If the buyers feel more comfortable having this agent represent them then I would just go with it. Showing a home and getting an offer is the easy part. When you go into escrow is where things can get tough unless you have someone who is ahead of the game and nows what to look for before it comes up.

In VA, procuring cause isn't just that an agent writes up a contract that is ultimately ratified. Procuring cause goes beyond that...in most cases, procuring cause includes the events that lead to closing (sometimes unbroken chain).

Just writing the contract is not procuring cause.

I'd pay the agent b/c, as alot of us agree, you could end up "losing" the buyer, and as a result you may have to lower your price thereby losing more money. Count your blessings in this market, if you ask me.

It always amazes me that most peoples perception of a real estate consultant is that we taxi around people looking for homes, and that's why we get compensated what we do.

Finding my buyer a property is only one small facet of what I do.

A real estate transaction done properly by a professional requires a great deal of attention to detail. I am paid well like most professionals because of my knowledge and training.

When I represent someone in a real estate transaction I take on all of the risk, I and the brokerage I represent are 100% libel for any mistakes made on a real estate transaction. I am paid contingent upon doing my job.

And if I don't do my job properly...

We're the first line of defense when something goes wrong, and the first ones that get sued.

As the first poster suggested - build the commission into the price, problem solved.

I wouldn't pay it. As an agent myself, I would be making sure I had contacted you first before showing the property. I think you have some definite room for negotiation here because it sounds like the buyers want it. As stated earlier, just wrap it into the sales price so the buyers end up paying it. I know as agents we work hard, but sellers who want to sell on their own should still be respected.

FSBOs are going to take over the real estate market and real estate agent's are going to turn into personalized marketers.

What do you base this on? Are FSBO's doing well in your market? Can you share some statistics to support your theory?

As the OP shows, contrary to your statement, an agent represents the buyer and that's how most FSBO's are sold.

Now to the FSBO's original question. You advertised to co-op with agents, you did not stipulate specific conditions like: "Agent must accompany buyer at first showing to earn a commission." I'd say lesson learned, pay the agent and be happy if it closes.

Like pikes peak posted above, you advertised to co-op with a buyers agent without specific conditons so there is your first lesson in real estate,CYA. As for other comments that say do not pay BA or counter to have the buyer pay the BA is wrong in THIS Case. Maybe the Buyers Agent was already working with the buyer,also did FSBO ask the buyer if he was working with an agent or not that is something we do not know. I have a question, was the listing on the MLS? If so maybe that is how the buyer found out about the FSBO listing thru his agent. We will never know.

YEAR # OF HOMES SOLD
AVERAGE PRICE

2000 14 244k

2001 14 261K

2002 12 301K

2003 11 379K

2004 14 446K

2005 9 436K

2006 8 533K

2007 9 458K

2008 5 459K

2009 13 440K

2010 10 397K (8K CREDIT)

2011 5 346K(report done 16nov11)


this is a reflection of a specific zipcode in my area. all are 3br 2 ba single family homes on .25 acres or less.


if your neighborhood is anything like this or the other 20 that i can produce that look like this......it would probably be in your best interest to sell now instead of blotching the deal, loosing the buyer and selling in a future market.

anyone who thinks an agent ...earns...their money by opening a door is an idiot....that is the easy part that a caveman could do....the hard part is everything that comes after....just like people not wanting to pay thing that they agreed to pay for example....

pay up and sell...if you are only paying 3% total for an agent to do both sides of a transaction, you are really winning..

remember, what you want has ...zero...to do with what you will/should/need to get ...ask all of the people who are on the market for "what the need/want" and have been there without a ready, willing and able buyer for 6,8,12,24 months...

if i were in your shoes, i would sign and move on....

good job for getting to where you are right now in regards to the sale!