The vultures are circling...

[GasX]

Just got this e-mail:

Hello,

I just wanted to send you an e-mail regarding your posting which I discovered today. Some people try to preserve equity in their
home by trying to sell their homes themselves, and avoid the broker?s fee altogether. Although this is a great concept, in reality
most homebuyers quickly discover two facts:
1) The majority of buyers responding to your ad are searching for a great ?deal? and will negotiate every aspect of the sale.
2) Limited exposure of your advertisements. The calls you will receive represent a small segment of the potential number of home
buying prospects. Utilizing the services of a Realtor, will maximize your home?s advertising to hundreds of Realtors( and their
clients) throughout Hudson County.

The services which I can offer, will greatly enhance the marketability of your home. I will help you to prepare your home for sale
by recommending changes to the décor of your home as well as simple changes to your home which will increase the number of purchase
offers received for your home. By listing your home for sale through Coldwell Banker, you can receive the many benefits of Coldwell
Bankers Premier services including Mortgage services, Insurance coverages and Relocation. By working with a Full-Service Real Estate
Broker, you can depend upon my experience to guide you through the home selling process. For an appointment, please call me @
201-926-2398.



Thank you,

Bill

My wife and I are nowhere near giving up on selling our home by ourselves and this e-mail and its condescending tone are both annoying and amusing at the same time...

 

[spidey07]

Its a racket...soon they'll be sending out black SUVs with tinted windows to scare off any potential lookers and killing your lawn/landscape.

also check out www.buyowner.com

 

[GasX]

In my experience, seller's agents know very little about staging a home and are too invested in getting a quick sale and the resulting commision to negotiate well on your behalf.

I responded to his e-mail telling him he might have more luck if his e-mails were less condescending...

 

[SirPsycho]

A lot of times, FSBO is indicative of an owner is hard up for the money and can't afford to pay a real estate agent's commission, hence his first comment. He's probably mostly correct, but if you have the patience to deal with the idiots and show the house yourself, more power to you. I'd be very interested in knowing how you handle the legal arrangements without an agent. We might be selling our house before too long, and it's something I would consider doing myself.

Also, I have seen services that can help you with the second issue he raised as well... there are places I've seen that are dedicated to FSBO's and will get your home listed on the MLS system for a flat fee. That will definitely get you a lot more exposure for a lot less than an agent's commission.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[GasX]

New series of e-mails that are not quite from a sincere potential purchaser:

Dear sir,

Kindly let me know if this property is still available for sale for i want to make a purchase as soon as possible.

Hoping to hear from you soonest.

Clara Kassama

[innocent enough so far]
=======

Dear Matt,

Thanks for your kind reply. My kids and I are glad that this property is still available. I believe the condition of the property is in good shape. The money for the payment is readily available and I would like to start the procedure as soon as possible so that my kids and I can run from the inhuman treatment of my husband to us.

Meanwhile, let me know more of the taxes and insurance on the property.

Thanks as I wait to hear from you.

Clara Kassama.

[getting suspicious now...]
=======

Thanks for your kind reply. It is my wish to let you know that I am making this purchase because of the kind of treatment that my children and I are receiving here in Gambia. We women are being forced to bring our daughters to the traditional ceremony of Female Genital Mutilation.

I would not want my two daughters to go through this kind of slavery and that is why I need to make payment of this property and leave the country immediately.

You can visit the site to know more about these abuses in Gambia.

I, with the help of my attorney will instruct my bank to wire the money to your account or send you equivalent on a check.

Please let me have your payment information to enable my bank contact you.

I will also need you to assist in receiving my kids and me as soon as we arrive at the airport for we do not have any one else excerpt you.

Thanks for your assistance and may God continue to bless you.

Clara Kassama

[officially into Nigerian scam mode...]
=======

 

[alexeikgb]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
New series of e-mails that are not quite from a sincere potential purchaser:

Dear sir,

Kindly let me know if this property is still available for sale for i want to make a purchase as soon as possible.

Hoping to hear from you soonest.

Clara Kassama

[innocent enough so far]
=======

Dear Matt,

Thanks for your kind reply. My kids and I are glad that this property is still available. I believe the condition of the property is in good shape. The money for the payment is readily available and I would like to start the procedure as soon as possible so that my kids and I can run from the inhuman treatment of my husband to us.

Meanwhile, let me know more of the taxes and insurance on the property.

Thanks as I wait to hear from you.

Clara Kassama.

[getting suspicious now...]
=======

Thanks for your kind reply. It is my wish to let you know that I am making this purchase because of the kind of treatment that my children and I are receiving here in Gambia. We women are being forced to bring our daughters to the traditional ceremony of Female Genital Mutilation.

I would not want my two daughters to go through this kind of slavery and that is why I need to make payment of this property and leave the country immediately.

You can visit the site to know more about these abuses in Gambia.

I, with the help of my attorney will instruct my bank to wire the money to your account or send you equivalent on a check.

Please let me have your payment information to enable my bank contact you.

I will also need you to assist in receiving my kids and me as soon as we arrive at the airport for we do not have any one else excerpt you.

Thanks for your assistance and may God continue to bless you.

Clara Kassama

[officially into Nigerian scam mode...]
=======

HAHA.... i like the slow build up to a full out scam

 

[Yolner]

wow i wonder if they actually find people stupid enough to fall for that :/

 

[z0mb13]

rofl for the email conversations

 

[KillyKillall]

OMG...that's awesome.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
New series of e-mails that are not quite from a sincere potential purchaser:

Dear sir,

Kindly let me know if this property is still available for sale for i want to make a purchase as soon as possible.

Hoping to hear from you soonest.

Clara Kassama

[innocent enough so far]
=======

Dear Matt,

Thanks for your kind reply. My kids and I are glad that this property is still available. I believe the condition of the property is in good shape. The money for the payment is readily available and I would like to start the procedure as soon as possible so that my kids and I can run from the inhuman treatment of my husband to us.

Meanwhile, let me know more of the taxes and insurance on the property.

Thanks as I wait to hear from you.

Clara Kassama.

[getting suspicious now...]
=======

Thanks for your kind reply. It is my wish to let you know that I am making this purchase because of the kind of treatment that my children and I are receiving here in Gambia. We women are being forced to bring our daughters to the traditional ceremony of Female Genital Mutilation.

I would not want my two daughters to go through this kind of slavery and that is why I need to make payment of this property and leave the country immediately.

You can visit the site to know more about these abuses in Gambia.

I, with the help of my attorney will instruct my bank to wire the money to your account or send you equivalent on a check.

Please let me have your payment information to enable my bank contact you.

I will also need you to assist in receiving my kids and me as soon as we arrive at the airport for we do not have any one else excerpt you.

Thanks for your assistance and may God continue to bless you.

Clara Kassama

[officially into Nigerian scam mode...]
=======

HAHAHA, they try this crap on folks trying to sell their homes now? that's too funny.

 

[flot]

In all seriousness, my parents are realtors and you wouldn't believe the nonsense they put up with from sellers as well as buyers. (I do realize that lots of people either have bad experiences with realtors, or THINK they have bad experiences with realtors, and I'm definitely not saying they are all saints)

There are a number of advantages to using a realtor to sell your house. I also think that the commissions they charge are insane, as do my parents - they run a low-comission real estate office. (Nowhere near you, so don't worry this isn't a soliciation

Anyway, I'm just saying - don't discount the realtor route. However if you shop around you can find one that will discount their comission, which is really where most people's complaints lie. Because the truth is, selling on your own you will only get 20% of the exposure that you would get if your house was listed in your local MLS system, if even that. And based on that many more people seeing it - you could probably sell your house for more money, which means that in the end the comission would be a wash.

PS: How much (approx) is your house selling for?

PPS: Realtors don't negotiate on your behalf. Realtors represent you. Their job is to present all offers, good or bad, to you, and help you figure out what to do. But it certainly isn't like the realtor is there saying "oh well he'll probably take $95k so go ahead and offer it." (this would also get them a lower comission, of course)

 

[z0mb13]

just to play with her, tell her that u are picking her up at the airport, but dont pick them up

 

[PanzerIV]

Man, those idiots really don't give up. Even if one out of thousands falls for this crap they can make some good money given the average standard of living over there.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
just to play with her, tell her that u are picking her up at the airport, but dont pick them up

I think you're missing something.

 

[CChaos]

What's condescending about Bill's email? I just don't see it.

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: SirPsycho
I'd be very interested in knowing how you handle the legal arrangements without an agent.

Hire a lawyer...
A Real estate lawyer
(<$1000)

 

[rahvin]

Getting in the MLS is the only reason to list with an agent as it DOES get you more exposure. I sold my condo by myself and did end up paying a 3% commission to the buyers agent (after I refused to negotiate price because they had an agent involved). The number of condescending and downright rude calls I recieved from agents was astounding.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: flot
Anyway, I'm just saying - don't discount the realtor route. However if you shop around you can find one that will discount their comission, which is really where most people's complaints lie. Because the truth is, selling on your own you will only get 20% of the exposure that you would get if your house was listed in your local MLS system, if even that. And based on that many more people seeing it - you could probably sell your house for more money, which means that in the end the comission would be a wash.

The apartment is in one of the hottest and densest real estate markets in the country - Hoboken, NJ Right now most places are selling in 2 or 3 weeks at well over ask. Buyers are so desperate to buy that they are doing all of the work. In this climate trying FSBO is smart if you have the time. We do not need to sell to close on our new house, so if it takes us 2 months, we don't care - although by that time we will probably go with a realtor just to reduce the time burden on us...

PS: How much (approx) is your house selling for?

We priced it (purposely) on the high side at $649k.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: woowoo

Originally posted by: SirPsycho
I'd be very interested in knowing how you handle the legal arrangements without an agent.

Hire a lawyer...
A Real estate lawyer
(<$1000)

exactly. You make me an offer and if I accept it, you fill out a handy form I made with your and your lawyer's contact info and give me a good faith check made payable to my lawyers real estate trust account. My lawyer then negotiates a sale agreement with your lawyer, you arrange financing and conduct an inspection and we are off to the races...

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: woowoo

Originally posted by: SirPsycho
I'd be very interested in knowing how you handle the legal arrangements without an agent.

Hire a lawyer...
A Real estate lawyer
(<$1000)

yeap we just hired one for around $500.

we didnt use a realtor either. why pay someone 3-6% for it?

 

[Homerboy]

heh when we boughtour house (FSBO) they were really cool (and he was a lawyer so he got away with it all for "Free")
Regardless they told us that the day after they put the little sign in their front yard RA's starting calling them asking them to sell through them.... for whatya know!!! 6% more then their FSBO asking price.... hmmmm 6% more? So that covers the FAs fees EXACTLY and the sellers dont see an extra dime. Gimme a break.

To top it off, houses sell in my neighborhood usually within a weeks time after its posted, so finding buyers is NOT hard.

FAs, while I am jealous of their $$ and work hours, are the devil incarnate. Rats, every last one of them.

 

[rh71]

We bought this house FSBO also. The seller's sister is a lawyer so they could get away with most of it for free. We didn't care. Armed with our own lawyer, the process couldn't have been simpler. They wound up just 8k short of their asking price anyway. Good for us though... if it were advertised on MLS, we would never have had this chance.. the true vultures - other homebuyers would've been circling. We just happened to drive by and see a sign FSBO. In the realtor's car while we were looking at other houses, no less.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
heh when we boughtour house (FSBO) they were really cool (and he was a lawyer so he got away with it all for "Free")
Regardless they told us that the day after they put the little sign in their front yard RA's starting calling them asking them to sell through them.... for whatya know!!! 6% more then their FSBO asking price.... hmmmm 6% more? So that covers the FAs fees EXACTLY and the sellers dont see an extra dime. Gimme a break.

To top it off, houses sell in my neighborhood usually within a weeks time after its posted, so finding buyers is NOT hard.

FAs, while I am jealous of their $$ and work hours, are the devil incarnate. Rats, every last one of them.

What is an FA and an RA?

( code for buyer's agent and seller's agent? )

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Strang

Originally posted by: z0mb13
just to play with her, tell her that u are picking her up at the airport, but dont pick them up

I think you're missing something.

Yup. Should ask for a good faith payment. Open up a PO Box and have them send it there. Make sure you reply back in broken english and in all caps though.



I've told them to go play hide and go fvck themselves and sometimes they email me back asking for my account numbers...