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Post by beaglemom on Jul 6, 2017 16:14:07 GMT
We are in need of a realtor to sell our house ASAP. We are in Silicon Valley - but slightly rural - 20 minutes from the freeway, but due to location not horrible for commutes. Our home is unusual but has large square footage for the area and we have two lots, on is just under 2 acres, the other about 2.5 acres. When we bought it the previous owners had been trying to sell it for a number of years, their realtor was horrible, but things can take a while to sell where we are.
We have four options at this point:
1. The first person I met when we moved here, she took me under her wing. Invited me to join her book club. Her personal real estate website hasn't been updated in I don't know how long. The photos on listings are okay, but not spectacular. She currently has 3 listings. She lives up here and is very familiar with the area, I think she's been here 20+ years. She's in her late 60's/early 70's.
2. Our babysitter/housekeeper's daughter and her husband. They seem very knowledgeable and much better versed in modern real estate stuff. They talked about having a drone photograph the property and doing video walkthroughs to help people understand the space. Their website is very professional looking and their listing photos are very nice. They have been local to the Bay Area but moved up where we are 2+ years ago. They are in their late 30's/early 40's.
3. A friend's realtor. He just sold their home in a month or so at asking. Her home is much more "normal" than ours, but they have used him in the past and were very happy with him.
4. Someone entirely different.
When we moved here/bought we made the mistake of using a friend of my mil and she was horrible. When we sold our last home we went with the recommendation of a friend and we were happy with the process. But that time we had already moved out and weren't in a super hurry.
I would love recommendations!! I will start another post about all we need to do to sell, cause I need help with that too!
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Post by mikklynn on Jul 6, 2017 17:03:05 GMT
#2 - How many houses have they sold in the past in YOUR area? Ask them to come over and talk. They should be able to back up the asking price with realistic comps.
#3 - Same as above.
I'd talk to both of them, then choose one.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,983 
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Post by blue tulip on Jul 6, 2017 18:31:52 GMT
the first would be out for me immediately- you need good photos and an up-to-date representative. find out the info on the other 2 that mikklynn posted, and go with who has the best results there. how many homes they've sold in your area, in your price range, would be the biggest deciding factor for me, providing that pics and websites and other things are equally good.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 6, 2017 18:39:17 GMT
I'd talk to #3 and see their thoughts on your dome property - but you frankly need someone extremely knowledgeable about unique Santa Cruz mountain properties. Mountain properties are a whole different animal in general, and your unique shape will make it more critical that you have a GOOD realtor. This isn't a cooker cutter property and you will be well served to spend your time and energy finding someone knowledgeable.
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Post by papersilly on Jul 6, 2017 18:46:37 GMT
keep it business, not personal. don't pick one because they are friends or family. pick based on experience and a proven track record in your local area. drive around....who has lots of listings? look online at sold homes in your area. who represented them?
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 6, 2017 18:48:04 GMT
Definitely not number 1. I know from where I live and and have been here 20 years. I had two good agents to choose from. Both friends but one moreso than the other. The other one is more 'sales driven' and always posting stuff on FB and is good at what he does. My other friend is newer in the business (been about 2 years now) but she has really started focusing more on selling this past year. I ended up not moving but I did choose my friend who is newer in the business. I felt like other than being a closer friend that she has more of a down to earth personality than my 'seller' friend. I think he does better with much more high end homes. Although he is a go getter... so who knows.. it's a cut throat business to be in though!!!
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on Jul 6, 2017 19:05:19 GMT
Both two and three sound like good options. I would interview both and definitely do what others have said and find out how many properties they have sold in your area. Find out how close to asking they have sold for. If you can, you might want to speak to past clients. There are agents who sound great on first meeting and then are hard to get a hold of or get them to return your calls during the process. Good communication is important.
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Post by Patter on Jul 6, 2017 19:09:19 GMT
Definitely interview your top picks in person. The realtor I liked on the phone I did NOT like in person. The one that was "ho hum" on the phone turned out to be amazing. We went with her, and she sold our house within the week. Good luck!
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Post by Monica* on Jul 6, 2017 19:14:51 GMT
Don't be afraid to talk about the commission and negotiate. You don't have to pay the standard if you don't want to. Some realtors just assume you'll pay and never even bring it up unless you do.
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Post by melanell on Jul 6, 2017 20:00:48 GMT
I know from looking through listings for my own area, that are some I would definitely NOT choose based on how their listings look and are worded. Anyone can make a mistake, but some are just consistently bad. For instance, some realtors use photos that would only be helpful if I were looking to buy the furniture instead of the house, while others seem to be confused about the local geography and not willing to take 3 seconds to double check their claims on Google. I always tell DH that before we ever sell, I'm going to spend a few months checking out the listings again to see what else is selling well and WHO else is selling well.  Best of luck!! Save |
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Post by belgravia on Jul 6, 2017 20:11:12 GMT
Whenever we have sold in the past, I have chosen one of the top producers for our area. When I'm selling, I want someone who knows how to sell, will make sure the pictures look good, and has a lot of visibility and name recognition.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 6, 2017 23:57:06 GMT
I like to go to open houses.. and talk to the realtors informally. so I also know who is selling in our neighborhood.
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Post by txdancermom on Jul 7, 2017 1:55:31 GMT
when I was selling my sisters condo, I had several recommendations and I had each one come to the property and discuss what they would do to market it for me. I listened to each and what their fee would be, how they would market it, etc. I ended up going with my gut feeling - one stood out from the rest, and she got the job and sold it for me in under 60 days.
We had one like your #1 - they told me I "had" to use them, because they officed in the building and alledgedly knew it better than others. no real spark or sense of initiative. No ideas on what little things I could do to try and sell it faster.
my #2 - was ok, had some ideas, but no spark.
my#3 - came in and had ideas right off, knew what I could do with the things that the family didn't want (she worked with a charity that would come in and take the stuff) and was willing to oversee the last of the work that needed to happen since I lived in another city. Yes her fee was 1% more, but she followed through, got me an offer within 60 days, and closed the deal. I don't think it would have happened quite so fast with the others. So What I am trying to say - follow your gut....
good luck!
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,287
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Jul 7, 2017 2:43:47 GMT
#1 out. Sorry but in today's world you need to keep your website current and updated.
I'd have reservations with #2. I wouldn't want them talking to your housekeeper/baby sitter about the transaction.
I'd meet the Realtor on #3 and probably go with them. A friends recommendation holds a lot of weight with me.
If you want to go the #4 route my Realtor is a good negotiator and got more than top dollar on a recent sale of my MIL's condo. He's done three transactions for us. He's in Santa Cruz but does work "over the hill".
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,308
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Jul 7, 2017 5:23:58 GMT
While practices vary by region, my advice is to schedule separate appointments with three realtors (#2-4 in the OP). Each will give their sales pitch & walk through the property to assess/suggest updates, staging, list price, etc. You may want to request each prospective realtor suggest two list prices for your property - one if sold with only necessary repairs (eg water heater, smoke/carbon dioxide detectors) completed & another after all recommended repairs/updates.
Choose the realtor with whom you feel most comfortable, communicates well, has a desirable marketing plan, & will best represent you/your listing.
Best wishes!
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