Just a correction for a post I saw by …

Comment by John A Keith
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04/26/07 at 10:14 am

“Alex Coon is their local agent. As far as I know, he is heading up

their local office, until they get established. Alex was at Paragon Properties for awhile, I guess.

If you search MLS, he’s done 23 deals over the past several years; most were less than $400,000.

He went out on his own awhile ago. I would’ve recommended that Redfin hire someone with more

uppper-end experience, but maybe they will.”

I agree but I checked MLS and I only see 12

closed trasnactions, and ALL on the buying end. Nothing on the listing side. I see he listed some

and his listings either expired or cancelled. I have no problem with someone going through the

numbers I saw in MLS.. If what I saw is true then I think real estate agents REALLY have nothing to

worry about LOL.. Not that they had anything to worry about anyway.. LOL

agent but in my research for my new venture we came across a lot of buyer agents who take their

clients to homes that other agents listed without the listing agent present. They often show up a

few minutes early and tour the place alone to get the feel of the place. Serious buyers often come

back with the listing agent present to answer and questions / concerns.

I agree that a

seller should demand that the listing agent be there for each appointment – otherwise its probably

a waste of time since the buyer agent giving the tour doesn’t know enough to be of much value.

Unfortunately it doesn’t always happen that way here in Philly.

Maybe you

can clarify something, as well. What do you mean it’s the buyer’s agent’s job to show the

property to the buyer??? Isn’t that the seller’s agent’s job? The seller’s agent is the one

with the listing!

I know in some cities the buyer’s agent and client go unaccompanied to

showings. In Boston, however, both buyer’s agent and seller’s agent attend each showing.

I think a seller should require his or her agent to show the listing, every time. How else

can you make sure the buyer knows everything about the property? The buyer’s agent may have never

seen the inside of the property before. How will the buyer’s agent know enough to make the

property attractive to a buyer?

agent is making enough (2% +?) money on the deal then they will gladly do the buyer’s agent’s

work by showing the property to the potential buyer. they do this because they have financial

incentive to. He then says that there are some “terrible” discount listing firms that don’t do any

work (like showing the unit) to their clients – the sellers. So we have a discount situation on

both sides and there isnt an agent on either side willing to show the unit to the potential buyer.

So the buyer is in a pickle says Reuben. The only problem is that Redfin WILL accompany the buyer

whenever the buyer wants – for a fee. So the buyer has recourse – they can pay for a Redfin agent

to show the property each time a listing agent wont. My guess is that they’ll still save tons of

money.

Am I close?

Actually, I’m not with you on this one. I can’t comprehend

what you’re saying. Somehow, it seems as though using your examples, the seller’s agent is

somehow hurt. I don’t know how or why.

I’m glad you have had the opportunity to explain

your point of view.

I don’t fear Redfin nor do I encourage them or wish them to succeed.

They are not a threat to my own business model.

Plenty of people have opinions on them and

their competitors for reduced-fee commissions. It’s good that we have a way to express these

opinions.