Should I Find Another Real Estate Agent (RE agent, commission, sales)
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I am on Real Estate Agent #2. I am a first time homebuyer. Things just didn't work out with the first agent. I was supposed to sign with her when we first went out, but we never went out.
Agent #2 seemed really nice and knowledgeable initially. The same situation where I was supposed to sign with her the first time we went out. We never went out because she had something come up. I haven't heard anything from her all week. I get the daily MLS listing from her and that's all. I met with the broker I found through her this week. I had some questions so I called her yesterday. She e-mailed me some properties and said she would call me back. I haven't heard anything else from her and I noticed that today is the first day I haven't gotten my MLS listing. She is just seeming kind of disorganized and never really does what she says she will.
It has been around 3 weeks or so since I started this process with the first broker. I wonder if I should keep this broker who is her friend and look for another agent or what. I know at this point they shouldn't keep running my credit.
Am I expecting too much from the agents.
Any opinions I what I should do. This is the condensed version of what is going on.
There's not enough information to give you advice one way or another. I have buyers with whom I have an understanding that I'll send them listings that fit their criteria and when they like one, they'll email or call me to set up a viewing appointment. There will be days when no new listing matching the search criteria comes on the market. I don't call my buyers every day to check if they liked anything I sent them. I don't like to work that way. If a buyer communicates that they want to hear from me on a daily basis, I will certainly comply. This needs to be discussed early on in the relationship so each party knows what to expect.
Ideally, an agent should schedule an in office appointment with you for a first time buyer counseling session, to educate you, determine your needs/wants and timing and what you must do to put yourself in the best position to buy property.
I cannot imagine an agent asking you to sign an exclusive buyer's agent contract, based on a phone call inquiry. You don't know the agent and the agent does not know you.
If an agent can't be bothered to call you back at this stage, it's probably not going to get much better, going forward.
As an aside, real estate agents do not run credit reports on potential clients. With your approval, a lender will.
I did meet with the realtor in her office initially. I found out when from the receptionist at the office and the broker that she's never in her office. I left some of my paperwork there over a week ago and she never sent it to the realtor.
It's not just the fact that I haven't heard from her. It's that she schedules appointments and then cancels. Examples: We were supposed to go out last Saturday, but had to cancel.
She had some neighborhoods that she wanted to discuss with me. She said she would e-mail the properties to me and for me to call her back. I called back and then she never answered. She then e-mailed me back saying she would call me in 2 hours. It's 27 hours later and still no call.
I understand I am not her only client. I guess I just expect when someone says they're going to do something that they do it.
I just don't think should be a normal way to handle business. I don't think it is going to get any better either.
I did meet with the realtor in her office initially. I found out when from the receptionist at the office and the broker that she's never in her office. I left some of my paperwork there over a week ago and she never sent it to the realtor.
It's not just the fact that I haven't heard from her. It's that she schedules appointments and then cancels. Examples: We were supposed to go out last Saturday, but had to cancel.
She had some neighborhoods that she wanted to discuss with me. She said she would e-mail the properties to me and for me to call her back. I called back and then she never answered. She then e-mailed me back saying she would call me in 2 hours. It's 27 hours later and still no call.
I understand I am not her only client. I guess I just expect when someone says they're going to do something that they do it.
I just don't think should be a normal way to handle business. I don't think it is going to get any better either.
First, have you already signed a buyer agency contract with her? (sorry I couldn't determine, or didn't see, in your post) I do agree with Sandy that it's important at the initial meeting to clearly determine the needs and expectations of the clients - everyone has different needs. From reading your posts it appears there are a couple of issues here, the first being the apparant disorganization of the brokerage in general (i.e., you dropped off your paperwork and it was never sent to the realtor and you were told she is rarely in the office)
The second being scheduling appointments, then cancelling them - saying to call her then you leave VM and she says she'll call you in 2 hours and now you've been waiting 27 hours and still counting. Personally, and just going from what you've posted, I would not only look for another Realtor but another brokerage and one that works as a team. There are many of us who have busy offices and there are times when everyone is out in the field - happens in my offices and the transaction coordinator/assistant quite efficently handles walk-in clients, telephone inquiries, ensures everyone immediately gets paperwork dropped off, phone call messages, etc.
So JMO, I would look at interviewing not only another Realtor but one where the office is not so disorganized. Then, when you find the brokerage and Realtor that feels like a good fit, make sure they clearly know what your expectations are.
Last edited by JustJoy; 07-04-2009 at 05:34 PM..
Reason: typo
I find that many realtors are more about taking listings than making showings/sales...
agents who work on being multiple-listers get their cut by just bringing the listing into the office whether they actually sell that house or any other house...
they are busy finding out who is bringing house on the market, what the market comps are like
other realtors are show-ers--they actually take clients around for as long as it takes to find a house...
some buyers are very picky and take a long time to make a sale...if a buyer is in a relocation process, there is usually a shorter time frame for them ...usually RE agents who get the relo clients have put time in the field and have lots of experience/connections because Relos are considered top-catches since most of them are going to buy a house within a short time frame--guaranteed commission...
listing a house (if it sells before the contract is up) is a guaranteed win for the agent
driving people around showing them homes is not...
our realtor normally did only Relo work--she worked with us because a friend of ours referred us to her...she worked with us for two years off and on ... we were living local, buying local, and were in the market for house with some specific requirements...we made offers on three houses...two we were outbid on and one was under contract when the sellers took it off the market because of a child's illness...
most of the time, I was the one screening listings off MLS and sometimes weeks would go by without anything to view...so it is not like she was showing houses every day or week...and we were quick ...
sometimes we would know after opening the front door the house would not work for us...
I think you need another agent and I would not sign a contract to represent unless you find a house you want to offer for--that is what we did...the contract to represent lasts for a year here...so when the first house fell through, the contract was still in force...
I find that many realtors are more about taking listings than making showings/sales...
agents who work on being multiple-listers get their cut by just bringing the listing into the office whether they actually sell that house or any other house...
they are busy finding out who is bringing house on the market, what the market comps are like
other realtors are show-ers--they actually take clients around for as long as it takes to find a house...
some buyers are very picky and take a long time to make a sale...if a buyer is in a relocation process, there is usually a shorter time frame for them ...usually RE agents who get the relo clients have put time in the field and have lots of experience/connections because Relos are considered top-catches since most of them are going to buy a house within a short time frame--guaranteed commission...
listing a house (if it sells before the contract is up) is a guaranteed win for the agent
driving people around showing them homes is not...
our realtor normally did only Relo work--she worked with us because a friend of ours referred us to her...she worked with us for two years off and on ... we were living local, buying local, and were in the market for house with some specific requirements...we made offers on three houses...two we were outbid on and one was under contract when the sellers took it off the market because of a child's illness...
most of the time, I was the one screening listings off MLS and sometimes weeks would go by without anything to view...so it is not like she was showing houses every day or week...and we were quick ...
sometimes we would know after opening the front door the house would not work for us...
I think you need another agent and I would not sign a contract to represent unless you find a house you want to offer for--that is what we did...the contract to represent lasts for a year here...so when the first house fell through, the contract was still in force...
How do you advise the OP to go about documenting the agent's expected baseline compensation as required in North Carolina?
Also, in North Carolina, the representation agreement term is negotiable.
I am on Real Estate Agent #2. I am a first time homebuyer. Things just didn't work out with the first agent. I was supposed to sign with her when we first went out, but we never went out.
Agent #2 seemed really nice and knowledgeable initially. The same situation where I was supposed to sign with her the first time we went out. We never went out because she had something come up. I haven't heard anything from her all week. I get the daily MLS listing from her and that's all. I met with the broker I found through her this week. I had some questions so I called her yesterday. She e-mailed me some properties and said she would call me back. I haven't heard anything else from her and I noticed that today is the first day I haven't gotten my MLS listing. She is just seeming kind of disorganized and never really does what she says she will.
It has been around 3 weeks or so since I started this process with the first broker. I wonder if I should keep this broker who is her friend and look for another agent or what. I know at this point they shouldn't keep running my credit.
Am I expecting too much from the agents.
Any opinions I what I should do. This is the condensed version of what is going on.
Thank you
In general, if something doesn't seem right, trust your instincts.
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