Quote:
Originally Posted by Madman
We had him come in to appraise our house a few years ago and he really rubbed me the wrong way and I didn't think his assessment of our house was at all right.....
|
Sorry, not trying to be a "dink" here and derail your thread, but as someone who is in both the sales and appraisal field, it really irks me when the public or other members of the industry throws around the terms "appraise/appraisal" as an equivalent to comparative market analysis, so I do strongly feel the need to clarify the use of these terms.
CMAs are simply database generated numbers serving as a general reference point for sellers who would like to give their property a competitive listing price.
An appraisal is a formal opinion of value prepared as a result of a retainer for which the appraiser assumes responsibility. Only licenced appraisers can perform appraisals in Alberta.
When I am sitting at the kitchen table with the sellers I don't tell them I am
appraising your house at such & such price. Doing so would be misleading the public. I will however perform an appraisal if the sellers are ordering an appraisal from my firm and I am not the Realtor they are hiring.
[back to our regular programming]
For the OP's concerns, if you feel your current lister is not doing a good enough job, you can either request to terminate your current listing contract with his/her brokerage, or wait for the expiry and interview for an replacement.
Contrary to popular belief, relatives/friends/CP are not the best sources for referrals, everyone has different homes and different needs. Realtors are not all grown out of the same mold and each one have different expertise to serve different market segments, you need to do your own diligence in selecting your representative in such a major transaction.
Remember, on top of having a good marketing plan, the person you pick to represent you needs to do
that well, a lot of people tend to overlook this and thinks having your home's ad plastered everywhere is all it takes to sell a home for top $$ without headaches.
The good folks who chimed in on this thread all offered tidbits of good advice. The points that stick out most is probably Sliver and burn_baby_burn's - Houses sell themselves, Realtors are there to give your property the exposure via the MLS and their own network, and to give you proper representation when the target market is reached and an offer comes in--so you know what to expect and don't get ripped off.
Too many people in the industry don't even grasp this concept ("I will sell your house for top dollar!"), what they do not understand is that no amount of advertising will work--if they do not understand the target market and the property's standing in said market. IMHO, this is why the industry get such a bad rap among the public sometimes, lots of over-promises and under-delivering
