Realtor issues - is this normal?

[lecach]

So our realtor agreed to a lower commission rate than the normal 6% and I wonder if this is causing her to be slack or if she's always slack or if I am just over reacting. We've been on the market two weeks tomorrow.

I feel like we keep having to tell her how to do her job.

First she posted our listing for 2 days without the photos which I am told is bad - people skip right over those listings. Then while we were on vacation we needed the lock box code to get my SIL into our house. I called the centralized showing people and they didnt have any lock box info on file. The agent said she submitted it but that the showing people messed up.

We have asked about 4 times to have our room measurements posted on our listing. She still hasnt taken the measurements. She was supposed to come by today during the agents tour to measure, pick up a form I left for her, drop off more flyers (our box out front is empty) and leave another item that belongs to me. The box is still empty, the item isnt here, and the form was not picked up. I dont even know if the agents actually even came by but she sure didnt.

The worst thing is she lives about 3 blocks away so we couldnt be more convenient.

I hate to switch at this point and doubt I would get another realtor with a low commission. And I worry what it would look like to suddenly switch at the two week mark.

What would you do?

 

[kathie859]

Find a realtor who you feel values you as a client. It's ok--not every person is a perfect match For such a large transaction, you have to be working WITH a person with whom you feel has your best interests at heart.

This relationship isn't working--so it's time to move on.

Good luck.

 

[Luvchefmic]

So our realtor agreed to a lower commission rate than the normal 6% and I wonder if this is causing her to be slack or if she's always slack or if I am just over reacting. We've been on the market two weeks tomorrow.

I feel like we keep having to tell her how to do her job.

First she posted our listing for 2 days without the photos which I am told is bad - people skip right over those listings. Then while we were on vacation we needed the lock box code to get my SIL into our house. I called the centralized showing people and they didnt have any lock box info on file. The agent said she submitted it but that the showing people messed up.

We have asked about 4 times to have our room measurements posted on our listing. She still hasnt taken the measurements. She was supposed to come by today during the agents tour to measure, pick up a form I left for her, drop off more flyers (our box out front is empty) and leave another item that belongs to me. The box is still empty, the item isnt here, and the form was not picked up. I dont even know if the agents actually even came by but she sure didnt.

The worst thing is she lives about 3 blocks away so we couldnt be more convenient.

I hate to switch at this point and doubt I would get another realtor with a low commission. And I worry what it would look like to suddenly switch at the two week mark.
What would you do?

If this were MY house I wouldn't care what it looked like...your gut is telling you that she is not putting everything into the selling & in this economy you need an assertive/aggressive realtor I would move on so that I could move on...you know ?

 

[Tink888]

So our realtor agreed to a lower commission rate than the normal 6% and I wonder if this is causing her to be slack or if she's always slack or if I am just over reacting. We've been on the market two weeks tomorrow.

I feel like we keep having to tell her how to do her job.

First she posted our listing for 2 days without the photos which I am told is bad - people skip right over those listings. Then while we were on vacation we needed the lock box code to get my SIL into our house. I called the centralized showing people and they didnt have any lock box info on file. The agent said she submitted it but that the showing people messed up.

We have asked about 4 times to have our room measurements posted on our listing. She still hasnt taken the measurements. She was supposed to come by today during the agents tour to measure, pick up a form I left for her, drop off more flyers (our box out front is empty) and leave another item that belongs to me. The box is still empty, the item isnt here, and the form was not picked up. I dont even know if the agents actually even came by but she sure didnt.

The worst thing is she lives about 3 blocks away so we couldnt be more convenient.

I hate to switch at this point and doubt I would get another realtor with a low commission. And I worry what it would look like to suddenly switch at the two week mark.

What would you do?

IMHO two weeks is a short time to be on the market especially in this economy. I would call her and talk to her about it.

Also keep in mind you get what you pay for. Since you are getting the lower commission rate she's probably paying more attention to the listings where she is getting the full rate.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

So our realtor agreed to a lower commission rate than the normal 6% and I wonder if this is causing her to be slack or if she's always slack or if I am just over reacting. We've been on the market two weeks tomorrow.

I feel like we keep having to tell her how to do her job.

First she posted our listing for 2 days without the photos which I am told is bad - people skip right over those listings. Then while we were on vacation we needed the lock box code to get my SIL into our house. I called the centralized showing people and they didnt have any lock box info on file. The agent said she submitted it but that the showing people messed up.

We have asked about 4 times to have our room measurements posted on our listing. She still hasnt taken the measurements. She was supposed to come by today during the agents tour to measure, pick up a form I left for her, drop off more flyers (our box out front is empty) and leave another item that belongs to me. The box is still empty, the item isnt here, and the form was not picked up. I dont even know if the agents actually even came by but she sure didnt.

The worst thing is she lives about 3 blocks away so we couldnt be more convenient.

I hate to switch at this point and doubt I would get another realtor with a low commission. And I worry what it would look like to suddenly switch at the two week mark.

What would you do?

I'm in the process of selling my home. Our realtor commission is 4.5%. Our listing went up with out pictures, but she was having a professional photographer take them along with the virtual tour. The pictures get sent to a company, and then they come to the realtor for posting (at least that is how it worked here). It took a few days but I don't think it affected us losing any potential buyers. The market is very slow, so buyers can take their time and look for a while before submitting bids.

As far as the lock box with your SIL, that could have been an error on someone else's part. I wouldn't hold that against the realtor.

I do agree that if you are out of flyers and you want the room sizes added, she should take care of that asap. Maybe call her and have a conversation regarding your concerns.

I don't know how it works where you live, but when I signed with a realtor here, it's for 6 months. So I'm not sure if you can just switch realtors.

I hope things work out and your home sells quickly! Good Luck!

 

[lecach]

I'm in the process of selling my home. Our realtor commission is 4.5%. Our listing went up with out pictures, but she was having a professional photographer take them along with the virtual tour. The pictures get sent to a company, and then they come to the realtor for posting (at least that is how it worked here). It took a few days but I don't think it affected us losing any potential buyers. The market is very slow, so buyers can take their time and look for a while before submitting bids.

As far as the lock box with your SIL, that could have been an error on someone else's part. I wouldn't hold that against the realtor.

I do agree that if you are out of flyers and you want the room sizes added, she should take care of that asap. Maybe call her and have a conversation regarding your concerns.

I don't know how it works where you live, but when I signed with a realtor here, it's for 6 months. So I'm not sure if you can just switch realtors.

I hope things work out and your home sells quickly! Good Luck!

Our commission is 5% but the average in this area is 6%. We signed a listing agreement but it's very easy to get out of - my mom is a realtor in another town and told us it's a simple 1 page release form. All the other houses that I see listed have the room measurements posted - it's a standard think that she keeps promising and not doing.

We'll probably give it another week or two and just hope that she doesnt have any more issues. The fact that my DH started his new job two hours away today and my boss posted my job today (but is going to let me work - at least in some capacity - as long as I want) is adding to the stress.

 

[shortbun]

All that stuff was done by our agent without discussion and before the sign went in the yard. It was simultaneous. We went live with pics. As for the room measurements, I don't think they are necessary unless your rooms are unusally large. We sold in 9 days with 7 showings. I don't think those brochures in the box sell the house. We had ours on the counter in the kitchen for people who were at least committed enough to schedule a look. 9 days, full asking price. If your agent isn't doing her job, until she does or you get another agent, you'll have to do those things and take care of stuff. Do you want a good agent or is it more important to sell your house?

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Our commission is 5% but the average in this area is 6%. We signed a listing agreement but it's very easy to get out of - my mom is a realtor in another town and told us it's a simple 1 page release form. All the other houses that I see listed have the room measurements posted - it's a standard think that she keeps promising and not doing.

We'll probably give it another week or two and just hope that she doesnt have any more issues. The fact that my DH started his new job two hours away today and my boss posted my job today (but is going to let me work - at least in some capacity - as long as I want) is adding to the stress.

I understand the stress. We are relocating from NJ to FL because DH's company relocated from NY to FL. He starts down there in August, and I'm up here until our home sells. It's very stressful, so I understand your frustration with the realtor. I do wish you the best and hopefully a quick sales and an easy move.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

All that stuff was done by our agent without discussion and before the sign went in the yard. It was simultaneous. We went live with pics. As for the room measurements, I don't think they are necessary unless your rooms are unusally large. We sold in 9 days with 7 showings. I don't think those brochures in the box sell the house. We had ours on the counter in the kitchen for people who were at least committed enough to schedule a look. 9 days, full asking price. If your agent isn't doing her job, until she does or you get another agent, you'll have to do those things and take care of stuff. Do you want a good agent or is it more important to sell your house?

WOW! You sold quickly, that's great!

 

[tvguy]

I do think you have a lax agent. No way to know if the commission is an issue. Hey, a commission is a commission in this real estate market.
Two weeks is nothing for a listing in this market. Google "average listing time for real estate 2010".......is 90 days in California, 110 days in Massachusetts......111 in Washington state.......and 560 days in North Carolina.

 

[GingerJay]

Some agents won't let you out of the listing agreement, so you may want to review your agreement before trying to get out of it. I work in real estate, so I've met all kinds of realtors, some good, some not so good, and some really horrible. I guess it's the same with all people- some have a really good work ethic, and some-- not so much

Anyway, best of luck with your sale

 

[jemmouse]

Get a new realtor. Right now realtors are scrambling for houses and are going that extra mile to get the house noticed. You want a go getter not one whom you have to suggest options to. Also the longer your home is on the market the more it says and that will show people you are desperate to sell and they will low ball a price. I hope things look up for you...

 

[Green Tea]

My thought is negotiating a lower commission likely isn't the best thing to have done. Not only would your agent make less on the sale, any other realtor showing the house would as well. Ex: if 2 homes are 100K, one with a 6% commission split, and one with a 4% commission split, which one would you be pushing......

But, in the agents defense, it does take time to get things moving, The extra days to get the photos up doesn't sound unreasonable. It has only been 2 weeks. In house terms, that isn't very long. Didn't you sign a contract for a length of time? You can't really just switch agents on a whim.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

IMHO two weeks is a short time to be on the market especially in this economy. I would call her and talk to her about it.

Also keep in mind you get what you pay for. Since you are getting the lower commission rate she's probably paying more attention to the listings where she is getting the full rate.

ditto the you get what . you pay for. You can't expect champagne on a beer budget You are not going to get all the services that somebody paying a full commission would get

Your listing is probably one of her lower priorities since it is a discounted commission.

Oops - forgot to add the WWID:

Since somebody who agrees to a reduced commission is probably either a very new and inexperienced realtor trying to drum up business or a bad realtor that needs the business.

Seems you have the latter.

I would spend the extra commission bucks and get a really good realtor. Remember, time is also money and every month you pay a mortgage payment, you are adding $$ to that bargain commission.

If your mom is a realtor in another town, have her use her contacts to find out who is the most aggressive realtor in your area.

I also agree that 2 weeks is far to early to make any judgments in this economy. Are you in an area that still has a decent housing market?

What does your contract say? Due to the decreased commission, is she only providing you with x amount of flyers? Those cost money, so do you have a limit? Has she pro-rated the time she spends on your house to x amount of hours a week due to the reduced commission? Perhaps she will come out later and do your measurements.

I think a call to her and asking politely what to expect is fair.

However, since you are paying a reduced commission, I don't think you can demand the same kind of service that somebody would get paying a full commission.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

WWID? I would review my contract with her and try and get out of it and get a new relator. I would not be worrying about commmission and would focus on getting the house sold.

 

[DaisyLynn]

OP, I would do what you need to do to get your house sold. I don't know about the area that you live in - but there is a good chance that since you are selling your house, you are also looking for/will be looking for a new house. Have you been checking listings online?

We just listed our house this weekend, at a discounted commission (family member of a good friend) - we TRIED to pay more commission, because we want our house sold. He said to us that that would not be fair...the real estate market is completely different now (at least in my neck of the woods). He asked me "would you let me sell you on a house?" and I said "Absolutely not...I will find my own house, thank you. I'd just contact you so that I can see it in person." With the internet, it's so easy for people to do their own "window shopping" and just call up a realtor when they know which houses they want to see.

As long as you have pictures online of your house, and lots of them...lots of good ones...then they will speak for themselves. Again, this works great in my neck of the woods - I'm not sure about where you live.

Also, our contract is with a particular real estate company. We can switch agents (just have to go through the manager to do that). If you decide to go that route, of course.

Good luck selling your house! It's quite stressful!