|
02-06-2017, 08:20 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,400
|
Choosing the right Real Estate agent
I will be semi-retiring soon and my wife & I are very busy getting our MH ready and plowing through the long list of other things to prepare for FT. We have one of the nicer homes in our sub-division with a tons of upgrades, on a great lot, in a desirable neighborhood on the west side of Houston (near Katy), but I've heard so many bad stories about a seller choosing the wrong agent to sell their home. (For example they get a referral something like this): he goes to the same church as we do, or my brother-in-law is in Real Estate, or I have a friend that.....
I've heard that some agents limit the amount of photos they list (and some list crappy photos) don't list the price, don't really market the house other than list it with MLS, it sits on the market for months & months and on and on I could go. And here you are with a listing contract with them for 6 months.
So how do you, or should I say—how should you—go about choosing an agent that will work hard for you, has a good record, understands the market you're in and so forth? This is our biggest and the last step of our FT planning and we want to do our best to make this transaction go as smoothly as possible so we can get on the road.
We're not interested in 4 sale buy owner so please don't suggest that.
Any other info concerning selling your sticks n bricks is welcomed too.
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
02-06-2017, 08:30 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,550
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by marjoa
I will be retiring soon and my wife & I are very busy getting our MH ready and plowing through the long list of other things to prepare for FT. We have one of the nicer homes in our sub-division with a lot of equity in a desirable neighborhood on the west side of Houston (near Katy) but I've heard so many bad stories about choosing the wrong agent to sell your home. Some agents limit the amount of photos, don't list price, don't market the house other than list it with MLS, sits on the market for months & months and on and on I could go. And here you are with a listing contract for 6 months with them.
So how do you, or should I say—how should you—go about choosing an agent that will work hard for you, has a good record, understands the market you're in and so forth?
We're not interested in 4 sale buy owner so please don't suggest that.
|
Experience and personal referrals are the absolute best ways to find any service personnel - especially RE Agents!!!
Ask around of people in the neighborhood - past an present. Who did they use and would they use them again???
__________________
2006 Monaco Signature 45' Commander IV ISX 600 & 12.5 KW Genset
2013 Avalanche toad
And a rather large and very hairy Bear for a traveling companion
|
|
|
02-07-2017, 07:11 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Carolina Campers
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Wherever we throw the dart
Posts: 515
|
Sometimes it's not the agents that limit the photos but the MLS service they are in. Example, our local agent has access to three markets. Two limit the number of photos (and video) to 25. One limits it to 30. Our realtor got a professional photographer in and chose the best 25 to put in the listing.
We chose an agency local who has a national presence as our area is very unusual in that many relocate from nationwide to retire here in the area. So we needed someone who was very familiar with the local market and the particular area but who also had nationwide reach. Our agent is the highest producing agent in the area and now has her national Certified Residential Specialist designation.
While it's hard to decide, remember, you need to be comfortable with your agent. Interview your prospective agent/agency. After all, you are hiring them to do a service FOR YOU.
__________________
2017 Landmark 365 Charleston/2015 Ford F-450 Platinum dually. Me, Husband, Lucy [JRT/Chihuahua mix], Fawn [Chihuahua], 6 cats.
|
|
|
02-07-2017, 07:40 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,400
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by southernlady
Our agent is the highest producing agent in the area
|
How did you know she was the "is the highest producing agent in the area"? Did she just tell you that or is there a way to verify that?
thx
|
|
|
02-07-2017, 07:53 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 248
|
We sold two of our houses by owner. We thought that we'd put it up for a couple of weeks then give it to a realtor. Darned if they didn't sell. Wasn't hard.
We're in our third house and we'll sell in a couple of years. We have a realtor friend that has worked with two of our kids and a friend and is a straight shooter. If you can observe performance through a friend or relative, you'll have enough information to make a wise decision.
__________________
Marty and Denise chased by Casey our GR
2020 4369 DSDP with '15 Jeep Grand Cherokee
'06 Monaco Knight 40 PDQ that served us well
|
|
|
02-07-2017, 08:08 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Carolina Campers
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Wherever we throw the dart
Posts: 515
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by marjoa
How did you know she was the "is the highest producing agent in the area"? Did she just tell you that or is there a way to verify that?
thx
|
There is a way. We were able to get a printout of the local realtor activity.
__________________
2017 Landmark 365 Charleston/2015 Ford F-450 Platinum dually. Me, Husband, Lucy [JRT/Chihuahua mix], Fawn [Chihuahua], 6 cats.
|
|
|
02-08-2017, 09:55 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,864
|
I am a real estate broker in Texas. Good question you have. Forget the hype.
Two of the best ways.
1. Notice Realtor for sale signs in your area and who appears to be the most active.
2. Go to a title company in Katy, or near you, and ask one or more of the escrow agents which Realtor she gets a lot of business from. They may be hesitant, but if you persist, they will mention a couple of names.
Don
|
|
|
02-08-2017, 10:53 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Palisade CO
Posts: 3,588
|
I asked five different companies to visit (separately). I asked what they thought the selling price should be, how much advertising they did (checked the ads in the paper to see how many ads they had), and how many feet they had on the street. Then picked the one I was most comfortable with. I had a relative in another state that owns a real estate business and this was his advice.
__________________
Clay WA5NMR - Ex Snowbird - 1 year, Ex Full timer for 11 years - 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N Workhorse chassis. Honda Accord toad.
|
|
|
02-08-2017, 11:43 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: FT on the Road
Posts: 3,839
|
Interview a couple of them. Have them do a market analysis. Talk to them and ask any questions. They will be working for you and taking 6% of your money. Make sure you feel comfortable them. You do have the final say on a contract both with your agent and when the house sells. It IS all negotiable.
__________________
I don't subscribe to threads I reply to so will not see your reply to my comment. Drop me a direct message if you want a reply from me.
Cheers!
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|