Am I asking for too much? RE: Realtor listing my house

I decided to list my home with a girl I know from volunteering in my area.

She is very sweet and has been really nice about staying in touch with me to show me houses ever since she knew I was looking.

Her Mom and her family run one of the largest agencies in the area. Her Mom's face is all over the city. She is like a celeb.

Anyway...

She offers to come Saturday to take pictures of the house at 4.

DH and I are runnign around getting the house ready...im covered in dust and gosh knows what from sweeping the garage, and crawling around in the attic.

I stop early and take the fastest shower of my life, so I can be ready for her.

409 pm she tests me saying she is running behind, can she come tomorrow? I am po'ed but I said fine.


Sunday she shows up. Says her camera is broken. So now we are using my camera to take pics (dont the realtors have special cameras to make the house look bigger? i feel like im getting jipped) ANYWAY... We sign the papers.

She tells me to email her the pics and the house will be listed Monday.

I email them on Kodak gallery at 10 pm that night.

All day Monday I look for my house on the web and nothing.

I email her at 5 pm - asking, "did you get the pics?"

She says no, and can I resend them one by one. (why didnt you tell me earlier that you didnt get them?)

Anyay, today my house is listed (finally ) and it is the broker open house.

It was from 11-1.

It is now 2pm - shouldnt I have heard from her by now on how it went?

Or am I being too needy/ocd/asking for too much?

I'm starting to have buyers remorse :(


And if you made it this far..thank you

Re: Am I asking for too much? RE: Realtor listing my house

I would say its time to find another realtor. Business is business in my book, and you have to look out for your best interest. I would set up appointments this week with a few realtors who work your area, see what they think about your home, how they would value it, how and where they are going to advertise, how many open houses, how many houses they've sold in the area, commission rates, etc. See who gives you the best answers and go with them. You shouldn't be waiting around for her. She works for you. My opinion.

Ohh didn't realize you listed with her already. I would just be on top of her then. When you don't hear back in a timely matter, leave a message and keep on her to get you responses. DOnt' get frustrated. :)

Message edited 4/5/2011 2:12:03 PM.

Re: Am I asking for too much? RE: Realtor listing my house

I think it can be hard to have a business relationship with someone you know socially, because it has the potential to get awkward.

But I think you ought to just set your expectations upfront. In an ideal world, the realtor would have asked you, for example, how often you would like to be updated and how you would like her to communicate with you, but since she did not do that, I think you need to make it clear that you expect to be given feedback on open houses, showings, etc. as soon as possible. I would also express any concerns that you have regarding how she is marketing your home -- e.g., quality of photos, speed of publishing listing with photos, etc.

True, you shouldn't have to say all of this, but I believe it's better to address it upfront so that she can correct things before the relationship deterioriates. And the most important thing is that you get the service you are paying for.

But by the way, realtors don't have "special cameras." I, and the other realtors in my office, use good quality digital cameras to take photos (and hopefully capture the best features, angles, etc. to show the home to the best advantage), but that's it. Although in certain circumstances (certain types of listings), we will use a professional photographer.

Good luck!

Re: Am I asking for too much? RE: Realtor listing my house

Our realtor had a professional shoot our house. But I think they do it themselves sometimes to save $$$.

As for contact.....It varies with our realtor. Sometimes she is on top of things and sometimes she takes forever to get back to us. It is definately frustrating. My thought is if they have REALLY good news they will be in touch immediately.

Re: Am I asking for too much? RE: Realtor listing my house

I would not have listed with someone who cancelled at the last minute for an appointment. Not to mention asking you to use your own camera! She could have borrowed one from someone in her office. If your realtor is blowing you off this early in the game I think you will have problems.

Re: Am I asking for too much? RE: Realtor listing my house

I would never list with a friend or a family member..

The place I used had their own photographer that shot video and photo..

you shouldn't be the one hounding and calling her.. SHE should be the one all eager to get your house listed and shown and on the market.

Re: Am I asking for too much? RE: Realtor listing my house

I agree with PP's. You need to set a time with her, go to the office, and tell her what you expect and need from her. This is the only way to get what you're paying for, and IMHO screww being friends....you are PAYING her to do HER job! You are using her because you know her, and that's about as far as the buisness end of this needs to go. Draw a clear line between friendship and buisness, but also expect her to not respond to it well. It sounds like she is "using" your connection to do a pisss poor job and if she wouldn't treat other clients that way you shouldn't be treated that way either.

Re: Am I asking for too much? RE: Realtor listing my house

I think you definitely need to have a talk with her-- and if things don't change, go above her head to her mother... Or send her an email listing your concerns, and cc her mother. I would probably do that. You don;t want to go back and forth and lose precious time now when your place first hits-- you gotta strike while the iron is hot.