Guaranteed?

By Robin Shapiro

In the past, I’ve written about real estate brokers who advertise a guaranteed cash offer for your home. My column questioned the ethics of a guarantee without seeing the property. Such offers are aimed at obtaining your home as a new listing – not really aimed at buying your property. Offers from brokers who also act as investors would probably be based upon the business model of buying low and selling high according to a recent article in a major publication. They offer less than what the home is worth in exchange for a quick sale.

In my old column on this subject, I compared real estate brokers with Wall Street brokers who are prohibited from making performance guarantees. Wall Street brokers have a fiduciary responsibility to act in a client’s best interest. Shouldn’t real estate brokers have the same responsibility?

The aforementioned recently published article warned homeowners to be aware of deceptive methods by outfits who advertise guarantees. The article suggested the use of real estate brokers who can give insight into the local market – sales of comparable homes, recent trends in sales, etc.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is this coming Monday, Jan 19. It’s a federal holiday. The long weekend is used by many people for mini vacations. Call me. Love, Robin.