Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

Hi,

We are in a dilemma. We have met with two real estate agents. The woman from Netter has worked with ut for a while now, taking us around to look. NOw we are ready to sell. We wanted C21 to come in and give us a second opinion and we ended up liking him as well. His commission is 4% (loweset they will go), Netter will go to 3.5%. However, C21 is a more recognizable name. Can anyone give me their advice as to which real estate we will have a better shot selling our home with. In regards to both selling it fast and getting us the most $$ for it. We can't decide who to go with??

Thank you so much. we don't know what to do and would like to get this house on the market ASAP!

Denise

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

A lot of times it has little to do with the name, as much as the agent.

Some agents are lazy, some are go-getters (like any job)

some shell out their own $ to advertise your house, too.

My mom is an agent with a realty that isn't a huge name, but she gives it her all, and is on top of things and is pretty no-nonsense (not advertising, just giving an example)

I'd go with whoever really seems to go above & beyond.
Ask them questions, like what their methods are, what they do as far as advertising, etc. See if they can negotiate on the commission.

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

I have never sold but I have been in the market since june to buy. best agents are ones who call people back when they call about your house ( i can't tell you how many never called back when I called about a house) and its really important to be listed on MLS. thats how IMO you will get the most traffic.

Other then that I haven't dealt with agents from your point of view.

As a buyer though I have to say I have tried to stick with big 'brand name" companies to look at their homes. all the smaller companies have all seemed shady except one (american) I dealt with, but thats just personal experience.

good luck!
for a quick and smooth sale!

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

As a buyer, I met a lot of agents at open houses. When we were deciding who to go with as our agent, we never paid attention to the company on the agent's card; we went by personality. Some agents kept us chatting in the houses for half an hour; some seemed really disinterested, and it didn't really matter what agency they were from.

One agent didn't get up from the kitchen table the whole time we were there. She just sat there, eating a sandwich! And she was from a big name place.

Go with your gut and choose the agent whose personality fits your style the most. You'll be spending a lot of time with this person!

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

I got my real estate agent when I was looking for houses on line. When I went out looking with her at houses other agents would not show us the house because they were to lazy to get out of bed at 11 am. The reason I know this is because they were on speaker phone when my agent called them.

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

Of those two I would say If it is Century 21 Crown Homes I would go with them! I have found that office to be really great to deal with. Of course I would most recommend Coldwell Banker Matherson the office I am in!

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

Ok, well we really like both. I think we might mesh more with the woman from Netter. She has also been taking us around for almost a year now to look at things, even though we never signed our house up with her. Don't know if that is good or bad. She also is willing to work with us on the commission. The only thing is c21 is global so we were told if someone from California is relocating we have a better chance of being viewed by them.

So, we really don't know what to do. We really like them both, both nice people. Thinking maybe Netter would be more aggressive, my hubby feels C21 would be a bit more aggressive. Alos the same agent from C21 just sold a house two doors dwon from us, that is how we got his name..

HELP, lol. I am also going to put detiasl on here if anyone is interested!

Thanks,
Denise

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

Yeah, list details!
(I'm about to start looking)

Where are you located?

Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter? Also, Property for Sale- details inside!

Hi,

I tried to put it on the Real Estate Section here, but it is not working??

Ok,here goes.

We live in N. Babylon. In the Poet Section (best neighborhood in N. Babylon) We are one block away from West Islip. It is a 4 bedroom Cape. Our floor (1st Floor) has a living room, dining room (with sliding glass doors) and kitchen, with new floors, and newer appliances. one full bath, and two nice size bedrooms. We have a full finished basement with new gas heating system. Upstairs is a humugnous one bedroom apartment. We have a rear dormer. It is a legal accessory apartment. our tenant is great and I am sure will want to stay. This is an awesome house for a couple starting out like we were 7 years ago. We recieve $1,160 a month in rental income. We just had our taxes greived and they were reduced to $8,000. from $9,500. I have all the paperwork. What else?? Pool, 60X100. Anderson windows. great neighborhood and awesome neighbors and quite nice block. All house are kept very neat.. Neighbors are great, always theer for us. We hate to move, but we have outgrown this house.. If anyone is interesetd, please contact me ASAP. I would rather sell it to one of you girls then go with a realtor therefore to pass the commission savings on to you. We are asking $360,000 but are negotiable.

Thanks,
Denise

Message edited 1/7/2010 9:12:43 PM.

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

Ooh, just wanted to comment that the poet section of North Babylon is beautiful! I live in West Islip and often jog over there, and the houses are very sweet and well-maintained.

Good luck selling the house!

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

Thank you! :) We love it here except we need a bigger house.. Growing family..

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

I have a fantastic agent from Century 21. He got me top dollar for the house I sold (basically ripped the woman off - lol), and got me a great deal on the house I am buying. He is also very personable, professional, always wears a suit, etc.

He can act as a seller's agent or a buyer's agent. If anyone needs a recommendation, drop me a FM. He works south shore Nassau mostly.

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

I have had experience with both while buying and selling. I bought my first place through C21 and everyone in the office was very knowledgable and helpful. I looked at a few houses with Netter and they sold my sister's house in Babylon Village that had been on the market for a year (although it wasn't listed with them). The Netter agents seem to really know the Babylon/WI area and I know most of them have been with the agency for many years.

The .5% difference in commission is $1,800 if you sell for asking and that's something I would personally consider. It would probably make me go with Netter.

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

My two cents:

I live in the TOB as well and Netter is well known along the south shore. I personally associate Netter with higher end south shore realty and always look at their listings. I don't know if they just happen to get a lot of great houses or if their agents work with the sellers to make the house more presentable but they always seem to have the cream of the crop of listings on the south shore. Additionally, they price their homes right. I've been following the market for like 2 years now and their homes tend to sell right around the asking price.

Considering the house is in NB, I don't think it matters if Century 21 is more well known nationally b/c IMO, Netter is equally well known in that area. Also, consider that any agency is going to put your house on MLS anyway so whomever is looking for a house in your neighborhood will see it there no matter who is listing it.

All that being said, I don't think going with Century 21 is a bad idea either. They also price their homes right. I also think they put a lot more money into advertising. However, considering the personal $ loss you will take from the commission difference, I think you are better off going with Netter. $1,800 could be used for a lot of things for your new house.

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

Hi,

THank you all for your responses. I wish I would have seen these last two posts before, but oh well. We were really going to go with Netter, and then at 9 am there was a knock at the door, it was an agent from C21 with a note from C21, thank us for last night and asking for one more chance to meet with new info to help us better make a decision. Well, we saw the woman from Netter after that and were really goign to go wtih her, but then we invited C21 back becuase I was curious. He came all prepared with charts from MLSLI comparing the number of homes sold in the last year. C21 was way up there (his particular office).. Netter not so. Alos there was a house from Netter that was on the market for two years priced to high (don't know if it was agent or homeowner), but we can't afford to wait two years. We want teh tax credit (which we only have 4 months for), so we opted to go wtih who we "think" might sellf faster. That $1,800 was very tempting but we were assured we can put that in the price of the house somewhere.. I didn't want to bite my nose despite my face and risk losing out on tax credit to save .5% commission. Iam HOPING and PRAYING we made the right choice. But the numbers don't lie and this agent really did his homework! He was also very professional. sort of like after an interview you send a follow up letter thanking the interviewer, it was nice. Also, he has been doing this for 27 years, vs Netter agent of 9. So... In the end, we just did it. What do you guys think?? Good choice??

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

Sorry for all the typos... Haven't eaten all day becuase i am sick to my stomach from nerves, Hoping we are doing the righty thing by moving, so my hands are not too steady..

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

If you have a good house, make it appealing to buyers, and price it fairly, you will sell it. With either agent. So don't stress that you chose one over the other - either one would be fine, I'm sure, if you are a fair-minded seller. Think of this as one tough decision finally over with! That's only a good thing! Now you can move on to all those other tough decisions...

Re: Real Estate Dilemma?? Century 21 or Netter?

Yes, I am. THank you very much! :)

Denise