As has been stated previously, there are good and bad in every category of worker regardless of industry/profession. I’ve experienced both in my real estate adventures, and as I have moved 10 times in the last 25 years, I have bought and sold more than once. (The big question is – when will I learn NEVER to buy, as despite my confidence at each move, no move is ever permanent for me?)

The last house I sold, the realtor truly was the stereotypical RE agent that gives all of them a bad reputation. What did he do? Let’s see…I decided to move on a Wednesday, selected him from the roster of available agents at a well-known agency, contacted him and he was all helpful and friendly. Having moved a few times previously, I KNOW how to stage my house etc and told him to come to view it on the weekend, giving me the 2 days I needed to get a storage locker, move 60% of my stuff out, order a truckload of flowers, bring in professional windowcleaners, and arrange animal care. He arrived as scheduled Saturday afternoon, did a 5 minute walkthrough, exclaimed repeatedly “OMG do you stage houses professionally? I’d hire you…blah blah’. We agreed on a listing price (we had both done our research), he posted it on MLS, and Sunday we had people looking. Sound good? To that point it was. Then, I repeated what I had stated several times: I am a ‘first past the post’ seller – I am NOT setting a date by which I want to receive multiple bids, I am NOT going to participate in stupid negotiation tactics….this is my fair price with a little wiggle room for counteroffers. Lots of people through the house with no offers until Friday when ‘suddenly’ there are 6 offers….without my permission he decided that I ‘didn’t know what I wanted’ and told agents that I was viewing all bids at one time. This was easy to spot: the dates on the offers were from the original Sun to the Fri. I selected the 1st bid (I am a woman of my word), and counter-offered to that one. The ignorant comments from ‘my’ agent were unbelievable, and some of them were outright lies. I did not fall for any of them, expressed my disbelief that he would treat any client in that way, and absolutely did not use his recommendations for realtors in where I was moving, nor lawyer for the paperwork, or anything else.

On the buying side, my agent was wonderful. One of the best with whom I have ever dealt. I gave him my specs, my price range, and location within the new city. As it was a city several hours away, he knew that I would only be available on weekends, that I was not in a rush to buy…he worked with me for 2 months, because I was not willing to compromise on some things. I walked away from more than 1 deal, and he never once used any of the less than honourable scaremongering tactics. 4.5 years later, we remain good friends, and I recommend him.

Had a house on the market for a family member. I didn’t know its current condition and lived a few states away. The house was set at a ghastly high price. When I went to the house to look at it a few months later, I was aghast at its condition (worn and in great need of repair). I tracked down the agent’s office and asked, “Why did you allow us to put it on the market for xxx,xxx?” His response, “We were afraid we’d lose you as a client.” I said, “You just did.” I terminated the contract immediately.

Since that time, we’ve used other agents for that house and our own as seller where we expected honesty and had none (but from one agent and our house sold quickly). In buying a house, I was so frustrated with the agent’s inexperience and “canned lines” that I wanted to fire her on various occasions but couldn’t due to my other half. We did 90% of the extensive research and we found the house. We knew what to do but were rarely treated as though we knew anything. However, SHE got the commission. This is our final house, so most of our horror stories have ended.

Maybe I should do another post about how stupid some house buyers (sellers) are and why they need to be lied to. Sounds like your clients are in that category.

We are submitting an Offer on another property-not as nice as the one they lost, but this time their words “We will listen to your advice this time”.

I have read some of the other articles on your website, and they are excellent! But Mike, i don’t know what you were smoking when you wrote this one…!

Peace…

Of course they don’t mention commissions. Aside from a little window, there’s very little wiggle room in the amount of commissions. So it’s a monopoly. People won’t complain that they thought your commissions were high because every other agent, good or bad, will charge the same. So the only differentiator between agents is quality of service, which can be judged. Obviously, your clients are happy with the service you provide. Were you to offer it at half the price, I’m sure they’d be equally happy.

“For every disgruntled person who wants to go it alone the next time around, there are thousands who will rely upon the expertise that a good realtor bring’s to the table.”
In the majority of markets in Canada, they have no choice. MLS is a monopoly on which you must market if you want to reach the majority of the target audience. Aside from some fringe offerings, no one deviates from the standard commissions.

I, for one, am delighted to hear about the competitive review currently ongoing in regards to Realtors and the MLS. This is being done by the competition bureau of canada.

Your comment “Everyone who is not an agent still believes the points listed in the article” is somewhat ignorant and very generalised.

For every disgruntled person who wants to go it alone the next time around, there are thousands who will rely upon the expertise that a good realtor bring’s to the table. I emphasize “good realtor”.

I can post several dozen Thankyou cards I have received personally from Sellers and Buyer’s who appreciate what I did for them.
Not one card mentions commissions! Rather how happy they are with the service from start to finish with promises of future business from their friends and family. These are not the actions of folks who believe the venom in Mike’s article.

I do not disagree with the fact that if a realtor does not do what he/she says they are going to for their client, then they deserve whatever is coming to them!