Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

That's the way I read it. The Property Guys is a popular way to sell real estate around here. It seems to work too.

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

If you dont think your current real estate agent is working for you, why not find a new one?

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

No I meant $750, dollars that is, that's all it cost him to sell - barring other normal costs.

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

Not here in MB, you only see the Sellers Agent if the house is full of valuables, and even then they are expected to do no more than accompany you around the house. It puts a damper on the showing in much the same way as if the seller is home, buyers much prefer to look at houses without a 4th party there.

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

There seems to be one component of the whole process missing and that is one of the realtors attempting to sell the property. It appears that you have one who markets the property and another who acts as a glorified taxi driver. Who is actually doing the selling.

Going back to an earlier post about and overheard conversation between between the potential purchasers and my neighbour, it went along the lines of:

Neighbour: Do you have a dog?
Purchaser: Yes
Neighbour: The yellow house has a beautiful yard for your dog
Purchaser: Yes, we really loved the yard
Realtor: I think the yard is too big for them. They would need a lawn tractor.
Puchaser: We can hear some noise from the highway. Is this noise a problem here?
Neighbour: There is some at this end but you soon get used to it, but you wouldn't notice it at all down by the yellow house.
Realtor: (Snaps Back) The noise is not a problem even here and the driveway of the yellow house is in my opinion too large for them to clear in Winter(Then shuffles them into the house that is the noisest in the development and with the least suitable yard for a dog since the slope would be better suited for a mountain goat. Also interestingly the most expensive house that we saw them visit by around 300k)

What this shows is the the sellers realtor was only interested in lining his pocket as much as possible. In many ways I feel sorry for his clients in that they have ended up buying another house, the cheapest in the development that is very very badly built and finished. Our realtor is actually quite appalled by the way in which that house has been finished.

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

I still think that people ultimately buy the house they want to buy. If they liked your house enough they would have bought it anyway. The realtor may have some small influence in pointing out defects or benefits of a particular place, but ultimatley all they can do is show properties they think their client will be interested in , and hope one makes enough of an impression that they make an offer on it.

You just need to be patient and wait for someone who sees in your house the same things you saw when you decided to buy it... or were you suckered into it by a sweet talking realtor? (in which case I suggest you retain them on your side!)

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

We built it from scratch to our own design. Our relator probably has to take some of the blame for for targeting the marketing property. He is coming around to our house to be well and truely reamed tonight and may very well be leaving with his sign inserted sideways rectally :)

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

Maybe this is the problem.

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

It probably is. We designed it to our European taste. A few Uuropean couples have seen it and absolutely loved it but either did not have the means to buy it or needed more bedrooms. The Canadian in general expect one big open area for kitchen, dining area, great room, etc which we find rather odf. Who wants to live in the smell of what you have just cooked?

But at the end of the day what really hacks us off is the entire system of selling here. As the seller you pay for someone who does absolutely nothing for you than perhaps driving the purchaser to your door which was probably selected by the purchaser anyway.

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

I do kinda get what you mean - you are paying large fees to a Selling Agent and do not see what they are doing for you.

Is the place being marketed at all - local papers, Special Advertising, Open Days, whatever ? (There are plenty of Brits in, or coming to, the area to appeal to that European taste!!;) ). But then maybe the new EU arrivals like the idea of this new fangled open plan stuff :sneaky:

Maybe one of our resident realtors would be kind enough, or brave enough, to breakdown, just a little bit, their costs for marketing your average upmarket home, ie, MLS fees, etc (though that is probably a closely guarded secret). Just a thought.

Having said that - you are seeing your realtor tonight - so before you tear a strip off them, be upfront and ask them! ;)

Is there anything else you could do to make it 'more Canadian' apart from the layout, ie, colours, styling, etc? Ask them that too.

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

Some years ago I knew a realtor who made a shedload of money and almost never actually sold a house. He operated in a particular ethnic community and was a smooth as silk in convincing members of that community to list with him. He then, for the most part, just "sat" back and waited for some other realtor to sell the house and he received his 25% of the commission. Her had scores of listings on the go at any given time.

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

Its getting less and less that the Listing (sellers) Realtor is the one that "sells" the house. Buyers Agency is now so prevalent (because its better for the buyer) that invariably you have 2 agents involved, the Seller's (listing) agent who markets the property and looks after the sellers interests when reviewing any contracts and the Buyers Agent who looks after the interest of the buyer. Including pointing out problems that may be an issue (such as traffic noise or the problems of large lots).

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

Hmmm. It's possible the realtor was a lazy SOB. It's also possible that he knew something about his client's needs that you don't.

I like Canada's system. I like that I have recourse if anyone (read: realtor) lies to me...you don't get those guarantees if you buy a home from an owner direct, you're stuck with it. We've always used a buyer's agent (onto 3rd property now) and like another poster said, I like having someone to give me the lay of the land ie. this building is bad/location details/etc.

Selling your house sucks in general, I think. It's stressful. You have to keep your house clean. You have no control over when someone decides to buy it, you can do your best and it can still be weeks. I hope it sells soon. :fingerscrossed:

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

So given that they sellers realtor would have known about the large lot size in advance of the viwing and that he clearly considered it to a problem, then why did he completely waste our time showing the house to someone that he was going to prompt away from the property?

It's the attitude of the selling realtors that is really getting my goat. I'm still fuming about those realtors who make an appointment to view and then don't bother to turn up without a word of explanation. It is unbelievably unproffessional and ill mannered and they should have their licensing (or whatever) revoked.

I must have been in a been in a better mood last night. Our realtor left our meeting with both his testicles.

Re: Canadian Realtor System
 

It turns out that he did know something. They did not have enough money to buy anything other than the house that they did. So why did he waste peoples time showing homes that were well out of their budget? There may always be a potential deal, but viewing homes that are priced in line with the rest of the development that would require a 33% price drop is a waste of everyone's time.