Why is the MLS interface so inferior to free websites like Redfin and Zillow. We pay a fortune every year for MLS access yet the free websites are more intuitive and much easier to search for info.
The info is better in MLS but the interface and technology are far interior.

I am looking for advice on how to use my county’s tax database to find leads. I have read some people say do a list of anyone who bought about 7 years ago, but that’s a VERY large list. Are there any other areas you focus on?

I snap pictures of rundown/vacant homes and keep a list of those addresses to reach out to the property owners. I don’t particularly want my entire list of listings to be derelict properties though.

Any other ideas?

Colorado broker here. Curious how other agents handle this conversation.

Say a sewer scope finds about $12,000 worth of work. The seller won’t repair it before closing, but they’ll give the buyer a credit off the price of the home for the estimated amount.

On paper, that sounds fair. But the buyer still takes on the risk. The final bill could be higher, the repair could uncover something else, and they have to deal with all of it right after moving in. Even if they have the cash, it could leave their emergency fund pretty thin.

Obviously I’d want more than one estimate and I’d confirm what the lender will allow. Beyond that, what do you focus on when helping a first-time buyer decide whether the credit is actually worth taking?

Can anyone tell me how the HAR orientation works. I’m a new agent and I have registered for the har orientation but on the confirmation it tells me basically zero information, just that it’s online. Like do I have to be on camera , is it zoom, teams, ?

What have you come across, prevented, experienced that 99% of Realtors never have or will?

Any crazy stories you feel comfortable sharing? This is one of mine so far...

https://floment.ai/posts/the-showing-im-glad-i-never-went-to-a-warning-for-every-real-estate-agent-6569

NYC-based realtor and I'm considering moving from one large brokerage to another. I currently have pending deals under contract, including referral deals, and im curious if anyone has gone through something similar? I am being told that the new brokerage will make me whole on the commissions lost. Wondering how this actually plays out in practice. Also what happens with active listings that have not yet sold. TIA!

Anyone in NY cold calling in spite of the never ending Hochul state of emergency that says realtors may not cold call during state of emergency? Wondering how anyone would even know or find out.

I have a single family house for sale in Fairfield county CT.
I got them to drop down $25k off the original price.
The house is vacant and empty as they’ve moved to Florida.
I told them $499,000 on the same phone call as the price drop and they said absolutely not, you just need better marketing. Unfortunately interest rates and the market slowing down coming into the fall are not helping.
House is freshly painted inside and out, it’s outdated and has lower ceilings in the main part of the house. Also bedrooms are small. Great town though.
Open houses on Sunday range from 5 people to none. Depends on weather.

Seeking marketing ideas
Virtual staging?
Zillow showcase?
Cold calling local agents asking if they have a buyer?

I am young, this is my first listing, and I feel like garbage. Feel like I’ve let my clients down.

Hi all. I’ve been doing real estate for 4.5 years and have been hustling. This year has been busy for me but I’m in the season where I’m quiet and I hate it. I know it’s normal in this industry and trying to get other things done that maybe has been on the back burner in life and this business. I guess I’m wondering- what year were you in when you had consistent business or have you always dealt with a slower point at times because it’s the nature of the business? I guess this would be geared to more experienced Realtors. I shouldn’t be dwelling as much as I am but here we are. I work my ass off, I have things in the pipe line, the market in RI is not great so I know all this factors in but I want my hard work to pay off and have consistent busing that even exists here.

I've never had an issue negotiating my commission. I've reduced my commission many times and I have never asked a buyer to cover the difference when a seller offers less than our agreed compensation.
Recently, I've connected with an investor who has multiple properties to sell, potentially including his personal home valued at over $1.5M. Obviously, a relationship I'd love to build! However, he's made several comments along the lines of, "I don't mean to discount what you do, but I know what it takes to put a listing in the MLS," and has referred to these as gimme listings and easy money.

We all know, if you’re good at this job, it involves MUCH more than putting a listing in the MLS, especially in this market.

I would've had no issue negotiating a reduced commission, but repeated comments minimizing my work have rubbed me the wrong way. It's not about the money as much as the principle. I know the value I bring, and while I'd love to earn his business, I also want to establish mutual respect from the beginning.

How would you confidently approach this conversation without sounding defensive or jeopardizing the relationship? And what commission structures have you found work well for investors with multiple properties?

I'm absolutely open to negotiating, obviously.
Commission is negotiable. I just don't want to feel like I have to defend my worth in order to do so. Or maybe | should feel that way? I did ask what he had in mind commission structure-wise and he would not lock in and give me anything.

ETA: Is this someone you would want to work with? I am just a year and a half into real estate but I have done well considering. I’ve closed 24 transactions since May of last year when most other agents in my area are struggling to keep business going. But nonetheless, I am still new.. and I don’t have that guaranteed steady business. This could be a great client for me. But also I’m finding it’s important to protect my peace and not all money is good money.

Looks like Zillow is pushing for Flex. Realtor dot com is now pushing for teams to buy zip codes. Redfin is now giving all their leads to their partner brokerages (Compass mostly).

Have you guys heard any news on other platforms? How's your lead flow?

I do a lot of Realtor. They went from having 20+ leads in just my town to having 20 ish leads for the entire county.

How's Facebook, Youtube, and Google doing?

And I know. I know. "All I do is work with my family and I do 1000 deals a year with ninja selling!"

This isn't about that. I'm curious how people paying for ads are doing.

We're selling our house in NY, and the buyer requested a mold inspection despite no visible signs of mold or known active leaks.

How common is this request among buyers? Is it standard practice in NY, or unusual when there's no specific reason to suspect mold?

As the title says, my firm was just acquired by Homesmart. I've never heard of them so am curious to hear people's feedback. I'd especially love to hear from anyone whose brokerage was also acquired by HomeSmart. Our fee structure is very low and while we're being told they'll remain the same, some people in my office are saying otherwise. Apparently, Homesmart acquired a firm they worked with in the past and changed things as soon as the old guard was out. Any insight would be great. Thanks!

Do you think being exceptionally attractive gives female real estate agents a significant advantage in terms of income?
Assuming they’re genuinely good at their jobs, proactive, efficient, and professional, does physical attractiveness help them attract clients, close more deals, and build their business faster, especially when they’re just starting out?
I’m curious whether it makes a noticeable difference in the real world or if skills, networking, and experience matter much more in the long run.

Hello, I got my license back when I was 18. I worked for 2 years until I eventually left for 6 months. I eventually reactivated my license and worked for another 2 years finding a little bit of success but ultimately flamed out again and managed to get a secure a cushy corporate job. Looking back, I had a lot of unresolved and undiagnosed mental health issues that I didn’t really know about at the time that definitely would’ve impacted my career. I’ve spent the last few years working on that aspect of myself, not to mention having a lot more life experience at 28 (even recently buying my own home) than I did when I was 18. I’ve found myself for the last few month considering another attempt at being an agent. Would I be crazy to try for a 3rd time? Any advice is greatly appreciated

I spent breakfast setting up digital intake apps on my new tablet. At the open house, the lead agent handed me a paper sign-in clipboard. I'd brought the tablet, a heavy keyboard, and two wall chargers, but no pens. A visitor lent me hers and then had to wait while I finished my notes so she could get it back.

As a new realtor, what tech do I actually need for days when I'm out from morning to evening? Between properties, my phone does most of the work anyway. I'm looking at the Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro for magnetic top-ups on my MagSafe iPhone between showings, and the soundcore AeroClip 2 open-ear clips for callbacks while I go through MLS sheets. I haven't bought either yet.

The tablet is staying home next weekend.

Most of my business is agent to agent referrals now that I’ve transitioned out of real estate full time. When a client reaches out, I try to connect them with the right agent and negotiate the referral fee.

My tracking used to be a mess. Half of it was in my texts, some in emails, and there's a spreadsheet I haven't opened since like April.

I ended up building my own thing to track it, but I'm curious, how other people are keeping track of their agent to agent referrals today?

Hi all! I'm brand new to this sub, so if this isn't the place for this question, please let me know :)

Tl:dr; What's the best brokerage in North Carolina for a flipper not interested in clients other than my own homes I'm buying/selling?

I'm new to renovating/flipping homes, but have been a little let down by the two realtors I've used recently; to the point that I am exploring getting my North Carolina real estate license so I can access the MLS data and buy/sell houses I'm flipping myself.

I previously held my Florida real estate license (thought that would be my career path, but it wasn't), so I feel fine about the licensing process. I'm mostly looking for advice on a good brokerage that gives a large percentage to the agent as well as low/no additional fees for things like office space that I don't need. Are there other questions I should ask brokers? Anything additional to be on the lookout for?

I am considering accepting a new home sales consultant job offer in the Bay Area and wondering what the pros/cons are of switching from resale and potential income first year?

Thanks.

My lovely spouse put my cell number onto an insurance quote website in early august and holy shit, its been a nightmare. I set my iphone to send unknown/unsaved numbers straight to voicemail and in my message, i state (paraphrasing) “sorry but this is the only way to keep my phone from ringing non stop”

And to make sure i abide

My mother in law is selling her home and asked my wife and I to help her pick a Realtor.

I sent out emails to realtors who have either sold or have an active listing within 3 miles of her home, and ended up having seven 15 minute conversations/interviews, which left us feeling like a particular 3 would be equally as good.

Because the home is an attached townhome with identical recent comps, all seven Realtors were in the same small band when it came to pricing, but nobody has been to the property.

What is the next fair/reasonable step to take to make our final decision? Is it fair to ask each of the three to look at the property and tell us what their punch list would be before we make a final decision?