OT: Selling/leasing a home

My mom has a 2 story executive brick home she's trying to sell/lease around the Dallas/Fort Worth (Texas) area, does anyone know a good site I could list it on that won't charge an arm and a leg? She's trying to sell it or lease it out, whichever happens to come first.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Reply to
Schism
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unless she is a pro at real estate, I would reluctantly suggest a realtor. They take their cut, and reduce the anxiety and liability exposure. TB

Reply to
Tom Baker

Been there done that....

It is cheaper to get good realtor, neg to something like 5% cost.

You could try selling it yourself but....

1) Buyer agent still going to charge you commission 3 1/2% 2) You might (will) get some lowballers (offering you 75% of house value) ... 3) Will she be comfortable showing her house to complete strangers?

Now after saying all of that....

Sellers agents = blood sucking parasites...

All they have to do is enter house information, place the sign, wait for buyers agent to call. And at most place couple adds in the newspaper.

Never pay >= 7% commissions. 5% - 6% should be the norm.

Reply to
Mike J

So you really think it's worth it for most people to be paying a 6% commission? Here in the northeast, houses have doubled in the last 10 years. At the same time, the real estate agents costs, eg advertising, office space, phones, etc., have not gone up anywhere near that amount. A reasonable house here can easily go for $500K. What exactly are the real estate agents doing to earn $30K on one sale? Especially if it's a hot market, like here where homes are selling quickly. With that money, I could spend $5K on advertising and another $25K to hire a full time assistant for a year.

I'd suggest if she wants to lease it, put an ad in the local paper. If she wants to sell it, do that, plus consider listing it with one of the discount real estate services, like Foxton's. For a couple percent, they get you in the multiple listing service, which, as far as I'm concerned, is the most valuable thing realtors bring to the party. I sold my previous home myself in about 4 months, with only ads in the local paper and holding several open houses. And that was in a period when the market was mediocre at best.

Reply to
Chet Hayes

I was interested to read here that a private seller is able to list on MLS. can anybody talk a little bit more about how this is done. I think real estate agents are the biggest leaches and they rank pretty close if not equal to ...cough.. fart ....lawyers.

Reply to
Gustov

Google for "for sale by owner"

Reply to
Rudy

You can't do it directly as a private seller. You have to do it through a discount real estate agency. Here in NJ/NY/CT there is Foxtons which offers two levels of service. For 2%, your house gets listed on their website, which they promote with advertising in the region. They will also schedule appointments for you with buyers to see the house, but you have to show it yourself. For 4%, you get that plus the MLS listing, which is still a lot better than 6%.

Reply to
Chet Hayes

Parents just sold their 50 year old house. My sister and I were familiar with the area and looked at comparables and felt it would go for $360k or so. A top agent told us $420 and listed it at $460. She advertised it aggressively. The house was vacant and she was there to show it and meet with clearners, etc. Before the month was up she got an offer of $400 and talked them up to $420k exactly as she predicted. So yes an agent can be worth the money even in a hot market.

Reply to
Art

although the irony here is that one of the reasons prices go up as fast as they do is because of real estate commissions...

randy

Reply to
xrongor

Pretty soon everyone will be selling their homes on eBay anyway...

Reply to
HA HA Budys Here

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