i haven’t posted for a while but have enjoyed reading all posts, there is certainly a wealth of info out there and some of you are doing great things. good on you!
i had an interesting conversation with an agent this morning, that i just have to share. forgive my ignornace if the following is common practise but i was quite amazed…
i went into a real estate agents office this morning (a rural town in south east qld) and enquired about having an apprisal done on my parents property. the response was, they would love to come out and have a look but there would be a fee of $150 if we were not going to list with them. if we list with them need no fee is applied! it was also mentioned that if they we familiar with the property( that is it has been listed with them before) there would be no need to see the place they would just put their apprasial on paper!!
is this kind of approach for real?? i would appreciate comments or feedback.
i am still shaking my head….
rie
I have never heard of this approach as agents will usually do this as a service in the hope you do list with them – but never for a fee!
Perhaps the country town is so small that there is not really much competition and they think they can get away with it?
Do they claim that for $150 you will be provided with a written valuation, or is it merely an opinion of someone working in the sales office?
I can’t believe an agent would even mention that they would also charge $150 for an appraisal without even inspecting the property if they are familiar it!
It definitely sounds dodgy, and i’d avoid doing business with them – i’m surprised they are still in business.
If you are serious about selling it, i’d find another agent.
hi guys,
thanks for your responses. you will be surprised to know that the office is in fact part of a well know franchise group! the town is quite small however, does not, i believe have the monopoly.
and yes i did explain to them quite clearly that we would not be listing with them in the near future, if ever.
little things never cease to amaze….[]
rie
I would bite the bullet and get a valuer to do a valuation that is based on fact ,for a fee of approximately $200-300, rather then pay the agent $150 dollars for their opinion!
How dodgy!!!
I’d be very interested to know just which small town you were refering to as I live in S.E.Q. and have a couple of I.P.’s in small “out of the way” towns. When one town we were purchasing in was running hot we had a LOT of trouble with an agent who couldn’t give a R…,so I wonder if perhaps it was the same agent?
Curious.