| Author |
Message |
    
mantram
Citizen
Username: Mantram
Post Number: 7
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 4:15 pm: | 
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We are currently renting in Maplewood, and having "checked out" the town, are ready for the big plunge. Does anyone have a recommendation for a local realtor who can really represent us in this sellers market? As first time buyers really streching our finances to afford this town, we can use all the help we can get. Help! |
jeffl
Citizen
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 291
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 4:19 pm: |
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Ginny Spiegel with Burgdorff. She can be reached at 973-275-3278. She's wonderful and will represent you well. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 324
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 4:27 pm: |
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We bought through Burgdorff and worked with George (now manager I think of a different office). A realtor named Cynthia in that office was very, very helpful to us while George was transitioning. Had a lot of issues with the seller, too (who wanted to change the close date at the last minute as they had moved to MA or CT). We were -- and remain -- extremely financially strapped and were never treated with anything but respect and helpfulness, on all topics great and small even months afterwards. |
growler
Citizen
Username: Growler
Post Number: 294
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 5:12 pm: |
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We bought through Prudential in Millburn through Paul. Great guy. Took us everywhere and was very funny and looking out for our best interests during the not so desirable houses we looked at. We looked at something like 100 houses before we fell in love where we are. |
berry festival
Citizen
Username: Berry_festival
Post Number: 27
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 7:08 pm: |
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talk to robert northfield at burghdorf. i believe he also has an ad on this site. i've recommended him to several friends with great success. |
Morrisa da Silva
Citizen
Username: Mod
Post Number: 5
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 7:16 pm: |
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We used Susan Palmaffy at Burghdorf (she was with Klein at the time)and were very pleased at all the extras she did. She was patient and down to earth and showed us lots of houses. I'm sure you would have a similar experience. |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 77
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 8:49 pm: |
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Are you willing to pay the realtor to represent you?
TomR. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1782
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 10:00 am: |
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We bought through Kathy Feminella. She works at Coldwell Banker on Millburn Ave in Millburn. She specializes in South Orange and Maplewood, and her favorite town is Maplewood. She was very helpful, patient and terrificly professional.
973-467-3222 x131
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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Musetta
Citizen
Username: Musetta
Post Number: 26
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 11:35 am: |
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I'm confused; why the heck would you ever PAY a realtor to represent you as a buyer? They get commission on the selling end....if that's not enough for them, it's not like there is a lack of other realtors to choose from. |
kathy
Citizen
Username: Kathy
Post Number: 714
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 5:34 pm: |
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The problem is that because the realtor standardly is paid by the seller, legally they represent the interests of the seller and not the buyer, unless something different has been spelled out.
The notion of the buyer's broker is a relatively recent concept. How this broker is paid may not yet have become standardized. If you are paying the broker, then the seller should negotiate a reduced commission with the selling broker and you should similarly negotiate a reduced price. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1790
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 5:36 pm: |
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I signed some sort of agreement with the realtor. I don't remember the details well, but she definitely did not represent the seller. Yes, things have changed, but I don't think it's yet necessary for the buyer to pay the broker.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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NRL
Citizen
Username: Nrl
Post Number: 452
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 6:25 pm: |
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Go see George Kraus at Bergdorff in the MW village. He helped us tremendously and is a resident here in MW. We too were first time home buyers. George was excellent. |
alia
Citizen
Username: Alia
Post Number: 136
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 7:59 pm: |
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Definitely, do not pay the realtor. The buyer's realtor represents the buyer, not the seller. Trust me, we are currently the seller, and our buyer just fell through. Want our house??
Our realtor has represented us well on several buys and sells. Sandy Nash with Weichert, 973-376-4545. She has integrity and a great office staff, always a plus. And she knows Maplewood well (of course, every name listed here knows Maplewood well). |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Elizabeth
Post Number: 267
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 6:40 am: |
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Jodi Rubenstein and Joanna Parker-Lenz
http://www.my2agents.com/
We used them when we moved here 4 years ago. We found them to be:
*exceedingly available (because there's two of them)
*patient--we must have seen 50-60 homes, made offers on 3, dithered about offering on one; they never pressured us or made us feel as though we had better fish or cut bait.
*hard working. Some agents seem to sell real estate as a "hobby." Jodi and Joanna would show you a house at 3:00 am if they had to, and make you feel like it was no trouble.
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bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4385
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 8:05 am: |
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I have always operated under the impression that real estate brokers always represented the seller, although someone posted in another thread that there has been a change in NJ law on this subject in the last few years. I really don't know.
Commissions are split 50-50 between the listing brokerage firm and the selling brokerage firm. I don't know how much of this goes to the actual selling or buying agent. I imagine there is some scale based on sales dollars brought in, as is the case in my business. I think any broker who asks for an upfront fee, or an additional fee for representing a buyer probably is a con artist and I would avoid them. |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 78
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 3:32 pm: |
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Well, it seems that mantram has gone missing.
In any event: its my understanding that RE agents can work for the seller; the buyer; or be dual agents. With the exception of buyer's agents, the RE agent owes their duty of loyalty to the seller. After all, its the seller that's paying their commission.
I.e., a person goes to a RE agent, either the listing agent or one which has it through MLS, and they will be asked to sign a disclosure form telling the prospective buyer that the agent is being compensated by the seller. Unless our prospective buyer gets the agent's specific agreement that the agent will not disclose the buyer's price limit, or other info the buyer would rather the seller not know, the information can be disclosed to the seller.
If a buyer engages their own agent, and compensates them, the agent can't disclose such information w/o permission.
Hence my question to mantram.
TomR. |
rckymtn
Citizen
Username: Rckymtn
Post Number: 218
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 8:42 pm: |
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Don't make it so complicated. A seller engages a realtor or broker and the agreement typically calls for a 5-6% commission, paid by the seller out of the proceeds of the sale. The listing agreement will specify the split of commission that the seller's agent will share with the buyer's agent (if there is one).
A buyer's agent is engaged by the buyer to help find a suitable home. S/he gets the split agreed to in the seller's listing contract with the selling party. The buyer pays nothing.
A reputable seller's agent will agree to split the commission, since you can't sell without a purchaser, and buyer's agents bring buyers.
The hitch is what is called a dual disclosed agent. This simply means that the agent must disclose that he or she may show the prospective buyer houses for which s/he is the listing agent. This is not quite acting as an agent for both sides--but nevertheless s/he has to disclose when that occurs. For example, seller's agent has a great listing, and wishes to show that house to a couple for whom s/he is acting as a buyer's agent. The seller's agent discloses to both sides that s/he is the listing agent, but owes duties of confidentiality and loyalty to the seller (who is paying the fee). Typically in this situation, the seller's agent will introduce the buyer at that point to another agent in his or her firm to represent the buyer in the transaction. The seller's agent contractually keeps all of the commission, but will toss the "drafted" co-worker something as a way to say thanks. As long as the dual agency is disclosed and permitted by the two parties, it complies with the law.
The law of agency generally is that an agent owes strict fiduciary duties to the principal, and duties of loyalty and confidentiality. That's why the "disclosed dual agent" business -- one agent can't represent both sides of the deal without screwing one of them. |
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