An "Exceptional" Experience--If You Enjoy Disappointment!…read moreSelling my home with Renee was truly a remarkable experience--if by remarkable, you mean selling for $60K less than the original listing price after nearly six months on the market. Oh, and let's not forget the most hilarious part: my home, which is 600 square feet larger than my neighbor's, sold for just $10K more--except they managed to close in 1.5 months, while mine dragged on for half a year. But hey, their home was cozier, had better upgrades, and was just overall superior, so clearly, it's my home's fault.
Now, Renee was fantastic at making the process smooth and staging the home beautifully. She moved fast, which was impressive... until I realized that staging and speed don't mean much if your actual selling strategy is a disaster. Here's where things went downhill:
1. The Staging Fairy Tale
Renee was so passionate about staging, comparing it to dating--because, apparently, selling a house is just like putting on makeup and getting your hair done. And yet, after all that effort, staging did absolutely nothing to help my home sell faster or at a better price. Next time, I'll skip the expensive "makeover" and just hire a realtor who doesn't charge double the commission for theatrics.
2. A Pricing Strategy That Was a Masterclass in Excuses
I told Renee I wanted to sell quickly. Her brilliant plan? List high, get no offers, and then blame external factors. First, we were overpriced. Then came a long list of excuses--holiday season, LA fires, global warming, the alignment of the stars... you name it. The result? Six painful price cuts and a house sitting vacant for six months. If I had known this was the strategy, I would have just lit $60K on fire and saved myself the stress.
3. Negotiation? What's That?
A realtor's job is to advocate for their client. Renee's approach? Pass messages back and forth like an unpaid intern and let me handle the tough decisions. Even after I directly told her I expected her to negotiate on my behalf, she remained clueless and simply relayed whatever the buyer said, placing all the pressure on me.
The Contingency Debacle: One offer included a sale contingency. Renee assured me this was a great offer because the buyer was on a tight timeline. When I told her I was uncomfortable with the contingency, she didn't even know we could negotiate the timeframe. Later, she blamed me for not countering--because, apparently, I'm supposed to be the expert here.
The Lowball Circus: When a buyer lowballed me, Renee had no guidance on whether I should counter or by how much. She was more eager to close the deal than to fight for my best interest. We finally accepted the offer and made it crystal clear that no additional repairs would be accommodated. And yet--shockingly--the buyer came back with repair requests. Did Renee stand her ground? Nope. She simply relayed the request, wiped her hands clean, and said, "You can totally decline it."
Final Verdict
If you're looking for someone to stage your home and send messages back and forth while you handle all the hard decisions yourself, Renee is your person! But if you expect a realtor who will actually negotiate, strategize, and fight for your best interest--I'd strongly suggest looking elsewhere.
