Agent referrals

[solman]

Our house in Mira Mesa isn’t selling, and we’re thinking of jumping ship to a new agent. Can anyone recommend a good seller’s agent?

If possible, please let us know of specific reasons why you’d recommend a particular agent.

Thanks in advance.

[waiting hawk]

It is probably not the agent. If it is listed in the MLS you are getting enough viewers. Problem probably is the price. Why else would people not buy it? New agent will do cartwheels and get a buyer? Check out some post in here and you can find investors listing at a loss. Markets not hot anymore.

But I REALLY would check into SD Realtor (not sdrealtor) in this forum. His views on the market are sound and will probably get you’re place sold .

My website tracking Temecula and South Riverside County

[powayseller]

Yes, SD Realtor is knowledgeable and honest. He put many posts about what to ask your agent before you hire him, including negotiating the commission. [email protected]

I read on Jim Klinge’s site that if you have no showing, you are >10% overpriced, showing and no offers is 5-10% overpriced, and getting offers you are in the right range.

You get showings by having good pictures on the MLS listing and a good price. There’s 1 buyer for every 8 homes on the MLS, and 80% of buyers start their home search on the internet. Often they show the realtor which homes they want to see, based on their internet search. That’s why the good photos matter. It’s too easy to pass on a home and go on to another one.

Are you having no showings? Then you’re at least 10% too high on price.

SD Realtor, where are you?

[Bugs]

I think we have several realtors on this board who could get this property sold.

[powayseller]

Yes, here’s another one with good understanding of the market
John Hokkanen
Hokkanen Real Estate Team
http://www.SurfTheTurf.com

The other realtor who posts wishes to remain anonymous.

[Bugs]

Suffice it to say there are options as to who to use.

[sdrebear]

For a listing agent with impeccable integrity, a track record of strong sales and a specialist in the $800k and under market, I’d go with George Lorimer. He’s located in Downtown, but regularly takes listings outside of that area and I’ve seen him sell homes in Mira Mesa.

Please shop around and wait for that “good feeling” about the agent you choose. I’m sure George would be in the running. He’s absolutely a realist about today’s market and will not BS you about the price he thinks he can sell your home for. If you don’t agree with his estimate, then he probably won’t even take your listing. He doesn’t want to waste your time or his money on unrealistic expectations.

Check him out during your search and compare him closely with others who claim to be good listing agents. He definitely has the track record to back up my recommendation.

Check here to see his listing program
Check here to see all of his sold listings (it’s quite a list)
Check here for all of his current listings

(For those of you wondering) No, I’m not George, but he is a close friend whom I’ve never mentioned on this board before as I don’t want him hassled in any way. He’s definitely one of the good ones and works incredibly hard. Despite my overall feelings about our horrendous market, I still have tremendous respect for the job many Realtors do. George was around well before this latest boom and knows very well how to move property in any kind of market.

[SD Realtor]

Hi Solman –

I wanted to thank PS for her kind words about me. I also think that waiting hawk was quite inciteful. Right now most sellers are inclined to switch agents as a first option. This may or may not be the right move.

I would advise you as follows.

1 – Try to replay in your mind what services your listing agent said he would provide for you. Has he provided all of those services. These may be a certain number of open houses, tours, advertisements whatever.

2 – Has your agent kept you informed of the market in your area? Do you receive regular comps even after you listed your home? This would include updates when properties comparable to yours go into escrow, or drop off the market as expirations/cancelled/withdrawns.

3 – Has you agent advised you on the pricing of your home. When he took you listing did you both go over the market comp data together. Did you look at active listings, solds and pendings? Did you look at how many homes did not sell, again that were cancelled/expired/withdrawn.

4 – How did you arrive at what the cooperating commission should be? Did you again look at the hard data, what everyone else was offering?

5 – Did you go to look at the competition? That is did you actually go see the other comps that matched your home and walk through them? Because if you didn’t you can be sure that your potential buyers did. This again, would help you determine if your pricing should be north or south of the competition.

Anyways, those are just some tips. You may want to interview some other agents. HOWEVER no matter what they tell you MAKE SURE you ask them to back up any claims with hard data. ALWAYS ASK FOR HARD DATA. If you need clarification of what I mean by that just give a call…

If you want to contact me give a ring, 858 736 4778 or visit my site at http://www.1800grrealty.com. BTW I live off of Calle Cristobal so needless to say I am familiar with the area.

[Diego Mamani]

Commission rate?
The market is getting very competitive, so that the right price and the MLS may not be enough any more. What commission are you offering? I’d recommend you increase the rate ASAP before inventory gets even higher.

[SD Realtor]

I respectfully disagree

I think a more proper answer would be as follows:

Analyze the data in your area to see if your CBB is in line with your competition. Also look at the data to see if there is a clear trend that higher CBBs are selling faster then the average CBB.

If the data indicates this is so, then think about adjusting the CBB.

Don’t just do it based on a speculative statement.

[Author]

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