Buying my first property in 2008 (just before the bubble popped), I realized there was more to buying a house than just picking “a pretty one”.
In 2008, my agent didn’t advocate for me in anyway, it was a ‘feeding frenzy’ market and she basically showed me a handful of houses and told me to pick one.
Later, when I was upside down, and stuck in a house that didn’t work for me, she told me that’s just how the market goes sometimes… I realized she wasn’t “my agent” at all.
But I still had to do something to ease the burden and not lose my house altogether. That was when I sought information about protesting my taxes, winterizing, energy-efficiency measures and refinancing – all on my own.
Was Buying a House really a “good idea”?
I was so frustrated with “my agent” (laughable), with my house, and with this idea of homeownership being a good idea.
Years later, (and many tears later), I decided to get my own Real Estate License so I would know how to successfully sell my house. I learned about staging and pre-listing repairs, disclosures, home warranties, and why great photos matter.
It can be stressful.
Since buying and selling other properties over the years, I know it can be stressful. Feeling like you hired someone who should be working for you, but you don’t feel confident in what they say, compared to what they do.
I get it. Real Estate Agents have fallen somewhere between used car salesmen, and used shoe salesmen.
If you get anything from this long winded post, please remember this…
All, (yes, ALL) commissions are negotiable, and you should interview at least 3 Realtors before signing with anyone.
Questions should include things such as:
- Is this your only job*? (You’d be surprised how many “part-time realtors” there are.)
- Have you ever bought or sold a property?
- Additional continuing education or certificates do you have?
- What services will you provide?
See our list of questions you should ask an agent who you are interviewing to sell your property.
“For the times, they are a’ changin”
After-thoughts,
Many people blame Realtors for being ‘this’ or ‘that’ (not to give used shoe-salesmen a bad name).
If you’re like me when I selected my Realtor at the time, I basically picked the first person off Facebook who responded to me. I didn’t ask any questions about their experience or skills, I was so excited to start looking at homes. I didn’t really care who showed them to me.
The biggest investment of our lives.
Why do we do that? Why do we select anyone to assist us in making the biggest purchase of our lives at random? How is it that we go with our 18 year old nephew, who just graduated from high-school, has never held a job out-side of his real-estate license, to help us sell our property worth, literally, thousands of dollars? (I look forward to negotiating against him, btw.)
How did you select your doctor? Did you walk into the first office you found and ask them to perform surgery on you? Do you have a lawyer? How did you select them?
Now, I understand being a Doctor or Lawyer demand a lot more education than Realtors. But isn’t that the fault of the licensing board; there is very little educational requirement to becoming a Realtor.
I have found that more knowledge, skills practice, and education is of the utmost importance to my personal real estate goals, as well as those of my clients.
