Newsgroups: alt.developers.realestate alt.invest.fsbo alt.invest.real-estate.methods alt.real-estate alt.real-estate-agents
Subject: Re: How to deal with a real estate agent?
From: "ACIM Files" 
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 13:34:40 GMT


On  3-Nov-2003, Mjj12@noname.com (Mjj12) wrote:

> I will be looking to buy a house in Florida. I want to use a
> real-estate agent without any obligations. Finding the properties is
> not such
> a big deal because I can find them myself on realtor.com
> If one agent shows me a property then it does not mean that
> he actually found it for me. He only showed it to me. If I do not
> want to deal with this agent for any reason later then I want to make
> sure I do not owe him any commission even if I buy a property
> he showed it me but I close with another agent.
> I know the agents live off commissions but at the same
> time I want to have the option to deal with another agent
> at any time for any reason. Calling the listing agent for
> each separate  property, i.e. not using any buyer's agent at all,
> is only the last resort. Since the MLS listing provides a
> commission for the buyer's agent, I do not want to pay
> for it as a buyer without getting any services for it.
> I need an agent to answer my many questions during
> my search and I expect this agent to be knowledgable
> and responsive. If a buyer's agent wants his typical 3%
> commission then he has to earn it.

In any relationship you get back what you put into it. Although I applaud
your honesty, any agent knowing your attitude up front who takes you out is
a fool. A fool with low self esteem, who must not be very busy. Calling
listing agents directly usually won't save you a dime although it may save
the seller a couple of percent depending on the contract. One thing for sure
it won't be passed on to you. All it will do is give you one less
professional to help with the closing. Which is really where a Buyer's Agent
earns their commission if things start going wrong.

In this market buyers are a dime a dozen. You have nothing to bargain with
other than your commitment. If you don't change your attitude you will be
put on the back burner, and if you act like a putz during the buying process
you will have no help through the closing process.

This is the REALITY: Selling AND Listing agent work for the SELLER. The
Listing agent is ONLY legally obligated to LIST the property FOR THE SELLER.
The Selling agent is ONLY legally obligated to find a buyer FOR THE SELLER.
Anything beyond that that they do for their client is out of the goodness of
their heart, or in the hopes you will give them referrals or use them again.

Some agents will sign a Buyer's Agency and will then be working for you, but
then you will in turn be contractually obligated to them.

Take your pick. If you don't like the reality stick with contacting FSBO's
ONLY because if you mess with agents with that attitude it is YOU who will
get burned, (they deal "not" with people like you every day) and you will
only have yourself (and realtor.com) to blame.

BTW: realtor.com listings are delayed anywhere from 2 days to two weeks. All
good deals will already have offers before it even hits realtor.com.

My advise to you is to use your time to shop hard for a good agent. Then you
won't have to waste your time shopping for a house or trying to fix problems
you know nothing about. Are you even pre-APPROVED?