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DoubleF · 05-12-2014, 01:22 PM

Realtors are an odd batch. Similar to cafes, you'll find stuff ranging from great, diamonds in the rough to "how the hell are they still around"? You have to do your research on them.

I was showed two units of a building downtown a few years back. Several months later, the foundation of the building was found to be... messed up. Made the news and everything because it had to be evacuated or something. Most of the research this individual did consisted on price range and local amenities. My mortgage broker had more info relating to the building than the realtor (and this was stuff I realized I could partially look up online for free after a few places).

2 realtors I know indirectly actively give clients kickbacks. 1 of the 2 actually uses that term "kickback". The other at least uses some grey area accounting mumbo jumbo to explain it.

Part time realtor I knew had 6 other companies to manage. I have no idea why he went into real estate. He was doing pretty well in the other companies. He wasn't even doing it to benefit the other companies either.

Another realtor I indirectly knew wasn't really ever in the city. Always traveling. Somehow though, this individual was able to get the right contacts to allow for private viewings etc to occur. I don't know if this was really legit, but it sure beat realtor #1 and the kick back realtors.

I have a buddy who is a full time realtor with another family member. Beyond that, his research is top knotch. It's also essentially hiring 2 realtors with only 1 point of contact. I'd use him if I ever needed a realtor. Nothing against the resident CP realtor, I just know the other guy better.

My last place, I bypassed the realtor because I knew the seller (honest guy, sold below market price and we split the potential savings of cost of realtor), went straight to the lawyer (knew the guy, decades of years doing real estate). I'd do it again if I knew someone and they were trust worthy to do a private sale, but someone else? I'd realtor up.

Just like anything important, research it. Not just the property, but realtor too.

05-12-2014, 01:22 PM	#52
DoubleF Franchise Player Join Date: Apr 2014 Exp:	Realtors are an odd batch. Similar to cafes, you'll find stuff ranging from great, diamonds in the rough to "how the hell are they still around"? You have to do your research on them. I was showed two units of a building downtown a few years back. Several months later, the foundation of the building was found to be... messed up. Made the news and everything because it had to be evacuated or something. Most of the research this individual did consisted on price range and local amenities. My mortgage broker had more info relating to the building than the realtor (and this was stuff I realized I could partially look up online for free after a few places). 2 realtors I know indirectly actively give clients kickbacks. 1 of the 2 actually uses that term "kickback". The other at least uses some grey area accounting mumbo jumbo to explain it. Part time realtor I knew had 6 other companies to manage. I have no idea why he went into real estate. He was doing pretty well in the other companies. He wasn't even doing it to benefit the other companies either. Another realtor I indirectly knew wasn't really ever in the city. Always traveling. Somehow though, this individual was able to get the right contacts to allow for private viewings etc to occur. I don't know if this was really legit, but it sure beat realtor #1 and the kick back realtors. I have a buddy who is a full time realtor with another family member. Beyond that, his research is top knotch. It's also essentially hiring 2 realtors with only 1 point of contact. I'd use him if I ever needed a realtor. Nothing against the resident CP realtor, I just know the other guy better. My last place, I bypassed the realtor because I knew the seller (honest guy, sold below market price and we split the potential savings of cost of realtor), went straight to the lawyer (knew the guy, decades of years doing real estate). I'd do it again if I knew someone and they were trust worthy to do a private sale, but someone else? I'd realtor up. Just like anything important, research it. Not just the property, but realtor too.