There is a realtor who claims to specialize in selling homes in my neighborhood. Publishes a “newsletter” monthly…quotes, because it is clearly an advertising tool for her. She distributes these in the neighborhood fishing for new listings.
What I don’t get is that EVERY freaking one has a couple of headlines on the front page “SOLD IN ONE DAY!” “SOLD IN 6.32 SECONDS” (OK, I exagerate, but only a little.)
Doesn’t this tell ANY thinking person that these houses were under-priced? Isn’t one of the jobs of a realtor to insure that thier client gets fair market value?
I suppose there must be some people who are so desperate to unload a property, that they’d be willing to take a screwing, but it doesn’t seem like a realtor would brag about that.
Is this just a case of “Quick sales are good FOR ME, therefore quick sales are obviously a GOOD thing?”
I’m thinking that when the time comes to sell my house, this woman should be my last resort…or am I missing something?
What do the newsletters from all the other realators you are considering listing with say? Do they have headlines - “On the market for 18 months but we finally got asking price” ?
I’m guessing - No. Because what kind of excitement is generated by that? And if you were buying a house, don’t you think putting a “Gone in a flash” headline would instill a feeling in buyers that you better quit shopping around and make an offer on a house you liked because it was going to be snapped up any second. One or two “hurry up before they’re all gone” headlines seems like being a good salesperson to me.
And, not only that, I’m guessing very, very few relators put out ANY kind of newsletter at all. They sure don’t around here. So, from a midwest perspective, a sales brochure of any type is way above and beyond.
Most important - talk to old clients and see if they’d list with her again. If they say they would without hesitation, go with her. If they hem and haw and say that this time they’re looking for a different kind of agent - run away.
I don’t know where you’re located, but here in SoCal that wouldn’t be unusual at all. (well, our housing market is slowing some now). There’s a condo group we’re trying to get into but the places move FAST. It’s highly unusual that they don’t sell either A. before they’re even listed on the open market or B. at the open house.
The only way we even have a chance is I have a friend who lives there and she is friends with the agent that does the most work there.
Along similar lines how about the ones I see advertising “I will sell your home within 30 days, guaranteed!”
These always immediately turn me off. I think “well I could sell any home within 30 days too for the right price.”
I think I’d prefer an agent that advertises “I will sell your house for the best price as quickly as you need it sold!” Then I know if I have a house I need to dump in a week and take my loses they can find a buyer. And if I have a house I want to get top dollar for they will market it correctly and not pressure me to sell in 30 days.
Walloon, you’ve posted this link in at least one other thread, and I know you’re trying to fight ignorance, but you’re facing an uphill battle.
In the minds of most people, a real estate agent is a realtor, whether or not they pay dues to your organization. I know that raises the hackles of “genuine Realtors®”, just like Kimberly-Clark hates it when people refer to all facial tissue as kleenex.
I’m not saying that’s right, just that that’s the way it is.
I think if her style creeps you out I would definitely not go with her - you and she are essentially agreeing to become business partners until settlement. Why do that if her style grates?
Having said that, I agree that virtually all Real Estate Agents do this type of advertising to some extent. Further (IMHO now) all things being equal I would rather have a full time agent rather than a guy for whom it was a sideline or second job - which this info implies to me. Also knowledge of the neighborhood is always a major plus - if she has sold multiple homes in your neighborhood I would like that.
A MILS search can let you know if this woman has been underselling houses for quick profit – that would surprise me – most people have a fair idea of what their neighborhood properties are going for when they decide to sell. Undersell in the neighborhood once? sure. Twice? Hmmm, three times ? Four? I doubt it
Bwahaha, yeah right. If a real estate agent did that, they’d be swamped with people wanting him/her to sell their house for tons of money within a few days, and if they can’t produce that miracle they’ll be badmouthed to dozens of people.
There’s a Realtor in our area that I would never work with, mostly because I am sick to death of seeing her ugly mug around town and getting her ugly mug sent to my business all the time because we were CoC members once. in 1960. for twenty minutes.
Otherwise, though, I see no problem with realtors advertising the fact that they sell houses fast.
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ]
There’s a Realtor in our area that I would never work with, mostly because I am sick to death of seeing her ugly mug around town and getting her ugly mug sent to my business all the time because we were CoC members once. in 1960. for twenty minutes.
[QUOTE]
One realtor in my neighborhood puts his picture on every fact sheet at open houses. His picture takes up the top half of the page, the description of the property gets the bottom half and there just MIGHT be enough room for a TINY picture of the property itself.
Why anyone uses this guy is beyond me especially because he never seems to actually sell anything!
What kind of job do you have where your objective is (presumably) not to make money?
A Real Estate Professional’s objective is to facilitate the home buying/selling transaction.
A selling agent’s responsibility is to define and implement a marketing strategy for a seller’s property. This can range from simply listing it with MLS (Multiple Listing Service, a listing database in a particular geographic location) to ensuring that it is promoted with flyers, sign riders, online enhanced listings on major real estate web sites, etc.
A fast sale is some people’s priority. If it’s not your priority, find a real estate agent whose priority matches yours.
Most likely what this agent is doing is taking advantage of the times homes do sell quickly in a way that she has found effective at generating new listings. Whether she is actually selling faster or cheaper than others is anyone’s guess.
The best Realtor I know, knows more about my neighborhood than darn near anyone. She is never the one that has the flyers out. I only recently got added to her mailing list. How would you know about her? Ask around. Check with your friends.
The number of times an agent has actually placed an ad for a house and sold JUST that house from that ad, is approximately zero. She advertises to get her name out, so that you will call. You may not remember her name, but you will probably remember her face. Then, when you are stumbling around, thinking about selling your house, instead of asking your friends, you pick up a flyer.
Realtors spend a ton of money promoting themselves, they are their product, not your house. The best Realtors won’t let that distinction change their dealings with you, or change how they handle the sale of your home.
Don’t list your house with someone you don’t like. You will spend too much time with them and rely on them too much. Oh, and if you meet a new agent, who is diligent and trying their best and has a mentor, take a chance.
Realtors are trying to make a living. Most are not out there to screw you. I know, I was one of them. I left because I got tired of being treated like a piece of crap.