Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 09:28     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Anonymous wrote:I'm a new agent and from my experience as a buyer, I know there can be huge value in someone who has the right level of professionalism, knowledge and willingness to actually work. I think there are a lot of agents in it only for the money and the quick commission, and those give the other agents who actually earn their pay a bad wrap. I think Redfin is good depending on your situation; I've been to many open houses where they can't answer simple questions about the home and won't lift a finger to find the answer. They are not out to build a business and the stakes are lower. I'm sure there are plenty traditional agents who operate the same way, but the issues I've seen with them come further down the line. Just my take, but if you get the right agent and negotiate a commission structure and working relationship you are comfortable with, there shouldn't be some much need for all the agent hate.

But what's the deal with balloons??

Please, do tell, what value does an agent bring to the table? I've heard this pitch a thousand times and have never got a good answer.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 09:27     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
I have a friend who used a discount broker, got some commission money back from the agent. Friend was dissatisfied because the discount agent told her to accept $20K below what a comparable property sold for. She said she will never use them again and will pay full price for an agent.

These Redfin agents get paid a salary whether they have a transaction or not. They're compensation is not based in the sale price of the property. So they have reduced incentive.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 09:26     Subject: Re:why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Anonymous wrote:

The traditional agent hater is just someone who hates agents for whatever reason, who is promoting an agency that has not, and will not make traction in neighborhoods where people are looking for and depend on white glove service.

I don't need white glove service from some clown expecting to make thousands off of me by opening the door and submitting a couple of canned forms that were provided to them. It's not rocket science and anyone who graduated highschool can do what an agent does.

I heard the same thing from travel agents when they assured me that travel websites would never take off.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 09:22     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
I was recommended to use a full service realtor when I bought my first home. I did most of the work. All he did was open the door and give me the phone number of the home inspector. He also had his assistant call my wife one hour before closing to tell us that he wasn't going to be there. So, I was forced to close on my house with no agent there. He didn't even go over the HUD form and missed the mistake regarding the property taxes being properly settled (it was so nice getting a 2k bill in the mail a month after I moved in). Then he had the nerve to text me saying to keep in touch and remember him when we decide to move. I'll never use a full service realtor again. They're nothing but a bunch of slime balls trying to hold on to an obsolete model.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 07:23     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Anonymous wrote:I'm a new agent and from my experience as a buyer, I know there can be huge value in someone who has the right level of professionalism, knowledge and willingness to actually work. I think there are a lot of agents in it only for the money and the quick commission, and those give the other agents who actually earn their pay a bad wrap. I think Redfin is good depending on your situation; I've been to many open houses where they can't answer simple questions about the home and won't lift a finger to find the answer. They are not out to build a business and the stakes are lower. I'm sure there are plenty traditional agents who operate the same way, but the issues I've seen with them come further down the line. Just my take, but if you get the right agent and negotiate a commission structure and working relationship you are comfortable with, there shouldn't be some much need for all the agent hate.

But what's the deal with balloons??


Pretty sur every agent is motivated by money and quick commission. It isn't like kids grow up dreaming about selling used houses.

Maybe here are some exceptional agents that add value in marketing (though what do they do skywriting?) and negotiation. But incentives are wrong for buyer and seller: agent pushes buyer to buy no matter what and seller is pushed to sell quickly rather than maximizing.

We need sort of review and rating system to track agents, like yelp or Angie's list. Word of mouth doesn't cut it.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 06:39     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
I'm a new agent and from my experience as a buyer, I know there can be huge value in someone who has the right level of professionalism, knowledge and willingness to actually work. I think there are a lot of agents in it only for the money and the quick commission, and those give the other agents who actually earn their pay a bad wrap. I think Redfin is good depending on your situation; I've been to many open houses where they can't answer simple questions about the home and won't lift a finger to find the answer. They are not out to build a business and the stakes are lower. I'm sure there are plenty traditional agents who operate the same way, but the issues I've seen with them come further down the line. Just my take, but if you get the right agent and negotiate a commission structure and working relationship you are comfortable with, there shouldn't be some much need for all the agent hate.

But what's the deal with balloons??
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 06:11     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
There are so many threads like this because agents are ignorant con artists. The industry needs to go the way of the travel agent.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 05:23     Subject: Re:why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Anonymous wrote:Do you write informed and intelligent posts, PP? All I see is a bunch of gas . . . coming out of an ill-informed gas bag. Over and over and over. Keep on beating that drum.

You should consult a dictionary or hooked on phonics before your next post, FYI.

Realtors don't like balloons. Franchised firms do of course, that is part of their gimmick. Those firms are also discount brokers disguising themselves as something else. Really, no more than your Redfin! Discount here, discount there.

That really doesn't matter to you though, does it?


Hah, yeah, the balloons always urk Realtors. But notice they don't address how they market a property, no inkling of the value they bring to the table.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 04:57     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
I don't think I'd go with Redfin myself, but I do think most traditional agents are lazy/cheap. We did find an awesome agent with our last home purchase though and will use him again the future. He earns every penny. We were FSBO on previous sales.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2014 00:54     Subject: Re:why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Do you write informed and intelligent posts, PP? All I see is a bunch of gas . . . coming out of an ill-informed gas bag. Over and over and over. Keep on beating that drum.

You should consult a dictionary or hooked on phonics before your next post, FYI.

Realtors don't like balloons. Franchised firms do of course, that is part of their gimmick. Those firms are also discount brokers disguising themselves as something else. Really, no more than your Redfin! Discount here, discount there.

That really doesn't matter to you though, does it?
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2014 23:35     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why use Redkin? Just use no realtor and hire a real estate attorney for closing.


How does a RE attorney market your house?


How does a realtor market your house? All I see are MLS listing, pay a photographer, and balloons.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2014 23:25     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Anonymous wrote:Why use Redkin? Just use no realtor and hire a real estate attorney for closing.


How does a RE attorney market your house?
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2014 23:21     Subject: why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Why use Redkin? Just use no realtor and hire a real estate attorney for closing.
Anonymous
Post 10/20/2014 00:58     Subject: Re:why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In the same vein as all of the Ebola threads this RedFin vs. traditional agent argument has been done over and over ad nauseum on this board.

Jeff either needs to shut down the "Real Estate and Home Improvement" thread and re-name it the "RedFin" thread or stop this ridiculousness.

Too many conscientious FULL time agents give actual advice to people on this board only to get slammed by people wanting rebates or to people who think they know the business but do not.

I have never seen a comment on here from a RedFin agent, ever.

The traditional agent hater is just someone who hates agents for whatever reason, who is promoting an agency that has not, and will not make traction in neighborhoods where people are looking for and depend on white glove service.


Sorry agent, does your broker make you click on Redfin links to keep abreast of your competition? Tragic.


Hi RedFin Dreamer, Once again what is tragic is that my colleagues and I actually work in the real estate industry full time - more than full time (unlike RedFin agents), we network and take care of our clients and get them the highest price possible for their listings (unlike RedFin agents who have virtually NO LISTINGS in NW DC), we don't offer "rebates" because we don't discount ourselves and therefore our services.

Of course we make more money for our clients than they do. We make more money for ourselves and we will be in the business much longer than they will. There is no RedFin agent that is held to high esteem within the community anywhere.

Thinking about getting your license and working for RedFin? Then you would be TRAGIC.



Anonymous
Post 10/19/2014 23:48     Subject: Re:why on earth use a realtor v. redfin?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In the same vein as all of the Ebola threads this RedFin vs. traditional agent argument has been done over and over ad nauseum on this board.

Jeff either needs to shut down the "Real Estate and Home Improvement" thread and re-name it the "RedFin" thread or stop this ridiculousness.

Too many conscientious FULL time agents give actual advice to people on this board only to get slammed by people wanting rebates or to people who think they know the business but do not.

I have never seen a comment on here from a RedFin agent, ever.

The traditional agent hater is just someone who hates agents for whatever reason, who is promoting an agency that has not, and will not make traction in neighborhoods where people are looking for and depend on white glove service.


Sorry agent, does your broker make you click on Redfin links to keep abreast of your competition? Tragic.


Hi RedFin Dreamer, Once again what is tragic is that my colleagues and I actually work in the real estate industry full time - more than full time (unlike RedFin agents), we network and take care of our clients and get them the highest price possible for their listings (unlike RedFin agents who have virtually NO LISTINGS in NW DC), we don't offer "rebates" because we don't discount ourselves and therefore our services.

Of course we make more money for our clients than they do. We make more money for ourselves and we will be in the business much longer than they will. There is no RedFin agent that is held to high esteem within the community anywhere.

Thinking about getting your license and working for RedFin? Then you would be TRAGIC.