Foxtons, realtors

[Tom]

OK I need to sell my house. The realtors in my area are asking 5% commissions. Foxtons only wants 3%. So then the realtors of course tell me how bad foxtons is and all of the reasons why I shouldnt use them.

Has anyone sold a house recently? Has anyone used foxtons in the past?

I need help.

[sadie147]

Re: Foxtons, realtors

OK I need to sell my house. The realtors in my area are asking 5% commissions. Foxtons only wants 3%. So then the realtors of course tell me how bad foxtons is and all of the reasons why I shouldnt use them.

Has anyone sold a house recently? Has anyone used foxtons in the past?

I need help.

Don't have them here...but i did recentely sell my house a couple of years ago, and i paid 5% commission.My realtor explained to me that they, and the agent for the buyers, split the commission, so the higher the commission, the harder they try to sell your home to their potential clients. if they're gonna make 2.5% off your house they'll work harder, than if it's 1.5 %.

not sure how true it is..or if it works. but i fell for it LOL. I guess if it's gonna sell it will. but the explanation made sense to me a the time.


i got $10,000 over my asking price

[cleochatra]

Re: Foxtons, realtors

Be careful! I used a lower-commission company and the guy was totally non-responsive. His customer serivice was terrible. There was also another lower-comm realtor in the area and they didn't do a good job 'selling' the houses of their clients. All in all, I'd seriously never do it again.

I would seriously advise going with the better realtors in your area, even if they end up with more of the commission. You can also negotiate for a lower commission with some realtors. I don't know about your area, but the fall/winter is a harder season for realtors so they're more willing to make deals on commission.

As well, you might pay a slightly hihger commission, but the relief of having your house sold quickly is worth not having to deal with showings, heating, and the other issues you have to face when selling.

I usually interview at least 4 realtors. I ask them

1. Why should I hire you over someone else?
2. What do you like about this house?
3. What don't you like or see as weaknesses?
4. How do you advertise?
5. How quickly can you sell my home?

Make sure you take copious notes because it can be hard keeping everyone straight. You want someone who's an aggressive marketer.

Whatever you end up doing, best of luck to you in your move!

[cleochatra]

Re: Foxtons, realtors

One last thing: realtor open houses only.

The last thing you need is a bunch of nosy nellies in your house. The realtors are the ones you want there, not casual Saturday busybodies.

[Tom]

Re: Foxtons, realtors

Thanks ...

I will look around a bit more. this 6 month contract thing sucks though because if they are not doing a good job then I will lose 6 months of mortgage

Regards,

[Bren]

Re: Foxtons, realtors

you can always negotiate the commission and the contract length.

[cleochatra]

Re: Foxtons, realtors

6 months?! OMG! That's ridiculous. 3 is the most you should accept at BEST.

[Peytonn]

Re: Foxtons, realtors

I'm a realtor* (part-time since 1994)... and I agree that even with commission differences.. the services we provide are far superior to other type house sellers.

Commission is always negotiable... so is length of listing... however... unless you're in an EXTREMELY hot market.. I'd advise at least a 6 month listing. Here at least.. if you barely miss the cut-off date for publication in the magazines... your 12 week listing might be OVER before it's even advertised in out of area publications.(the kind that are in the convenience stores on the interstate etc.)

if the seller has allllllll the stuff ready to go, then a 12 week listing might work... but usually I have to have people get copies of (or I have to go to the courthouse and find...) deeds, plats, covenants, etc.... all that stuff... the property disclosure... etc. etc... now IF the seller had all that stuff ready to go day one...

oh well.. shutting up now

[Peytonn]

Re: Foxtons, realtors

also... if you do a 6 month listing.. you can re-coup part of that by having the seller pay all closing.. or other things......... all that can be stipulations in the listing agreement

do you have an appraisal?

my biggest problem is people who insist that their house is worth more than the appraisal.. and of course we'll list it for whatever you say... but then the chances of selling are slim and none