Genuine question here, not just trying to bash anyone. I don't understand the value that they add.
Situation 1:
I want a small piece of raw land for sale. It would be an all cash transaction. I don't need inspections or zoning approval or anything of the sort. Just heres money, give me land.
I email the realtor, no response.
I wait a week, then email again. No response.
I call during business hours, no answer. I leave a voicemail.
I wait about a week then find the owner/seller on Facebook and message them about it. It's been on the market over a year, but apparently they have had "zero interested buyers." I tell them that I want it, I'm happy with the asking price, but can't get in touch with the realtor despite calls and emails. I give the seller my info and ask her to pass it on to the realtor to contact me. She says that she did, but I never hear from the realtor.
I call and email the realtor again. No response.
I posted about this frustrating experience here and am told that if I'm actually interested, I should just submit a formal offer to the realtor and they will have to forward it to the seller.
I do exactly that. In fact, I drive to the office and hand deliver it to someone at the front desk (I was told the agent who's on the listing isn't in the office at the moment, but will be back later).
The offer was good for 90 days, but I hear nothing from the realtor. I reach back out to the seller, but she says the realtor hasn't told her there are any interested buyers. She specifically asks if anyone has made an offer, the realtor says no.
I went back to the realtor's office and say the agent talking to the receptionist (photo is on their website). Perfect. "I'm interested in the property at ______________. I've tried to reach you multiple times, but haven't been able to."
Her reply was, "(My name), right? If you were a serious buyer, you would've had your agent reach out. If you insist on being unrepresented, yout initial contact should've been the offer letter. If you don't know to do that first, it's not worth working with you."
I told the seller what was going on, and offered to just hire a real estate attorney to do the paperwork instead, but she said the realtor is a friend of a friend situation and she doesn't want to cut her out.
I gave up.
The property is still listed for sale ~6 month later and the price has dropped $10,000 (from a $40,000 original ask).
Situation 2:
Looking to buy a house.
Pre-approved with my bank and ready to make an offer if we find the right place.
We find a listing that looks like what we want. I email realtor Thursday morning. I don't hear back, so Friday around noon I call her.
"Hi, this is (realtor's name). How can I help?"
"I'm (my name). I'm hoping we can schedule a showing for (address)."
"Are you an agent or a direct buyer?"
"I would be the buyer, I am not an agent."
"I'm going into a meeting right now, but can I call you back when that's done?"
"Sure, no problem."
She never calls back. Saturday morning she replies to my email and says, "I believe we briefly spoke on the phone yesterday. Unfortunately that house is currently under contract, so we can't schedule any showings. I'll let you know if it becomes available again."
I figure why not try to the other way. I reach out to a different realtor to be my buyer's agent this morning.
I tell him the address of the house I want to see and when I'm free.
Within an hour he says he scheduled a showing with the listing agent. I ask if he's sure the agent knows which house I'm interested in, and she sends me a screenshot from the same person I contacted. Same address and same email address.
Can someone explain this?
What value did he add to the conversation? He did nothing to qualify me as a buyer. He did not ask if I had a loan pre-approved or cash or anything of the sort, but when he emails, he gets a listing, an when I email, I'm told it's sold.
If I also have him send the same offer letter on the piece of raw land, do you think the realtor on that property will suddenly be open to it?
Posted by Ornery_Ads