4 ms·

Getting a license is just the first step; you have to associate yourself with a brokerage to do the things agents do, and there's a cost to that. If your agent

Getting a license is just the first step; you have to associate yourself with a brokerage to do the things agents do, and there's a cost to that. If your agents haven't done anything for you but unlock doors, then you haven't had good agents. Like any other profession, there's a huge range in quality and competence, and finding a good agent requires some research and probably recommendations from past clients.

mrfusion 12y ago
No, they were highly recommended, and generally knew a lot about the areas. But for a buyer wanting to do his own research, and having lived in the area for a long time, they simply couldn't add any value besides unlocking doors, and filling out a stock form to make offers.
- DougWebb 12y ago
  Didn't they do anything for you after the offers were made? Did you not hear from them again until the closing a few months later? For what it's worth, I agree 100% with you when it comes to rental agents. They do almost nothing besides provide a listing in MLS. But buyer and seller agents should be doing a lot more.
  - mrfusion 12y ago
    I found my own home inspector. They unlocked the door for him too :-) They came to the closing and told jokes :-) What else should they have done after the offer was accepted?
  - declan 12y ago
    Like <mrfusion>, I did my own research, had my own spreadsheet of comps for the area, wrote my own personal offer letter to the seller, hired my own inspectors, and so on. The buyer's agent incorrectly said I didn't need to check the box saying as a condition of sale that the house have a working plumbing and sewage system; I did anyway and wrote it in, which saved me approximately $23,000 (the seller fixed it). Because I knew the market, we only looked at one house with this agent so his work was minimal. About the only thing the buyer's agent did that was useful was cart away some household debris away in his truck after closing. It had been left behind in the garage. It probably would have cost me $40 to have someone do the same.

mrfusion 12y ago

No, they were highly recommended, and generally knew a lot about the areas. But for a buyer wanting to do his own research, and having lived in the area for a long time, they simply couldn't add any value besides unlocking doors, and filling out a stock form to make offers.

DougWebb 12y ago
Didn't they do anything for you after the offers were made? Did you not hear from them again until the closing a few months later? For what it's worth, I agree 100% with you when it comes to rental agents. They do almost nothing besides provide a listing in MLS. But buyer and seller agents should be doing a lot more.
- mrfusion 12y ago
  I found my own home inspector. They unlocked the door for him too :-) They came to the closing and told jokes :-) What else should they have done after the offer was accepted?
- declan 12y ago
  Like <mrfusion>, I did my own research, had my own spreadsheet of comps for the area, wrote my own personal offer letter to the seller, hired my own inspectors, and so on. The buyer's agent incorrectly said I didn't need to check the box saying as a condition of sale that the house have a working plumbing and sewage system; I did anyway and wrote it in, which saved me approximately $23,000 (the seller fixed it). Because I knew the market, we only looked at one house with this agent so his work was minimal. About the only thing the buyer's agent did that was useful was cart away some household debris away in his truck after closing. It had been left behind in the garage. It probably would have cost me $40 to have someone do the same.