Has anyone else noticed how agents will show you higher priced homes? Recently, when looking for some property, I told an agent that I wanted something with 30-40 acres, with a house, and out buildings for around $350,000 +/- $40,000. She told me, "nothing like that out there". What got me is when I searched MLS on my own I found property in that price range!
This is why I refuse to sign an exclusive contract as a buyer with a real estate agent, especially in the current market. I recently encountered the same scenario you are describing. I had talked to a couple different agents and some of them could find properties meeting my needs that would be in my price range.
For a couple of them I suspect that it was because they did not know the area at all. So when they searched MLS they did not include nearby towns. For example, lets say I was looking for a place near Foley, MN and I was working with an out of area agent (not uncommon since many people move because of relocations). This out of area agent would search "Foley, MN" not knowing that if they included "Foreston, MN" that they would find lower priced properties. Foreston is just up the road from Foley but also in another county and many agents will search by county. The problem here obviously is that the agent should have bothered to look on the map! However, during the hot market a lot of people were drawn to real estate who had no business being there since when the market is hot anybody can sell.
However, there are some out there that seem to be more interested in earning a higher commission then they are about meeting their client's needs!
The way I operate is I contact agents and advertise that I am looking for a home. The agent who contacts me with a viable property is the agent who will get my business. I am fully willing to sign an exclusive representation contract for a specific property. Not all agents are bad however there are enough of them out there that its easy to run into them. It is even worse when you are trying to sell your home and your agent is doing all he could do to sell it!
Scott
PS I know Kerry and I am buying my next property from him since he was the one who came to me with the property that would best meet my needs.
John- hate to say I know that happens. If you are looking in Mn. I suggest looking my way as I have been in the business 20yrs. and learned a long long time ago the quickest way to loose a client is not listen. My business is primarily repeat and repeat customers or referrals and I know who I represent always. If you need some help give me a call Kerry Bridge 320-894-6412
Comments
Hello
Has anyone else noticed how agents will show you higher priced homes? Recently, when looking for some property, I told an agent that I wanted something with 30-40 acres, with a house, and out buildings for around $350,000 +/- $40,000. She told me, "nothing like that out there". What got me is when I searched MLS on my own I found property in that price range!
John
Buyer Contracts
John,
This is why I refuse to sign an exclusive contract as a buyer with a real estate agent, especially in the current market. I recently encountered the same scenario you are describing. I had talked to a couple different agents and some of them could find properties meeting my needs that would be in my price range.
For a couple of them I suspect that it was because they did not know the area at all. So when they searched MLS they did not include nearby towns. For example, lets say I was looking for a place near Foley, MN and I was working with an out of area agent (not uncommon since many people move because of relocations). This out of area agent would search "Foley, MN" not knowing that if they included "Foreston, MN" that they would find lower priced properties. Foreston is just up the road from Foley but also in another county and many agents will search by county. The problem here obviously is that the agent should have bothered to look on the map! However, during the hot market a lot of people were drawn to real estate who had no business being there since when the market is hot anybody can sell.
However, there are some out there that seem to be more interested in earning a higher commission then they are about meeting their client's needs!
The way I operate is I contact agents and advertise that I am looking for a home. The agent who contacts me with a viable property is the agent who will get my business. I am fully willing to sign an exclusive representation contract for a specific property. Not all agents are bad however there are enough of them out there that its easy to run into them. It is even worse when you are trying to sell your home and your agent is doing all he could do to sell it!
Scott
PS I know Kerry and I am buying my next property from him since he was the one who came to me with the property that would best meet my needs.
real estate agents
John- hate to say I know that happens. If you are looking in Mn. I suggest looking my way as I have been in the business 20yrs. and learned a long long time ago the quickest way to loose a client is not listen. My business is primarily repeat and repeat customers or referrals and I know who I represent always. If you need some help give me a call Kerry Bridge 320-894-6412