Real Estate Agent Recommendations

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by rrtechno

Those $12,000 plus another $12,000 commissions you are talking about is the normal commission for a house in the $400,000 range. I hope that if I ever get in a position where I can afford a house like that, I will not begrudge that compensation to someone who handles its sale. As for the other prices you quoted as remembering, those were probably from about the time when I was making $7500 a year or before.


I am not a real estate agent, but I have had dealings with a number of them over the years. A few were not very good, but most of them have been excellent. To make broad generalizations that nearly every agent in the field does nothing to aid the seller (or the buyer) is, IMO, a very questionable practice.

I'm glad you have had good experiences with real estate sales agents. In Ohio, a person can be a real estate agent with a high school diploma and about 3 weeks of classroom attendance and $60. The vast majority of Ohio real estate sales agents have those qualifications and nothing more.

If that is the person who will advise you on zoning, mortgage, contract law, etc. and for a fee that is 10 times what those professional services would cost if purchased from qualified professionals, then you do not demand much.

The mind set that when a 400,000 house passes hands it is ok for the real estate agents to split $28,000 in fees is what keeps those fees at that level. Frankly, that is a lot of money for services. The sale of a house is not a "contingent" event. Almost all houses will be sold. Most all within the original listing period.

I think it is a sad commentary that many of these barely qualified agents claim hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees earned. These are not just fees, they are deductions from the sales proceeds of homes that people have worked very hard to pay for.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by wilson1010

I think it is a sad commentary that many of these barely qualified agents claim hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees earned. These are not just fees, they are deductions from the sales proceeds of homes that people have worked very hard to pay for.

I agree. The fee schedule far outweighs the value of the actual services rendered.

[scottbaker, ABR e-Pro]

Interesting conversation going on here regarding Real Estate agents. I thought the question was if there were anybody that could recommend a good Realtor to sell a home?
I am a Realtor, seems like there is a few misrepresentations made here.
There are good and bad in EVERY profession. 80% in any busines are normal "Joes", not the best, not the worst. Then there is 10% that are "Exceptional" and 10% that are bad. It doesn't matter if you are talking about Realtors, Doctors, Electricians, Teachers, etc. people are who they are. Their occupation doesn't change them.
The pay seems to be of high interest. Let's look at the facts, if you want to. There were 16,637 residential properties that sold in 2009 in the Cincinnati market. There are approximately 4,000 realtors in the Cincinnati MLS. That means the average Realtor sold 4.2 homes. At the average sales price of $151,981 that equates to $4,559.43 per side. That means the average realtor brought in Gross Commision to their broker $19,149.61 for the year. The Realtor then receives their pay from this. Let's assume they receive half that, this equals $9,574.80 pay per year. Not alot of money is it?
To the original question, I am a good REALTOR®. Call me at 513-403-5323. You can also go to my web page http://www.ScottBakerHomes.com.
Thank you, Scott Baker, ABR e-Pro

[Cincy Rider]

^^ Good Post...

My agent as a Buyer's Agent has worked his arse off...He's shown me over 40 houses, all in the evenings and/or weekends, until I chose one. Accepted schedule changes etc., without a hint of anything but the most positive attitude. The guy is very busy and he is successful. He sold to me on and later sold for me, my first home in '99. If anyone needs a referral, PM me, I'd be glad to pass along his contact info.

Many don't realize the hours, calls, negotiations, and crazy schedules RE agents put in, and most of the one's dissing them wouldn't touch their schedule. And like the agent above posted, the average agent sold less than 5 homes in 2009. So there are alot of part-timers--or else they'd starve.

[scottbaker, ABR e-Pro]

Originally Posted by Cincy Rider

^^ Good Post...

Many don't realize the hours, calls, negotiations, and crazy schedules RE agents put in, and most of the one's dissing them wouldn't touch their schedule. And like the agent above posted, the average agent sold less than 5 homes in 2009. So there are alot of part-timers--or else they'd starve.

You certainly hit the nail on the head. My friends think I am crazy the hours that I work. But you have to be available when your clients need you. But there are those people that it is just in their nature to bash others, or, it is out of jealousy. Yes, I make a good living, but I EARN every penny of it. Follow me for 7 days and see for yourself.

[ohtofl]

Wow, thanks for all the replies. Never thought it would initiate debate. I realize there's good and bad in everything, not just realtors. I'm not looking to point fingers at anyone. I've just noticed our particular issues and want to fix them when we sign with a new realtor in a few weeks.

Scott, I've seen your name pop up several times. I frequent Craigslist and have seen your listings on there. I will contact you in the next couple weeks to set something up.