The Old Folks Home

[Wisher1000]

There are some VERY good realtors, ones who deserve the commissions they get. There are many that don't. Keep at it until you find one that you are satisfied with, they will want you to sign a contract but should understand that you don't want to commit to someone until you know if you can work with them. Also, don't be afraid to tell them that you will change realtors if you feel they are not really on board with you on the goal. Don't forget about Angie's List, it may be the ticket to finding one that everyone respects.

 

[dsqard]

Wisher, I found the one I am planning on using in Utah on Angie's List. I won't be able to find one in VA that way without subscribing to another city. I would probably have to subscribe to Richmond and that is over an hour away so it wouldn't be very helpful. I like Angie's List but usually find that it is not very helpful in the more rural areas that I live in.

 

[dsqard]

BTW, Stumpy thank you for the link. I posted a question about realtors on the site and will see what kind of answers I get.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

It is a buyers market these days, lucky you. I did sell re in another life, and i know I would do the research and foot work myself, especially since you can view on line the multiple listings once you find the area you want...you may even consider skipping the realtor, you do need an attorney and a title search, but that's about it to save alot of money. Just take your time and have the property fully inspected by someone you hire, talk with your neighbors ( would be) and visit the area alone at different times of day, and night. Really read your contract for exclusions and be certain you can keep chickens! I know a really great realtor, but alas, he is in Florida. I sure wouldn't commit to a realtor if I didn't have to. Caution now means happiness later.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I would hope that most of the terrible realtors would not have survived the dismal housing market we've had for the past few years. We had to go through 3 to find the realtor that found this place. I was really up front and told him that I had already fired 3 people, I know what I'm looking for and I will fire you if I don't see you working hard. He actually had me go out on a few trips with him first before asking me to sign on with him (which I could cancel at any time) and he had found places around here I didn't know were on the market.

You always have the option of firing them and moving on. The contract you sign with them usually means you can't buy a house they showed you within 6 months of the showing. As long as you didn't like anything they had to offer, you're good to exit the contract

 

[Arielle]

I remember one realtor that had the gall to tell me she had spent more time showing us the property than any other possible buyer. Made me mad that did. WE had driven 6 hours, leaving at the crack of dawn, stopped at payphone to call in sick, and still had a 6 hour drive back home ahead of us. We were borderline on the property until THAT comment. Guess what we decided. lol



Anyone canning this weekend? Or going to a poultry show?

 

[dsqard]

I've never had to sign a contract with a realtor when I was looking to buy a property, only when selling a property. SCG I don't think the market has weeded out all of the bad ones. I think it is an attitide thing more than anything. Most of the ones that I have dealt with seem to want to do as little as possible to "earn" their money. I remember when I was getting out of the military, I was under contract to buy a house with a VA loan. To get a VA backed loan, the VA has to do the appraisal which usually takes about 6 weeks (well it did then anyway). We were two weeks from closing, waiting for the appraisal to come in when I get a call from my realtor saying that there was a problem. The sellers had a second mortgage with a pay off penalty that they had just discovered. We all got together in a meeting. Their realtor (who should have known this from the beginning) actually had the gall to say to us couldn't we come up with the additional $5K for the penalty? We cancelled the contract. To add insult to injury, our realtor looks at us, knowing we have to find another house ASAP since I was getting out of the military very soon, and says, I am starting my second job today so I need you to drive around looking at the outside of houses and let me know which ones you want to tour inside this evening. I can't tell you how much I started hating agents then.

 

[Stumpy]

BTW, Stumpy thank you for the link. I posted a question about realtors on the site and will see what kind of answers I get.

You're welcome.

These stories remind me of my first house-selling experience. I was in my mid-twenties and had signed a contract to sell my house in Florida. I had already moved out and to another state to take a new job. The buyer ran into some sort of financial problem and my realtor kept asking me to sign something which would keep me potentially financially obligated for five years so that the closing could take place! There was no way I would consider it. I couldn't have slept at night if I had done that. I was willing to wait for another buyer if I had to.

 

[dsqard]

Stumpy, I swear since getting out of the military, I have moved more than when I was in. If there is one thing I have learned about buying and selling houses it is it NEVER goes as planned.

You have to wonder about an agent that would be pushing you to enter into some kind of financial responsibility for a house you will no longer own for 5 years? Yeah, I would have run away from not only the deal but the realtor I was dealing with. When we sold our last house, the buyer's realtor thought I was over a barrel and needed to sell right away. She kept pushing to get every little thing fixed to include running a water line to the swamp cooler that was in the RV garage. I told them no and after a few other incidences I told my realtor I was about ready to cancel the deal. I think the buyers realized how foolish their agent was being when I told them I was going to be in town for another six months living with my mom. The stupid requests stopped after that.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Sounds like everyone has had some crappy experiences with realtors, we put about 4000 miles on a rental looking a few years back. I called one realtor, didn't ask for my phone number, never seemed like she even wanted to sell me a property...so we did it all on our own...do they expect the commissions to just fall out of the sky? It wasn't that way when i sold...it was work. No one wants to do much more than the minimum these days it seems. Oh well, just my experience.
I spent all week with visitors, and the new grand baby....fun....then canned a few dozen each of applesauce and applebutter. Next is pumpkin, but need a new pressure cannner for that. I was considering freezing but don't want to take up too much room. There is the vacuum sealer...maybe for applepie filling and fried apple...just open the bag and pour it in.....my version of 'fast' food. I was really happy with apples I bought at my local store...cheap, and very few blemishes...may get another bushel this week, and needed NO added sugar/sweetener. The chickens have been happy over the leftovers and cores too.