You mean I can get an unbiased look at a house in peace, compare the numbers, look at the plans, measure the humidity and do my due diligence without a sales person breathing down my neck?
Hell yea. I'd pay premium for that.
> You mean I can get an unbiased look at a house in peace, compare the numbers, look at the plans, measure the humidity and do my due diligence without a sales person breathing down my neck?
No, I don't think anyone means that. They mean purchase the house.
You can't go into a company and get them to show you their sales pipeline and their staff's performance evaluations before you (potentially) invest. If you want to do these things, you need to make a series of smaller deals first.
Human beings can be fluid, can enter into non-disclosure agreements and make these kinds of bespoke deals, while a web-based transaction form with a buy-it-now button cannot.
People are more and more selling without a broker as well, or at least they start to use cheaper brokers where you only buy the service you need.
It's a scamola with a similar racket being Ticketmaster's "convenience fees". Most apartments in NYC will require going through their broker who collects a fee (usually a percentage of the first years rent). A chunk of that fee ends up being a kickback to the owner of the apartment. Ticketmaster does the same thing with venues (tack on $15 fee, give the venue $7.50).
would you hire a person for your team just by looking at degree transcripts, LOC written, and the resume? maybe you would, but I'm not too inclined to do that.
The HN bias is a bit like the salesman is the inefficient part disincentivized to help you and trying to rip you off.
The assumption you have is they are simply a market matcher but they're offering more than that.
Their incentive is to get the highest possible sale price in the shortest amount of time and a good reputation. That high price has to also be clearable meaning it cannot be just up in the air and seemingly arbitrary (it can cost either time or reputation).
Without them there is much more information asymmetry. Using an online version you basically have access to the same information you would as with them but without the human element to judge through nor their experience on offer.
The incentive for the agent is actually highest cash in down payment because they don't want to deal with the bank to get their money plus they get to keep the down payment if the buyer pulls out.
> plus they get to keep the down payment if the buyer pulls out.
What? Where does this happen?
In many places, the law is forcing you to go through an accredited agent to make a deal.
I don't know anyone who wants to pay that fee.