- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Not Using a Realtor
Posted on 4/15/15 at 9:58 am
Posted on 4/15/15 at 9:58 am
I refuse to deal with the scum that is the American Real Estate Agent. You pay a 6% commission on the biggest asset that most people own for them to do nearly nothing.
Don't come in here and say "some realtors are better than others." At their best, they open the door, tell you "yes" to everything you ask about the house, and push papers in front of you.
I'm on my third house - possibly looking at building my fourth in the next 12-18 months. I used a realtor on the buy and sell of my first house.
Never. Again. Its like burning thousands of dollars.
Here's what you need to know to sell your own house and buy without a realtor.
1. Go online and research what houses in your area are selling for.
2. Price accordingly. Don't try to be king of the block.
3. Take good pictures of the house.
4. Upload them to Zillow, FSBO.com, all of those places. Pay $500 and get the house listed on the MLS just like all the other suckers that are paying 6%.
5. Spend $20 and get a really nice sign for the yard and a thing for flyers.
6. Take the phone calls, and show the house your damn self instead of leaving for a two hour window.
7. Sell your house and keep more money in your pocket.
Buying a home without a realtor is easy, especially if you find another FSBO. If you must buy a listed house, you are under no obligation to use a realtor. On my last one, I simply called the listing agent for a showing on whatever house I wanted to look at- said I was representing myself. Seller pays their agent so that's their fault.
When the housing boom was going on, everyone thought it was cool to get their real estate license. Sleazy bastards. All of them. $18k on a $300,000 house to turn a key and push some papers across the desk at an attorney's office that you are paying separately anyway.
Don't come in here and say "some realtors are better than others." At their best, they open the door, tell you "yes" to everything you ask about the house, and push papers in front of you.
I'm on my third house - possibly looking at building my fourth in the next 12-18 months. I used a realtor on the buy and sell of my first house.
Never. Again. Its like burning thousands of dollars.
Here's what you need to know to sell your own house and buy without a realtor.
1. Go online and research what houses in your area are selling for.
2. Price accordingly. Don't try to be king of the block.
3. Take good pictures of the house.
4. Upload them to Zillow, FSBO.com, all of those places. Pay $500 and get the house listed on the MLS just like all the other suckers that are paying 6%.
5. Spend $20 and get a really nice sign for the yard and a thing for flyers.
6. Take the phone calls, and show the house your damn self instead of leaving for a two hour window.
7. Sell your house and keep more money in your pocket.
Buying a home without a realtor is easy, especially if you find another FSBO. If you must buy a listed house, you are under no obligation to use a realtor. On my last one, I simply called the listing agent for a showing on whatever house I wanted to look at- said I was representing myself. Seller pays their agent so that's their fault.
When the housing boom was going on, everyone thought it was cool to get their real estate license. Sleazy bastards. All of them. $18k on a $300,000 house to turn a key and push some papers across the desk at an attorney's office that you are paying separately anyway.
7
Posted on 4/15/15 at 10:05 am to anc
I agree with you. However some people are simply not comfortable completing such a large transaction on their own. that said, I think this should be added to the sticky thread. Have an upvote.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 10:13 am to anc
Agree with you also. Only time I'd suggest using a Realtor is if you're moving to a different city that you don't know well.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 10:15 am to Motorboat
I understand that some people are uncomfortable, but at no point does the realtor do jack. If something worries you about the mortgage, you are dealing with the bank. If something worries you about the closing, you are dealing with the attorney.
Want to find out if the tree in the back yard has shown any signs of dying? Well, you pay $9000 to your realtor to ask the other realtor who is being paid $9000 by the sellers to ask the seller. Its ludicrous and a revolution needs to occur.
Want to find out if the tree in the back yard has shown any signs of dying? Well, you pay $9000 to your realtor to ask the other realtor who is being paid $9000 by the sellers to ask the seller. Its ludicrous and a revolution needs to occur.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 10:16 am to anc
I agree with you
I bought our house (our first house) without using a realtor and it could not have been easier.
I bought our house (our first house) without using a realtor and it could not have been easier.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 10:21 am to yellowhammer2098
quote:
Agree with you also. Only time I'd suggest using a Realtor is if you're moving to a different city that you don't know well.
Eh. With the internet and Web 2.0, its pretty easy to find good schools (which funnel good neighborhoods) online.
I just googled "Best Areas to Live in Birmingham, Alabama" and came up with these in order:
Mountain Brook
Vestavia Hills
Hoover
Homewood
Brook Highland
Posted on 4/15/15 at 10:51 am to anc
quote:
1. Go online and research what houses in your area are selling for.
I'm going to be selling my house soon but I live in a small town with a very stale market. My current house in on a cookie cutter street and two houses sold last year with a difference of $25k between them. The only other houses for sale in the surrounding area that are similar in size to mine are older, raised houses. Is it worth my time ordering an appraisal since the buyer's lender will probably have another one done anyway? Should I just go by what the other two houses sold for last year and find a medium? They are similar in size, probably more appealing to the eye, but both have one less bedroom. TIA
Posted on 4/15/15 at 10:58 am to anc
I bought a lot w/o agent. I sold my last house w/o realtor. It was easy peasy. I can see using a realtor if you are ultra busy & traveling, or if you are a complete novice and freaked out about the whole process. Especially in lower population density areas, it's pretty damn easy to go around telling people that your house is for sale.
As far as purchase agreements go, you can find a standard form appropriate to your state. You can discuss who holds the earnest money, if any. You can agree to terms like grownup businesspeople do every day....all without an agent. As for closing, whoever is providing the mortgage for the buyers will determine the closing agent, who will prepare the paperwork.
Yes, do a little research on Zillow and make sure your asking price is appropriate for your neighborhood and level of amenities. I sold for a bit less than I could have gotten, mainly because I didn't need to jack up the price to pay the realtor.
It's not so hard, if you have common sense, are honest and forthright, and understand that you need to disclose any issues upfront.
As far as purchase agreements go, you can find a standard form appropriate to your state. You can discuss who holds the earnest money, if any. You can agree to terms like grownup businesspeople do every day....all without an agent. As for closing, whoever is providing the mortgage for the buyers will determine the closing agent, who will prepare the paperwork.
Yes, do a little research on Zillow and make sure your asking price is appropriate for your neighborhood and level of amenities. I sold for a bit less than I could have gotten, mainly because I didn't need to jack up the price to pay the realtor.
It's not so hard, if you have common sense, are honest and forthright, and understand that you need to disclose any issues upfront.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 11:00 am to anc
quote:
I understand that some people are uncomfortable, but at no point does the realtor do jack.
Look I've sold all of mine myself and I agree that it could and should be sold yourself but they are just a broker transaction. By definition they get a buyer and seller together and facilitate the deal. That's why they get paid.
I'm not paying one but this is how it works.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 11:28 am to Broke
Sold my first house FSBO. Good area, good price.
The bank and the lawyer handle all the important stuff.
I've used this before..but again-
What costs you $10,000 only costs the individual agent $150 bucks in commission. (if 6% split evenly between buying and listing agents and brokers). On a $300,000 house..for them that's the difference of a commission of 4,500 or 4,350.
The bank and the lawyer handle all the important stuff.
I've used this before..but again-
What costs you $10,000 only costs the individual agent $150 bucks in commission. (if 6% split evenly between buying and listing agents and brokers). On a $300,000 house..for them that's the difference of a commission of 4,500 or 4,350.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 12:53 pm to anc
Bought my house without an agent. Didn't have any problems. Dealt with a local bank for the loan and paid the attorney the closing cost. Don't know what a realtor would of done besides collect payment.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 1:03 pm to anc
only major problem I see:
a large chunk of the most motivated, highest qualified buyers use realtors
a large chunk of the most motivated, highest qualified buyers use realtors
Posted on 4/15/15 at 1:13 pm to anc
if I didn't have my tree guys and handyman at one property clearing and updating, and wasn't meeting a vendor an hour away for a well inspection for my clients in Illinois to honor timelines, I'd let you know how shortsighted your view of what I do is.
If you don't like what I do just price your house 6% less than what I'd get you and deal with the same typical assholes coming on the other end of the transaction.
If you don't like what I do just price your house 6% less than what I'd get you and deal with the same typical assholes coming on the other end of the transaction.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 2:17 pm to ItNeverRains
I have no issue with realtors themselves. I think there are some really good ones that do a lot of work by going out of their way for their clients. My biggest issue is that it is a percent of the sales price. The realtor should be doing the same job whether the price is 100k or 500k.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 2:32 pm to yellowhammer2098
Bought our first home 2 years ago. Didn't use one. Neither did the seller. Painless transaction
Posted on 4/15/15 at 2:48 pm to anc
Just sold mine FSBO. Only site I posted on was Zillow, so I didn't even pay to list it. I did however pay for high quality pictures. I also know people that helped with the contract, although it was super easy. The best part was my buyers don't have a realtor either. 
For pics I used and recommend: IMOTO - paid about $175 for 20 pictures I think, which is more than worth it IMO. Looking at comps out there it amazed me how many shitty pictures are there are, even from "professional listings".
Best overall advice I can give is completely de-clutter the house before pictures and maintain while its listed. Store unnecessary items if need be. Watch some home remodel shows and pay attention. That's what your buyers are watching. But, if you notice, these TV programs show houses that are basically "unlivable", meaning there are so few convenience items out, that you basically end up living like you do in a hotel. But who cares, your selling the illusion that you can walk home everyday to this pristine house, when in reality, nobody could functionally live like that on a day to day basis.
For pics I used and recommend: IMOTO - paid about $175 for 20 pictures I think, which is more than worth it IMO. Looking at comps out there it amazed me how many shitty pictures are there are, even from "professional listings".
Best overall advice I can give is completely de-clutter the house before pictures and maintain while its listed. Store unnecessary items if need be. Watch some home remodel shows and pay attention. That's what your buyers are watching. But, if you notice, these TV programs show houses that are basically "unlivable", meaning there are so few convenience items out, that you basically end up living like you do in a hotel. But who cares, your selling the illusion that you can walk home everyday to this pristine house, when in reality, nobody could functionally live like that on a day to day basis.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 3:38 pm to TigerDeBaiter
I bought my house from a GC in a land/house package deal. I spent a few years in the RE finance biz so I'm fairly familiar with what we needed to do as buyers. His wife was the realtor and she got hers but she took it out of his end. My name's Clem and das between dem, y'heard?
Anyway, my situation worked out well, but my parents had to go a different route. They listed the house I grew up in last summer and it stayed on the market all summer. They left their realtor, went to Darren James and then took it off the market. After some work in the kitchen and replacing the flooring, they relisted with him and in less than 24 hours on the market they had the buyer with a full price offer (less closing costs).
I think this worked out well for them simply because their property wasn't attracting buyers by itself. I also think they had a weak realtor who took sh!tty pictures with a phone to throw it up on MLS. I won't give their name but I'm sure some folks could probably guess his name in the Denham area.
So all in all its a mixed back. If you're a seller, the marketing based on the property, location and condition may require a good realtor. If you're in a hot area or have a fantastic house, you may not need one.
Anyway, my situation worked out well, but my parents had to go a different route. They listed the house I grew up in last summer and it stayed on the market all summer. They left their realtor, went to Darren James and then took it off the market. After some work in the kitchen and replacing the flooring, they relisted with him and in less than 24 hours on the market they had the buyer with a full price offer (less closing costs).
I think this worked out well for them simply because their property wasn't attracting buyers by itself. I also think they had a weak realtor who took sh!tty pictures with a phone to throw it up on MLS. I won't give their name but I'm sure some folks could probably guess his name in the Denham area.
So all in all its a mixed back. If you're a seller, the marketing based on the property, location and condition may require a good realtor. If you're in a hot area or have a fantastic house, you may not need one.
This post was edited on 4/15/15 at 3:40 pm
Posted on 4/15/15 at 6:33 pm to GFunk
quote:
So all in all its a mixed back. If you're a seller, the marketing based on the property, location and condition may require a good realtor. If you're in a hot area or have a fantastic house, you may not need one.
Absolutely.
I feel very fortunate to have found a good buyer so fast.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News