Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
I wouldn't engage in a real estate transaction without an agent, unless it was a purchase of a specific property I knew for certain was undervalued.
A good agent will maximize the return on your property if you're a seller. If the agent has increased your return by more than that $15k commission, they haven't done their job. If you're buying they'll hope you find properties and put in the lowest offer. The trick is finding a good agent. It's way to unscrupulous of a profession, with many agent just in it for the quick commission.
|
Just a few points:
- You wouldn't engage in a RE transaction without a realtor because there haven't been any good alternatives. This is why the industry has been dealing with anti-competition issues for a decade or so now.
- There is no objective study that proves that a realtor gets more for your home. See point above. There was a 2013-ish NAR study that compared this to FSBO sales but that study is hugely flawed (which is why realtors don't exactly flog that data point around).
- If it's a 'trick' to find a good realtor, then that's a massive fail. But you are right, good realtors do exist but out of 5000+ realtors in Calgary I bet that number is under 100. I mean, that's a huge problem.
Ultimately you have thousands of unqualified 'professionals' looking after what is likely one of your most important financial decisions of your life who are also contributing to the inflationary prices of homes across North America.