realtors are scum

[zorak1066]

ok so the house I just moved from is up on the market. the realtor listing it claims 'well maintained'.. and wants 165k for a house appraised at 128k. add to it hoa fees and an assessment for something done in the community... omg.. well maintained?

1. no gutters so rain POURS down both sides of the house.. makes mold on one side and washes out the garage foundation on the other. lol...
2. faulty wiring.. not properly grounded. every and I mean every light switch would arc when flipped.
3. the master bathroom is on the side that has mold. mold was growing in the walls and came through the paint... and was growing in ALL the air ducts.
4. the ac unit outside gets tons of water flowing under the support and is washing out.. only a matter of time before It collapses.
5. the garage floods behind the water heater and on the opposite wall... and the floor was cracking in so many places it looked like a jigsaw puzzle.
6. none of the doors were hung properly so bugs, frogs, lizards all got in.. .as well as drafts.

the idiot that bought it before and is trying to dump it got screwed royally, paying about 195k for a house that at best was worth 160k when she bought it. she was a penny pinching wackadoo so I doubt she actually paid to have ANY of the above issues fixed.. just had it painted and thinks it will move. then again it probably will... a sucker born every minute.

no offense to any realtors here but realtors are scum in general. lying, cheating, conniving weasels on par with used car salesmen and grifters.

[Beer-lord]

Sorry you're having problems. I know a few Realtors and though a few are stuck on themselves, they are good.
I would strongly suggest a home inspection before buying though most need this anyway.

Good luck!

[russki]

I would strongly suggest a home inspection before buying though most need this anyway.

+10000000
My brother in law is a home inspector, and you won't believe stuff he finds... We were looking at a house that looked great and had everything we wanted. After his inspection we pulled the offer... it needed about $30K in fixes.

And as a bonus, here's an explanation of what real estate ads really say....

MUCH POTENTIAL: Steer clear unless you have a lot of money!
UNIQUE CITY HOME: Used to be a warehouse
CONTEMPORARY: Lots if steel shelves with little holes like the kind your dad used to store tools on.
ONE-OF-A-KIND: Ugly as sin
UPPER BRACKET: If you have to ask…
YOU’LL LOVE IT: No you won’t
MUST SEE TO BELIEVE: An absolutely accurate statement
SPACIOUS: Average
CHARMING: Small
COZY: Very Small
WALK TO STORES: Nowhere to park your car
BRIGHT AND SUNNY: Drapes and blinds not included
SPRAWLING RANCH: Floor plan sucks
SECLUDED SETTING: Just try and find it
EXECUTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD: Taxes are really high
UNAFFECTED CHARM: Needs painting
STARTER HOME: Run Down
NATURAL SETTING: Deer will eat your plants and bushes
PARK LIKE SETTING: There's a tree in the yard
AND MUCH, MUCH MORE: Can’t think of anything more to say

[BlackDuck]

Russki....that's a great list. And so very accurate. Reading that made me laugh!!!

[RickBeer]

Let's face it - in every profession there are honest people, dishonest people, competent people (honesty and competency don't go hand in hand) and incompetent people.

In every transaction, there is a buyer and a seller. Sellers sometimes hire people (realtors for example) to represent THEM. Buyers are often lazy and don't bother to take the time to a) verify who someone works for (i.e. realtor working for SELLER unless they are a buyer's agent), b) whether the property or vehicle checks out (hiring home inspector, taking car to a mechanic for inspection), or c) hiring a lawyer to make sure the paperwork is done properly (and to have someone to sue if it isn't).

I bet if you ask, more than 25% of forum members (probably higher) have no idea that realtors represent SELLERS, not buyers. I'll bet that 75% or more didn't hire a lawyer to represent them the last time they bought or sold a house.

In this world, the savvy and dishonest prey upon the ignorant and clueless. As a buyer, if you're ignorant and clueless you're likely to get taken advantage of. Sad, but true.

[Rebel_B]

True Rick. I have only been directly involved in several real estate transactions in my life, both as a buyer, and just recently (just sold a condo last month) as a seller. I would have to categorize my experiences with real estate agents as overwhelmingly positive. The agent is representing the seller, and any misrepresentations typically originate from the seller.

[ScrewyBrewer]

We sold our home of 22 years last December and the realtor took a point off her commission and sold it for more than we asked in about 4 weeks. I'm not saying buying or selling is painless, especially when dealing with the township inspectors, but in this case it was very, very positive.

[braukasper]

What RB is saying is true. Unless you sign a buyers agreement with a real estate agent. The agent represents the seller because the seller pays is paying the all the agents involed. With a buyers agreement the buyer is paying the agent. In most cases the selling agent pays buyers fee. I know that it is just legal smoke & mirrors. It is needed for the fuducarry, spelling?, relationship to be correct. Also there is a hell of a difference between a Realtor and a real estate agent.

[evily]

I know some very good, honest realtors who truly want to do the best job for their clients, whether it's sellers or buyers - BUT, they only work for one or the other, not both. When I bought my current home, I had a dedicated BUYER'S agent, who was absolutely wonderful to work with. He would point out potential issues with the houses we toured, and he fought really hard to get me the best price on the home I purchased. Anyone looking to buy a home should have a buyer's agent - never EVER deal directly with the listing agent of the home you're interested in, because they are working for the seller, not for you!

[FedoraDave]

As has been noted, there are rotters in every profession. The woman we worked with when we were house-hunting was exceptional, and my wife actually gifted her with some children's books for her grandkids.

Russki's list is outstanding (as is all his advice, frankly). As a professional in the termite and pest industry, however, I would add this:

Get a termite and pest professional to do a termite inspection. This is especially important, since you're in Florida, which is termite heaven.

Now, maybe it's different in Flawduh, but 'round these parts, I've come to learn that many home inspectors are former carpenters, electricians, etc. This means they are probably well-versed in the structural elements of a home, but many of them don't know jack about termites. I've seen a number of cases where the inspector told the seller they had termites, and it was actually carpenter ant damage. Or they'd say the house was infested, when the damage was old and inactive. This sends a red flag to the bank, and they won't issue a mortgage on the house based on this inaccurate information, so the seller has to shell out money needlessly on a termite treatment.

Or, worse, they don't pick up termite activity that is incredibly obvious to someone who knows what to look for, and where to look, and the buyer gets screwed and has to purchase a termite treatment when it should have been the obligation of the seller.

I'm just sayin'.

[mtsoxfan]

Things are different everywhere...
I've always worked with a real estate agent to help me buy my homes. Typically, a seller pays their agent 6% commission, and the selling agent gives 3% to the buyers agent. My agent looks out for me, giving me their opinion when asked, willing to supply a list of their trusted associates (inspection agents, painters, roofers etc) and these professionals are top notch as to not affect the reputation of the real estate agent. If the AAA real estate agency is selling a home, the selling agent can't show the house and represent buyer, another inhouse agent (or any other agency) must show it, avoiding conflict of interest.

That said, I've heard many stories from other parts of this great country...

[braukasper]

Here if the buyer & agent do not have a signed buyers agreement the agent in that case represents the seller. Also the listing agent can sell the property.
1. No signed buyers agreement with the listing agent. The agent is fully representing the seller and should disclose this information.

2. With a signed disclosure document, and buyers agreement. Here again the primary relationship is with seller. The secondary relationship is with the buyer.

Real Estate laws vary from state to state, hell even witnin the state. One thing to many sellers insist upon is an unrealistic asking price. Too many buyers fore go inspections. All homes should also be tested for radon, water & air quality.

[FedoraDave]

Real Estate laws vary from state to state, hell even witnin the state. One thing to many sellers insist upon is an unrealistic asking price. Too many buyers fore go inspections. All homes should also be tested for radon, water & air quality.

And wood destroying organisms! Especially the further south you go. Southeastern New York State, where I live and work, has, on average, a termite colony every 1/2 acre. And those are only Eastern Subterranean Termites.

In the southern states, especially the Gulf States, the population is probably higher, and there are also drywood termites and Formosan termites to contend with.

Anyone -- especially someone who lives south of Washington D.C. -- who doesn't get a house they're interested in thoroughly inspected for wood destroying organisms is a fool. Flat out. No sugar-coating. A FOOL.

[radonc73]

Some are just used home sales people. Trying to make a buck off of what they know is junk, not all but some.