Realtor advice

[alison]

Yup - it's still her house, and she cares more than tenants what her house looks like (to keep the neighbors happy) and what her house could potentially sell for based on the sale price of yours.

It's really up to you! If you're comfortable with it, and think it's advantageous, then go for it! I'm just saying why I wouldn't do it. No way. My neighbor believes my garbage can is his, and yet another thinks she can build a patio without the other owners' permission and without a building permit. I'm pretty sure when push comes to shove, they're looking out for #1.

[alison]

Yes, she will most definitely want the price of your home to be high -- I agree with you there. But what if a family of 4 with purple hair makes an offer, and she just DOESN'T like people with purple hair? Then what?

[Pollyanna]

You make good points Alison

[peggyfromwastate]

I think she's all about the $$--- she's a fairly hands off landlord which I don't love but ok. Personally I think she should protect the investment (her house) a little more.

She paid $329 or so for the house. That was right after prices started to decline a little. She was the realtor for my old neighbor and after the house was on the market for 360k for about 4 months the realtor apparently bought it from my old neighbor. Then the realtor's hubby is a home inspector. It was all kind of too cozy for me and dh. We doubted our neighbor was getting a good deal but she wanted to sell badly.

Now the house is worth maybe 250 or so-- the landlord needs to jeep a tenant in there. These tenants SUCK but I guess they (or the state) pay the rent every month. So they stay.

Idk. If the neighbors (tenants) weren't so contentious to deal with I wouldn't want anything to do with the landlord as my realtor tbh. It just didn't seem good the way the whole deal went down with my neighbor selling the house to the realtor. She did put on a couple of open houses so I met the realtor then-- she seemed professional and nice.

I don't know... I had a lead in a realtor that a friend of mine liked but the lady totally flipped out, way overpriced my friends house when she put it up about 6 months ago, and I noticed she fired the realtor. So I won't go with that lady! Clearly! My friend has moved to jersey but her house is still hasn't sold.

[DCJenn]

None of my contacts in the old neighborhood are still working as realtors but let me ask my parents who they used and my friend who sold her dad's place in Fairidge fairly recently.

J.

[GrayMatterWife]

Our condo goes on the market today or tomorrow. I did a SH*T load of staging and stuff first. I boxed up about 70 boxes worth of stuff--extra linens, all our china, all DH's office and books, about 3/4ths of the kids' toys. We took our closets to a minimum to show off the storage space and removed all the personal stuff from our walls. I patched, repainted where necessary, and scrubbed every living inch of baseboard, chairrails and crown molding. We moved out lots of furniture--to make things look less crowded. I rented a UHaul and took it all to a storage unit. It was the biggest PiTA ever.

**My POOR children! They have few toys left, and I shriek at them if they take out more than one toy at a time. I am paranoid about keeping their room looking like a Pottery Barn display. I am going to take them out for out-of-house after-school adventures, to not make their lives miserable. Yesterday, I found all three of them sitting on the kitchen tile, counting cracks and making up stories about the "pictures" they saw in the tile tone variations. It was so pathetic. I am a terrible mom.

I chose my realtor by who was the least of an asshole. Seriously. We live in an upscale urban neighborhood with lots of obnoxious pretense. One realtor wanted to describe our unit as being in the "prestigious ___ building, offering Fifth Avenue-style living." Uh, no. I just can't stomach that. You're going to have to find a different way to sell my house that doesn't involve sounding like the Astors live here. Give me a break. I am completely uncomfortable with that.

I like the realtor. And, she recently sold another unit in this building in 11 days. Maybe she'll bring a touch of luck...

[SuzySunshine]

GMW if she sells that fast what in the world are you going to do? You don't even know where you're moving yet, right?

[GrayMatterWife]

GMW if she sells that fast what in the world are you going to do? You don't even know where you're moving yet, right?

We'll rent an apartment here in STL. No problem. Honestly, I am not worried about that--it would be FANTASTIC to sell it fast...but in this market, I sure am not counting on it. I would just like it sold by June, if possible.

[peggyfromwastate]

The houses in my subdivision that are move in ready sell fairly quickly//. Maybe 60 days at most... The ones that are third party or foreclosed or need a lot of updating DIY for 9+ months. This is where I really need to consult w a realtor though-/ bc this is my observation.

Good luck abigail-- I have a similar idea for storing tons of stuff but luckily I have a dh who rather than hit the gym can move crap for me. In theory. (that is to say it's more likely since he still lives in the same house!!). I can't imagine doing that solo. Bravo woman!

[GrayMatterWife]

Good luck abigail-- I have a similar idea for storing tons of stuff but luckily I have a dh who rather than hit the gym can move crap for me. In theory. (that is to say it's more likely since he still lives in the same house!!). I can't imagine doing that solo. Bravo woman!

It was TOTALLY worth it. The place is in the best shape it's ever been in. And I am loving all the space and junk reduction. Heck, I may never get the stuff out of storage--ever. I don't miss it! Although, the kids will get their toys back as soon as I we sell. I don't want to make my new Spartan-loving style their burden.

Actually, it may even have backfired a little. My realtor brought by an looker last week, before it listed. The woman opened up my linen closet, which is stage like a Restoration Hardware catalogue and she moaned, "Does someone really LIVE like this? I have so much stuff...maybe I need a few months to pack, before I move!" So much for the benefits of staging. It just gave someone an inferiority complex and scared them off from buying.

***grrr....can't win for losing...**

[MrsK]

I haven't read much of this thread but make sure your listing agreement says that the commission is earned upon closing, not upon execution of a purchase agreement. If the buyer doesn't close, you should not have to pay a broker.

[Momo]

Ahhh... Mrs.K you're such a gem for the wondrful/ shrewd professional advice you give us! Thanks!

[peggyfromwastate]

Wow mrs k. I would have never thought of that.

[MrsK]

LOL Thanks. Also, if you are signing an exclusive listing agreement, pay attention to the term. Keep the term short so your broker has incentive to work fast. That way, you can switch brokers if the house is still on the market after the term ends. The first broker, should, however still get credit if someone he showed the house to buys it within 6 months of the end of the term.

[GrayMatterWife]

Our K has agent getting credit if someone he showed house to buys within 4 months.