Selling a home...big realtor or Redfin

T

tsutomu45

New member
It's been a long time since I've been in this space, but it may be time to look at selling our home in Woodbury for a larger SFR.  In 8 years, it's amazing how much has changed in the world of real estate.

We currently own a Plan 3 Stonetree Manor in Woodbury.  Purchased new in 2007.  Want to potentially sell to move into a (slightly) larger SFR without the 2nd association fee.

When selling, does it pay to go with the bigger names (Jenny/Mike and Mary/etc) that I always see the glossy brochures from?  Or are services like Redfin (where I only pay 4.5%) the better way to go?  Does anyone have any experience with Redfin agents?

I can imagine the trade-off is that the bigger names charge more, but get better results.  Just not sure if a bigger name matters in Woodbury, where the floorplans are all fairly known and the homes are on the newer side.

Of course, if anyone has a recommendation for a good realtor in Woodbury...

 
When I sold my condo in Woodbury I used a realtor that was a friend of my wife's.  She was a top selling realtor in Tustin Ranch but didn't sell in Irvine much.  In retrospect I would use a realtor that specializes in Irvine.

Next question is do you need someone who specializes in Woodbury.  Maybe, maybe not.  I would highly suggest contacting USCTrojanCPA.  He's very honest and reliable - I used him as my agent when purchasing my new home and he went above and beyond, always responding to my text and emails in great detail (which is very important to me). 

Also, I'm pretty sure he can do better than the Redfin 4.5% total commission :)
Do *not* use a bigger name and pay 6% commission, you're really throwing your money away.

He'll probably be posting in this thread in 5, 4, 3, 2...
 
Can't speak for all but some of the big names dont do 6%. It's too competitive out there to charge the full 6.
 
aquabliss said:
He'll probably be posting in this thread in 5, 4, 3, 2...
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In with a recommendation for IrvineRealtor before USC gets here. :)

IR2 has a "rebate" structure that is close to Redfin's and he knows Irvine pretty well.

As with all things, I would recommend interviewing a few and then decide from there.
 
aquabliss said:
I would highly suggest contacting USCTrojanCPA. 
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I have not actually met USCTrojanCPA but he posts all of his listings and results on here and his staging / photography work is top-notch. Obviously redfin and the top realtors also offers that, but I think you'll find our board resident USCTrojanCPA's commission structure very much to your liking.
 
Thanks for the advice, all.  Will DM USCTrojanCPA.  I wonder if the service quality and pricing extends to Bruins?
 
+1 for IrvineRealtor. I wouldn't hesitate to PM him for your Woodbury home. He also offers very competitive rates, excellent service, and a no pressure relationship. GLWS!

irvinehomeowner said:
aquabliss said:
He'll probably be posting in this thread in 5, 4, 3, 2...
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In with a recommendation for IrvineRealtor before USC gets here. :)

IR2 has a "rebate" structure that is close to Redfin's and he knows Irvine pretty well.

As with all things, I would recommend interviewing a few and then decide from there.
Click to expand...
 
tsutomu45 said:
Thanks for the advice, all.  Will DM USCTrojanCPA.  I wonder if the service quality and pricing extends to Bruins?
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USCTrojanCPA is also a Bruin, He's Bruin first and Trojan second. :)




 
I've personally used IrvineRealtor and he's a coolio dude.  Honest and hardworking... also got a mean lefty jumper!! That white boy can shooot!
 
FARMMMMMIE said:
I've personally used IrvineRealtor and he's a coolio dude.  Honest and hardworking... also got a mean lefty jumper!! That white boy can shooot!
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And this white boy can also cook up some nice spicy beef noodle. ;)

momostyle.JPG
http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,8179.msg159374.html#msg159374
 
lnc said:
And this white boy can also cook up some nice spicy beef noodle. ;)
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Inc, I just got to say - your memory is incredible!! That post was 6.5 years ago. I'm amazed. You should move your butt to Las Vegas, play blackjack by counting cards, bring the House down, and rake in the $$$.
 
tsutomu45 said:
Thanks for the advice, all.  Will DM USCTrojanCPA.  I wonder if the service quality and pricing extends to Bruins?
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Of course it does....I'm actually a Brojan (UCLA undergrad and USC grad school) and I do pull for both schools when they aren't playing each other.  When they are....well....ummm....it depends.  haha 
 
Thanks for the kind words everyone.  I have a very simple selling philosophy, represent my clients as if I'm the one that is selling the home personally.  I have a very unique listing commission compensation structure that better aligns the seller's interests with mine which NO OTHER realtor uses.  There is a reason why all of my listings go into escrow within weeks not months and why many of them sell near or above comps.  :D
 
bones said:
Can't speak for all but some of the big names dont do 6%. It's too competitive out there to charge the full 6.
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The typical commission that most realtors use is 5%, split evenly between the listing agent and buyer agent.
 
tsutomu45 said:
When selling, does it pay to go with the bigger names (Jenny/Mike and Mary/etc) that I always see the glossy brochures from?  Or are services like Redfin (where I only pay 4.5%) the better way to go?  Does anyone have any experience with Redfin agents?
Click to expand...

We had friends who recently sold in WB and ended up with Jenny after trying the discount route.  The discount route is great if you are good at staging and getting professional pics.  As soon as Jenny got involved, she politely forced them to rearrange their house like moving the dining table back to where it belongs (they were using as a playroom) and putting some staging pieces with pro pics.  It had offers in a week and closed in a month.  My friends were happy but they realized Jenny's value is marketing, presentation and driving people to the open houses.  With some time and energy, they could have done this and saved a ton.

Personally, I would use a flat fee MLS listing services that will post your description, get you a lockbox, and put up your pics for about $2500.  Outside of that, the rest out of pocket is the commission to the selling agent and as others noted, thats about 2.5% now.  Pro photographer is under $500 and if you spent $500 at TJ Maxx, you can get a lot of nice looking decor stuff.  Assuming your house sells for $925K, thats $19,625 saved by really doing everything yourself.   
 
ri said:
If you pay the MLS flat fee , why do you need to pay for the selling agent?
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Because no selling agents which will show the listed home without any commission offered to them.  Buyers would have to contact the seller directly and that information is not posted on Redfin or any other real estate website. 
 
rkp said:
Personally, I would use a flat fee MLS listing services that will post your description, get you a lockbox, and put up your pics for about $2500.  Outside of that, the rest out of pocket is the commission to the selling agent and as others noted, thats about 2.5% now.  Pro photographer is under $500 and if you spent $500 at TJ Maxx, you can get a lot of nice looking decor stuff.  Assuming your house sells for $925K, thats $19,625 saved by really doing everything yourself. 
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Considering you can get realtors for 1% commission you'd only save $6,750. I agree that for a $925k home that you are willing to price competitively and is expected to sell in less than a month, no reason to pay the selling agent 2.5%
 
SoCal said:
lnc said:
And this white boy can also cook up some nice spicy beef noodle. ;)
Click to expand...

Inc, I just got to say - your memory is incredible!! That post was 6.5 years ago. I'm amazed. You should move your butt to Las Vegas, play blackjack by counting cards, bring the House down, and rake in the $$$.
Click to expand...

I know, right?  :)

I remembered it well because IrvineRealtor was actually making an authentic Chinese spicy beef noodle and I just thought that was pretty amazing.
 
rkp said:
We had friends who recently sold in WB and ended up with Jenny after trying the discount route.  The discount route is great if you are good at staging and getting professional pics.  As soon as Jenny got involved, she politely forced them to rearrange their house like moving the dining table back to where it belongs (they were using as a playroom) and putting some staging pieces with pro pics.  It had offers in a week and closed in a month.  My friends were happy but they realized Jenny's value is marketing, presentation and driving people to the open houses.  With some time and energy, they could have done this and saved a ton. 
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I think I remember seeing this listing in Woodbury.  I've seen this happen with other listings as well.. Seller goes with no name agent (most likely for the lower commission) and then switches to a "specialist" agent after a month or two.  What I can't understand is why there are so many agents who don't bother with professional pictures and staging the property.  When I saw staging, I just mean, move the crap out of the house and convert kids play rooms to the actual room it was designed for.  Professional pictures are a few hundred bucks.  It's crazy that some agents don't bother with any of this. 
 
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