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July 24, 2008
Park Slope co-op realtor recc's?
I'm planning to sell my (South) Park Slope co-op. Does anyone have any specific realtor recc's? (Was thinking about talking to Corcoran, for the exposure...)
Also, is there now a coherent Brooklyn MLS that makes the realtor's firm-size less important? (When I bought there wasn't, but I heard rumors of one in the works...)
Comments
I have often found good enough brokers in both large and smaller firms, but overall, the best brokers I've dealt with were employed by large firms. And the very worst (unethical, unprofessional) were employed by fairly small ones.
I would recommend you try to find a good individual that works for one of the larger firms. I agree that they seem to offer greater exposure, they also have better web sites and make the search easier for buyers.
Posted by: Ray at July 24, 2008 4:23 PM
If you're going to go with Corcoran, may I recommend Alyssa Morris. She sold me coop for me and was extremely professional and togther.
Alyssa.Morris@corcoran.com
Posted by: denton at July 24, 2008 5:19 PM
We have had the exact opposite experience of Ray, and found for our area, smaller local agents were a better choice.
We are in Windsor Terrace and I would recommend Mary at Brooklyn Real, or Orrichio Anderson (who we both bought our apartment from and used to sell the same apartment).
My Corcoran connection didn't know our neighborhood, didn't take the time to know it and wanted a higher commission to do business.
In terms of Brooklyn's MLS my understanding is that its not there yet.
Posted by: Brooklyn11218 at July 24, 2008 8:53 PM
My recommendation is to talk to more than one firm. And let them know you are talking to more than one firm.
If you go to Corc and they know you are only talking to them they will tell you they never ever discount the commission. If they know you are talking to someone else they will work harder for you and compete on price.
We had bought our PS coop through Brooklyn Properties so when we went to sell it 5 years later we felt we had a relationship (we like Marie who works out of the 7th+ Carroll office and lives in Windsor Terrace) and so turned to them first when we looked to sell, also talked to Corcoran.
Ended up giving PB as an exclusive for the first 60 (? not sure) days for a reduced commission. They failed to get any bids on it in their exclusive period (we put it on the market in January -- weren't a lot of buyers in that time of year) and so we opened it up to Corcoran as well. The weather turned nicer and the traffic got heavier. Ended up having a small bidding war between Corc and PB -- the buyers competing on price and the brokers competing on commission. Worked out well for us.
The other thing I feel I learned is that as well as the brokers know how to market properties in general I really know more about my property in particular. Try to imagine who would really LOVE your place and then think about marketing to her/him. The corcoran broker missed a showing of the apartment (he said it was a mix up) and I showed it instead. They seemed like me and my wife 10 years earlier so I felt like I knew how to talk to them. They ended up being the 2nd place bidder. The winning bidder (from BP) loved the apartment for all the reasons that I thought the apartment was great too.
Posted by: phripley at July 24, 2008 9:23 PM
Not to piggy-back on mrpickles' original post, but we are thinking of selling a co-op in North Slope (near Prospect Park) and would love to know if you have any recommendations for a broker who knows this area well.
I am considering talking to both local-based (BP, Aguayo) and larger firms. Corcoran has an office here on 7th Av so I assume they know North Slope? Are brokers with Douglas Elliman and Halstead familiar with the neighborhood?
Also do the big firms usually take 6%? Thanks.
Posted by: prolog at July 25, 2008 1:58 AM
I think it stinks that my post was erased.. I explained that there IS an MLS service in Brooklyn, and offered my services. WTF is wrong with that????
Is this site an example of free speech?? I say not.
Howard
Posted by: howrealnyc at July 25, 2008 11:28 AM
I second Phripley, speak to more than one and make sure they know you are doing it. They are all interested in your business, and will negotiate their commission down if they sense they have to. Meanwhile remember they may only offer a considerably lower comission if you give them exclusive access to the sale.
I had a bad experience with Aguayo & Huebener, and since then I've learned of far worse by the same broker. I would stay away from them.
Posted by: Ray at July 25, 2008 1:28 PM
If you are thinking about where to get good exposure, don't forget to look at who has the best windows and physical offices. Corcoran has that in Park Slope, but Brown Harris Stevens has an even better located office they're expanding in Park Slope with huge windows with listings on the corner of 7th Ave and Union Street. Despite all the internet resources people look in those windows constantly. Lots of pedestrian traffic and vistors, not just residents, in Park Slope so it's smart marketing.
Posted by: traditionalmod at July 26, 2008 4:33 PM
Elizabeth LaGrua at Sotheby's Int'l covers parts of Brooklyn, I'm not sure whether PS is included. It's worth checking. She's ethical and she's not pushy.
Posted by: Greer at July 26, 2008 8:57 PM
My partner and I own a local real estate company in Park Slope. We are both life long Park Slope residents. We know everything there is to know about the neighborhood. We have each lived in the Center Slope, South Slope and currently live in the North Slope. As local brokers, we are obviously biased, but as local brokers we are more negotiable on fees, easier to deal with because we do not have to answer to a large corporation, we have to answer to our clients because we live here, shop here, raise our children here. As the owners, we value our we value are reputation. We clearly believe in supporting local companies to maintain what keeps the neighborhood so great and not large nationwide corporationd spread out under different names.
Posted by: ruthanne at July 28, 2008 11:57 AM
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