Pick a Realtor with common sense (and basic literacy)
Filed under: Real Estate
If you're looking to sell your house, picking the right real estate agent is one of the most important things you can do.How do you evaluate Realtors? Of course you should look to friends and family for referrals, and try to find someone in your area who has a lot of experience and a track record of success. But another thing you should do is go on their websites and take a look at how they are marketing the homes they currently have the listings for.
More to the point: Don't hire a complete moron to sell your house.
A cool site for examples of exactly the kinds of Realtors you don't want to hire is LovelyListing.com, a frequently updated blogsite featuring photos and advertising copy that would make just about anyone shudder. Take a look at the picture above, for example, where the seller has decided that the best place in the house to display her doll collection is right next to the toilet.
Now I'm not one to judge anyone's taste in decor -- but I think the vast majority of would-be homebuyers would find this display tacky at best and possibly more than a little bit creepy. A real estate agent who is so brain-dead and/or lazy that it wouldn't occur to him or her to take the dolls out of the bathroom photo is probably not the person you want trying to sell your house. Some other things to watch out for:
- Listings that feature blatant spelling and grammatical errors are indicative of haste and a lack of attention to detail -- two things that do not good real estate agents make.
- Lousy photographs: Most buyers look at homes online these days and then tell their agent which ones they want to see -- so good photographs are absolutely critical. You want to hire a real estate agent who uses a high-quality camera and takes good pictures -- and isn't afraid to do a little staging along the way. If an agent's listing photos features scattered toys and cluttered counter tops, you probably want to find someone else.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-27-2009 @ 8:46AM
Barbara said...
I have been a Realtor@ for 5 years now and what the author of this article needs to understand is that realtors are not brain dead or lazy. Homeowners do not want you moving and touching their things. You make an appointment to come take photos and they haven't cleaned a thing. You make suggestions and they ignore them. I have moved a few things to get a better picture but I am not a maid. I too have been amused by some listing photos such as the dirty underwear on the floor , outside shots of pets using the bathroom or the family who refuse to move when taking a photo of the living room because their favorite tv program is on. With so many home selling and staging television programs home sellers know what to do, so don't blame the real estate agent.
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8-27-2009 @ 9:09AM
Manny said...
Barbara - 5 years isn't long enough dear... it is absolutely the agents job to make sure the sellers "get it". IF your not conveying to them what needs to happen before you put their house on the market and the importance of "working together" to get the job done. IT's a team effort and while yes we are not maids a simple " I can see that you are not ready" will suffice to get the message across. IT is their responsibility to make THEIR home more appealing it is your h=job to say so. IF you aint got the guts to say it... then you may be one of "those" agents this article is talking about....
Too many weak agents that are afraid to tell the truth...
Weak at heart need not apply...
For the truth about what it takes and what you need to buy and sell real estate call (562) 946-7676 I'm a real live person who lives, works and breathes real estate in Southern California (just ask my wife) and I will be happy to speak the truth.
~Manny or email me - mannyandteresa@aol.com
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8-27-2009 @ 2:01PM
Sandy said...
Manny,
I am a Realtor in Massachusetts. I like your point of view, but in reality, I find it does not always work. I always ask the seller if I may be direct. They always say yes, however, some are easily offended and feel their taste in decor is under attack. By the way, why include a photo of a toilet even without the doll collection?
Sandy
8-27-2009 @ 6:06PM
Jim said...
Enough of Michael Jackson already! Sure, he was a wonderful singer and dancer. But he was also a pedophile. Get it? He had sex with nine and ten year old boys. Hitler was a great military genius. But he also had a side that far outweighed his military greatness. If there is a hell, Michael Jackson should rot there along with Hitler.
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8-27-2009 @ 10:09PM
Karen said...
I have been in real estate for over 25 yrs in Texas. I found this article somewhat amusing. My business is based on repeat clients and referrals. So I guess that makes me not lazy or brain dead. What your article is missing is that real estate agents are also doing the picking and choosing. When going out to list a property that is "tacky" we also get to choose to walk away. In my experience, if they are not willing to clean it up for a listing appointment, they are probably not going to clean it up for a showing. May your next article be....IF YOU WANT YOUR HOUSE TO SELL...MAKE IT SHINE....THEN CALL A REALTOR.
And Manny....I don't see anywhere in the article asking for you to post your business.
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8-27-2009 @ 4:03PM
Steve said...
It seems that we just read a paid advertisment by the realtors' association -- rather than an objective pro/con aspects of whether to use a real estate agent or try and market the home, yourself.
I still have my doubts whether a realtor is working for me or just the potential commission? What is the real incentive for a realtor to find and/or negotiate a bargain?
In fact, why doesn't the real estate agent encourage the buyers to deal directly with the owners; to negotiate directly with the buyers?
Of course, we know why the reverse is not true: realtors are afraid of the buyer and the prospect of selling a home at a lower price -- and hence earning a lesser commission.
In the final analysis, is there any difference between a car salesman (used or new) and a real estate agent? Be honest!
Comments?
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8-28-2009 @ 3:37AM
Donna said...
Hi Steve,
This is my 26th year as a full time Realtor. I own a Century 21 company in NY.
Here's the problem, as I see it. Consumers, for the most part, don't understand how we're compensated, nor how to choose us, so they get what they pay for.
They think all Real Estate professionals are the same, so they call to see what we charge.
There are lots of ways to tell the difference. First is to check their business cards. If the agent is a Broker Associate or a Broker/Owner, they have more experience than a Salesperson. What designations do they have? If they have "CRS" after their name, they are Certified Residential Specialists. Less than 5% of all Realtors nationwide hold that certification. They are trained in marketing properties and have a track record that they had to submit in order to earn the designation.You can find them at http://ww.crs.com
When selling, homeowners should ask for a marketing plan. I always give one.
For buyers, they should look for an Accredited Buyer Representative. They have the letters, ABR, after their name. They have the training/knowledge to counsel and negotiate on the buyer's behalf. You can find an ABR at http://www.REBAC.net.
For people concerned with the fact that most of us work on commission, please know that you can hire an agent today on a consultation basis and pay them accordingly. We are set up to do that. This way,there's no conflict in selling a home at a lower price.
I've seen too many great Realtors go unhired simply because they charged more than the consumer was willing to pay. The average Realtor does not make as much money as the consumer thinks. The good/great ones are worth every penny!
8-28-2009 @ 4:08AM
Donna said...
Hi Again.
Correction.... Certified Residential Specialists can be found at http://www.crs.com
8-27-2009 @ 5:42PM
Lane said...
Hi Steve,
I'm not a realtor, but I just bought one house and am putting another up for sale... in addition I work in a law office. The reason you have a real estate agent is the same reason you have an attorney, to protect yourself. Most people don't buy and sell houses on a daily basis and there is a lot more involved with buying and selling a house than there is in buying and selling a car. IMHO, while it is POSSIBLE to buy/sell real-estate without a realtor, it's a terribly bad plan.
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8-27-2009 @ 6:31PM
Steve said...
Your comments are a bit of an irony. As a lawyer, myself, I always encourage potential buyers and/or sellers of real estate to use the legal services of an attorney.
Of course, it seems that many do not use a lawyer (except for the lending institutions, etc). In fact, while visiting Las Vegas, I was told that lawyers are never involved in real estate dealings ..perhaps homes rather than commercial properties.
Do you find that astonishing? I certainly do!
In your own experience, Lane, did YOU use a lawyer to protect yourself?
I am guessing but I presume you relied on the lawyer to protect your interests but NOT a real estate agent (unless she/she happens to be your lawyer as well!).
Am I right?
8-27-2009 @ 6:47PM
barbara rieder said...
hey manny..u sound so all knowing and erogant..believe you me buyers can pick up on this........i wouldnt buy nothing from you..i sold real estate in th 60's for 20 yrs....my daughter is a broker...sold 40 houses my first yr......really cared about my clients..still have friends of some...dont put down other realtors..theyre out their trying to survive..being obnoxious and pushy wont help....there is always some one for a house..even if it does have dolls in the bathroom..they can always change ...dont be a hardnose..bet u would do alot better......smile u will see it feels good.
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8-27-2009 @ 8:08PM
Harve said...
Manny needs to go back to junior college and learn the difference between "your" and "you're." Then I might take his response more seriously.
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8-27-2009 @ 9:45PM
Realtor said...
I am a Realtor as well. I take pride in my work, whether working with a buyer that can only afford a $55,000. home or working with a seller that needs to ask too much for their house to stay out of the red at the closing table. I take high offense to arrogant lawyers like Steve who think all we are in this for is a commission and we don't care about our clients. This is my business and my bread and butter, and it's all about caring for your clients enough to get repeat clients and referrals. I have made more friends out of clients in the past and it's what keeps my business growing. There have been times that I have kept track of my expenses and time involved with a client, to find out I would have made better money slinging hamburgers somewhere.
Our states have Attorneys who help draw up the legal paperwork involved that Realtors use to sell properties of any sort. You really should think before you speak, because what you had to say doesn't even refer to the article in question.
Referring to the article in question, it is up to us as Realtors to educate the Sellers sometimes and sometimes it is best to run the other way once you see the property. It's our name that goes on the sign, and not many professionals want their name in front of a trashy house, unless that's the image you are trying to portray for your business. It's hard enough to get past the images that know it all people like Steve spread around. I would trade shoes with you anyday buddy, and let's see how you survive.
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9-01-2009 @ 3:21AM
Kim said...
I agree with him...
8-27-2009 @ 9:53PM
Anne said...
How are you supposed to "Pick a Realtor with Common Sense" when you have no personal experience with the Realtor in the first place? Most buyers and sellers end up choosing the first person they happen to get on the phone, or worse, interview three random real estate agents and choose the best sales pitch. It's all just a form of Russian Realtor Roulette.
If you want to sell your home, it comes down to getting a top Realtor to suggest the best way to stage and price your house. Staging, would be what the owner does to de-personalize the home so buyers can better imagine themselves living in the house. This would include packing up the spooky dolls from the bathroom. (And that would not be a Realtor job - the Realtor should suggest it - but should not be touching your personal things.)
Second, the Realtor should suggest a price below market value. If you want your home to sell it needs to be the best deal on the block. Price brings the attention of the other Realtors, price gets the offers coming in and price will get you to the closing table.
Even as a Real Estate Agent myself, when my family had to move out of town, I had a referral to a top selling Real Estate Agent in our new town. This was my greatest resource, and I would never allow my family to rely on someone that did not come highly recommended from his or her own office/Broker.
source:
http://www.TheRealEstateAgentFinder.com
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8-27-2009 @ 10:53PM
Ian said...
I have had many many dealings with real estate agents over the years. Even though there are a few good ones who care, I have found most to be lazy, dishonest and only concerned with commissions. I could tell alot of stories about stealing, lies, and deception. No matter how you stack it, 6% commissions are a big rip-off. The big brokers control everything and make it next to impossible to sell a property on your own. If you ask one to list your house at 4% you are laughed right out of the office, even though there is no reason they couldnt reduce fees or use a sliding scale. They love to put the fear factor in your head and have you believe they are truly needed. The truth is, they have a monolopy and go to great lengths to protect it.
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8-28-2009 @ 4:23AM
Donna said...
Sorry, Ian, but I disagree. Since I'm in the industry, I've seen lots of agents pick up phone calls at night, after working hrs, on vacation, and more.
Let's discuss compensation....Take the average home in your neighborhood. Take 4% or 5% (as you quote above) of that amt. That's what the agent takes home to his/her company after closing. The company splits the commission (I'd like to say compensation) with the agent. If they are splitting 50/50, the agent takes his/her share and has to pay taxes, gas, marketing, business insurances, and more out of it. After that....divide what's left by say, 12 (for the number of weeks it takes to sell the house (either from the day it's listed or the first day the agent takes the buyer out for the first time). Do you work for the same rate per week??? There aren't a lot of homes selling, so Realtors, today, are not making a living on an over abundance of sales...
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