Anonymous
Post 06/26/2014 10:09     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
^That's been my experience with Redfin as well. You find the house and while they provide some comps and some insight on the pricing I'm not sure it's very well researched so yes, definitely a DIY approach on pricing. I share PP's skepticism as to how well the average realtor is able to accurately value property.

Redfin does have a wholly owned subsidiary/affiliate that does closings. I think there were two companies recommended and one was the wholly owned by Redfin. I've purchased with a traditional realtor before and they recommended companies as well, I don't see that as a big deal, either use them or someone else.
Anonymous
Post 06/26/2014 06:16     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm an agent and mostly list properties, so I love to work with Redfin agents. They push buyers to bid high and that is good for the seller.

Other things: You will be strongly encouraged to use their title company and home inspectors. Home inspectors don't seem to find many problems, again good for seller, because they want to move the deal forward.

Their title company does not use a lawyer at settlement but notaries who manage the signing of documents. If there is any issue at settlement, the notary does not know how to interpret the contract. The notaries are also frequently late for settlements because they drive from place to place rather than being located at one office.

The discount they give is fine for what they do.


Weird, we used Redfin and they really had no real opinion on our title company or home inspector. We looked on Angies list and referrals from friends. Maybe just like with realtors it depends on the particular agents; I've had friends with Realtors get totally pressured to use their buddy. Not unique to Redfin, that's for sure.

As for pricing, honestly they again had no opinion on pricing; in this sense you are not being served by them as a real estate expert, and it is a very DIY approach. They were very happy to offer whatever we felt worthwhile, though they were thoughtful about things such as putting an expiration date on an offer to make sure we weren't shopped around in a bidding situation. In this market, almost every place we looked at had multiple bids over list, so honestly the market was dictating the price, and we really couldn't "overbid" if we actually wanted a property.

And really, how many Realtors really have the analytical chops to accurately value every type of property they transact in? That is a complicated analysis based on history, local economies, interest rates; 90% of realtors I saw walking their clients through open houses spent the time talking about how "nice they could make the property into their home." If they were that capable of identifying value, they would be real estate investors, not middle men in retail transactions.


Continue with your sweet conceit


I'm was a NP. What is conceit here? This was our exact experience.

True, I am a bit skeptical of Realtors analytical skills, is that what you think is false? Well, don't worry, I skeptical of financial advisors too, for similar reasons.
judyfholmes
Post 06/26/2014 06:09     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
I think you are in safe hands. It's good.
Anonymous
Post 06/26/2014 00:54     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm an agent and mostly list properties, so I love to work with Redfin agents. They push buyers to bid high and that is good for the seller.

Other things: You will be strongly encouraged to use their title company and home inspectors. Home inspectors don't seem to find many problems, again good for seller, because they want to move the deal forward.

Their title company does not use a lawyer at settlement but notaries who manage the signing of documents. If there is any issue at settlement, the notary does not know how to interpret the contract. The notaries are also frequently late for settlements because they drive from place to place rather than being located at one office.

The discount they give is fine for what they do.


Weird, we used Redfin and they really had no real opinion on our title company or home inspector. We looked on Angies list and referrals from friends. Maybe just like with realtors it depends on the particular agents; I've had friends with Realtors get totally pressured to use their buddy. Not unique to Redfin, that's for sure.

As for pricing, honestly they again had no opinion on pricing; in this sense you are not being served by them as a real estate expert, and it is a very DIY approach. They were very happy to offer whatever we felt worthwhile, though they were thoughtful about things such as putting an expiration date on an offer to make sure we weren't shopped around in a bidding situation. In this market, almost every place we looked at had multiple bids over list, so honestly the market was dictating the price, and we really couldn't "overbid" if we actually wanted a property.

And really, how many Realtors really have the analytical chops to accurately value every type of property they transact in? That is a complicated analysis based on history, local economies, interest rates; 90% of realtors I saw walking their clients through open houses spent the time talking about how "nice they could make the property into their home." If they were that capable of identifying value, they would be real estate investors, not middle men in retail transactions.


Continue with your sweet conceit
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2014 19:33     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
Anonymous wrote:We used Redfin as first-time buyers and were satisfied.

I think if you need a lot of hand-holding and want someone who knows about listings before they hit the market, you want a realtor. But if you're pretty adept at looking up listings online and simply want someone to take you to showings and assist with paperwork, Redfin is perfect.





+1. We used Redfin to buy 3 years ago and were prepared to do a lot of the legwork ourselves. We were very pleased with the outcome.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2014 18:46     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
Anonymous wrote:I'm an agent and mostly list properties, so I love to work with Redfin agents. They push buyers to bid high and that is good for the seller.

Other things: You will be strongly encouraged to use their title company and home inspectors. Home inspectors don't seem to find many problems, again good for seller, because they want to move the deal forward.

Their title company does not use a lawyer at settlement but notaries who manage the signing of documents. If there is any issue at settlement, the notary does not know how to interpret the contract. The notaries are also frequently late for settlements because they drive from place to place rather than being located at one office.

The discount they give is fine for what they do.


Weird, we used Redfin and they really had no real opinion on our title company or home inspector. We looked on Angies list and referrals from friends. Maybe just like with realtors it depends on the particular agents; I've had friends with Realtors get totally pressured to use their buddy. Not unique to Redfin, that's for sure.

As for pricing, honestly they again had no opinion on pricing; in this sense you are not being served by them as a real estate expert, and it is a very DIY approach. They were very happy to offer whatever we felt worthwhile, though they were thoughtful about things such as putting an expiration date on an offer to make sure we weren't shopped around in a bidding situation. In this market, almost every place we looked at had multiple bids over list, so honestly the market was dictating the price, and we really couldn't "overbid" if we actually wanted a property.

And really, how many Realtors really have the analytical chops to accurately value every type of property they transact in? That is a complicated analysis based on history, local economies, interest rates; 90% of realtors I saw walking their clients through open houses spent the time talking about how "nice they could make the property into their home." If they were that capable of identifying value, they would be real estate investors, not middle men in retail transactions.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2014 18:30     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
I'm an agent and mostly list properties, so I love to work with Redfin agents. They push buyers to bid high and that is good for the seller.

Other things: You will be strongly encouraged to use their title company and home inspectors. Home inspectors don't seem to find many problems, again good for seller, because they want to move the deal forward.

Their title company does not use a lawyer at settlement but notaries who manage the signing of documents. If there is any issue at settlement, the notary does not know how to interpret the contract. The notaries are also frequently late for settlements because they drive from place to place rather than being located at one office.

The discount they give is fine for what they do.
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2014 18:35     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
The best way to judge if you want to use a Redfin Realtor is to check out who the Realtor is in the area you're searching (their name and face will show up in the top right corner) then go read their reviews.

They publish the good and bad and most agents have plenty to get a good idea of what it's like to work with Redfin.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2014 19:22     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
Anonymous wrote:We used Redfin as first-time buyers and were satisfied.

I think if you need a lot of hand-holding and want someone who knows about listings before they hit the market, you want a realtor. But if you're pretty adept at looking up listings online and simply want someone to take you to showings and assist with paperwork, Redfin is perfect.





OP here. Thank you. This is very helpful.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2014 15:18     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
We used Redfin as first-time buyers and were satisfied.

I think if you need a lot of hand-holding and want someone who knows about listings before they hit the market, you want a realtor. But if you're pretty adept at looking up listings online and simply want someone to take you to showings and assist with paperwork, Redfin is perfect.



Anonymous
Post 06/23/2014 15:12     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
Anonymous wrote:I'm the one who suggested not clicking on redfin posts if they bother you. We are currently using redfin and are happy with them. I can understand why people would want more info about them though and I think that's a legimate post. I don't understand why people are thinking that all the redfin posters are the same. Maybe there's just a lot of redfin love out there in 2014.


How about because pretty much every single day there's a "Should I use Redfin to sell my house" post and/or a "Should I use Redfin to buy my house post?" Every. Single. Day.

Can't people just read the "old posts" - like the ones from yesterday?
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2014 15:11     Subject: Re:tips for using Redfin as a buyer
OP here. Thank you for your helpful responses. I trying to help my mom find a house in the area. She is moving from out of town.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2014 15:01     Subject: tips for using Redfin as a buyer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:When I used Redfin there were a few errors in the paperwork.I think our agent was overextended. So just make sure you read through the contract. Also, she did not give any advice about offers/counteroffers or what to do about problems found in the inspection.


fake


PP here. Not fake. We used Redfin 5 years ago and would do it again as a buyer because of the money we saved. OP was asking for tips and potential pitfalls so that's what I wrote about. BTW the agent we used no longer seems to be working at Redfin.