Is it normal

to shop around for a real estate agent? DH and I have been working solo thus far, and I think its time we try to work with an agent. We saw a few houses with one woman, but we didn't click, and that has been my hesitation to work with someone exclusively. We need someone who is going to listen to us . . . so, how did you find your REA? Thanks for the advice!

Re: Is it normal

I think a lot of buyers start looking "casually" (e.g. online, going to open houses, etc.). Sometimes they come across an agent along the way -- like at an open house -- and start using that agent. But unless you sign a buyer's brokerage agreement, you are not obligated to continue working with that agent, or to work with anyone exclusively.

The biggest mistake a lot of buyers make is to just hop around to different agents. They'll call up on one house and go see it with one agent, then they'll call on a house listed with another office, and go see it with another agent. Then, it's frustrating because no one really knows the full story of what your looking for and why, and no one is really able to help you. It's definitely to your benefit to work with one real estate agent and have that agent look out for new listings for you, preview homes for you, and generally stick with you throughout the entire process (through closing).

But you definitely don't want to commit to one agent until you know how they work and whether you click. Usually what I do is set up a meeting with a buyer to have a consultation. That gives the buyer an opportunity to tell me what they are looking for, why they are moving, how much they have to spend, etc. And it gives me a chance to tell them about how I work and my background and to explain the buying process. I usually suggest that we go out a few times together to look at houses, and then we can revisit the issue of buyer's brokerage/exclusivity. That way, the buyer can see if they are comfortable with me before they make a decision.

Not sure where you are located and where you are looking, but I am based in North Bellmore and work all over LI, but I focus on south shore and central Nassau. I am an attorney with years of client representation and negotiating experience, and now I do real estate sales as a full-time career (and I love it!).

Let me know if you'd like to talk to me further or meet to see if I can help you! I'd love to chat with you about your house hunt.

ETA: You can find out more about me in the business directory (my bio is posted there) or my webpage - http://cbraun.dalllow.com.

Also, I am offering a free home warranty to any LI Families member who buys a house through me (approx. $500 in value).

Message edited 3/18/2011 11:56:00 AM.

Re: Is it normal

I think it is important to like your agent. You don't want someone who won't listen show you all ranches when you want a colonial. You don't want someone who is pushy. We looked for a year before we found our house. Our REA was very patient. She never pushed us to like a house or told us we would never find what we wanted.

Re: Is it normal

We went through quite a few REA. Then I posted on here, and found one.

Re: Is it normal

we started out by casually looking at houses by going to open houses. we could tell right away just from the open house whether or not we would click with the agent. we went to one open house and really liked the agent who was showing so we took her card and followed up with her. she was super familiar with the area we wanted and she found us our current house.

Re: Is it normal

Re: Is it normal

Lisa -

My view is that, on the listing side, there is a "floor" of what we can take, given that we need to offer out some of the commission to any cooperating broker on MLS and that there are certain marketing costs. Beyond that floor, the commission is negotiable.

We get a range of commission (usually 4% to 7%), depending on the circumstance. If it were me, and I was listing a house for a customer who I liked and who wanted to also use me for future business (such as their next home purchase), then I would definitely work with them on the commission.

I don't know how "common" it is, but given real estate is a commission-based business - and referrals and repeat business are a great source of business -- I think your agent would be silly and short-sighted not to be willing to negotiate (unless of course he is offering you his lowest commission already).