This is a “first ever” book of its kind, in that it deals not only with the subject of real estate blogging, but in that it is the first book to deal exclusively about using blogs in a specific industry vertical.

We are looking for prominent real estate bloggers to interview for the book and would like to extend an invitation Redfin to participate. It would give you a prime opportunity to talk about your blog and why you chose to enter the real estate end of the blogosphere now.

If you’re interested, please contact me at pchaney at bloggingsystems dot com. Thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_estate_agent

“Services provided to buyer

* A real estate brokerage (agency) attempts to do the following for the for buyers of real estate:
o Finding real estate in accordance with the buyers needs, specifications, and affordability
o Taking buyers to and showing them properties available for them to buy
o When deemed appropriate, prescreening the buyers to ensure they are financially qualified to buy the properties shown
* Negotiates price on behalf of the buyers and prepares standard real estate purchase contract by filling in the blanks in the contract form. The buyer’s agent acts as a fiduciary for the buyer.

For both buyers and/or sellers

* If the same agent represents both the buyer and the seller, the agent is typically considered a dual agent. Special laws/rules often apply to dual agents, especially in negotiating price.
* Additionally, some real estate agents coordinate various aspects of the closing

Real estate agent typically do not provide title service such as title search or title insurance, do not conduct surveys or formal appraisals of the property such as those required by lenders, and do not act as lawyers for the parties, although they may “coordinate” these activities with the appropriate specialists.

Regardless of whether a real estate agent assists sellers or buyers of real estate, negotiation and financing skills are important.

Some real estate brokers may be associated with loan officers who may help to finance buyers to make their purchase.”

I have a feeling that this list is too small. If I can find a house that I want by myself from Redfin or similar, it seems like the only thing that I would not be able to do is go to see the house myself. And that is only because the system is set up so seller’s agents don’t show the property.

I understand that if there are 50 people that want to see the house, it would be too much of a pain in the butt to show all of them. But it seems crazy to me for my seller’s agent to get 3% of the selling price for opening the door to a house and making sure I don’t steal anything inside.

On another note, why is it a percentage anyway? Does it take a lot more work to show a $1mil house compared to a $100k house? Why should the agent get thousands of more dollars for the same amount of work?

I am not being a smart ass or anything like that. I really don’t understand how or why this stuff works and the more I look at it, the stranger it seems to me from the outside.

I never realized the general public and new companies didn’t know who the real estate business functions. Maybe how it functions will change.

Thank you. I had no idea that a seller’s agent didn’t normally show the property. That seems strange to me. Why is that?

If the seller’s agent shows and sells the property, then the seller’s agent is entitled to the buyer agent fee. If the agent charges less, which is often the case if the buyer doesn’t have someone else to show them the property, then the seller gets the discount, not the buyer.

I would assume that the reason the seller agent would show a home to a prospective buyer is to sell the house. Isn’t that the most important part of their job? I mean if the house doesn’t sell, then the there is no transaction.

I guess maybe most people (like me) just don’t understand the exact responsibilities of each agent. This is because when asked, most agents say things like “peace of mind” and other vague things.

In my mind, if I am going to sell my house, I want my agent to show my house to prospective buyers. I would think that this is the first part of their job (I guess after getting the proper value worked out). Why should the selling agent NOT do this??

There are parts of this country where no one can get an agent to show them a house without a Buyer Agency Agreement in place. I certainly hope it doesn’t come to that.

But if people suspect that the consumer is treating them like a “tour guide” to then go and buy a house with an agent who doesn’t show houses…we could get there.

It would be a shame. Why do you think the listing agent should leave his home to go show a property to your buyer. I don’t get that part.