Do Estate Agents Work For Their Commission ?

[SwaziBird]

I am in the process of selling my condo here in central Chiang Mai and am astonished to find how totally disinterested most of the agencies are in providing actual assisting in the sale. I am pleased to say that I have found those agencies which are assisted and advised by farang persons DO NOT adopt the same attitude.

Here is the typical responses I have received from most others including Chiang Mai's "biggest" agency.

* Yes, we will list your property on our web-site.

* Do you have photos and can you send us detailed description of your property ?

* How much do you want for the property ?

* Do you know how much the transfer fees and duties etc. will be ?

* Our commission will be 3% of the sale price

* If you do not have photos we will send a photographer to take pictures

* No, we do not usually come around to familiarise ourselves with your property.

* If someone enquires about the property from the web-site we will bring them around to inspect yours

It would seem that the agencies are quite prepared to offer little or no advice on a fair market value at which to list the property - only the caveat to be careful not to price it ( your decision) too high because it might sit on the books for too long. They do not wish to bother to inspect the property to familiarise themselves with its better points. Presumably they might bring a prospective purchaser into your premises and just stand there and view it for the first time themselves.

I have been told by a number of persons that the agencies do absolutely nothing for them over very many months, except for the listing.

Of more concern, I have been told by more than one Thai person ( including a well-informed medical specialist) that some agents are known to hike the price above that which you are seeking. How and why this would or could be done eludes me somewhat ( although I do have suspicions).

Now I know this is a whinge and I do try to avoid doing that - but I really need help. I would ask members whether they can recommend any decent, thinking, co-operative and well organised agencies in Chiang Mai who are prepared to get their act together and actually do some work for their commission rather than just charge a substantial fee for a listing on their web-site.

Thank you for your help.

Cheers

[ThaiPauly]

A few years ago I put my property up for rent with Elite Property.

Not only did the owner come round but also brought a professional photographer with him. He also advised on price.

Maybe you are just speaking to the wrong agents?

[junglechef]

While shopping for properties I found that the agents knew not only nothing about the listings but didn't know where they even were and drove us around lost many times. This even happened when I was looking at a property being sold by the company's owner. Also there was something about the agents keeping whatever they sold over the asking price. I also found in America that the agents would try to get the seller to ask a lower price for faster turnover for them to make a quick buck and not maximize the owners profit.

[onthedarkside]

Duplicate topic //closed