Innisfill Results?

[netpred]

Rob:

I do not agree with you on this one. Most agents are scummy. Pfm may be over the top with his language, but there is merit in his message. The guy knows a thing or two.  There are a few decent agents but most are commission driven. They get paid on a sale and get paid more when the price is higher. Agents invented the "Oklahoma" scam and a host of other scams. Most will do almost anything for a commission - especially if they won't get caught. Now, if you know this about them, you can play them and use it to your advantage.

There is now competition on the horizon and the agents are circling the wagons. That is why the Competition Bureau is out for them.

Lawyers? Find a competent and ethical one and you will be set for life. There are also bad apples out there, but consider this, an agent may make $25k in commission or more, but only if the deal closes. A lawyer might make $500 on the same deal irrespective of whether it closes. Who do you think is on your side? Who has a financial interest in having the deal close? So what if there are issues with the property that affect title? The agent really doesn't care about these problems - they just want a deal to close so they can get their commission. Has anyone here ever heard of an agent telling his/her client "don't close"?
Of course not. They blame the lawyers for not closing. Does anyone really believe that lawyers take a perverse pleasure from not closing deals? Lawyers are there to represent their clients. In my view, most agents are there for the commission.

The real problem with lawyers is that they want to be paid. People would rather not pay. So if you want a cheap lawyer, you probably get a crappy lawyer. I also think that large firms do "milk" files - so avoid them unless you have really deep pockets. The trick is to find a small guy (or gal) who is competent, ethical and will work for a fair fee - say around $300 per hour.

[netpred]

I personally find real estate agents helpful, useful and important.  If I were buying or selling a home, I would use a real agent's services because they would sell at a higher price than I would have be able to get on my own and they handle negotiations.  Using one when buying makes sense because it doesn't cost you anything (it costs the seller).   Does it increase the overall cost of the home price?  Yes... but agents are necessary... for most people.

Does anyone have any opinions on lawyers?  

I am not going to wade into the discussion except to refer people to the following URL

http://agentgenius.com/real-estate-news-events/forsalebyowner-com-founder-gives-up-on-own-listing-hires-real-estate-broker/

Bottom line is the founder of for sale by owner used a real estate agent to sell his own place.  

Dave:

This is exactly why the Competition Bureau is after real estate agents. They have, and continue to exercise, monopolistic power over the MLS. This is, according to the Competition Bureau, illegal. Imagine, the founder of this service was forced to use the services of an agent to fully access the MLS in order to sell his own Condo. This is not an argument for agents, but a condomnation of their practices. This also speaks volumes about the control exercised of the entire industry by traditional agents. The real estate boards have always retaliated against any "discount" agents who permit their clients to access the MLS for a small fee. The Competition Bureau will change things for the better.

Why should I pay 5% of the sale price to list my property on the MLS? Any agents out there got an answer for this question? I'd love to hear it if so.

[Pfm1011]

Realtors are your best friend as a seller, as they will eat their young for an extra dollar..which is in your best interest as a seller ...except when the scam by the Realtor kicks in...

They give you an inflated value for your home to get the listing and then start with the excuses about the market being bad, etc etc when the offers come in low ..Of course most people think their house is worth more then it is and wont sign with a realtor who gives them an honest opinion so it is partly our fault... 

So great friend as seller..unfortunately very few are just sellers..as you will become a buyer also

The ultimate damage is done when people buy the next house  based on what they think the will get on the old and end up over paying and deep in it

As per being a douchebag..I will give that a minor percent of realtors  may be less then complete douchebags , and maybe one or two are even  human ....of course you did jump in spew the whole BS about the POS deals  ....but who am I to judge 

Read the twisted stats by the Toronto Real Estate Board..they should be sued for the crap they spew as they mutilate stats to always show an increase ..even if statscan and the CREA show decreases

If you actually believe most realtors don't eat their young and when you look around your office you don't see sharks and pitbulls..you seriously are too far gone ...GO DIAMOND ..GO GOLD..GO PLATINUM..YEEHAA 

As per MLS.. It is complete price fixing and was illegal under the old act.   Under the new act (July 09 I believe) this is not illegal as price fixing is no longer an illegal act unless you have a complete monopoly which they don't as anyone can start a similar database.. 

Under the new act oil companies can openly fix prices at the pumps as there is more then one company and therefore people have a choice...yes that's right you might want to read that again to grasp the stupidity ..

It is now completely legal for Miele to force all "agents" to sell their dishwashers at the identical price ( which Miele does)  and completely  legal to cut off a dealer who sells for one penny less..unless that dealer can prove that Miele will bankrupt him if they cut him off...but the only way to prove you will go bankrupt ..is to immediately go bankrupt after Miele cuts you off..but bankrupt companies cant sue and neither can the shareholder so the customer pays 2k for the dishwasher

The competition bureaus thinking is that the market will dictate an you can buy another brand or don't buy at all ..of course the same rules apply to the price fixed gasoline .The government position is now....If you don't like the price of gas..don't drive

Now Companies and Distributors can charge dealers who sell on the internet more for the product then a retail store in order to maintain high prices to the consumer.

If a dealer  has a complaint..the new competition bureau rules eliminate the government enforcement and criminal charges,,its now a civil matter and people can sue instead ..but bankrupt companies  cant sue..hmmm

So the realtor boards can do what they want with the MLS but nothing stops someone from starting their own database ..much like most of the world..

The CREA settled this case as they were violating the old act but not the new.. and the government would have won a useless legal win but the win would be a huge public relations nightmare for the realtors..for we all know they are saintly wonderful people and such a loss would stain their virginal white reputations  . By opening up the MLS ,  You still need to have a realtor to sign up ,  CREA charges  excessive  fees  and reduces the risk of a better database coming online

This was far from a victory as you still have to deal with a realtor to get listed.

The low commission guys are perfectly free to start their own database and take on the MLS..Take a look at other systems around the world and you will see the MLS is actually a crap database feature wise

[Dave2]

Dave:
Why should I pay 5% of the sale price to list my property on the MLS? Any agents out there got an answer for this question? I'd love to hear it if so.

Netpred:

Maybe because they can perform a service for you.  Like the problem I have right now as a potential seller. Just purchased more then 1/2 dozen properties for better then tax sale prices.  

Quality better then anything I have seen this year on this board that actually sold.  Putting it in meat terms grade AA plus "Angus" beef.  Clean with an excellent location
in southern Ontario, no Moonbeam distances, nice and handy to Toronto within admittedly long commuting distance to Toronto.  My purchase price was 1/4 of assessed value and 1/10 of current market value.  

Only problem beef is quite young and will take a while to age.  My problem is that I also have a chance at a bunch of salmon as well on which I made an offer yesterday, let alone a bunch of cottages and something that a select few know something about
but I have been so busy that I have not had time to pursue.  

All it requires is the certification stamp of someone who is owed a lot of beers as better then tax sale.  Then life gets interesting.  Who knows maybe that person might even want to decide to become a beef lover himself if you catch my drift.  
 
Of course I might have to increase my purchase bid somewhat because for me this board has been expensive lately.  As ernest bidder noted those beer wholesalers can get expesive.

[netpred]

Dave:

You know how I have spent many weekends this summer . I expect to be passing through at the usual place a day later than usual. Is it good for you?

[Dave2]

Dave:

You know how I have spent many weekends this summer . I expect to be passing through at the usual place a day later than usual. Is it good for you?

Understand.  Around Saturday and Sunday, travelling on business Monday.  The longer you delay the meeting date I should caution you that there is an increasing
risk the beer might evaporate particularly if I have to remove some of the caps to ensure that it is not getting Skunky.