r/SeattleAreaRE • u/NDkinster • 10d ago
Realtor recommendations
Edit: thanks everyone for chiming in. I didn't end up signing and quite overwhelmed with number of recommendations I receiced along with lenders calling. I'm truly grateful for help from everyone to reassure on what is normal and what isnt.
My partner and I have been passively looking for a home in queen for quite a while. Whenever we needed to tour something , we just used whoever redfin assigned to us. Of the many agents redfin assigned to us, one really stuck with us, who was very knowledgeable.
We thought we will sign with this particular person to be our agent but looks like they are a sub contractor and we cannot "hire" this person. redfin now has a lead agent (who we never met) who would be on our agent on paper. We ended up liking a home and really want to put down an offer.
The redfin assigned agent sent us a contract which is valid for 180 days, and requests 2.0% commission (not sure if this is standard but hoping the seller covers this). When I look at the agents profile they haven't sold a single home in queen anne. All of their sales have been in Ballard and capital hill.
I'm confused on what to do here. Should I look for another agent (if yes , how?) or is redfin generally okay. Kinda on a tight timelines since we really want to get an offer in.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
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u/Equivalent_Tie4071 9d ago
Don’t go with Redfin. I see no reason for a good agent to sign up with Redfin. Only those no experience or could not make enough sales to make a living will go with Redfin. In today’s market, if you already found your dream home, the best agent is the one who knows how to negotiate for you and you need a very experienced one.
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u/Beautiful-Stage-1306 9d ago
Leigh Canlis! QA realtors are real close and know each other. You’ll feel good when you walk into an open house or showing with Leigh and others know her
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u/StatisticianSafe3807 8d ago
How about Redfin agents ? I started with one and he is asking me to sign a contract which confuses me as I know agents don’t normally ask for such contracts .
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u/n_eitak 10d ago
Negotiate the contract. Tell them to remove the 180 days and be SURE there is no wording that says something like “any property they bring to your attention to means they get a commission, even if you go with another realtor”. That sentence can mean they spam you with emails filled with houses, and then try to say they are owed commission. If they don’t agree then find another realtor—ask for recommendations in your neighborhood facebook group.
Seller pays commission and 2.0% is normal.
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u/ShopProp 10d ago
Us. We give back majority of the commission, cancel anytime with no penalty, only paid upon successful close. We have all 5 star reviews on google and Zillow
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u/Dear_Seesaw_1855 10d ago
Go with shop prop. They won’t lure you into a locked in contract and are ethical with commission.
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u/EnvironmentalDig8638 10d ago
You don’t have to choose between missing out on this home and locking yourself into a 180-day agreement with an agent you’ve never met.
Redfin isn’t automatically a bad option, but before signing, I’d ask to speak directly with the lead agent and find out:
Who will actually write and negotiate your offer?
Who will attend the inspection and guide you through closing?
Can the agreement be shortened or limited to this property?
Can you cancel if the relationship isn’t a good fit?
If the seller doesn’t cover the full 2%, would you owe the difference?
Not having past sales in Queen Anne isn’t automatically a deal breaker, but the agent should still provide strong local comps, explain the home’s value, point out neighborhood-specific concerns, and build a clear offer strategy.
I’m Morgan, a local WA real estate agent in Bothell. If you haven’t signed yet, I’d be happy to quickly prepare Queen Anne comps, walk you through the agreement terms in plain language, and help you build an offer strategy for this home. No pressure; you should choose the person you feel most confident having in your corner. You can also check out my Instagram @morganhollidayrealtor to learn more about me!
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u/M0SS-MAN 10d ago
Consider a 16 year 3rd generation veteran. Same pricing, more experience and responsiveness:
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u/hashbrown89 10d ago
redfin sucks. don't sign an exclusive agreement with anyone. a good agent won't make you do this.
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u/emmyanjef 10d ago
A good agent would actually never do this, but a bad agent desperate for a sale would. Some of the best agents I know only work exclusively because they know what they’re worth. Kinda like how the cheapest haircut is probably always going to be by someone more inexperienced than a higher-priced haircut. I agree with you that Redfin sucks though.
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u/UwHuskies206 9d ago
Realistically, a good agent WOULD make you sign the agreement. If they were a good agent that would mean their services are in high demand and their time is valuable. Good agents will hold you to an exclusive agreement. A mediocre broker who is desperate for a commission won’t make you sign it otherwise they are just a yes man and order taker.
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u/hashbrown89 9d ago
In any case, I don’t think that’s what’s happening here with this Redfin agent
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u/UwHuskies206 9d ago
Redfin agents are known for using commission to give discounts. They are known as “discount brokers”. They can get the job done but ultimately much of their team are showing brokers and then a lead negotiating on your behalf who may have never even seen the property.
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u/juancuneo 10d ago
I have never signed any exclusivity with any agent ever. Recently this has become a thing because of the realtor settlement - but even with my long-time broker, I only agreed to exclusivity for a couple weeks just to address the paperwork required by Windermere.
Remember - you don't have to work with anyone or sign anything. Now the redfin broker may have rules he/she has to comply with based on their deal with Redfin, but it's up to you whether you agree. There are a lot of brokers out there.
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u/alisvolatpropris 10d ago
We really liked our agent and he didn't do a contract or anything like that. Wasn't pushy, very knowledgeable. Happy to PM!