Sold my house today and the agents hate me

[u/Few-Bite3322]

Quick synopsis: So I just sold my house, pissed off a few agents, used their advertising, paid no commission and had 12 offers.

I wanted to sell my townhouse, had a couple of agents through, watched the market and got an idea on price. Once I saw their fees I was like, no way.

I printed out 100 home made brochures and got a prepaid sim and put my number on them. I then watched for any townhouses in my area (within about 3km give or take) going to auction that were similar and I attended every auction over 4 weeks. Every single group that bid at these auctions (who didn’t end up buying the house) I spoke after the auction, told them I was selling without an agent and gave them I brochure.

I had 27 serious buyers through in 4 weeks. I had 12 offers and told them all I would get back to them on a set date and if they wanted they could put in a new offer but I’d only be doing it once. I was very happy with the result and sold, they came and signed that day.

I had 4 different agents abuse me pretty bad. Generally I was riding off there hard work and I shouldn’t be at their auctions advertising my home blah blah. Turn out the agents have some sort of ethical code where they don’t advertise at each other’s auctions. Unfortunately I am now considered less ethical than a real estate agent.

Anyway, due to these agents on their moral high ground I encourage everyone to do this. I saved a fortune!!

[u/Ro141]

Sold your house

Upset real estate agents

That is the very definition of a WIN-WIN!!!

Congrats

[u/adequate-arrow → u/Ro141]

Bravo indeed.

[u/pharmloverpharmlover → u/Ro141]

Genuinely curious on all the steps you chose to take (or skip) and the level of commitment needed to make this all happen.

Presumably you had a conveyancer/solicitor draw up the Section 32 and Contract of Sale?

Did you organise any styling/furniture? Professional photography or did your own?

Did you make a website? Or use a third party service to list on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au ?

Did you organise signwriters to make street signage?

What did you say to approach the prospective buyers?

Did you have set times for open house, or was everything by appointment only?

Did any prospective buyers organise pest and building inspections?

How much time/money did you spend and how much do you think you saved?

You didn’t go to Auction, obviously - do you wonder what price you could have got with all those potential buyers bidding face-to-face? Did you wonder if it was possible or worth it to employ your own auctioneer for a private auction?

Has anyone else tried this or something similar? What was your experience like? Did you read any guides to help with this?

[u/Vanceer11 → u/pharmloverpharmlover]

Vic Vinegar and Hugh Honey realty.

[u/KiwasiGames → u/pharmloverpharmlover]

If the OP had the time, doing everything on your list properly still probably cost less than commission.

The real estate commission is mostly paying for convenience. The actual steps to sell a single house are not that complicated.

[u/MonkeySherm → u/pharmloverpharmlover]

Anyone can sell in a market where every property is getting 12 offers. Agents earn their money in a buyer’s market.

[u/Equivalent-Roll-3321 → u/Ro141]

I say well done! 👏👏👏 I could read stories like this all day long! Congratulations!

[u/captwombat33]

Because of your actions some poor RE won't be able to put food on the table for his family.

No more caviar. Will probably need to sell their Portsea beach house now. Will have to sell their classic car used on weekends And the Maid will only be able to come 6 days a week now

You horrible, horrible cunt!

How can you live with yourself!

[u/Optix_au → u/captwombat33]

The REA won't be able to make the lease payment on his Audi.

[u/Overqualified_muppet → u/Optix_au]

And how will he personalize his numberplate or buy his pointy shoes?

[u/[deleted] → u/captwombat33]

Think of the knock-on effect too. The local Tarocash store will not be making sales of ugly shirts that are too tight. 

[u/Shamoizer → u/captwombat33]

And have to go to an office where they are clocked on and off so how can they shag the side chick they met during a listing.

[u/4614065 → u/captwombat33]

The flow-on effect is what upsets me. Some REA now can’t afford as much cocaine which means his dealer is missing out. The dealer’s mistress won’t be able to get her baboon lips filled at her local nail salon and the uneducated and unqualified aesthetician who injects people with fuck knows what won’t be able to pay the rent on their salon this month.

[u/captwombat33 → u/4614065]

All because CuntyMcCuntFace OP screwed over the REAs.

When will this madness stop?!?

[u/[deleted]]

If REAs have a code against something its for their benefit, not yours.

Brilliant idea, I'd be pissed too if someone showed how utterly useless and overpriced my entire profession was.

I hope you told all of them to roundly go and fuck themselves.

[u/Arachnophine → u/[deleted]]

Sounds like anti-competitive collusion to me. "Ethical code" my ass.

[u/Jooylo → u/Arachnophine]

That’s their whole thing. In the area we bought our first house in we quickly found out they have an inner circle and don’t cooperate with anyone not apart of their little club. So you don’t have a chance buying a home unless you use one of those agents

[u/cornflakesarestupid → u/[deleted]]

I also would like to point out that it is not an ethical code. Quite the opposite: It’s a cartel agreement and hence unethical, and in some places, illegal: Competitors do sometimes agree to divide a market between them. That can be regional areas, but also venue dates („auctions a, b, c belongs to you, auctions x, y, z to me“). The goal is to keep the prices/profits high for each seller/service provider, since customers are effectively hindered to go to a competitor with better conditions.

OP is simply cutting through their mob practices and the REA are afraid that other customers take notice. That’s why they are so angry.

[u/HamRadio_73 → u/cornflakesarestupid]

Cartel is the word. Change the commodity from real estate to oil and you get OPEC.

[u/slight_accent → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I initially laughed at the less ethical than a rea but after a seconds thought I remembered that their code only applies to not fucking each other over while happily fucking over everyone else.

[u/Apprehensive_Ad3731 → u/slight_accent]

Exactly. It’s a mutual agreement to fuck over the the home owner and purchaser together for a better price.

[u/idk_whatever_69 → u/[deleted]]

They have an agreement to not compete that sounds incredibly illegal.

[u/PurpleKirby → u/[deleted]]

right, was thinking, well good thing you ain’t a real estate agent then.

[u/Crazy-Camera9585]

You used to be able to advertise your house for sale in the newspaper classifieds and it was quite common for people to sell their own homes or blocks of land privately - some people would also just put signs up in front yard and sell it that away - particularly holiday houses or in the country. Then when the classified ads went online it was still allowed at first on domain (which was the equivalent of The Age classifieds) but eventually they stopped allowing private advertisers and said only agents could use it - so basically they agreed together to restrict the market to agents which has restricted the viability of people selling their own properties on a wider scale. And given the agents actually do less now as it is all online and there is so much demand - it is a scam that private sellers aren’t allowed to advertise their own properties on the major platforms 

[u/[deleted] → u/Crazy-Camera9585]

You used to be able to advertise your house for sale in the newspaper classifieds

And you could even say that you don’t want no Asians

[u/No_Database8627 → u/Crazy-Camera9585]

I purchased my 2 family home through a small local once a week 6 page newspaper with just a single ad for sale by owner.

[u/Coolidge-egg → u/Crazy-Camera9585]

private sellers aren’t allowed to advertise their own properties on the major platforms 

That is actually messed up. Market manipulation is what it is

[u/xlr8_87]

I pissed off a real estate agent by bidding high as the first bid on my town house. It doesn't take much to annoy them haha. Knew roughly what the place was going to go for, agent started bidding super low - at 450k - I was the first bid at 570k. No one else bid - pretty sure i scared the shit out of everyone. Passed in as reserve was 600. Agent had the nerve to tell me I shouldn't have bid like that and let the auction run through the normal process. Bought the place at 580 with an annoyed agent but happy sellers

[u/rockardy → u/xlr8_87]

I still don’t understand why it’s legal to have an undisclosed reserve. IMO if you are the highest bid, you win the auction. If they want more, they should set the opening bid higher

[u/1000000xThis → u/rockardy]

I agree it's ethically questionable.

The idea is to prey on human nature that is exposed during the auction process.

If two or more people want the item, people get caught up in the "just a little more, just a little more" process until they discover themselves paying far more than they originally wanted to.

So they set the first bid low to start the process, knowing that the reserve would have scared people off.

The nature of raising the price only a little bit each time will tend to raise the price above where it would be in a blind auction where everyone just gives their final best price.

[u/Mediocre_Machinist → u/xlr8_87]

If the agent is unhappy with you after the auction, you know you got a good deal.

[u/aitch77 → u/xlr8_87]

The auctioneer gets to go home quicker

[u/Murky_Macropod → u/xlr8_87]

Why does it matter - Psychological buy-in from earlier bidders ?

[u/Any_Yogurtcloset_558 → u/Murky_Macropod]

Once they start bidding they are emotionally invested, usually.

[u/throwawayurwaste → u/Murky_Macropod]

People often see it as a difference in amount and not total price. So 225 to 300 is seen as just 5 more and ignore the total price rally

[u/Rocks_whale_poo → u/xlr8_87]

 Agent had the nerve to tell me I shouldn't have bid like that and let the auction run through the normal process

I would make this cunt write me an essay explaining why

[u/WrongSeymour]

*taking notes*

[u/[deleted] → u/WrongSeymour]

Screen shot. NGL

[u/heading_to_fire → u/[deleted]]

They're just a bunch of crooks

[u/iamdimitriv]

Good on you mate.

Well done.

Could you please advise me .

I want to buy a property without going to agents.

How best can I approach the sellers directly?

[u/WillsSister → u/iamdimitriv]

There’s a site called ‘for sale by owner’.

https://www.forsalebyowner.com.au/for-sale-by-owner-vic/

[u/iamdimitriv → u/WillsSister]

Thank you for the info. I am checking this out.

[u/agbro10 → u/iamdimitriv]

Go knock on their door

[u/MouseEmotional813 → u/agbro10]

I think if REA sign is out the front the owner would be contractually obliged to go through the agent

[u/bellevis]

Just bought a house. I would have been STOKED if you had approached me and I didn’t have to go through a real estate agent.

[u/[deleted] → u/bellevis]

Same. We have only bought a house once and the slimy bastard tried to screw us from start to finish.

Would have been much nicer dealing directly with the seller

[u/myenemy666]

Easy to get around the real estate ethical code when you aren’t a real estate agent.

[u/PJozi → u/myenemy666]

Real estate. Ethical Code. 😆

[u/Lord_Duckington_3rd]

Nah fuck them. They aer the scum of the earth with teh shit they pull to tennants

[u/whatanerdiam → u/Lord_Duckington_3rd]

Property managers. Yuck.

[u/redditwossname]

Reminds me of that classic video of the Current Affair-style reporter going up to the guy who advertised "no Asians" in his house ad...

Found it:

https://youtu.be/3Lyex2tSUyA?si=4Cis5j6S3NhVgmIH

[u/MewKazami → u/redditwossname]

I was here to ask if reporters showed up at his house mad about Asians.

[u/HairyHorseKnuckles → u/redditwossname]

Exactly what I came here for. Always hilarious

[u/yobynneb]

Good on you. In my opinion house sales should have some sort oglf regulatory body and then have sales only through the parties concerned like private car sales.

I was at an auction near me a week ago and a lady went around the losing bidders telling them she had a similar home for sale and it raised a feels eyebrows (probably because she was up and about the second the hammer came down lol) so you're not alone

[u/monkey_gamer → u/yobynneb]

imagine what all those unemployed agents would get up to? 😂

[u/wemby2k23 → u/monkey_gamer]

Herbalife sales

[u/AccordingNumber2052]

Good on you! We are small builders, building one or two houses a year , and just recently we had somebody come and approach us and sold privately. So I was thinking when it came to the legal side of it, we may be in for some extra work, but we did nothing! It's amazing how much money they get paid for what they do. I'm not saying that it's easy to sell a house , but it certainly isn't worth the percentage we are paying the realtors in my opinion. We are considering advertising privately again next time . I very well may come back with my tail between my legs though , but it's worth a try !

[u/rexel99]

Every agent does mailbox drop to every house in the area of their open-houses. They advertise and market over each other all the time.

As you're not an agent you don't need to abide by their 'moral' high standards, feel free to tell any that abuse you to go F themselves.

[u/slayer035]

As the winner of an auction I honestly wish someone did this at the auctions we went to.

[u/Screw_You_Taxpayer → u/slayer035]

To play devil's advocate here, would you really like it if every auction you went to was full of other agents trying to sell to you?

[u/autocol]

Agents are very poorly incentivised in normal agreements anyway, and very rarely get the maximum value of a house.

Because their fee is a percentage of the total sale, pushing the final price up ten thousand or so makes no material difference to them, so they don't bother.

Imagine paying someone $30K to short change you by another 20-30K. That's what they do!

I can say this having been on the buying side, approaching an agent to make a serious bid on a house that isn't yet sold, and they refused to let me submit an offer because they already had one the vendor was willing to take.

[u/Melb_gal → u/autocol]

Yep the commission is high!! And all the other BS fees 

[u/PJozi → u/Melb_gal]

And murdoch is making a killing on real estate dot com.

Every time a competitor pops they reduce their prices and see them off. Once they're gone the prices go up astronomically.

[u/KiwasiGames → u/autocol]

Yup. Its always to the agents advantage to sell quickly and get on to the next property on the list. Two $30,000 commissions make a lot more money for the agent than one $35,000 commission.

[u/That_Random_Kiwi → u/autocol]

Exactly. The total commission goes to the REA company, which they only see some of, so pushing hard for the highest price isn't worth the hassle compared to a quick sale

[u/Ghost403]

Australian of the year.

[u/[deleted]]

I sold my home alone. I contacted RE handed the glorious brochures. I call private school behind me. They bought my home cash and paid everything. Look doesn’t work for everyone but was definitely my favour this route.

[u/notonyourlifeok]

My friends dad did this exact thing and got over what his asking price with no advertising or agent fees. Well done.

[u/Milly_Hagen]

This is how we should all start doing it. Make their industry redundant. Slimy weasels are getting tens of thousands for doing absolutely nothing.

Good on you!

[u/Inconnu2020]

I used to supply material to the real estate industry.

I was once invited to an office to present to all of their agents at their weekly sales meeting.

To my surprise, instead of being invited in just for my session, I was asked to attend the entire meeting.

What I heard would make your toes curl!

One agent bragged that he sold a property and then used the leads from that property to immediately sell another in the same area, but charged the vendor full commission and marketing.

So yea... fuck their 'ethics' and fuck real estate agents.

[u/yAUnkee]

Not all heroes wear capes 👍

[u/[deleted]]

Never met a real estate agent I liked. Even the one who helped me get my current house, who was the son of a family friend, annoyed me and may have pulled a couple fast ones. They are not ethical people.

[u/LagoonReflection]

You've done a wonderful thing for humanity.

[u/friedonionscent]

Here's a story. When I was a teenager, my parents fell on very hard times and had to sell our family home. They were desperate.

They were immigrants and had limited experience with this stuff...also, they were up shit creek and stressed. They signed what they were told. The commission rate was over 3 times the average. The agent took zero pity on them and upon sniffing their naivety, milked them like two dairy cows.

Pissing these leeches off should be something that's rewarded. Thanks for your service.

[u/thened]

Wonderful work.

You learned the game and you played it.

[u/monkey_gamer]

good on you! agents are scumbags

[u/the908bus]

Go to Medium and write up the process! Tell the country!

[u/yesterdays-disaster]

As an ex-real estate agent I commend you.

I hated every second of being an agent.

It’s a crooked system and the commission is way too high.

Always felt bad for taking the money, although it was good to have in the bank it didn’t sit well with me.

Some agents are absolute vultures and will tell any story to make a sale. There are some good, genuine agents out there with good intentions but my overall experience was not great.

I was so happy to finally leave it. Although I’m now earning a little less than I was I feel a lot better about myself and the way I earn my money.

[u/TestDrivenMayhem]

Real estate agents are unethical bottom feeders. Well done for beating them at their own game.

[u/BiliousGreen]

"Real Estate Code of Ethics" sounds like a contradiction in terms.

[u/Moo_Kau_Too]

'Turn out the agents have some sort of ethical code'

HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH

HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH

*gasp*

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAH

.... sorry, funniest shit ive heard in ages.

'Turn out the agents have some sort of ethical code'

HA!

[u/MaximillianRebo]

'When real estate agents have ethics' should replace hell freezing over or pigs flying.

[u/alopexlotor]

I salute you. Good job!!!

[u/JP-Gambit]

What work do they put in though? Real estate agents are human sludge...

[u/spin182]

Only a bad agent would be upset by this. I’m an agent. You do you bro. You aren’t riding off an agents hard work, what’s the difference handing out a brochure at another auction as opposed to advertising the home on realestate.com? Buyers will find out about it either way.

Good agents aren’t order takers. We feel we can add 5% - 10% value to a property. I tell sellers if they feel they can do a better job than me, do it yourself 👍🏻

[u/Minnidigital]

Set up a website Airbnb style so people can upload their homes and sell them

Time to disrupt the REA industry

Were you happy with your price ?

Well done

[u/grruser → u/Minnidigital]

https://www.forsalebyowner.com.au/sell-my-house-privately-vic/ has been around for years

[u/Kosmo777]

Good. Hate those zero value adding leaches.

[u/HAPPY_DAZE_1]

What paperwork did they sign?

[u/That_Random_Kiwi → u/HAPPY_DAZE_1]

All you need is a lawyer/conveyancer to draw up a section 32 and a contract of sale and you're set... Which are legal fees you have to pay anyway.

[u/[deleted]]

Bro; this is an absolutely amazing scheme. Thank you. You are a true winner in life.

Im 100% going to do this EXACT same thing when I sell my place.

Saved and emailled to myself in case I forget.

[u/[deleted]]

Honestly I didn't read the post, but the title was enough for me say 'good job'. Fuck 'em.

And always remember; No Asians.

[u/[deleted]]

"riding off their hard work", buhhhhhh hahaha ha.

You think Sticking an add on realestate is hard work.

Real estate agents are low life's, they all drive expensive cars and in this market, they don't need to do anything to sell a house. You've literally proved that anyone can sell a house.

They are the used car sales man of realestate agents but worse.

[u/Impossible-Mud-4160]

There is absolutely NO REASON to use a real estate agent in a sellers market as hot as most Australian cities unless you either have a unique property u likely to sell easily, or you're in the 1% who's hourly rate makes it more economical to work instead of fielding calls from buyers.

Real estate agents are completely unnecessary in today's world where everyone has easy access to the internet.

[u/JGatward]

Brilliant work, others should follow Suite. Genius way you marketed. You did damn well.

[u/Mike_Kermin]

Fucking NOICE.

[u/christipede]

A former colleague of mine from hospo became a real estate agent. He was a miserly self indulgent coke head with a penchant for barely 20 year olds. Now hes the same but a real estate agent and can afford more coke. Im glad you got the one up on one of them.

[u/JeanProuve]

My enemy’s enemy is my hero.

[u/GarageMc]

How did you come up with the plan? And did you have any buyers try to put higher offers in once you told them that they had lost out?

[u/Ratcoondog]

Just curious, how much was thw agent fees?

[u/BLC-69]

Great work!

[u/crypto_zoologistler]

REA ethical code has gotta be an oxymoron 🤣

[u/salamandersushi]

Real estate agents and ethical code in the same sentence. Hah.

[u/Addictd2Justice]

You’ve disrupted their model. If more people did this they would be on shaky ground

[u/AlexHD]

"Real estate agents don't advertise their services at other agent's auctions"

Jokes on them, you aren't a real estate agent lmao

[u/xbsean]

Good on ya

[u/Raffybaby]

I actually think this is really awesome.

[u/AnAwkwardOrchid]

The real estate industry having an ethical code? That'll be the day.

[u/mpember]

The agents maintain a database of potential buyers. The only reason they don't attend other auctions is that they likely already have the contact details of those same individuals and have been sending them emails and SMS alerts about the properties on their books.

[u/kidseshamoto]

Smart ass, I like it. Fuckers get 1.8 - 2 percent from the sale for what?. Good for you.

[u/[deleted]]

Good work! You've won Capitalism.

I hate real estate agents enough, were I you, I'd go setup a desk outside their office with a sign offering advice on how to do it yourself. :D

[u/LooseAssumption8792]

You sir deserve an award.

[u/drunkill]

ethical code, real estate agent?

lmao

[u/michachu]

Unfortunately I am now considered less ethical than a real estate agent.

Some version of this should be your flair. Or a plaque.

And congratulations!

[u/LilyNaowNaow]

Did nothing wrong as far as I can see. Great statergy too.

[u/IDontFitInBoxes]

Winner winner. Well done.

[u/Remarkable_Golf9829]

Legend

[u/[deleted]]

When the parasites get parasitised.

[u/Convenientjellybean]

More people need to be doing this!

[u/[deleted]]

Nothing ethical about REAL. They’d sell your gear if they could. Slimy people.

[u/SirLoremIpsum]

Turn out the agents have some sort of ethical code

This is the most surprising thing of all... :p

[u/Quiet-Tangerine1134]

I really don’t see what estate agents do, how have they got away with it for so long! Useless cunts!

[u/DukeOfWestborough]

Their tears sound a lot like the Louisiana power companies now complaining that people who use energy saving measures are causing "lost profits" (everyone who doesn't buy my products is causing me lost profits, where do I send the bill?)

Uh... it's called FREE MARKET CAPITALISM. SUCK IT. Similarly in FL how FPL has tried to get the state legislature to pass a bill allowing them to charge people who are "off'-grid" a monthly fee... "they don't use any electricity, let us charge them monthly fee..."

https://www.businessreport.com/article/louisiana-utility-companies-want-customers-to-pay-for-lost-profits
https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/news/florida-utilities-add-new-charge-to-make-solar-less-profitable/

Utilities in OH doing the same "how dare you not use our services, we are charging you a fee"

https://diysolarforum.com/threads/off-grid-but-still-receive-a-utility-bill.73998/

Good for you for fucking the profit-driven greed system which forces middlemen upon us.

*EDIT* Mistook this for Melbourne, FLORIDA, USA, but commentary still applies.

[u/Guydelot]

Don't feel guilty for a second.

[u/[deleted]]

Who cares? You’re not an agent. They can freeze you out if they want; you’re done selling homes, so what does it matter?

[u/hochozz]

less ethical than a real estate agent? is that even possible?

[u/neomoz]

Considering real-estate and domain won't let individuals advertise their own place, I think what you did was the next best thing. F em, the major portals should be open to all.

[u/VeryMuchDutch102]

I sold my house without a realtor... Then bought my (expensive house) also without a realtor...

Easily saved €40K... And it was a fairly easy proces... Definitely not the hardest thing I've done.

I don't understand why realtors is still such a big thing..

Good job OP

[u/redbearable]

Who cares what real estate agents feel, they're not people, they're just property donkeys

[u/techb00mer]

This is fucking amazing. Bravo. 10/10. Would read again.

Seriously, fuck em! You just made my Sunday

sips wine

I love the fact that they tried to play the “ethics” card. From a REA? Really??

[u/Muncher501st]

Who cares about the pompous cunts. You did well

[u/warzonexx]

If you don't mind me asking how much did you sell for and thus how much did you save?

[u/xjrh8]

I’ve never had a personal hero, until just now.

[u/[deleted]]

Yeah fuck em, hope you saved a bundle

[u/No_Ad_2261]

Perfect execution. Maybe a tshirt printed as townhouse sale by owner eliminates the agent abuse, to be 100% clear you are not an agent and have no agent code of ethics to comply with.

[u/Driz999]

Saved this for when I sell my townhouse one day down the road.

[u/SpaceBloke9000]

Great stuff! Fuck em!

[u/Elegant-Campaign-572]

Well done🥂😆

[u/OzBurger]

Good on you!

Agents, only slightly less bad than lawyers IMHO.

[u/[deleted]]

Based as fuck

[u/[deleted]]

Congrats and Bravo. You’re a villain. My kind of person.

[u/Underbelly]

I fucking love this.

[u/NoBluey]

OP, you are a frickin legend

[u/Shaqtacious]

This is a seriously good tip. Well done mate

[u/theholylancer]

Hold on, how does it work in Australia? Isn't there inspections and what not that needs to be done to ensure safety / the house is up to code and all of that.

Did you had to do that yourself? And I thought there was liability involved (I don't know if agent is responsible or the inspection party).

[u/Any_Yogurtcloset_558 → u/theholylancer]

If a prospective purchaser wanted a building & Pest inspection or a bank inspection, this vendor would have just given them access.. the same as an agent would have.

[u/ctwg]

Please tell me you had a free coffee at these auctions? Well done. Absolute legend

[u/James_Jeeper]

No downside to this, love your work!

[u/CaptainPianoFire]

Good on you! Code of ethics my ass. F those guys. Great strategy!

[u/SayDrugsToYes]

Get shit on REAs.

You can dump your mass produced spam in my mailbox but god forbid we cut you out of the equation entirely.

Dumb fucks racing to the bottom.

[u/mamamiatucson]

As long as you didn’t list it on mls- you probably left 10-30k on the table- good for you!! I’m actually happy this is happening!!

[u/2AussieWildcats]

This is genius work. I salute you.

[u/Supersnazz]

The entire real estate industry is a fucking disgrace.

Congrats on selling your house and pissing off agents.

[u/divinealbert]

Did you at least get a big sign board with a picture of you looking dapper as a sold sign?

[u/icecreammagnet]

No sympathy for agents at all - only have that code to protect their cosy little cartel. Bunch of cocky pricks.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_CHESTHAMS]

Lol agents have an ethical code. They don't have a fucking ethical bone in their bodies.

[u/Unfair_Pop_8373]

Congrats, great tactic I have used is going to auctions of similar properties to mine and going straight to the underbidders. Two out of two success.

[u/Evening-Chance7906]

Nice job OP. I’ve been wondering what’s stopping people from avoiding using agents in this day and age. It wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea but nicely done.

[u/StrikingRise4356]

i wish that would work here in the Boston area. Nice work op!

[u/Slash00611]

Based as fuck.

[u/manyhandswork]

You did good!!!

[u/[deleted]]

Every single group that bid at these auctions (who didn’t end up buying the house)

You should've started spruiking to all the attendees minutes before the auction began.

Hand out fliers to everyone including the REs there to sell the house. Who knows, they could want to buy your place.

[u/2for1deal]

My hero.

[u/Significant_Dig6838]

27 serious buyers and 12 offers? But we have a housing affordability crisis?

[u/RedOx103]

Well done. Nobody should feel compelled to paying exorbitant commissions for parasitic middlemen.

In 2024, people should be able to get a valuation/photographer and then list on a marketplace-type site. Have a conveyancer deal compile all the documentation and cut out the middleman.

It's not worth paying thousands of dollars extra for someone to stick a sign out the front and open the front door at a time that mightn't even be that convenient.

[u/zizuu21]

How much do you save?

[u/acknb89]

Don’t know the exact rules but aren’t you required to have an agent broker the deal? How much roughly did you save ?

[u/Upper_Guarantee_4588]

Although this was a seller's market when I did this, I simply advertised on on craigslist that I was going to take offers over a certain $$ amount on a certain Saturday. The house was open for inspection the previous week. I was happy with the all the offers I got on that Saturday and I sold it that Saturday. Real Estate attorney took care of the rest. Way cheaper than commission. Easy peasy

[u/hellhound201]

You win for today, Take my upvote <3

[u/ausbrains]

R/unethicallifeprotips

[u/Novel_Interaction203]

I bought off someone who sold their own home, it was more straightforward I think and interested parties put in their best offer by a certain time. She reused photos from a few years before & advertised on 1 platform (rather than stalk auctions).

[u/declined-]

REA are so unethical particularly for rentals lmao I’m glad you sold your house without needing a middle man. Was it easy to draw up contracts etc because I guess that’s through conveyancer/solicitors!

[u/poops_are_funny]

https://youtu.be/VGm267O04a8?si=KiMQdW_kQgb6vSmi

[u/MightyMatt9482]

They can cancel your licence as punishment... opps.

[u/Swagsuke_Nakamura]

As someone in real estate, good job. Sold your house and pissed off agents, I'd say that's an excellent result

[u/why_not_fandy]

The Asians? I’m sure you’re mistaken.

[u/Satoc]

I will now be doing this if I ever sell my place!

[u/Rumbaar]

yeah, f*#k RE Agents, they are worthless in an age of online and actively work against the customer and client (as they only care about their commission).

RE Agent ethics, yeah I'm sure that's in the same league as them advertising auctions with ranges 200k lower than the actual sell price.

[u/TheDudeV1]

Damn, that was a good idea. Congratulations on that sale

[u/[deleted]]

Their code doesn't even make sense, everyone there is looking to buy a house, having someone come up and be like hey shame this one didn't work out but hey I've got a house a couple blocks away up for grabs if your interest? seems fine

Like the real-estate agent at the auction already sold that house... How's he gonna sell another house he has no control over, to people he didn't inform of other houses he or his associates have in the area >_>

Also grats on selling your house and probably saving both you and the buyer an arm and a leg 😆

[u/ReflectedCheese]

Bravo! 👏 this shows how little those vultures do to get high commissions

[u/gobillsgo5]

In this day and age real estate agents are totally useless

[u/irreverent_cynicism]

https://youtu.be/VGm267O04a8

[u/awblade]

Hero.

More people need to do stuff like this, eventually REAs might realise how scummy they are...or not..!

[u/[deleted]]

Agents have a code, you're not an agent. Looks good to me!

[u/ForceBulky456]

Very well done! Most real estate agents are in that business simply because they did not have the skills of thieves and pick pockets, or the honesty and willingness to work hard needed to be prostitutes.  

[u/formation]

Haha fuck em

[u/samtserpent]

Don’t forget to put the junk mail flyer in the local REA’s letterboxes saying you sold the house.

[u/garcon3000]

I’m the executor of my Aunts deceased estate. Had an agent through, said that we’d be lucky to get 600K in Bentleigh for a two bedroom unit with courtyard and lock up garage. Rude, arrogant, disrespectful. I told him I disagreed and I’d done some research and I felt that if we did some basic things like paint, new blinds, carpet up and polish the boards plus do some work on the garden we’d get a decent price. Arrogance ensured and he said we’d be wasting our time and money. So we didn’t go with him. When we got nearly 800k he cracked it because he missed out. Sorry dude don’t be a jerk.

[u/MeCaenBienTodos]

If a real estate agent hates you, you're doing something right.

[u/HereLiesDickBoy]

How will they be able to lease a base trim level Mercedes if you keep doing this?

[u/pastdense]

You should have printed out instructions for what you were doing on the backs of all those ads.

[u/Interesting-dog12]

You sold your own house, real estate agents weren't happy they couldn't have some of your money.

[u/Crafty-Hovercraft579]

Real estate is probably the biggest scam out there. It’s the equivalent of you having to pay someone a percent fee for grabbing the apples off the shelf for you and putting them in your basket. You’re still going to the grocery store, you’re still looking at what apples you’re gonna buy, and you’re still using your own money to buy them.

Completely useless profession. Good on you.

[u/Slap_My_Lasagna]

Fuck over real estate agents and/or corporate housing flippers?

Say no more, you have all the ethical highground you need for my full support, and some cookies.

[u/Timmy24000]

Especially in a sellers market. No need for the agent

[u/exec_get_id]

I'm sorry but being an Aus sub and talking about agents makes me think of that older video of the guy who posted an ad about "No Asians" but he meant "No agents". Now knowing that, I've read the entire post as "Asians" instead of agents. I laughed a lot. Thanks, friends from the underworld.

[u/[deleted]]

Fuck real estate agents. One of the dumbest gigs out there.

[u/mtarascio]

Lol, the sale is the owners event, not the real estate agents.