sold 3 homes and never had this happen. They all just walk in blind for the first time to show the home. Many times they are carting buyers around all day showing them 5 or more homes; they normally never do all this work to learn about the house beforehand, at least I never heard of this being the norm for regular home showings.
I wonder how many sellers have had a realtor who is doing a future showing, actually do a "preview viewing" to learn about the house, and then also do all of the other research you mentioned?
I have sold 3 homes and never had this happen. They all just walk in blind for the first time to show the home. Many times they are carting buyers around all day showing them 5 or more homes; they normally never do all this work to learn about the house beforehand, at least I never heard of this being the norm for regular home showings.
If you were selling all 3 of those homes yourself it is unlikely that agents would call you to preview it.
That's because most agents won't waste their time on FSBO's.
But when homes are listed in the MLS it is very common for agents to preview the homes they plan to show their buyers before taking the buyer out.
Second, sellers don't know when to shut up. Worse still, a buyer might selectively forget a few things. The buyer needs to see the home as represented on a standardized listing sheet. The positive things about the property should be represented professionally by the realtor on the MLS listing. And if the realtor is worth his salt he anticipates problems before they arise. (Our experience with our last very good realtor.)
Third, you need reasonable people to negotiate. If the realtors involved are good at their jobs, they will look out for their buyers/sellers.
Fourth. You need presence on the web. I question whether the start up can get that for you.
When we were looking at homes in Grants Pass, Oregon, the last home was a for sale by owner.
We spent more than an hour with the owner, his wife, three kids, a dog, and Grandma all present. It was a great house and they could tell us what the taxes cost, the utilities, about the neighbors, in short we received more info than any realtor would have been able to provide. We just pulled in their driveway after noticing the sign and told them we are from Orange County, not quite ready to pull the trigger, but interested in what can we get in Oregon for the $ 275 K asking price. The owners were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Super neat family.
We took maybe 80 photos, using two cameras, and I still have the pictures on the computer. If we'd decide on Grants Pass, that house would be on our short list, even if it was sold by now I would go back just to retrieve some good memories.
Come to think of it, once we sell our townhouse and start shopping for our next place, with cash in the bank, I'd like to ask our buyer's agent that the sellers stay at home, and show us all the little details no professional agent would know. We are gracious enough to compliment on their green carpets if the rest of the house looks acceptable.
As for prospective buyers in our home complaining about our choice of wallpaper, in front of me, shame on them, well, I have bigger things to worry about; yes, definitely, like the price of beer.
Last edited by mgforshort; 07-14-2014 at 06:14 PM..
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