THE REAL ESTATE BEAR TRAP
by Neil Jenman Reading time: Apx 6 minutes When you sell your home, an agent will ask you to sign an agreement. That’s if you choose to use an agent;…
No, definitely not. The internet is peppered with companies that claim to help home sellers to find the best or the cheapest agents. None of these companies have ethical or competency standards for agents. Their only standard is that the agent is prepared to pay these companies a share of the agent’s commission.
Agent-finding companies are like those travel booking sites that screw the profits of motels.
Most home sellers who fall into the trap of using an agent-finding site do not get a special deal. Indeed, they don’t get anything special except an agent who may try extra hard to exploit them because the agent has to pay a fee to the agent-finding company.
Many of the country’s best agents refuse to be associated with agent-finding companies. If you want an agent who will treat you well, learn how to recognise such agents. For example, those who charge nothing until you sell. And those who do not hold you to a locked-in contract.
Stay away from agent-finding companies – unless they place ethical standards upon the agents they recommend and can demonstrate that you will get a better price with their help.
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This is an excerpt from Neil’s latest book “EVERY QUESTION YOU MUST ASK BEFORE YOU SELL YOUR HOME”. To pre-order the full book, click on the cover below.
