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My bro-in-law became a real estate agent a couple years ago. Recently we were discussing Zillow, and he went into a tirade about how terrible it is. I just ment
by joeax 10y ago
My bro-in-law became a real estate agent a couple years ago. Recently we were discussing Zillow, and he went into a tirade about how terrible it is. I just mentioned that it's a good tool to gauge the price trends of my neighborhood, but he began countering with canned, carefully scripted responses that sounded like indoctrination from his broker/employer. I just sighed, before the topic turned to how important it is to pay the full 6% when listing your house.
The real estate industry is one of the most protectionist industries out there, and any threat of disruption, no matter how minor, is met by an army of vitriol.
- hnal943 10y agoWhat's funny is that Zillow's real business is selling advertising to realtors. The idea that they are out to get realtors is ridiculous.
- shostack 10y agoWhat were the arguments for the 6%? There is a broker in the Bay Area who advertisers that they take half that but the complaints against them see to point to the fact that you'll only get offers from other affiliated agents, and many agents won't share the listing with clients if they can avoid it because they want their full commission. I'm the Bay Area I feel like a seller's agent is grossly overpaid for what is often a weekend of open house showings and then fending off multiple above list price zero contingency offers.
- joeax 10y agoI've sold houses using discounted brokers and he hates that. He said that buyer agents will dissuade buyers from looking at houses offering less than "standard 3%" to the listing agent (another protectionist tactic). I countered that I don't care. In this day and age buyers are savvy enough to jump on Zillow and Redfin and find my house, and they will demand they see it. If I hired a buyer agent and they tried to talk me out of showing a house over a commission I'd fire them right there.