So, here’s the deal – we’ve had this potential listing agent as our buyers agent twice before. The first time around, we thought she was pretty awesome, but the second time, not so much. Fast forward to now, three years later, and we’re looking to sell our place because life has thrown us some curveballs. We’re hoping to make a decent buck off the sale, but we’re also realistic about the possibility of taking a hit.
I had a chat with the agent about her commission rates, and she initially offered 4% (split as 2% and 2%), unless she could handle both sides, in which case she’d drop it to 3%. I figured it was fair enough and went along with it. But when she sent over the contract, I noticed she had sneaked in a clause authorizing the broker to offer 2% to the buyer’s broker, essentially bumping the total commission up to 6%. To add to the confusion, she also mistakenly ticked off the box saying we didn’t authorize the listing to be posted on the MLS. Now, I get it, mistakes happen, but the whole situation felt a bit fishy to me.
I’m no expert in real estate dealings, and with a baby to take care of, I’m swamped as it is. So, I can’t help but feel a tad suspicious about all these numbers being tossed around. It’s like, are we being taken for a ride here? The agent even mentioned something about not being able to negotiate lower fees because her broker had just splurged on a fancy boat. Wait, hold up, am I the one footing the bill for that boat now?
To top it off, my dad pointed out that maybe the commission rate she offered wasn’t exactly a favor to us. And you know what? He might be onto something. It’s got me thinking that maybe I should trust my gut on this one. Plus, our neighbor happens to be a realtor who helped us buy this place in the first place. We’re thinking about reaching out to her to see if she’d be up for listing our home instead.
Update: The agent did own up to the mistake and made the necessary changes. But you know what? I still have my doubts. So, I’m gearing up for a call with her today to get some clarity on the whole situation. And for those who thought I misread the contract, let me tell