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jdtallfem -> RE: tell me what u think of realitors (11/2/2006 11:49:07 AM)
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Well I don't know about the other states, so can't answer for them. In Ca in our area we charge 5 percent and that's it and it's split four ways and we're taxed fifty percent between the Feds and the State, so not very greedy. There are 1600 listings on the MLS so we don't see every one of them until we see it with client. It would be a grand waste of our time.
We do the inspections once the client makes the offer, because that's when the discovery process begins. The 50 items that we look for and the pages of contracts are written by attorneys to keep the sellers from getting sued later and aid both buyers and sellers in the discovery process as far as what is wrong with the home etc.
When I left the area and one of my clients did go through a For Sale By Owner, he has since lived to regret it. His buyer sued him, through no fault of his own, the buyer just lost his job, the buyer gutted the place and destroyed the electrical and the plumbing and the seller is out 220K in lawyer fees and repair bills on his house that he finally is getting back. Extreme case, there are for sale by owners who are happy and buyers who are a happy but in a litigous society you had better know exactly what you are doing because that is what can happen.
As far as not knowing what REALTOR does, that is a problem, because we are so often behind the scenes, doing contracts, dealing with inspectors and trying to make sure the house is up to snuff and that everything is as it should be. And yes, in a down market (such as this one that I"m now) we're also trying to drum up business. Hope that gives you a clue.
And yes there are bad people in this profession as in any, but there are many good ones. Always helps to get referrals. That's why my trifold carries testimonials. JD
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