He Trusts Appraisers

As Edward Jaynes wrote (“Letters,” Nov. 7), it is true that appraisers estimate a home’s value by considering sales produced by real estate agents.

But from my recent experience, after interviewing six agents from four major firms, I found that even though they were using recent sales information, some agents recommended prices that would most certainly make their job easier.

The difference between high and low recommended prices was $74,000. I chose the agent who proposed a middle-ground price, and the house sold for a respectable amount more.

What’s more, the agents who did not get the listing never stepped foot in the house again, even for half of the commission.

Two agents told me that once the house was listed with another agent that they would not have time to show my house, because they work exclusively on their own listings.

One agent refused to show a potential buyer my house (as the person told me at one of our open houses) because of some perceived flaw. And another agent wanted my listing to expire before she would show my home.

How could anyone suggest that I place my trust in real estate agents? I would choose a far more professional appraiser to pre-qualify an asking price. Since appraisers are at arm’s length regarding the actual sale, I believe that they would inherently be most objective and unbiased.

MICHAEL VOSGANIAN

Woodland Hills