I’m not too fond of real estate agents. I remember going to an open house and showing a genuine interest in buying the place, only to have the agent shoo me away. That’s right—he couldn’t get rid of me fast enough. Back then (around 1992) it was a seller’s market. I simply said, “I’d like to make an offer on this house,” and the real estate agent was quick to pull me aside, not wanting me to deter others from doing the same. After our formal introductions, I tried to give him a buyer-broker’s card, but he stepped back like I had the bubonic plague. “Fine,” I said walking towards the front door, “There’s more houses to look at.” It just goes to show you, he was representing the seller and didn’t want to split the commission.
I had already been pre-approved for a loan for some ridiculous amount of money and hired a buyer-broker. To seal the deal I paid him a one-dollar retainer fee, which he said he would happily return once I purchased a house. It wasn’t long after that, when my girlfriend and I were finished with the closing on a house that I said to him, “Hey, where’s my buck?” He gladly returned it, knowing that his real money came in the form of a split commission. Even after that, when Century 21 gave the previous owners too much money from the escrow account, we contacted our buyer-broker and he made sure we got the rest of our rent money. Still, I hate real estate agents.
Here’s another reason for not liking their kind: The hot tub next door will be closed from 2 to 5. I guess I could go over there and take a look at the house. “Sir,” I could ask, “do you mind if I see whether the hot tub works?” If he says, “go right ahead,” then I’m running back home to put on some swim trunks.
23 comments:
Geesh I hate real estate agents too- mine seems to be decent thus far although I hate it when she starts ssaying 'well you KNOW, they are already doing this for you'...ok so why not more! It's a buyer's market and why the hell not?
And you didn't add gas to the bushfire by the way- that cracked me up...I just wasn't clear as to whether you were telling me that he needs to be there or that my daughter has the right to see her dad. Which I've never disputed...whatever- I think I forgot what I was talking about too. :)
So how long have you been married to your wife?
Jane,
The answer to your question can be found at: http://jrtomlinson.blogspot.com/2006/08/approaching-13.html
goshh,i hate real astate agents,too..
theyre so pushy...
The pushy people - you got to love them. Them put their pants on in the morning one leg at a time just like the rest of us.
Jim, Interesting subject. I'm not fond of the Real Estate agents myself unless they are all for me! At the moment we're not looking at moving but if when the time comes, we just might be using the "Sale By Owner" sign to save all the hassles etc.... --Bro, Ron
My real estate guy is a friend, so I can tell him what I really want in a house and he goes and finds it for me...I have been really lucky to have friend in many professions.
I'm still not sure what we paid our real estate agent for. She didn't find our house, didn't make sure the inspector was there to look over the house right, didn't give us all the information we needed for the signing. Hum, I wonder if I can get any of my bucks back.
Real estate agents can be the devil. I'm dreading dealing with one in the coming months. We're considering a new neighborhood (or if I hit the lottery or my book sells, a new city and state altogether). And I just remember how my stomach was full of knots our past two houses, and how stressed I was 24/7 dealing with the agents and thinking all the while that they were conspiring to screw me before the deal was done.
Heck, why don't you just go and jump right in. That way you can show everyone that the hot tub works and maybe even give them a few ideas on how to fix up the place. Being the conscientious neighbor that you are make sure you wear your swim trunks. MW :)
JR: I don't like them either. We had a heck of a time with the house in Oklahoma. We bought the house sight unseen (except through virtual tours) and through the description and verification of the real estate agent. Boy, had she overlooked a few things that, yes, we held her accountable for. Ultimately, it all worked out to our advantage, but it was touchy for a while!
Donnetta
I agree, just go ahead and jumb in and show the people how enjoyable it is. However, don't sell it to hard, maybe the new buyers won't let you use it. :)
Hang real estate.
JR: This should interest you as a prison educator.
We are a den of thieves here in Canada...First I steal your hot tub picture, and now it looks like Josie, a correspondent here now and then-- has stolen another picture from your site.
She put it up, and actually, it's a gas!
Have a look befoe she chickens out and pulls your picture.
Ivan
Oh, I just knew Ivan would come over here and rat me out :-) Ha!
I don't have much use for real estate agents either, but I guess they are a necessary evil.
Josie
your wife's hand is so lovely! Don't we get to see all of her? :)
HAHAHAH. I see Ivan and Josie have been over to visit you, JR!
I'm with you estate agents are scum and they lie , they lie about everything!
mmm I don't trust them, partly because they have cost me money twice in a row now... ok I did not read my contract!!! But still I thought that what the agent say is true, so why bother reading the paper work...mmmm cost me a lot of money
I'll add my voice to the cry of 'scum'.
whahahahahah...YES JR DO IT....please Kodak his/her face...pricelss I am sure.
One day when I am all grown up and I need to buy a house, I will still have no idea what to do....:)
We are planning to start looking for our very first home at the end of this summer. I am trying to educate myself as much as possible so we don't look like "fish in a barrel". (translation for the higher-ed. folks: Easy pickings)
Have fun in the tub :>
-P
That's an outrage!
My wife recently had to inform my stepdaughter that it was not okay to play on the garage deck of the $1.4 million dollar white elephant, er, I mean, teardown next door, no matter that it's been sitting empty, on the market for six months with nobody buying it. The irony is that my thought is that at five bedrooms, only someone with kids would want it-- and it has no yard.
Hey! I have to work today but either tonight or tomorrow I am going to write a new post. I miss everyone!!!!! take care!
I'd left messages with a few real estate agents in regards to a house I was interested in, but it still took weeks for one to get back to me (& she was the wife of my co-worker, at the time.) I never imagined it'd be so hard to give someone money!
After I closed on the house, the listing agent couldn't be bothered to take the lock box off my front door. Over a month after closing (& repeated voice mails,) I started sending her bills for storage of the lock box through e-mail. Still, nothing got done until I got a hold of the office secretary. After that, the lock box was removed in a day or so.
Post a Comment