[Debset]

I forgot to mention yesterday, I had a few questions for Debbie Sander while searching for a home, she responded to me right away even while she was away. I never had any issues with this agent whatsoever.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Hardlyworking

You are wrong on 2 points. They are licensed by the state and it is Sumter not Sumpter.

You can verify any real estate agents status with the state of Florida here:

Licensing Portal - License Search

Don't bother. I've already posted the correct information 3 TIMES in this thread. Others have posted it, as well.

No one bothers to read the thread before spouting off with incorrect info...

It's maddening...

[Hardlyworking]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Don't bother. I've already posted the correct information 3 TIMES in this thread. Others have posted it, as well.

No one bothers to read the thread before spouting off with incorrect info...

It's maddening...

We must counter the “repeat a lie enough times…” mindset with the truth.

[Rodneysblue]

Originally Posted by Denbal82

I listed my home with a Village real estate agent named Debbie Sander in August. From the start, my service from her was substandard.

In the beginning and talking with her in person, I asked her to send me a copy of the signed agreement. She never did. I asked again and she sends me a blank one. I finally got a signed one after a few calls.

Early on, I had to text her something important about the house and then days go by (or a week) and no response. I had to actually go to my open house just to talk to her. She told me her phone was "broken."

As the weeks go on, I emailed her, text her and left messages on her phone and no response. She did call me a week later about something else but never addressed my questions I emailed her about earlier. She said she must have gotten back to me and said she'll look at her phone logs. I told her I have phone logs as well and she changed the subject. She was also supposed to send me a contact name for a person regarding a small project around the house, you guessed it !- it never happened.

On one occasion, her assistant emailed me at 2:47pm saying I have a showing at 2:30pm that same day. Luckily, I left the house hours ahead for an appointment. Also her assistant emailed me on a Monday about something unimportant and then telling me to have a nice weekend. Ditzy?

On December 2nd, I left a voice mail with Debbie Sander saying i have something important to say and to call me back ASAP. To this day, I haven't heard from her. I since met with the Villages Sales Office manager and learned that Debbie had lied to me about sales statistics. I have now continued the listing contract with another Village realtor. If this original (long) 6 month contract expires, I will go with a MLS agent.

I'm sure many of you had pleasant experiences with her but, I just wanted to share mine and relay some information about her to help anyone make a discission if listing their home with a Village realtor. In my opinion, I don't think she's 100% coherent. Plus, I always wondered about a realtor using their High School picture on their business cards when you're in your sixties.

So sorry you had a bad experience. Our Villages agent went above and beyond our expectation.

[marie&tim]

Sorry you had a bad experience with Debbie. We have bought and sold thru Debbie. She got great results for us and I would recommend her to all my family and friends. She is the Villages number one sales person and I would definitely use her again.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Rodneysblue

So sorry you had a bad experience. Our Villages agent went above and beyond our expectation.

As did ours...

[SusanStCatherine]

Denbal82 thank you for speaking out. I know someone who had great difficulty with her as well. Sometimes it's not just you.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I have not listed a house with The Villages. However, when I have listed a house, the maximum listing contract I would agree to was 90 days. And, the contract would include a clause that said, if I lose confidence in the agent or broker, I can fire them at any time. The Villages has some good, experienced agents. Your listing contract is with The Villages, not the individual agent. Also, when listing a house for sale, I always wanted to know the names of the top selling agents in the brokerage. Why not use the best?

Came to all the conclusions you mentioned, but AFTER some really upsetting experiences (in other states). Finally learned, "the hard way" as my dad used to say ! Took two experiences at selling (cigarette butts on the garage floor because the "agent" did not want to "offend" a possible buyer, but didn't mind offending us who did not appreciate smoking in a CLOSED garage in winter with gasoline can present... the mos important factor was POSSIBLE COMMISSION FOR AGENT, not our wishes. Had signed contract with another agent that CLEARLY states no showings with less than 24 notice. Completely ignored that clause, even came by with client wanting in when husband had just arrived home from surgery. Had she made the call 24 hours before, we could have let her know he would be coming home that day. Many lessons to learn, 90 max on a contract, and you have to spell out each and every point with NO "wiggle room". If they break one of the contract's terms... the listing is automatically null and void. It's the only way to NOT be walked all over by a disrespectful agent. There are MANY who do respect their client's rights, homes, and privacy. Some.... definitely do not !

[newgirl]

The broker needs to know this. Sadly, they are not Realtors, they work only for the developer so they do not have to abide by the code of ethics or most other buyer/seller type relationship rules.

[newgirl]

This may work here( although newer agents can be amazing, they have a passion and want to succeed so usually will go the extra mile to make a name for themselves. ) but I sold Real Estate for 20 yrs in Traverse City, Michigan, and would never take a listing for 90 days unless the market was a seller's market. Village sales people do not have the expenses an MLS Realtor has, I put a lot of money and time into my listings ( in 2000 it cost $25 just to put an ad in the paper, add all the other marketing and I spent over $50.000 a yr just on pictures, etc). Today is different because the internet takes away 50% or more of the time, and now it is about websites but there still, MLS agents do not get paid until they close a deal.

[Hardlyworking]

Originally Posted by newgirl

This may work here( although newer agents can be amazing, they have a passion and want to succeed so usually will go the extra mile to make a name for themselves. ) but I sold Real Estate for 20 yrs in Traverse City, Michigan, and would never take a listing for 90 days unless the market was a seller's market. Village sales people do not have the expenses an MLS Realtor has, I put a lot of money and time into my listings ( in 2000 it cost $25 just to put an ad in the paper, add all the other marketing and I spent over $50.000 a yr just on pictures, etc). Today is different because the internet takes away 50% or more of the time, and now it is about websites but there still, MLS agents do not get paid until they close a deal.

Working on commission is a very motivating factor. If you don’t work hard you won’t succeed.

[newgirl]

Oh yes, it does! Who a Realtor is working for makes a huge difference, and being a sales person for a developer and a Realtor, are different in so many ways...

[Croan]

Originally Posted by pauld315

My understanding is that Villages "realtors" do not necessarily have to have a real estate license. They do not use MLS and they are contractors contracted to TV.

The people who sell for TV, are Florida licensed sales agents not REALTORS. Developer LICENSEES obtain their license through the State of Florida, just like MLS Realtors. The Developer has their own sale system (go online to the Villages app to find Developer listed resale properties ). The Developer has chosen NOT to affiliate with the Realtor community. The Developer does not share their listings with the MLS community. The Developer does NOT share new construction listings with the MLS community.

If you are a REALTOR, you are a member of the local multiple listing service MLS (sharing your listings to other MLS member offices and Realtors) and the local Realtor Association. You are a member of the Florida State Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. You have a Code of Ethics to adhere to. You have MLS rules in which to abide. You do NOT have access to ANY of the Developer listings, new construction or resale properties. And you do not share your MLS listings with the Developer community sales team.

As a Developer's licensee, you are NOT a Realtor, yet you ARE a Florida licensed sales agent. While there are good licensees in both organizations, please don't confuse the difference between a licensee and a Realtor. The standards are much higher for a Realtor as prescribed by their rules and regulations (ie: Code of Ethics).

I know the difference. I am a REALTOR, still licensed in my former state and have been for many, many years.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Croan

The people who sell for TV, are Florida licensed sales agents not REALTORS. Developer LICENSEES obtain their license through the State of Florida, just like MLS Realtors. The Developer has their own sale system (go online to the Villages app to find Developer listed resale properties ). The Developer has chosen NOT to affiliate with the Realtor community. The Developer does not share their listings with the MLS community. The Developer does NOT share new construction listings with the MLS community.

If you are a REALTOR, you are a member of the local multiple listing service MLS (sharing your listings to other MLS member offices and Realtors) and the local Realtor Association. You are a member of the Florida State Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. You have a Code of Ethics to adhere to. You have MLS rules in which to abide. You do NOT have access to ANY of the Developer listings, new construction or resale properties. And you do not share your MLS listings with the Developer community sales team.

As a Developer's licensee, you are NOT a Realtor, yet you ARE a Florida licensed sales agent. While there are good licensees in both organizations, please don't confuse the difference between a licensee and a Realtor. The standards are much higher for a Realtor as prescribed by their rules and regulations (ie: Code of Ethics).

I know the difference. I am a REALTOR, still licensed in my former state and have been for many, many years.

Most of what you said is accurate, but I don't think that many non-Realtor licensed agents would agree that the standards are higher for a Realtor. The NAR is a lot about advertising, collecting money, and tooting their own horn.

[MillerD]

Originally Posted by Denbal82

Thanks for the reply. I always heard the houses sell very fast here so I didn't think about the 90 day term and any stipulations to add. I now learned.

Not a resale. They can take a very long time as you're always up against the new homes that list lower than the used homes.