Realtor difficulties--pls advise

[Harriet Vane]

I am looking for a rental home in another state, and feeling lost because of lack of familiarity with neighborhoods (though there have been some boardies who have offered good advice--thank you!). Because we feel so lost, I have been happy to interact with a realtor that a friend recommended.

 

This realtor in many ways is ideal. She gave us a long car tour of the city when we were first considering the decision to move. We appreciated her insights and commentary, and she seems to understand our goals. Our friends were very enthusiastic about her as well.

 

The realtor handles primarily home purchases, though. She told us she is happy to handle a rental for us though. I would imagine some of her willingness to help is based on the fact that we hope to purchase a house in a year, when we've gotten more familiar with the area, so she also understands us as prospective future customers.

 

She also impressed us in her willingness to walk through homes on our behalf. That way when I do actually drive out to look, it will be only at homes that pass muster. Since driving there and back is twelve hours of car time and an overnight stay, I am grateful that she offered to do this. She did this for one house, which we then applied for but have not heard back yet. I fear we will not get that house as there were several applications for it. If we are accepted for the house, then I will drive out.

 

However, in the meantime, there are a new crop of listings on Craig's List. The realtor promised to get us more listings today but has not done so. Each time we talk there has been a delay of a couple days. I have held off calling the Craig's List properties because I would love to have the realtor's advice on neighborhoods, but she has not responded to my email yesterday.

 

The company that is hiring dh offers relocation services. I wonder if a realtor with them will be more responsive and more rental-minded than this realtor. I would still be happy to use the original realtor for an eventual house purchase--I genuinely like her, like her insights. I am just frustrated with touching base only here and there in the week, and I feel some urgency about securing the rental home so we can move in June.

 

Can I talk to the company realtor and have two realtors helping me? I don't want to offend.

 

Should I stop worrying about getting into a good area and just start calling the Craig's List listings on my own , trusting that I will figure out if it's an okay property or not on my own?

 

Thanks

[Harriet Vane]

Anyone out there?

[zoobie]

She may only be interested in showing you rentals listed for agents that will pay her for placing a tenant. The usual fee around us was a month's rent or 10% of the monthly rent when we were looking a couple of years ago. We found our temp rental on CL and not one shown by our agent. She may be willing to look at CL rentals for you if you pay her a finders fee, and she may not be sure how to word that with you? Not responding doesn't seem professional though.

[magnificent_baby]

I don't have advice for using a realtor for a rental, but we have purchased many homes.

 

I would not advise using 2 realtors at the same time. IME, it upsets one or the other.

 

I am guessing she isn't prompt about returning your calls because she won't make as much as if she sold a house. I would be clear with her and leave a message saying that you have found a few that you are very interested in and want to move fast on this. Offer to make the arrangements yourself if this is a busy time for her. If she still takes her time, then send her a nice email thanking her for her time and you may call her when you are ready to purchase. Maybe even a small gift if she drove you around a few times.

[Tess in the Burbs]

Your relo person will be paid to help you. Not all rentals pay the realtor so the gal you are calling now may or may not get anything - and it will be small if she does. Go with the relo person. Tell other gal you need to make quick decisions and her sales side must be keeping her busy, no hard feelings

[Catwoman]

Bumping the thread for you! :)

[Happy]

I'm working with out of state rental folks right now.

 

I will not make very much, but like you said, I hope they will use me when it's time to buy. I geniunely DO want to be helpful and responsive. One of the issues I have is some of my rental people want to talk and look three or four months out. They are not ready to apply or put money down, but they do want to look, drive around with me, chat on the phone, and ask questions by email. Only really get involved when you are READY.

 

Give the agent a call. Tell her you are nervous about where your family is going to be living. Figure out a day when you can go to look at houses and make applications. (The point being you will take up one afternoon/day and bag a deal.) Tell her you are seeing interesting things on CL...perhaps she can follow up with them. Some of them will be regular MLS type listings. Some will be by owners who may or may not pay a commission fee. A select few are scams. If it's a CL ad I wouldn't send money without actually visiting the home.

 

Also, our market is hot. If hers is too, your agent could geniunely juggling a lot of activity.

 

Good luck with your search and move. It's darned hard work!

[happi duck]

I like the sound of the relocation person. Presumably this is someone the company has used before. They should be well versed on helping people get to the area to settle safely while learning the area. Might they be able to help with a short-term furnished apartment while you learn the area, traffic patterns etc?

[Candid]

Whatever you do, don't finish up a rental with one Realtor that the other one found. That in my view is the biggest problem.

 

One way to learn something about the first lady is how gracious she is if you do switch to the other person.

[Harriet Vane]

Thanks for the input. I had a good talk with the realtor this morning. I told her I am concerned because I do not want to take advantage of her time if it's for a property for which she would not earn a commission (like on Craig's List), but that I appreciate her advice. She told me she is happy to advise on anything on Craig's List and happy to continue working with me on a rental. It was a good talk and reflected a lot of the positive things that have impressed me about her so far. We are taking one more day to hear back on the house to which we already applied; if that does not come through then she will work with me to get something else. I also told her specifically that we would definitely contact her for the eventual purchase down the road.

 

One more question--if we find a property for which she would not be compensated (like on Craig's List), what would be an appropriate amount to pay her for the time and expertise she has been so generous in sharing with us?