Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Resale & use of realtor(s)

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Feb 26, 2024, at 8:19 AM, leslie brown <lesliecbrown100 [at] gmail.com> 
wrote:
> 
> We are exploring options for changes to our current Resale Agreement now
> that our first resale is under contract. We are interested in hearing more
> about use of realtors:
> - what led to using a realtor (when/why?)

A few units 10-15 years ago tried using real estate agents without any luck. 
Even one agent who was very friendly to us and to cohousing was not successful. 
Realtors are used to relating to the owner of the unit and also to keeping 
things private (as in secret). They have even told us that it is “illegal” to 
reveal the names of people details of sales. So they never even tried to 
introduce prospective buyers to us.

I think we worked out an agreement to have only the one agent show the unit. 
Otherwise there was the standard box on the door containing a key and any agent 
who wanted to show the unit would with no one else around. This meant people 
got no information about the community or even a tour of the common house or 
grounds. I asked one agent that I saw his prospects leaving only seeing the 
unit and pointed out that he hadn’t shown them half the property. He said in 
his experience you only talk about the unit. If they like the unit, then you 
show the rest of the condominium amenities. Otherwise it is a waste of time. 
Everything is about the unit.

During the great recession, we did have a unit sold to a couple without contact 
with the community. The unit was empty and the owners had moved out of state. 
The residents have been here for years and are lovely people but they rarely 
participate in any community activities. We know they read the email and keep 
up with business because they will ask questions. But their interest in 
participating has not changed since they moved in.

We have so many people who want to live here and such a good team orienting 
them that I can’t imagine ever needing to use an agent. If a unit owner wanted 
to use an agent just for the convenience, we would just send the interested 
parties to the agent which would mean they had no work to do and the owner 
would still pay them 5-7% of the sale price. Not a wise choice it would seem.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org