does your realtor drive you around? (appliances, house, water heater)

[frogandtoad]

We let realtors in a couple of cities know that we were considering moving there but had not made a committment to it, and that some of the decision would be based on what we found out looking for a home. In all cases, the realtors were more than happy to take us around (we didn't ask them to do so for more than one day, we felt that would be unfair). We found out a LOT of info. which really helped us narrow down our choices.

Would I go in saying "I'm not buying but please drive me around?" No. But I think it's fine to let them know you are not 100% sure if you will be buying. Our experience there was very good.

By law, they cannot steer you to any specific school district, make comments on the districts, etc. I think this is good actually b/c test scores are only one measure of what makes a district "good" so their idea of good and yours may not match. (Case in point, there is one school which is a "10" on greatschools, but which I found, through further research, they do not teach foreign language until 7th grade, do not have any music class until 4th grade and have no art teacher. I don't care if it's a "10" or not--that is not a good school in my book, so I kept on looking. Others love that school b/c the test scores are excellent and the teachers supposedly very good.)You need to figure out what schools you wuold consider, and then ask them to only show homes in those districts. That they can do.

[codymartens]

A local Realtor can send you any listings that are in a particular school's boundaries. Most will do this and send you everything available with no hassle. You can even be set up on an auto hotsheet that will email you whenever new homes are listed in the boundaries you specify.

You may not be ready to buy, but that's not to say that when you do, you wouldn't use the helpful Realtor who was so eager to give you any information you needed.

If you are interested in one or any of these options as you look around, you are always free to ask me.

cm.

[hueimo]

Originally Posted by codymartens

A local Realtor can send you any listings that are in a particular school's boundaries. Most will do this and send you everything available with no hassle. You can even be set up on an auto hotsheet that will email you whenever new homes are listed in the boundaries you specify.

if I'm doing a house search myself and end up wanting to buy a house I found myself half a year or a year ago, or just a few months ago and end up using a realtor to represent me, should the realtor still charge the 3% commission from the seller's side? this is if I have found a house myself, but just needed a realtor represent me at the end...many thanks.

[hueimo]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

(Case in point, there is one school which is a "10" on greatschools, but which I found, through further research, they do not teach foreign language until 7th grade, do not have any music class until 4th grade and have no art teacher. I don't care if it's a "10" or not--that is not a good school in my book, so I kept on looking. Others love that school b/c the test scores are excellent and the teachers supposedly very good.)

is it ok for you to let me know what this school is? I'm very new here and have been doing searches on school scores daily...also, does anyone know if Olympus jr. high and Olympus high school are pretty good schools?

[Lmejh]

I've heard Olympus Junior High is a good school (they got a new building in 2003) and I went to Olympus High just recently. Both have reputations of being good schools and are in rather affluent areas of the city.

[codymartens]

Originally Posted by hueimo

if I'm doing a house search myself and end up wanting to buy a house I found myself half a year or a year ago, or just a few months ago and end up using a realtor to represent me, should the realtor still charge the 3% commission from the seller's side? this is if I have found a house myself, but just needed a realtor represent me at the end...many thanks.

Well let me explain a little how commission works and hopefully it will answer your question. If a house is listed on the market, i.e. there is a for sale sign in the yard and there is a Realtor trying to sell the house, they have a commission agreement set up between the seller and that Realtor, usually for six percent of the sales price. The Realtor agrees, in posting the house for sale, to give any Realtor who helps a buyer purchase the property half of the commission, or three percent. The seller pays for the entire commission, both their Realtor's commission and your Realtor's commission. To use a Realtor to purchase a home is NO COST TO THE BUYER. So if you have found a house that you like and want to use a Realtor to represent you through the transaction, it does not cost you anything. This is why any buyer should always use a Realtor to help them purchase.

Another thing to understand is a Realtor does much more for you than just help you find a house. That's actually one of the least important things they do. They help you through the contracts, legal terms, inspection periods, etc. Anyone can find a house and many buyers usually look at homes on their own and with the help of a Realtor. That doesn't mean the Realtor should not be compensated if the buyer finds the house they want.

[codymartens]

Originally Posted by hueimo

is it ok for you to let me know what this school is? I'm very new here and have been doing searches on school scores daily...also, does anyone know if Olympus jr. high and Olympus high school are pretty good schools?

Olympus Jr and Sr High are both great schools. The olympus cove area is quite an affluent and very nice part of the city.

[hueimo]

Originally Posted by codymartens

Olympus Jr and Sr High are both great schools. The olympus cove area is quite an affluent and very nice part of the city.

where is Olympus cove area? are these 2 homes below at Olympus cove area?
do you think you would rate the house at number 2 better than this condo at number 1? or are they both good? what's your opinion on getting this young condo for number 1. or this older home at number 2? thanks for your input, which one would you prefer?...sorry for so many many questions. *smile*

1.
Utah Real Estate - Your One Stop Source for Searching Real Estate in Utah
2264 E 4500 S, Holladay, UT 8411

Elementary: Howard R. Driggs
Jr High: Olympus
High School: Olympus

2.
Utah Real Estate - Your One Stop Source for Searching Real Estate in Utah
3572 OAKVIEW DR, Salt Lake City, UT 84124

Elementary: Oakridge
Jr High: Churchill
High School: Skyline

[codymartens]

Originally Posted by hueimo

where is Olympus cove area? are these 2 homes below at Olympus cove area?
do you think you would rate the house at number 2 better than this condo at number 1? or are they both good? what's your opinion on getting this young condo for number 1. or this older home at number 2? thanks for your input, which one would you prefer?...sorry for so many many questions. *smile*

1.
Utah Real Estate - Your One Stop Source for Searching Real Estate in Utah
2264 E 4500 S, Holladay, UT 8411

Elementary: Howard R. Driggs
Jr High: Olympus
High School: Olympus

2.
Utah Real Estate - Your One Stop Source for Searching Real Estate in Utah
3572 OAKVIEW DR, Salt Lake City, UT 84124

Elementary: Oakridge
Jr High: Churchill
High School: Skyline

Both are nice places. The house is actually in Olympus Cove. The condo is not. Olympus Cove is anything east of I-215 (about 3000 east) and between 3300 South and 4800 South, give or take. Churchhill Jr and Skyline Sr are also really good schools. Anything that far east is going to be a good school because they are all in good areas.

Either property would be nice, both are in nice areas. There is quite a difference between an condo and a home though, and the price is also quite different, almost $100,000 difference in the two. The home is literally two houses down from some very good friends of mine. They love the neighborhood.

[codymartens]

Originally Posted by hueimo

which one would you prefer?

Honestly if it was my pick, I would choose the house. I love that neighborhood and the price is great for that area. Many homes, once remodeled, would go for $500,000-$600,000...