Agent who knows McLean and give kickback for data geeks?

[Anonymous]

We are data geeks who can handle the searching/pricing/schools/aggressive negotiation of buying a house, but need an agent who really knows McLean and can tell us the types of things that available data cannot (e.g., that house is just about where the traffic backs up; there is a facility there that effects houses here). Suggestions? Even better if this agent would also settle for a 1% commission for the reduced work or, dare a suggest what I understand is legal in VA, a kick back of the 2%, too. On the other hand, we'd be willing to go with the full comission for someone who could offer it all better than we could do it, we just haven't been convinced that person is out there. So, we turn to DCUM! Thank you in advance for any/all thoughts! If this becomes a discussionabout kick-backs, please include any realtor recs in there, too!

[Anonymous]

To be honest, you may make a better decision by doing your own research, but you aren't going to save the realtor any more work. Everyone does their own online searches these days. Everyone checks out the schools on their own. And the realtors don't spend hours and hours calculating the price of an offer. You are going to have a hard time convincing any decent realtor that you are doing 2/3 of their job. You might get one who will take a somewhat reduced rate because of the economy.

If you really think you can do all of what you say, then go the rest of the way and then do it without an agent.

You can identify traffic patterns by visiting the houses at the right time of day, or drive the routes. You can talk to neighbors on the street you are researching. You can drive the rest of the neighborhood and get on the neighborhood listserv to see what current issues are being discussed. Email someone from the neighborhood association.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP. We did a lot of internet research, schools, crime rates, etc. on our own. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I think the benefit to using an agent that gives money back is that he/she can do showings. That's about it. I am a big fan of the discount agent as I like to do my own research etc. I'm not sure they are the ones to provide the little known tid-bits

[Anonymous]

Where are you looking in McLean?

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs. You don't get a discount for being able to access readily available information on the Internet. And realtors aren't even supposed to talk to you about schools anyway.

[Anonymous]

If you're going to do all the research yourself, why don't you find the two or three houses that you might want, and call the listing agent directly to be shown the property? All the interior photos online really helped us narrow our search in that way.

If the listing agent shows you the house with no buyer's agent involved, then she gets the full commission. She might be willing to lower that by a point or two for the seller (because she's still get 4 or 5% instead of her usual 3%) and the seller would lower his price by that amount.

No kick-back, alas. Although you could ask to go ahead and pay the full negotiated price, and just ask that the value of those 1-2% be given back as "cash for renovations." We did this once. It paid for some of our remodel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're going to do all the research yourself, why don't you find the two or three houses that you might want, and call the listing agent directly to be shown the property? All the interior photos online really helped us narrow our search in that way.

If the listing agent shows you the house with no buyer's agent involved, then she gets the full commission. She might be willing to lower that by a point or two for the seller (because she's still get 4 or 5% instead of her usual 3%) and the seller would lower his price by that amount.

No kick-back, alas. Although you could ask to go ahead and pay the full negotiated price, and just ask that the value of those 1-2% be given back as "cash for renovations." We did this once. It paid for some of our remodel.

But this would mean OP was working without an agent. OP are you sure you're comfortable with all the ins and outs of getting the deal done? We're getting close to closing on our new house and it's been a real journey...there are many different ways to structure an offer to make yourself a more attractive buyer and many different ways in which the process can get screwed up prior to closing. I think all of them have happened to us, and we would have been screwed without our awesome realtor.

We did a ton of online research, of course, but these days I think everyone does. The realtor was valuable in actually acquiring the house and making sure it went smoothly. Negotiating price is the least of it.

[Anonymous]

If you don't bring an agent in until you're ready to make an offer (then he/she draws up paperwork and helps you through the pre-closing process), then the commission is 1-1.5%.

My wife and I are buying a house sans agent -- we did the following:

1. Talked to people who lived nearby and to as many neighbors as we could. All were universal in their praise about the area we bought in.
2. Used home inspectors, etc., that we had worked with in the past.
3. Used a closing attorney we had worked with in the past.

OTOH, there's agents out there that'll throw your house up on the MLS and help with the paperwork, but you're responsible for actually showing the house.

[Anonymous]

OP, why aren't you doing this research yourself? You are aware that there are tons of other people in your shoes right now, yes? Not many (if any) agents can/will tell you what you are asking. Can't you do a dry run like PP suggested?

Most importantly: If you that unfamiliar with McLean, how do you know that you will like it there? BTW, I am very familiar with McLean, that is why I ask.

[Anonymous]

22:46 again, it helps that we were buying in an outer suburb. (We both work pretty far out, so the move is not totally illogical from our POV. One poster even congratulated me for being able to move out of the DC area.)

I think if we were trying to buy in Lyon Village or even McLean/Vienna, we'd have had a rougher time.

[Anonymous]

Use a redfin.com agent. They take 1.5% and give you the other 1.5%. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to all, particularly the last post about Redfin; we did not realize. Also, thanks for the earlier suggestion to potentially talk to the seller about renovation cash.