What should I expect from a realtor? I have bought 2 times and sold once with the same realtor. She was the Mary Poppins of the realtor world. So maybe my expectations are too high. Didn't use her with this house (she helped us buy it 9 years ago) because she has moved an hour away & we felt we'd be better off with someone in our area. Would love to call her now, but too embarrassed. And there is the distance thing. So please offer advise.
Background: Last March we put our house on market with a realtor that was highly recommended. Told him that we'd sell for $275. He listed for $290 with the understanding that price would lower $10,000 every 30 days (at least for the 1st three months). Lots of showings, no offers, no price decrease, no feedback (although we know from appointment desk that 5 or 6 were 2nd showings), no contact with realtor. At the beginning of month 5 called to see when contract was up. Realtor had someone call that day and he was showing the house the next day. We know that is true because we saw them sitting in the driveway writing the # down & we spied (I know, a little crazy). Nothing else from realtor until beginning of month 6. We called & asked for feedback. Were told the couple liked our house best but they were running the #'s to see how much it would cost to finish basement & decided to buy the other one that was finished. Our realtor didn't even call us and ask to offer a deduction for finishing (keep in mind, we were willing to sell for less 5 months earlier). But, by the way, he had a full priced owner finance offer & did we want to see it. We passed, but not sure we would have known if we hadn't called. Also, listing expired & he didn't notice. We had to call 2 weeks later and ask him to remove sign.
House was off marked during September, but re-listed with another highly recommended realtor in October. One realtor we interviewed brought 2 comps that sold for 270,000, & told us he could sell in 2 weeks-30 days max if we'd list for $250,000. We liked him a lot, but one of his business associates (didn't know about the connection until interview)participates in what I consider to be unethical business activities. Someone on this forum recommends getting a realtor that shares your values, so we went with the other realtor. She had same comps. Said if it was summer she'd recommend $270, but since Oct was when listing would begin she wanted to list for $260. Said she thought this would sell in 30 days, because if it didn't go by November it would sit until Spring. Three weeks into listing (2 open houses & 3 or 4 showings) we were pleased with realtor, but she started pressuring us to finish our basement. It has heat/air, a full bath, 2 walls have drywall, walkout, 5 windows, and 10ft ceilings. If someone wanted to finish it it would be relatively easy, but we are not going to. She has really put pressure on me. Realtor says that the two comps she showed us had finished basements & sold for $269,900 and $269,300. When I told her that if we finished our basement we would have 1,000 ft2 more than theirs. She said "exactly, then you can sell yours for what they got." Does that make sense??? The other "comp" she uses is a 1700 ft2 main with 1600 ft2 finished basement that sold for $260 (our asking price). That house sold while ours was on market for $290. Oh, our house 2500 or 2700 ft2 depending on whether you're looking at tax data or sales data. I don't view her comps in the same way she does. Do you? BTW, she hasn't asked us to lower price, just finish basement.
We had one showing Monday, Jan 9, and another Wednesday Jan 11. No feedback.
Price question: I am open to lowering the price because it hasn't sold, but would you do it now, or wait a month or 2 since holiday time is not a busy time?
Realtor question/concern: She seemed a little too invested in us finishing basement. In October told me that someone was going to make an offer contingent to us finishing the basement. When I told her we weren't going to, the offer never came through. Are realtors allowed to tell things like that (in our state it is allowed for them to represent buyer & seller). Also, with 2 showings when I asked if they were the 2nd showings from open house she replied "the realtor has shown the house before". What does that mean? At Christmas she called & told us she was switching companies. We signed the paperwork because she is trying to sell the house & that is all that counts. I left her a message Monday that the brochures in the house still have her old company & work #. She left a message Tuesday that she wanted to meet with my husband & me & go over some new comps because things have changed. No mention of the showing. I don't think she even knows that someone was there either day. Is this normal?
I am truly sorry this is so long, I just thought detailed info would get me better/more informed answers.
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