CATHY SLOAN's Discussions

ReginaPretty much the same here In Fl all offers must be presented to the Seller very clear in FREC chapter 475 Eternalsummer00 Buyer's agents are paid by the listing broker the % listed in MLS.The discount flat MLS brokers are listing agents.  Mostly they put one photo in MLS and maybe Realtor.com for $150 to $500.   Most are in South Fl.  I am in North Fl.  They still list homes in North FL.  Some will add a few more photos  no signs, no appointments, No representation. Listing broker had record that the Buyer agent showed the home or presented an offer.   MLS discount broker offers are presented directly to the Seller by the Buyer's Agent.  In some cases Buyer's agents who have shown those properties were completely cut out and got no commission. Seller refused the offer but Buyer and Seller got together later. Now a faxed copy has to be sent to the Discount MLS broker for a paper trail.  Maybe Buyer's agents will get paid. They may offer a lower buyer's commission but it seems those low buyer commission homes end up on the market forever unless they are a GREAT DEAL. I have read the details on Chad's operation. He seems to be the exception and appears to offer a pretty good sevice.  Too bad most of the discounters in our area are just as lazy as some of our not so successful traditional agents.  Those of you that have such a low opinion of Realtors. Sounds like you did not do your homework before you choose your Realtor. If you did not get any information of value  the first hour you were with them or the level of service you expected the first day why did you contine to work with them.  It is obvious they were not  going to get any better. 

Get your own Buyer's agent who is experienced in Foreclosures and REO's Follow this link to Realtytimes article. http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20071207_buyreo.htm

Before this last rate cut my Financial Advisoer said Mortgage rates should be 5.25% they were 6 to 6.25% in our area.  The banks were just holding on to profit.

Tina I am in North Florida and I agree with Chad. Unless your agents have pointed out your negatives.  It is more than likely price.  We have a 17 month supply of homes on the market in Jacksonville.  I was in Orlando at a seminar the last week of Feb.08  They said Orlando had a 26 month supply of homes on the market.  The homes that were selling were priced below the average recent sales in the area.  They also reduced the price every 3 weeks until the home sold. Average days on market to contract was 49 days.  You might also want to have a home stager take a look at your home.  Usually you can get a staging decorator for about  $100 to tell you changes to do. Good Luck

Jarrod I visited Chads site.  He clearly states the terms and that a commission must be offered if they want the home in MLS & Realtor.com.  He recommends 3%.  Actually It appears that he does more than some of my competition that charges a listing %.  We have Brokers that put one photo in MLS and dont return phone calls when you call to make a appt.  We have a Company here, May be in your area also, that some jokingly refer to as Risk 2sell.   For $2995.00 they will put your home on their site and put a sign in the yard.  Its a pain when you drive by one of their listings and your client wants to see it and your are denied access because they are not offering a co-broke.  That Company came in like locust and opened 11 offices in a few months during the height of our boom. Chad does better than that. If you agree to pay a co broke % Risk 2sell will also put it in MLS and Realtor.com.  Seems like Chad is doing the same thing for a whole lot less but Making sure we Realtors are getting a commission. I was one of 5 Realtors who started The Buyer's Agent in Jacksonville when it became legal.  You would not believe how other brokers treated  us.  They started offering buyer's agents 0 % commission  or  a half % until FREC stepped in and said they could not offer a lesser commission without the permission of the sellers..  Our peers pretty soon realized that the seller did not care who sold their home as long as it got sold. Realtors are going to have to offer superior service or they are going to loose out to the the Chads in the Industry. 

Presentation and Price very key in this market.  Congats.

Others are doing that here in Jacksonville.  Many pay $250 to $300 mo. I work from home, don't keep an office at RE/MAX anymore.  We have 2 offices and 3 conference rooms for us home office agents to use when necessary.  My fees are $2100 to $2500  a month.  Fl law requires a visible office with proper signage.  Can't meet clients at your home.  Guess that tells you why I offer excellent service and nurture my past clients. Small fee to pay for the commissions I earn as a RE/MAX agent.  RE/MAX is known all over the world.  I have witnessed many RE/MAX agents  leave for that concept.  Seen them come back too.  They say their earnings decreased after they left.

Sounds to me that Obama's minister has done a lot of heartfelt good for his community.  I applaud him for that.  It sounds as though he encourages his congregation to be accountable for themselves.  Unfortunately it appears that the fair skinned souls in his community may not have benefited as much from his good deeds. 

Contact your local board of Realtors and bring this to their attention.  You can start with the ethics committee.

Not sure more listings.  After all you are right, it is more about the agent.  I do get a fair share of international buyers.  They find me on the internet.  Contact me and purchase homes.  I sell more homes as a Buyer's Agent than I list, although the past couple of years my Listings have increased.  The international Buyer usually buys a home  between $400K to $700K.  Europeans and South Americans know the RE/MAX name.  North Americans relocating who have had bad experiences with newer agents also look up tenured RE/MAX Agents.  I have an investor from Houston who said he choose me because of RE/MAX .  We do about 7 transactions a year.   He has been with me since 2004.  The RE/MAX name has helped with out of state owners who want to sell their investment homes.  I stage the kitchens and baths of my vacant listings for my sellers.  Can't bring myself to leave.  Been with RE/MAx since 96