| This article is based on Australian real estate | | | | and that only agents could do that. You said to |
| private sale conditions but is likely to be very | | | | me... and I remember clearly...you said "Selma, |
| similar to the situations that fsbo's encounter the | | | | where do you suppose people go when they're |
| world over. | | | | looking for a house ?...why, to agents of course!" |
| The article isn't about agent happy endings despite | | | | Now you seem to be saying that I will monopolise |
| the title, it's not that kind of fairy tale that I want | | | | the sale Lemme and take your clients from you. |
| to talk about. Rather, I want to expose the | | | | That just doesn't make sense. You can't have it |
| fairytales that pass for advice between agents | | | | both ways Lemme. Either private sales works and |
| and would be private sellers. | | | | we can compete for the commission prize or it |
| The simplest way to do this is to simulate a brief | | | | doesn't work and therefore I'm no threat to you. |
| question and answer session that might take | | | | Which is it Lemme? |
| place when you're speaking with an agent about | | | | Lemme Foolyah Kanhai: Um, like I said, my boss |
| selling your own home privately. It's not a real | | | | wouldn't allow it. We only sign up exclusives so |
| conversation so much as a debunking of myths | | | | we're sure to get paid for our work. |
| perpetuated by agents for years. | | | | Selma Ownhowse: But that takes away all my |
| Myths designed to stop you from doing the | | | | own rights...how is that fair and equitable? You |
| unthinkable i.e selling privately with zero | | | | mean to tell me that I don't even have the right |
| commission. | | | | to sell my own house Lemme? |
| It's a long set of conversations that take place | | | | Lemme Foolyah Kanhai: Actually Selma, you do |
| between an agent and a seller before the | | | | have a perfect right to advertise it and even sell |
| prospect decides how she is going to sell....and who | | | | it....it's, it's, well it's just that we take a full |
| she'll sell with. Because it's several conversations I'll | | | | commission if you do so. |
| split it into parts so it's easier for the reader to | | | | Selma Ownhowse: So you mean to say that I |
| digest. | | | | can sell it by myself if I employ you as an agent? |
| This is Part 1. | | | | Lemme Foolyah Kanhai Yes |
| The agent , for the purposes of our illustration is | | | | Selma Ownhowse: But if I succeed, you'll still |
| an Australian real estate agent who was born in | | | | charge me the full commission? |
| the West Indies and is of Indian extraction. His | | | | Lemme Foolyah Kanhai Um... yeah. |
| name is Lemme Kanhai. His ethnicity has no | | | | Selma Ownhowse: But that's not only ridiculous, |
| bearing on the interlude and I apologise for any | | | | it's grossly unfair. I'm inclined to say forget it |
| offence, as none is intended. I just think his name | | | | Lemme, but here's the deal. You go and ask your |
| may be instructive to the reader. His full name is | | | | boss if we can have an arrangement where you |
| Lemme Foolyah Kanhai. | | | | sell it or I sell it, winner take all. Ask him and then |
| So let us begin our imaginary conversation | | | | get back to me. Tell him I don't mind paying the |
| between Lemme and his female potential real | | | | full commission to your agency so long as you |
| estate listing prospect whose name is Selma | | | | find the buyer, not me. With that, the |
| Ownhowse. | | | | conversation between Selma and Lemme ended |
| Selma Ownhowse: Hello Lemme, I asked you to | | | | for the day. Lemme went back to his boss and |
| stop by today to see if you'd be interested in | | | | popped the question? The answer and some |
| helping me to sell my house at the same time as | | | | more interesting repartee between Selma and |
| I attempt to do so by myself. If you sell it I pay | | | | Lemme in the next installment. |
| you and if I sell it there's no compensation ok? | | | | Morale to the story: |
| Lemme Foolyah Kanhai: No of course not, that | | | | Agents want to have their cake and eat it. |
| never works and besides my boss would never | | | | Agents detest private sellers..Agents will talk any |
| allow it. | | | | sort of nonsense to convince you that you can't |
| Selma Ownhowse: But why ever not? | | | | or shouldn't sell privately. Think and decide for |
| Lemme Foolyah Kanhai: Because all the buyers will | | | | yourself. Don't necessarily take my advice.... or the |
| just go straight to you to avoid a commission so | | | | agents either. Just be discerning, rational and |
| they might get a lower sale price from you | | | | weigh up the pros and cons. Do however develop |
| Selma Ownhowse: I don't understand? Last week | | | | a healthy BS detector. |
| you told me that I had no hope of finding buyers | | | | Part2 - coming soon.. |