Have Buyer Realtor, We Found FSBO

[olds1]

Originally Posted by 1insider

With buyers cruising online listings 24/7 these days it's become quite common for them to see a listing before their agent who is probably not in front of a computer all day does. They almost always, like the OP, jump to the stance of I found it first and shouldn't have to pay my agent. I tell my buyers up front that we are working as a team and I set them up with MLS alerts but should they find one before I do, to let me know and I'll jump on it. I also don't use a written buyer's agent agreement and am happy to be fired if things don't work out but I also don't take on a buyer client that doesn't agree to our team concept of searching for properties.

Our agent has a search tool that he set up for us that crawls the MLS listings and send us results. He doesn't do anything but ask us if houses on the list we've already seen will work for us. He also hasn't included listings from the next MLS over after we have asked 3 times. He does get us into homes though since he makes appointments and can open the lock box. We do go to open houses without him.

He also keeps asking about homes with no attached garage when we have said multiple times that an attached garage is mandatory.

Update:
The agent wants to ask the seller directly to pay the fees. If the seller says no, he will drop his fee to 2.5% for us to pay.

I'd still rather work with him and pay him as he has spent time with us.

[dontaskwhy]

Originally Posted by olds1

He also hasn't included listings from the next MLS over after we have asked 3 times.

That could be out of his control. It differs by location and is not uniform. There are some outside counties that our local MLS in N. Florida has reciprocal access but not all. For instance, Realtors in my local MLS cannot see the MLS for S. Florida and would have to offer a client a referral instead. One the other hand, our MLS does have an agreement with 4 different MLS in surrounding counties.

As most long term members know, I am no longer an active Realtor but have personal experience as one. What I may experience in FL will often be different in other markets.

[CentralUSHomeowner]

Originally Posted by Heidi60

Good for you for finding a FSBO and saving a lot of money.
If you don't feel comfortable filling out the standard forms by yourself hire an attorney who has no interest in doing anything but representing you. Actually, if you do use a salesperson, it is wise to still have an attorney monitor them and it is more cost effective.
With no contract, you owe the salesperson nothing so go ahead and brush him off as nothing but an unnecessary expense.

Good Advice!

We have purchased real estate where all parties involved used only attorneys and a title company. The cost was minimally compared to real estate company involvement.

[1insider]

Originally Posted by olds1

Update:
The agent wants to ask the seller directly to pay the fees. If the seller says no, he will drop his fee to 2.5% for us to pay.

I'd still rather work with him and pay him as he has spent time with us.

Hope it works out. Seems a reasonable approach to me. He might be willing to drop that fee lower if that % plus your down payment becomes too excessive. Something is almost always better than nothing.

[Annemieke Roell]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

As was said above.... With almost everything going directly to public websites now.... "Finding the house" isn't difficult or the most important part of the process.

Clients who can sit and browse all day often "find" houses first. Good! Call me with it... I"ll look it up! I don't usually have time to watch the MLS all day. They do... I get it... I was once a home buyer too. But I don't send homes directly to them without screening them first, and they often "find" houses before I do that seem like a good deal but either won't finance, are in a bad location that floods, or otherwise don't meet the criteria they set.

Finding a property first isn't the highest and best reason to use an agent. My most important job sometimes is advising clients why they shouldn't buy something.

Finding the house is the first part of a long process we need to walk through to get to closing.

Exactly