Real Estate Agents are so frustrating!!!

[PeggyHefferon]

A simple question sent via e-mail (through Zillow) that would take less than 1 minute to provide. I got a reply stating if I had "genuine interest" to call her cell.

I was unable to call at the time and really don't want to play 20 questions with a pushy agent.

So I replied and copied her broker stating if I had to pick up the phone it would be to another agent to represent me as a potential buyer.

So frustrating

[greenskeeper]

not sure which is worse:

1) using zillow for real estate

2) emailing an agent and not calling them directly

no time for games in the real estate business

[PeggyHefferon]

not sure which is worse:

1) using zillow for real estate

2) emailing an agent and not calling them directly

no time for games in the real estate business

1) Zillow is very user friendly from a buyer's perspective. I am able to zoom in and out of a map and find all of the current listings. I have used other websites and their search features are not as friendly.

2) I am caring for a sick parent and I don't have time to play phone tag or 20 questions with a real estate agent. The information I requested only required a simple and quick response. That information would have either accelerated my interest or eliminated it quickly. Information that she should have had at her fingertips and ready and WILLING to share.

3) It is rude attitudes like yours, that far too many agents have, that frustrate both buyers and sellers. Refusing to provide information to an interested party is playing games!

I fully intend to print the e-mail exchange, which is still lacking an answer, and mail it to the homeowner. I am sure they would like to know that their real estate agent is not following up on all inquiries.

[Spiffster]

The day where you DONT need a real estate agent to basically do nothing more than take your order is just about here. There are resources you can use to avoid them almost entirely. Zillow is a great resource, and a good place to start IMO.

[PeggyHefferon]

The day where you DONT need a real estate agent to basically do nothing more than take your order is just about here. There are resources you can use to avoid them almost entirely. Zillow is a great resource, and a good place to start IMO.

The technology certainly exists to reduce or eliminate their rule, but the forms required to transfer a property are probably difficult for many to understand.

Many debate whether an agent's value is worth 6 to 7%. I believe that value is much lower and the woman I contacted isn't earning her commission.

[Spiffster]

IIRC the title company handles most of the closing paperwork anyway.

As a buyer you are kinda stuck dealing with whoever the seller agreed to work with, but yeah, I would throw them under the bus and let the seller know that they went with the wrong person / company.

These sites provide both buy/sell services with fees that are more in line with reality:

https://www.redefy.com

https://www.bluematch.co

https://www.trelora.com

[Singuy]

People need to wise up and use the "Sell by Owner" option under Zillow. You take your own pictures and you list your own house. Commission free!

Walk up to a house without your own agent, talk to the owner. Contact the title company, pay your deposit to the title company, contact your broker or walk into Chase/BOA/whatever. set a closing date...done and done.

Real Estate Agents were useful before the internet. I don't understand why we need them around anymore.

[TexasHusker]

There will ALWAYS be a place for real estate agents.

Many people feel completely intimated and overwhelmed by buying or selling a property, just like people feel the same about managing their finances and/or investments.

I have found that RE agents are more of a detriment to getting a deal done than anything else, and I've bought and sold a fair amount of RE. That isn't an absolute rule, but it has been my experience in most cases.

[Singuy]

There will ALWAYS be a place for real estate agents.

Many people feel completely intimated and overwhelmed by buying or selling a property, just like people feel the same about managing their finances and/or investments.

I have found that RE agents are more of a detriment to getting a deal done than anything else, and I've bought and sold a fair amount of RE. That isn't an absolute rule, but it has been my experience in most cases.

RA can have their place..but I feel their fees are unjustified. Costing 20-50k for doing what exactly????

The value they bring is worth about 250 bucks...

[PeggyHefferon]

There will ALWAYS be a place for real estate agents.

Many people feel completely intimated and overwhelmed by buying or selling a property, just like people feel the same about managing their finances and/or investments.

I have found that RE agents are more of a detriment to getting a deal done than anything else, and I've bought and sold a fair amount of RE. That isn't an absolute rule, but it has been my experience in most cases.

You even see it on those reality shows with the agents selling million dollar homes. They play games back and forth with the other agents. I know it is TV, but I have witnessed the same nonsense in some of the transactions I was involved in.

[PeggyHefferon]

RA can have their place..but I feel their fees are unjustified. Costing 20-50k for doing what exactly????

The value they bring is worth about 250 bucks...

Well the value this particular agent is bringing is $0 if she is reluctant to provide information to an interested party.

I do agree with you but feel your number is on the low side. Of course it all depends on how much the seller's agent is marketing the property and actively trying to get a deal done. And on the buyer's side, how much time they are spending showing clients houses and working to get them the best deal possible when they do put an offer on a property.

[Singuy]

Well the value this particular agent is bringing is $0 if she is reluctant to provide information to an interested party.

I do agree with you but feel your number is on the low side. Of course it all depends on how much the seller's agent is marketing the property and actively trying to get a deal done. And on the buyer's side, how much time they are spending showing clients houses and working to get them the best deal possible when they do put an offer on a property.

I feel that with zillow by owner, advertisement/open houses are really not needed. People generally use a filter with these programs to find exactly what they are looking for. The owner just needs some decent photography skills(or just hire a professional).

The best deal possible is a deal without realtors. Everyone is looking at the out the door price. The seller will likely discount you the realtor fees for a quick sell if you have no realtor. The buyer is most likely expecting this discount since the buyer is bringing no realtor. Given that this number is substantial, no realtor on earth can match this. I think it's counter-intuitive to think "in order for me to get a a good deal, I must pay 20k first..to get a good 10k discount due to bargaining power"...what???? I feel that most realtors are in it for the sale(especially if you have taken a lot of their time being indecisive). They spend more time trying to get you to buy rather than getting you a good price.

Now if your personal realtor is also a certified home inspector that gives you a free detailed report after you visit every house..now that's worth something...perhaps even the outrageous fees.

[GoodSteward]

A real estate agent is the same as car salesman. They are the front man/woman for the company that is listing the house (like a dealership listing a car). They are there to make money, not to make sure you get the deal of a lifetime. If we didn't have agents, we likely wouldn't have real estate companies to list with. A lot of people are not going to research and figure on their own like many of us would, so agents are still here. The house I bought I didn't use an agent. I happen to know the owner's son. We looked at it, decided on a price, went to the bank to sign the initial agreement and the bank did the rest for us. About a month or so later we signed papers.

The only advantage I would see is having someone do a home inspection, however, agents don't do that(don't assume having an agent means the house has been inspected and the agent approves it). Also remember, Agents are working for the sellers, not the buyers. They get paid by the seller, not by the buyer. When you see two real estate agents going against each other it's only because the house is listed with a different company, both agents are still trying to sell the house for the seller, who pays them from the sale. The more they discount, the less likely the sell can happen due to not enough money to pay the agent's fees.

[PeggyHefferon]

The best deal possible is a deal without realtors. Everyone is looking at the out the door price. The seller will likely discount you the realtor fees for a quick sell if you have no realtor.

A FSBO shouldn't really care how the buyer shows up at their door because they didn't sign an agreement to pay a commission. The agent can try to negotiate a commission from the seller, but if they went FSBO there is a good chance they are just going to say no.

That puts it back on to the buyer since if they signed an agreement it likely states they must pay the commission if the seller is not willing to. How much they want the house is put to the test in these situations. And these type of situations is why many agents will not work with a buyer without first getting them to sign a buyer's agency agreement. They want to make sure they don't get written out of the deal for a house they show you.

[PeggyHefferon]

In regards to the comment about home inspections, I have never encountered a real estate agent that also does home inspections. I have never even heard of an agent doing both.

I would never hire someone to do both. Seems like a major conflict of interest to me. Their commission is dependent on the sales agreement making it to closing, and a home inspection report is one of the main things that keeps it from happening.

The agent just went through a tough negotiation to get the property under contract, and every single thing they put on that report puts their commission in jeopardy. NO THANK YOU!

I want an inspector that has no skin in the game as to whether that property sells or not.