Comments on: Buying without an agent http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/ Seattle's Leading Resource for Real Estate Information Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:47:42 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Buying without an Agent — the Epilogue | Seattle Real Estate ~ Rain City Guide http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-324045 Buying without an Agent — the Epilogue | Seattle Real Estate ~ Rain City Guide Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:02:22 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-324045 [...] the last year, I’ve posted several times on using an attorney – rather than a real estate agent — to purchase a home. As [...] [...] the last year, I’ve posted several times on using an attorney – rather than a real estate agent — to purchase a home. As [...]

]]> By: Stephen Graham - Buyer's Agent Atlanta, Georgia GA http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-317950 Stephen Graham - Buyer's Agent Atlanta, Georgia GA Mon, 19 May 2008 22:17:06 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-317950 The pros of using a true buyer's agent for a new home purchase are innumerable; notice that I said "true buyer's agent". I am a speaking about someone who is versed on new home and new construction matters. While I agree that you don’t need an incompetent agent to buy a new home, I would, however, disagree that you don’t need a qualified buyer’s agent to maximize one’s purchase. The pros of using a true buyer’s agent for a new home purchase are innumerable; notice that I said “true buyer’s agent”. I am a speaking about someone who is versed on new home and new construction matters. While I agree that you don’t need an incompetent agent to buy a new home, I would, however, disagree that you don’t need a qualified buyer’s agent to maximize one’s purchase.

]]> By: Using an agent to buy a house? That is soooo 20th century… | Rain City Guide | A Seattle Real Estate Blog... http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-296157 Using an agent to buy a house? That is soooo 20th century… | Rain City Guide | A Seattle Real Estate Blog... Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:37:12 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-296157 [...] This is Part I of a multi-part post. Part I: Visiting the Property Several months ago, I authored a post about buying a house without utilizing the services of an agent. It generated quite the conversation (concluding with this tasteful comment from our friends at Bloodhound Blog: “Entirely self serving, badly argued with serious errors of omission, it generated some pleasant acrimony in the comment section…”) and eventually led to the promise of a “blogging death match” between me and Ardell — okay, Ardell, it’s ON! [...] [...] This is Part I of a multi-part post. Part I: Visiting the Property Several months ago, I authored a post about buying a house without utilizing the services of an agent. It generated quite the conversation (concluding with this tasteful comment from our friends at Bloodhound Blog: “Entirely self serving, badly argued with serious errors of omission, it generated some pleasant acrimony in the comment section…”) and eventually led to the promise of a “blogging death match” between me and Ardell — okay, Ardell, it’s ON! [...]

]]> By: Attorneys, Condescension, Immaculate Perception and the NAR | BloodhoundBlog: Real estate marketing and technology blog | Realtors and real estate, mortgages, lending, investments http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-180457 Attorneys, Condescension, Immaculate Perception and the NAR | BloodhoundBlog: Real estate marketing and technology blog | Realtors and real estate, mortgages, lending, investments Sat, 15 Sep 2007 01:00:50 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-180457 [...] But much more recently and pertinent: First, there was this – Buying without an agent – written by an attorney at Rain City Guide.  Entirely self serving, badly argued with serious errors of omission, it generated some pleasant acrimony in the comment section – numbering over 150 – as well as a follow up rebuttal.  I’m not going to parse the whole thing, but you get the tone from the last sentence: [...] [...] But much more recently and pertinent: First, there was this – Buying without an agent – written by an attorney at Rain City Guide.  Entirely self serving, badly argued with serious errors of omission, it generated some pleasant acrimony in the comment section – numbering over 150 – as well as a follow up rebuttal.  I’m not going to parse the whole thing, but you get the tone from the last sentence: [...]

]]> By: czb http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-178894 czb Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:24:45 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-178894 Geordie, I'm glad you and Craig agree. That's very nice. However, I don't think your argument is very persuasive. The point is that you are an expert for your client, the seller. You are opening the door for a buyer who will potentially give your client, to whom you lend your expertise, alot of money. You will also earn alot of money by opening that door in the form of commission on the sale. Your expertise was still completely put to the test in the correct pricing of the house, the advice offered in balancing any fixes required with how their cost would impact the eventual sale of the house and the selling price, how best to market the property, negotiation of the final price, the proper completion of the paperwork required to complete the sale, etc, etc. Even if you simply opened the door for this unrepresented buyer, your expertise would still be required to its fullest capacity for your client, making you much more than just a door-opener. You clearly realize this so I can't believe you are using such a hollow argument. The main disincentive you have to not opening the door to a buyer who is not represented by a real estate agent is not some type of prima-donna concern that your skills are being underutilized, as you claim, but to stymie (along with other real-estate professionals), in a collusive manner, any threat to the current commission system in real-estate sales. If I am missing something here, please elaborate. Geordie,
I’m glad you and Craig agree. That’s very nice.
However, I don’t think your argument is very persuasive. The point is that you are an expert for your client, the seller. You are opening the door for a buyer who will potentially give your client, to whom you lend your expertise, alot of money. You will also earn alot of money by opening that door in the form of commission on the sale. Your expertise was still completely put to the test in the correct pricing of the house, the advice offered in balancing any fixes required with how their cost would impact the eventual sale of the house and the selling price, how best to market the property, negotiation of the final price, the proper completion of the paperwork required to complete the sale, etc, etc. Even if you simply opened the door for this unrepresented buyer, your expertise would still be required to its fullest capacity for your client, making you much more than just a door-opener. You clearly realize this so I can’t believe you are using such a hollow argument. The main disincentive you have to not opening the door to a buyer who is not represented by a real estate agent is not some type of prima-donna concern that your skills are being underutilized, as you claim, but to stymie (along with other real-estate professionals), in a collusive manner, any threat to the current commission system in real-estate sales.
If I am missing something here, please elaborate.

]]> By: craig http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-177392 craig Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:14:48 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-177392 Agreed! Agreed!

]]> By: Geordie Romer http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-177348 Geordie Romer Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:26:42 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-177348 Russ said (on another post) "Buyers need someone to help them navigate the sale. They don’t need a door opener. They need experts" For some buyers that expert is an agent, for others attorneys, for some both. Can Craig and I agree on this? As an expert, I am not available for hire as a door opener. Russ said (on another post) “Buyers need someone to help them navigate the sale. They don’t need a door opener. They need experts”

For some buyers that expert is an agent, for others attorneys, for some both.

Can Craig and I agree on this?

As an expert, I am not available for hire as a door opener.

]]> By: stephen http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-177228 stephen Wed, 05 Sep 2007 05:33:26 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-177228 My Redfin agent was Allie Howard (&Melissa Smith) by the way. Sorry guys :-) My Redfin agent was Allie Howard (&Melissa Smith) by the way. Sorry guys :-)

]]> By: just_checking http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-175998 just_checking Sun, 02 Sep 2007 00:08:33 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-175998 John, I just called two listing agents today to see their properties. I enquired if they had a open house planned soon or would be willing to show us the house. I also mentioned I will be using redfin or self-represent. Neither had a open house soon but had no issue in setting up appts. for showing next week. Also, neither asked for my driver license yet :) As i said earlier - "It is the market" John,

I just called two listing agents today to see their properties. I enquired if they had a open house planned soon or would be willing to show us the house.

I also mentioned I will be using redfin or self-represent.

Neither had a open house soon but had no issue in setting up appts.
for showing next week. Also, neither asked for my driver license yet :)

As i said earlier – “It is the market”

]]> By: stephen http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-175965 stephen Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:57:01 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/08/27/buying-without-an-agent/#comment-175965 We used Redfin, not because we didn't place value in an agent but rather we just decided we wanted to find our own house at our own pace. We spent several months thinning out and doing driveby's, only wanting to see the inside if it passed all of the other external criteria. The few we did want to see, we looked at during open houses and had one very rude listing agent show us one in Duvall. With this agent I had to insist, but she did it., and she sat in chair the whole time with her arms crossed. Not complaining, I just wanted her to unlock the door and let us inspect the house. She did that and wasn't too nasty about it. We had already decided not to play into the whole debate and rather contact the owner directly with a nice note simply asking if they wouldn't mind showing us the house since their agent had refused. Figured we would most likely get a call back from either the existing listing agent or their new listing agent ;-) You guys can fight this if you want but it seems to me to be a non issue. Your trying to sell a house. Take it one at a time and show it to anybody that's interested. A good salesman never pre qualifies either a potential buyer or situation. Let it play out and present the deal like any other. For all you know they will waive the inspection and pay all cash with a recent inheritance. Once we picked out the house it was a very smooth transaction and our Redfin agent, Angie (and her support team) were perfect. Absolutely no difference from offer to closing as any other full service agent. Some of the agents here can try to argue this point but your flat wrong. I carried a RE license twenty years ago and have gone through the process on a number of occasions. Redfin is as good as it gets but you pick out your own house and do all the leg work involved. The refund covered our closing and made the deal less of a hassle for us. It in no way affected the listing agent and she did absolutely nothing different, and I mean nothing. We used Redfin, not because we didn’t place value in an agent but rather we just decided we wanted to find our own house at our own pace.

We spent several months thinning out and doing driveby’s, only wanting to see the inside if it passed all of the other external criteria.

The few we did want to see, we looked at during open houses and had one very rude listing agent show us one in Duvall. With this agent I had to insist, but she did it., and she sat in chair the whole time with her arms crossed. Not complaining, I just wanted her to unlock the door and let us inspect the house. She did that and wasn’t too nasty about it.

We had already decided not to play into the whole debate and rather contact the owner directly with a nice note simply asking if they wouldn’t mind showing us the house since their agent had refused. Figured we would most likely get a call back from either the existing listing agent or their new listing agent ;-) You guys can fight this if you want but it seems to me to be a non issue. Your trying to sell a house. Take it one at a time and show it to anybody that’s interested. A good salesman never pre qualifies either a potential buyer or situation. Let it play out and present the deal like any other. For all you know they will waive the inspection and pay all cash with a recent inheritance.

Once we picked out the house it was a very smooth transaction and our Redfin agent, Angie (and her support team) were perfect. Absolutely no difference from offer to closing as any other full service agent. Some of the agents here can try to argue this point but your flat wrong. I carried a RE license twenty years ago and have gone through the process on a number of occasions. Redfin is as good as it gets but you pick out your own house and do all the leg work involved. The refund covered our closing and made the deal less of a hassle for us. It in no way affected the listing agent and she did absolutely nothing different, and I mean nothing.

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