FSBO Open House In NYC Erupts Into Brawl;,Home Owner Alleges Attack By Real Estate Agent

A recent Open House in Soho pitted a for-sale-by-owner seller against a real estate agent that left the owner of the property tending his wounds, according to a report in The New York Times yesterday. The NYT got its information from Curbed's own Lockhart Steele, who broke the story on February 23, 2005. Blogger Steele received an email from a Curbed reader:

"I went to a Soho open house this weekend, an owner sell, its occupiers a mild-mannered man and his wife. When I arrived the man's face was bleeding with vicious cuts on either side of his face, looking shaken and on the phone to the police. It turned out that I had just missed the cause, a broker who took offense to being asked to leave and attacked him with her nails to make the point. She had apparently been sitting in the apartment refusing to leave before the altercation and her then rapid departure. Will be interested to see whether her details remain on her firm's website, or maybe this is just Manhattan real estate right now..."

Our thanks to The Grunt, who brought the story to our attention and additional narrative and followup. We will take this under advisement as a rule "How not to solicit a listing".

Comments

[Jon Carpenter]

Well maybe it's a sign that brokers and realtors are getting desperate... I mean, I have nothing against realtors and I believe their profession will always be needed for complex transactions or for people who have enough money to hire them... But the thing is realtors are fighting for their very survival. Or at least the survival of their fat paychecks. What they do not realize is that technology has changed a lot of things and, more or less, has broken their monopoly. Now people can cut out the middlemen and make substantial savings.
Sites like http://www.cytadia.us are the future because they empower people by 1) giving them more freedom and 2) connecting them to a large audience of potential buyers.

[Frances Flynn Thorsen]

I don't think there is any "desperation" among REALTORS or the general public. Here are some real numbers to work with (based upon a 2004 study by NAR):

* About 80 percent of sellers used real estate agents.
* 38 percent chose agents referred by a friend, neighbor or relative.
* 31 percent used an agent they had used previously.
* 54 percent said reputation was the most important factor.
* 19 percent said knowledge of neighborhood.
* 82 percent said they would likely use the same agent again.
--Frances Flynn Thorsen

[David Cook]

Mr. Jon Carpenter,

According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly two-thirds of the people surveyed who sell their own homes say they wouldn't do it again themselves. My own brother who lives in another state tried to sell his own home. He like so many others thought it would be a piece of cake. That was until he got sued for not understanding the disclosure laws. The primary reasons others gave included setting a price, marketing handicaps, liability concerns, and time constraints. When deciding upon a Realtor(r), consider interviewing two to three. Be wary of those that quote too high or too low. If you decide to sell on your own, I like a lot of Realtors(r) will help you with some of the paperwork including the contracts. We are available should a problem arise.

[Charlie]

Frances,
Is there a Blog for Real Estate Investors in the L.V.?
I know there is a DIG group that meets at Starlite Diner
on 2nd WEDS of mo. at 6:30. Are there any other clubs?
Charlie

Charlie: I am not aware of any other real estate blogs in the Lehigh Valley or any investment clubs. There will be an interesting Landlord gathering and educational seminar sponsored by HUD in a couple of months. I'll have a post in the blog.--Fran

[jane]

Well use a flat fee realtor because the do not come to your house its a cheaper realtor with cheap mls no fights lol

http://www.listingflatfeemls.com

is a popular one go ahead dont have a realtor

[Paul]

"How not to solicit a listing".

Classic.