I won't get too long-winded here, but as my ex was an agent I can add a bit to the discussion. In seeing him handle negotiations over 6.5 years, I think the real value in an agent is having someone with specific knowledge of the process working on your behalf. It usually is not as simple as list property, accept offer, close. I can't tell you how many weird things can come up , inspection issues, legal issues, problems with the buyers financing. A good agent, as he is, can salvage a deal that might otherwise fall through. Of course, there are lots of bad agents...as George often complained, the process for getting a license, at least here, is really quite easy, and there are lots of folks trying it who don't do it as their sole profession. Lots of times he basically had to do the work that the buyer's agents should have been doing.
This is not to say you can't handle the process of course, and things could run really smoothly. I did want to put in a good word for agents who are smart and genuinely working for their clients. Lots of folks just don't trust agents. He had clients who came out and said, "why wouldn't you just try to get me to buy the most expensive property you could so you're commission would be higher?" Maybe some agents operate that way, but George is very ethical and really wants people to end up in property that is the best fit for them.
I guess the key is, if you do use an agent, just get a really good one, and that requires some asking around, like you are doing, and some luck. (a referral from someone you trust is really best).
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Date: 2007-12-06 02:39 pm (UTC)This is not to say you can't handle the process of course, and things could run really smoothly. I did want to put in a good word for agents who are smart and genuinely working for their clients. Lots of folks just don't trust agents. He had clients who came out and said, "why wouldn't you just try to get me to buy the most expensive property you could so you're commission would be higher?" Maybe some agents operate that way, but George is very ethical and really wants people to end up in property that is the best fit for them.
I guess the key is, if you do use an agent, just get a really good one, and that requires some asking around, like you are doing, and some luck. (a referral from someone you trust is really best).
That was long-winded.