Housing Rumble: Do You Need an Agent? (Day 1)

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Nice article

arhiderrr of DE 3:30AM March 01, 2009

Nice article

arhiderrr of DE 7:42PM February 28, 2009

Nice article

arhiderrr of DE 10:48AM February 28, 2009

Nice article

arhiderrr of DE 9:28AM February 28, 2009

Very useful information, thanks

IDEAL HOME of FL 2:13AM August 29, 2008

How does one differentiate a professional real estate agent from a non-professional real estate agent?
If sellers knew this, perhaps trust in the profession would be restored.

Ush USh of FL 12:34AM August 01, 2008

Jay's comments are flawed from the outset. Hire a "professional"? What professional? Where did Jay get his degree in realty? Oh, I'm sorry, there is no such thing.
Every realtor I have met (I've met a lot) has said, "I'm not an appraiser", "I'm not a home inspector", and "I'm not a lawyer". They were all correct.
Every realtor I have met has said, "I have no idea what a house is worth. It's worth what you get for it." I accept that. So why do I need the realtor?
having been involved in five sale-and-purchase events, I have come to realize that a realtor does nothing that you can't do, just as well, for yourself. At a considerable savings.
Oh, and if the realtor misbehaves, rest assured your state realty board will back up and absolve your realtor.
The transactions that worked best for me were the ones I handled myself.

Richard Friedman of OH 1:16PM July 19, 2008

Jay's comments are flawed from the outset. Hire a "professional"? What professional? Where did Jay get his degree in realty? Oh, I'm sorry, there is no such thing.
Every realtor I have met (I've met a lot) has said, "I'm not an appraiser", "I'm not a home inspector", and "I'm not a lawyer". They were all correct.
Every realtor I have met has said, "I have no idea what a house is worth. It's worth what you get for it." I accept that. So why do I need the realtor?
having been involved in five sale-and-purchase events, I have come to realize that a realtor does nothing that you can't do, just as well, for yourself. At a considerable savings.
Oh, and if the realtor misbehaves, rest assured your state realty board will back up and absolve your realtor.
The transactions that worked best for me were the ones I handled myself.

Richard Friedman of OH 1:15PM July 19, 2008

I have sold two homes with an agent and one without. Obviously, the benefit if without is the 6-8% profit you get to keep. Often, you can get by fine with only an attorney. Some buyers, though, prefer the anonymity of dealing with an agent. These days, everyone is trying everything DIY. Some things work better that way than others. Good thread on that here:
http://digits.hrblock.com/ssDigits/digits.php?rType=1&sPath=2405&sNode=2405&uId=293

GHarri of NY 4:42PM July 17, 2008

I helped a seller negotiate a counter offer today. They questioned me on one of the dates I wanted to change in their favor. When I explained my logic for the change they sent me an email, "Thanks for your expertise and advice!"
We have a saying here, "90% of For Sale By Owners become For Sale by Realtors." It's just not as easy as it looks, and we're having a harder and harder time now holding deals together. Imagine what an inexperience layman could run into.
I often see blog comments from consumers who say, "I did it myself and had no problems! We don't need you!" Well, that person was very lucky indeed.

Gretchen Faber of CO 11:25PM July 15, 2008