A question for our Real Estate Agents please

[XBoxBoy]

Kibu,

Access to sandicor is probably a very small part of the topic of whether to work with a real estate agent or not.

We’ve had a number of discussions about using or not using agents, and for what it’s worth, this is what I’ve come to conclude:

Regardless of whether you work with an agent or not, it is really up to you to get educated, particularly about the neighborhood you are interested in, and for you to be the driving force in any and all negotiations. The agent can be a big help with the logistics of the transaction, but only you can drive the deal to get a good deal, and more importantly, the right deal for you. All too often buyers are too trusting, and don’t educate themselves enough. Also they too often allow themselves to get emotional about the process and this clouds their decision making.

In general, you have three choices for buyers agents. Full service, which will keep all the buyers agent commission, discount, which will rebate back part of the commission to you (typically half to two thirds of commission back to you) or no agent. In the last case, typically the listing agent will keep the buyers commission. In some cases where you approach the listing agent with no agent of your own, you can get the listing agent to rep you and rebate the some of the buyers commission back to you. (Although that is at the discretion of the listing agent.)

My personal feeling is that if you go with full service, you should really expect something from that agent to justify their getting the full commission. But if you are willing to do a good bit of the research and educate yourself, and go to open house, etc, (which as I mention at the top, you should be doing anyway) then a reduced commission agent is a good choice. Lastly, going in without an agent is a tough call. Only if you have really done your research and learned a good bit about the transaction process should you even consider this. Usually, going in with no agent brings you no benefit over at least using a discount broker. The commission will not be reduced, so you won’t get a better price. The only possible advantage is that the selling agent may be inclined to present your offer in a positive light, since they would get the full commission, but I’m not sure that’s that strong of an influencer to get you a significant price reduction.

As always, there are exceptions to these general rules, and every person’s situation needs to be evaluated individually, but I think these general rules are important.

Note however, that I don’t think that access to sandicor is particularly valuable or important. In rare cases you might learn something of value that you wouldn’t find on SDlookup or other sites, but I think that’s the exception, not the rule.

Likewise, working with an agent that is active in the area you are looking might occasionally result in a lead on a house before it hits the MLS, but in this market, not so much.

Just my two cents worth,

XBoxBoy

[urbanrealtor]

Most of what sd said is accurate.
However, Sandicor is a separate entity from any of the local associations and works for all of them.
Not just SDAR.

My reason for mentioning that is that several of the local boards offer programs to allow real estate students to view the MLS. They are not allowed to enter new listings.
If you want a really cheap class that you never have to actually finish, First Tuesday is cheapest solution I have found so far (http://www.firsttuesday.us/index.cfm).

I haven’t tried using one of the student access programs in a few years but I have listed the sites of several of the local associations below. Call all of them and one will likely give you access on a limited basis. Usually, that will include tech support from Sandicor.

http://www.psar.org
http://www.sdar.com
http://www.esdcar.org
http://www.nsdcar.com

Also, any licensed broker can get access regardless of which local association they are a member or even if they are not a Realtor*.
If you know someone, you could have them sign up and use their access.

*
Literally, “Realtor” means a member of the NAR , usually via a local association or board. Just having a license does not qualify. Blah blah blah

[urbanrealtor]

Most of what sd said is accurate.
However, Sandicor is a separate entity from any of the local associations and works for all of them.
Not just SDAR.

My reason for mentioning that is that several of the local boards offer programs to allow real estate students to view the MLS. They are not allowed to enter new listings.
If you want a really cheap class that you never have to actually finish, First Tuesday is cheapest solution I have found so far (http://www.firsttuesday.us/index.cfm).

I haven’t tried using one of the student access programs in a few years but I have listed the sites of several of the local associations below. Call all of them and one will likely give you access on a limited basis. Usually, that will include tech support from Sandicor.

http://www.psar.org
http://www.sdar.com
http://www.esdcar.org
http://www.nsdcar.com

Also, any licensed broker can get access regardless of which local association they are a member or even if they are not a Realtor*.
If you know someone, you could have them sign up and use their access.

*
Literally, “Realtor” means a member of the NAR , usually via a local association or board. Just having a license does not qualify. Blah blah blah

[urbanrealtor]

Most of what sd said is accurate.
However, Sandicor is a separate entity from any of the local associations and works for all of them.
Not just SDAR.

My reason for mentioning that is that several of the local boards offer programs to allow real estate students to view the MLS. They are not allowed to enter new listings.
If you want a really cheap class that you never have to actually finish, First Tuesday is cheapest solution I have found so far (http://www.firsttuesday.us/index.cfm).

I haven’t tried using one of the student access programs in a few years but I have listed the sites of several of the local associations below. Call all of them and one will likely give you access on a limited basis. Usually, that will include tech support from Sandicor.

http://www.psar.org
http://www.sdar.com
http://www.esdcar.org
http://www.nsdcar.com

Also, any licensed broker can get access regardless of which local association they are a member or even if they are not a Realtor*.
If you know someone, you could have them sign up and use their access.

*
Literally, “Realtor” means a member of the NAR , usually via a local association or board. Just having a license does not qualify. Blah blah blah

[urbanrealtor]

Most of what sd said is accurate.
However, Sandicor is a separate entity from any of the local associations and works for all of them.
Not just SDAR.

My reason for mentioning that is that several of the local boards offer programs to allow real estate students to view the MLS. They are not allowed to enter new listings.
If you want a really cheap class that you never have to actually finish, First Tuesday is cheapest solution I have found so far (http://www.firsttuesday.us/index.cfm).

I haven’t tried using one of the student access programs in a few years but I have listed the sites of several of the local associations below. Call all of them and one will likely give you access on a limited basis. Usually, that will include tech support from Sandicor.

http://www.psar.org
http://www.sdar.com
http://www.esdcar.org
http://www.nsdcar.com

Also, any licensed broker can get access regardless of which local association they are a member or even if they are not a Realtor*.
If you know someone, you could have them sign up and use their access.

*
Literally, “Realtor” means a member of the NAR , usually via a local association or board. Just having a license does not qualify. Blah blah blah

[urbanrealtor]

Most of what sd said is accurate.
However, Sandicor is a separate entity from any of the local associations and works for all of them.
Not just SDAR.

My reason for mentioning that is that several of the local boards offer programs to allow real estate students to view the MLS. They are not allowed to enter new listings.
If you want a really cheap class that you never have to actually finish, First Tuesday is cheapest solution I have found so far (http://www.firsttuesday.us/index.cfm).

I haven’t tried using one of the student access programs in a few years but I have listed the sites of several of the local associations below. Call all of them and one will likely give you access on a limited basis. Usually, that will include tech support from Sandicor.

http://www.psar.org
http://www.sdar.com
http://www.esdcar.org
http://www.nsdcar.com

Also, any licensed broker can get access regardless of which local association they are a member or even if they are not a Realtor*.
If you know someone, you could have them sign up and use their access.

*
Literally, “Realtor” means a member of the NAR , usually via a local association or board. Just having a license does not qualify. Blah blah blah

[sdrealtor]

My advice would be to get the best help you can whatever that looks like. If you find a full service agent that is better than a discount guy and saves you an additional 5% on the purchase price they are clearly worth paying more for. If the price is the same regardless of whom you use, the discount guy comes out ahead. If you are better than any agent go it alone. Just remember what they say about an attorney who represents himself.

BTW, sorry for my limited input of late Piggies but I have never been busier in my life. I just dont have much time to share with you these days as I work pretty much around the clock capitalizing on the market I’ve waited for years to arrive.

[sdrealtor]

My advice would be to get the best help you can whatever that looks like. If you find a full service agent that is better than a discount guy and saves you an additional 5% on the purchase price they are clearly worth paying more for. If the price is the same regardless of whom you use, the discount guy comes out ahead. If you are better than any agent go it alone. Just remember what they say about an attorney who represents himself.

BTW, sorry for my limited input of late Piggies but I have never been busier in my life. I just dont have much time to share with you these days as I work pretty much around the clock capitalizing on the market I’ve waited for years to arrive.

[sdrealtor]

My advice would be to get the best help you can whatever that looks like. If you find a full service agent that is better than a discount guy and saves you an additional 5% on the purchase price they are clearly worth paying more for. If the price is the same regardless of whom you use, the discount guy comes out ahead. If you are better than any agent go it alone. Just remember what they say about an attorney who represents himself.

BTW, sorry for my limited input of late Piggies but I have never been busier in my life. I just dont have much time to share with you these days as I work pretty much around the clock capitalizing on the market I’ve waited for years to arrive.

[sdrealtor]

My advice would be to get the best help you can whatever that looks like. If you find a full service agent that is better than a discount guy and saves you an additional 5% on the purchase price they are clearly worth paying more for. If the price is the same regardless of whom you use, the discount guy comes out ahead. If you are better than any agent go it alone. Just remember what they say about an attorney who represents himself.

BTW, sorry for my limited input of late Piggies but I have never been busier in my life. I just dont have much time to share with you these days as I work pretty much around the clock capitalizing on the market I’ve waited for years to arrive.

[sdrealtor]

My advice would be to get the best help you can whatever that looks like. If you find a full service agent that is better than a discount guy and saves you an additional 5% on the purchase price they are clearly worth paying more for. If the price is the same regardless of whom you use, the discount guy comes out ahead. If you are better than any agent go it alone. Just remember what they say about an attorney who represents himself.

BTW, sorry for my limited input of late Piggies but I have never been busier in my life. I just dont have much time to share with you these days as I work pretty much around the clock capitalizing on the market I’ve waited for years to arrive.

[KIBU]

Xboxboy,

Thank you for your very helpful input. I think I will prepare myself as much as possible and look into using a discount service since I am doing homework every nite and know very much about the hood I am looking at. I have waited for 5 years, since 2003. One day I will be an XRenterBoy, you just wait and see.

Urbanrealtor,

You really know the way to get first hand experience there. I am done with school though and really scare to go back so when you mentioned the class, even one day was too much for me. Last class I took was the lamaze class.

sdrealtor,

Congrats on your growing client pool. Thank you for your input.

[KIBU]

Xboxboy,

Thank you for your very helpful input. I think I will prepare myself as much as possible and look into using a discount service since I am doing homework every nite and know very much about the hood I am looking at. I have waited for 5 years, since 2003. One day I will be an XRenterBoy, you just wait and see.

Urbanrealtor,

You really know the way to get first hand experience there. I am done with school though and really scare to go back so when you mentioned the class, even one day was too much for me. Last class I took was the lamaze class.

sdrealtor,

Congrats on your growing client pool. Thank you for your input.

[KIBU]

Xboxboy,

Thank you for your very helpful input. I think I will prepare myself as much as possible and look into using a discount service since I am doing homework every nite and know very much about the hood I am looking at. I have waited for 5 years, since 2003. One day I will be an XRenterBoy, you just wait and see.

Urbanrealtor,

You really know the way to get first hand experience there. I am done with school though and really scare to go back so when you mentioned the class, even one day was too much for me. Last class I took was the lamaze class.

sdrealtor,

Congrats on your growing client pool. Thank you for your input.

[KIBU]

Xboxboy,

Thank you for your very helpful input. I think I will prepare myself as much as possible and look into using a discount service since I am doing homework every nite and know very much about the hood I am looking at. I have waited for 5 years, since 2003. One day I will be an XRenterBoy, you just wait and see.

Urbanrealtor,

You really know the way to get first hand experience there. I am done with school though and really scare to go back so when you mentioned the class, even one day was too much for me. Last class I took was the lamaze class.

sdrealtor,

Congrats on your growing client pool. Thank you for your input.

[Author]

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