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Message |
    
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1139
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 9:40 am: | 
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I know this has been discussed before but...
Any great experiences? We expect to be selling our home this summer  , middle, maybe low-middle price range, near Flood's Hill and Montrose School in SO. Hoping for someone who is enthusiastic about the neighborhood, skilled and attentive. Walking on water is optional.
(or, anybody looking to buy here? new owners will have some of the best neighbors in the world  )
Thanks for your thoughts!
MC |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 711
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:21 am: |
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mjc, i PL'd you with a suggestion. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 399
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:22 am: |
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mjc, I put a reco under your SO specific thread |
Mplwdladee
Citizen
Username: Mplwdladee
Post Number: 149
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:43 am: |
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I love angie nickle/weichert short hills. we had a crazy seller when we bought our house but Angie remained cool and calm the deal went through and now we live in a crazy lady's xhouse.
I think when things go wrong during this process thats when you really can see the skill and knowledge of your agent. She's also very familiar with the area
good luck
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akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 421
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:48 am: |
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Fran Lichtman and Randy Rabner (MOL sponsors). They're great. |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 99
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:29 pm: |
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Another reco for Angie Nickel - she was our agent, and made the process of first-time house buying as stress-free as possible. Really nice lady, and has good knowledge of the area.
Jason |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1512
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:32 pm: |
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Have you thought about doing a FSBO (for sale by owner)? I have sold four houses in my time, and i am convinced all realtors are ripoffs. I don't think I will ever use another realtor again -- to sell, that is (buying is another story). The 6% they get is basically extortion for putting you into the MLS system, but these days there are more and more alternatives to MLS. Sure, FSBO is more work, but if you're selling, say, a $550,000 house, you are saving $33,000. Looked at that way, i think everyone owes it to themself to at least try a FSBO. You can read entire books and many websites on good FSBO techniques....make awesome brochures at Kinkos....and as far as pricing your home, do your homework and market reseach first by visiting open houses of similar houses, checking out www.zillow.com, and scouring similar listings. Or, this isn't entirely on the up and up, but you could get a few estimates from a few competing realtors as to what they'd price your house at, then not hire any of them, but use that as the basis for your FSBO price. Just a thought.... |
red
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 5555
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 2:24 pm: |
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If you do go with a realtor, you can negotiate the percentage the realtor gets. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 1141
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 2:51 pm: |
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Zoesky, thanks, I know you're right, and we have sold FSBO in Calif, but everything seems more complicated here (or am I just older?), and the whole moving process exhausts me just looking at it (we are moving out of state, and downsizing, while also getting 2 resident sons launched back out to college).
Our next door neighbor tried FSBO 2 years ago for a basically identical but beautifully updated house and got nowhere for 2 months before turning to a realtor, then went under contract in a week or 2. I agree that the 6% is way serious $, but I feel as though I need my hand held this time.
(end of whine)
Anyone, is it common to negotiate the percentage, or will I just tick off the realtor? This is not going to be that big a sale by M/SO standards. |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1514
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:00 pm: |
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I have only successfully negotiated my commission down once, to 5%, four years ago. That was on a relatively high-priced house listed in the $800K range....my thinking was there was competition at the time to get that listing (prices have since risen locally to the point where an $800K house in Maplewood no longer raises eyebrows). Last year I tried to bargain down the commission, and my listing agent agreed to make it 5.5% only if he also brought the seller in himself, which he didn't in the end. So I wound up paying the full 6%. The house sold in four days, for over asking, and I had to fork over 6%. I knew I should have FSBO'd.
Anyway, good luck! I would not suggest my last realtor, so I'm afraid I'll have to forego any recommendations. |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1855
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:56 pm: |
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I negotiated the commission down with the last 2 hourses -- 5% and 4%. |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 601
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 9:11 pm: |
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Nancy Gould at Burgdorff's in Maplewood Village is the bees knees. She's easy to work with, truly in your corner, a fighter and all about you and what your needs are. We've used Nancy twice with excellent results. She has a banner on MOL. Give her a call and above all.... GOOD LUCK! |
snowmom
Citizen
Username: Snowmom
Post Number: 14383
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 9:46 pm: |
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I can't say enough great things about my realtor, Olga Roberts. Works out of Burgdorf SH, (973-376-2409) but lives in Maplewood and definately has her ear to the ground. Knows everybody in the business, is very savvy, great hand holding skills but tough as nails when necessary.This was my third real estate experience in 20 yrs, and no comparison!!
Zoesky, it would be great to go FSBO but the reality is that almost nothing sells here that way. The market is quickly softening and the days of bidding wars and over-asking are fading, if not already gone.
Try to negotiate the commission and go for it! Good luck... |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1516
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 10:50 am: |
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I agree the market is softening, but personally, I would try a FSBO for a few weeks unless I was in a rush (like I was last summer). The reason? Yes, the market is past the days of bidding wars, but one change that was ushered in during the boom was the increased use of the Internet to look for houses. People are now accustomed to searching this way, and there are sites that post FSBOs. You'll read a lot about the "disintermediation" of the realtor...they're gradually going to be pushed out...unless they adjust their pricing structure. Many observers predict they will move toward a "Chinese menu" type of structure where you pick and choose what you want from a realtor (for example, maybe just MLS listing, or maybe just MLS + one open house, etc.) I do a lot of reading on this topic....real estate is my passion (and I'm actually prepping to write a book on it for my current employer).
Anyway, that's just me...
Good luck! |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 206
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 12:38 pm: |
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When I spoke with my realtor (who found me my professional office and two houses), Susan Palmaffy of Burgdorff, about a lower commission, her idea was to set the commission amount relative to the selling price of the house. The lower the selling price, the smaller the percentage I'd have to pay (each price increment meant a 1% addition from the bottom at 4% and the top at 6%). She did a really good job in setting things up for the sale, in terms of when to list the house (two weekends before July 4) and a plan for the open house showing. Certainly the market was different 5 years ago, but her instincts were certainly on target and she worked hard to get the house out there. With the competition of 5 interested buyers on the first day, I certainly ended up paying her the full 6%, but it came out of a selling price that exceeded my expectations. Good luck with this! |
Karen Koenig
Citizen
Username: Kkinnj
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 9:59 pm: |
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I second the recommendation for Nancy Gould. She was amazingly patient with us in our quest for the perfect house at a "pauper's" price! She also did a great job selling our condo. |
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