Monthly Archives: November 2022

Can I Fire My Realtor? Here’s How To Get Out of a Contract

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Realtors. They are the people that can help make your dreams come true when it comes to homes. 

These people are the ones that can help you sell a home for as fast or as highly priced as you want. Or, they can be the people that help you buy your dream home. 

In the United States, there are plenty of options when it comes to real estate agents. That is because there are over three million people in the country that have a real estate license. 

Sometimes, you may want to know how to break up with a realtor. That is because, unfortunately, not all of those real estate agents are going to be the perfect fit for you. 

If you find yourself in one of those situations, you may see that it can be a little difficult to get out of a realtor contract. This guide will show you how to get out of a realtor contract and show you the signs that it may be time to move on from your real estate agent. 

Can I Fire a Realtor? 

So, the first question you may be asking with this article is “can I fire my realtor?” Well, the answer to this question is technically yes. However, it may not always be the easiest process. 

Not only can it be a difficult process, but this also is not always the morally correct move. The reason why this can be the case is that most real estate agents work on commission. 

This means that they do not get paid until you buy or sell a home. If you work with a real estate agent long enough, it can mean that they spend months working on your home without seeing any money if you decide to move on. 

With that said, you can do this. How easy it will be is going to depend on if you have an exclusive agreement with that real estate agent or not. 

Most real estate agents will ask you to sign this in the early stages of working with them. It means that you will give them exclusive rights to help you buy or sell a home for a certain time. 

If you want to fire a real estate agent in the middle of this time, it will be more difficult because it typically states in these contracts that they can have the right to the commission on your home if it gets sold in the time referred to in the contract. 

Of course, you do have the option of letting them go before you sign with them or waiting until the exclusive agreement expires. But first, you need to know the signs of when you should fire a real estate agent. 

Signs That I Need To Fire My Realtor 

Now that you know that you can fire your realtor, you need to know some of the biggest signs that you should consider doing so. The following are a few notable signs. 

Lack of Communication 

One of the most justifiable reasons to fire a real estate agent is if they have a lack of communication. This can just be them failing to explain why they cannot find a house or a buyer that meets your needs. 

It can also be them having a lack of availability to respond to your phone calls or messages. This is not just them failing to answer right away but letting your calls or messages go completely unanswered. 

Essentially, you do not want a real estate agent that leaves you in the dark about things. You especially do not want a real estate agent that fails to guide you on what a realistic offer is on either side of a home purchase. 

Lack of communication is one of the biggest reasons why business or workplace relationships do not work. Around 86% of employees note a lack of effective communication as the main reason for workplace failures. 

What this means is that you should not underestimate the importance of effective communication. You need to consider finding another real estate agent if your current one is not providing you with this. 

Ignoring Your Needs 

Another legitimate reason that you can fire a real estate agent is if they are ignoring the needs that you are requesting from them. This can be giving you the house size that you want, the location that you want, or the price range in that you want to buy a home. 

A lot of this goes back to communication as discussed above. A real estate agent should be doing everything they can to meet your requests. The main key on your end is to make sure they understand exactly what you want out of this before you begin. 

As long as they have this understanding, you should expect that a real estate agent is going to take care of your needs. If they fail to provide what you are looking for, they need to properly explain why these needs can’t be met. From there, they should have an alternative idea to get as close to your needs as possible. 

The point is, your real estate effort should be giving the absolute maximum effort to try and find you the perfect home or the perfect buyer for your home. 

Lack of Exposure 

If you are trying to sell a home, this can be a big reason that you have a problem with a real estate agent. As a seller, you would be relying on your real estate agent to promote your home to as many people as possible. 

One of the ways that you can do that is by having a strong online presence. To do that, you are likely going to have to have some good photos of your home out there. 

It is a real estate agent’s job to manage this and to make sure the right photographer is getting your home in the best light. If they fail to do this, it can lead to potential buyers overlooking your home. 

A home that has high quality photos online sells 32% faster than those that don’t. So, if you are not happy with your home exposure and feel like your realtor does not have the skills to fix this, it could be time to move on. 

Personality Clash

Finally, there are some real estate agents you just do not have a good relationship with. Some can get aggressive and impatient while you may be someone that is more cautious and wants to take your time making a big decision. 

Or, you could be someone that wants to move quickly and your real estate agent does not move with that sense of urgency. This can be just as bad because you can start to blame your real estate agent if you do not move on a house fast enough. 

If you feel like you cannot work well with a person, that could be a sign that it is time to move on. 

Downsides and Risks of Firing a Realtor

As stated above, firing a realtor may not always go smoothly. The main downside that comes with firing a realtor is if you have an exclusive agreement with them. 

If you decide to sell the home yourself and you signed an exclusive right to sell agreement, you would still have to pay them a commission if you managed to do it yourself while the contract was still active. 

Another situation that comes up with these exclusive agreements is the timing of them. Let’s say that you want to fire a real estate agent after working with them for one month. However, you have a contract with them that makes them your exclusive agent for another five months. 

This can cause a problem when it comes to buying or selling a house. It can result in you having to lower the value of your home because it will be on the market longer. Or, it can cause you to delay moving plans that you have because you may have to wait for that contract to expire. 

The point is, if you are in the wrong situation with a real estate agent, moving on from them can end up being a costly endeavor for you. 

What To Do Before Firing a Realtor

The main thing you want to do is have a plan. Are you prepared to wait for a potential contract to expire if they refuse to let them out of it? 

Or, will you try to get out of your contract early? If you do this, you will have to come up with a game plan to calmly explain why this is not working out. Then, you would have to convince them why it would be beneficial to let you out of your contract early. 

You want to prepare for your next move before firing a real estate agent impulsively. This is especially the case because it is going to be one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. 

How To Fire a Realtor as a Seller

As a seller, you really need to have a few scenarios prepared. If you do this early enough, you want to make sure that you do not sign an exclusive agreement with a realtor. Then, it is easiest to move on from them cleanly. 

If you are already in an agreement, you are going to want to time this right. You may want to do it early enough when the realtor is not deeply invested and it benefits them to save their time on you. Or, if it is late enough into the agreement, you want to wait until the agreement expires before entertaining other buyers. 

How To Fire a Realtor as a Buyer

Most of the above go similarly for firing a realtor as a buyer. It will depend on if you already signed that agreement or not. If you did, then either try to fire them early into the agreement or just let the agreement expire to avoid having to pay them a commission. 

What Can You Do After You’re Released From Your Contract?

So, if you get out of a contract described above, you need to know what to do next. As a seller, there are two main options for you. 

FSBO Route 

The first route that you can take is the for sale by owner route. This is when you have no real estate agent working for you and you just sell a home yourself. 

While you do not have to pay a commission here, you have to do all of the paperwork, negotiation, and advertising yourself. 

Do not underestimate this process. It can take up to 58 days to sell a house even with a real estate agent.

If you do it on your own, it can take even longer. So, make sure this is something you are willing to do before going further. 

Sell to an iBuyer

The alternative to the above is to find an iBuyer. This can be a third-party affiliate that helps connect you to prospective buyers online. It can greatly help you speed up the process of selling a home. 

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    Conclusion

    These are some of the main things that you need to know when it comes to how to break up with a realtor. You need to know the options you have once you do this, what it takes to fire a realtor, and signs that you should fire a realtor. 

    As long as you are prepared for the drawbacks, you should be good to go. 

    The post Can I Fire My Realtor? Here’s How To Get Out of a Contract appeared first on iBuyer Blog.

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    The Former Ritz-Carlton, Cancun Is Becoming a Kempinski 

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    Kempinski is set to open its third luxury hotel in the Caribbean next week, with a new resort in Cancun. 

    Kempinski is taking over the former Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, which removed Ritz-Carlton as its brand over the summer. 

    In the interim, the hotel has been operating as the “Grand Hotel Cancun managed by Kempinski.”

    The brand change officially takes effect on Dec. 9, a spokesperson for Kempinski told Caribbean Journal. 

    KICUN1_Presidential Suite Terrace.jpeg

    It’s a significant change for the 360-room resort, which had for years been one of the top luxury resorts in all of Cancun. 

    It’s set in the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone. 

    Kempinski now has three luxury hotels in the Caribbean region: the Cancun property, the Cabrits Kempinski Resort Dominica and the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski in Havana, Cuba. 

    The hotel has planned extensive programming for the upcoming holiday season, from a Christmas vacation option to a fun-filled New Year’s Day celebration. 

    cancun ritz carlton

    The resort will also be holding regular presentations on traditional Mexican Christmas Posadas throughout the holiday season. 

    Ritz-Carlton’s departure removed what had been the only Ritz-Carlton in all of the Mexican Caribbean, a region that continues to see major luxury hotel growth. 

    Marriott does have a JW Marriott still operating in Cancun. 

    For more, visit Kempinski. 

    The post The Former Ritz-Carlton, Cancun Is Becoming a Kempinski  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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    Hyatt to Open New Adults-Only Resort on This Caribbean Island 

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    Hyatt is opening a new adults-only  resort on the tiny island of Isla Mujeres on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. 

    And now it has an official opening date. 

    The new all-inclusive Secrets Impression Isla Mujeres will welcome its first guests on March 15, 2023, according to parent company Apple Leisure Group, which is part of the Hyatt portfolio. 

    It’s a major branded boost for tiny Isla Mujeres, one of the most beloved small islands on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

    It will have a decidedly intimate feel, with 125 rooms, all of which will be suites, all with views of the ocean — and all with butler service. 

    The resort will feature eight different dining concepts, along with nine different bars, from a “water lounge” called Hamaca to a rooftop bar called The Top. And yes, there will be a swim-up bar, too, called Barecito. 

    Secrets Impression Isla Mujeres will also be home to a signature Secrets Spa, with six treatment rooms, three of which are specifically designed for couples, along with Hammam therapy.

    Perhaps the most unique amenity is the private boat service option from the mainland of Cancun, with travelers arriving at a special waterfront bar called the “yacht welcome lounge” to kick off their stay. 

    It’s the latest addition to Hyatt’s growing all-inclusive portfolio — and AMR Collection’s fast-expanding group of luxury all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, buoyed by Hyatt’s acquisition of Apple Leisure Group last year. More notably, the resort is also part of the World of Hyatt loyalty program.

    What one of the restaurants will look like. This one is called La Vista.

    When it opens, it will be the 14th Secrets-branded resort in Mexico alone. The AMR Collection has a total of 18 Secrets resorts in the wider Caribbean region. 

    Prices at Secrets Impression Isla Mujeres will start at $473.50 per person per night, according to the company. 

    For more, visit Secrets Impression Isla Mujeres. 

    The post Hyatt to Open New Adults-Only Resort on This Caribbean Island  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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    Travelers Are Flocking to Curacao Right Now 

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    It’s hard to say precisely when the renaissance began. 

    It might have been in March, when Curacao became one of the first Caribbean destinations to remove its pre-testing requirements. 

    Or perhaps it was June, when the new Sandals Royal Curacao opened its doors as the brand’s first resort in the Dutch Caribbean. 

    What can’t be argued is that the island of Curacao is in the midst of a full-fledged tourism renaissance, welcoming record-breaking numbers of travelers. 

    And the island just hit another milestone, topping 400,000 visitor arrivals in the first 10 months of 2022. 

    The Baoase Luxury Resort in Curacao, recently named Best Luxury Resort in the Caribbean.

    That was yet another month in which the island topped its record highs from 2019, before the onset of the pandemic. 

    “The recovery of the pre-pandemic performance continues as we move towards the end of this year,” the Curacao Hotel and Tourism Association said in a statement. 

    But the biggest change, one that does happen to coincide with the arrival of Sandals, is a surge in travel from the United Sates. 

    For years, Curacao struggled mightily to attract American visitors — this summer, though, that started to change significantly, with record US visitation every month since the opening of the all-inclusive. 

    In October, for example, the island reported 9,166 American visitors – more than double the 4,040 Americans that came to destination in October 2019. 

    curacao travelers
    Best Western’s new hotel in Curacao.

    For the year, visits from the US and Canada are up by 171 percent compared to the first 10 months of 2019. That includes a rebound from Canada, now that Air Canada and WestJet have resumed flying to Curacao. 

    That’s not to stay that Europe is not still the island’s tourism stronghold, however, with European arrivals to Curacao seeing similar surges compared to the pre-pandemic era. 

    “Curaçao continues to see a great performance from its top three main markets; The Netherlands, United States of America and Colombia,” the Curacao Hotel and Tourism Association said. 

    If the next two months follow suit, Curacao tourism officials expect to see an all-time record for travelers in a calendar year, more than the previous high of 467,538 arrivals back in 2019. 

    The post Travelers Are Flocking to Curacao Right Now  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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    The Best All-Inclusive Resorts in St Maarten

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    St Maarten has everything: the beaches, the restaurants, the nightlife, the shopping, the gaming. It’s one of the most diverse, cosmopolitan, fun-filled places in all of the Caribbean. 

    And this is the island’s epicenter: Maho Beach, the heartbeat of St Maarten, where the planes make their spectacular landings, the sand sparkles an impossible white and the energy never stops. 

    It’s fitting, then, that Maho is also home to St Maarten’s two best resorts, both of which happen to be of the all-inclusive variety. 

    The Sonesta is set in the epicenter of St Maarten.

    This is the Sonesta St Maarten, an all-inclusive destination that comprises two resorts: the signature Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino and Spa and the adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort.

    First there’s the Ocean Point, set on one of the most stunning perches in the Caribbean, high above Maho Beach, with a sleek, crisp design, outstanding food and a serene (but energetic) ambience. It’s also home to a clutch of swim-up suites. 

    Swim-out rooms at the Sonesta Ocean Point.

    It’s as good as an adults-only experience gets in the Caribbean, with 130 suites in a “resort within a resort” concept that means Molton Brown amenities, an ultra-chic beach-style rooftop pool and personalized concierge and butler service for the top-level suites. 

    The all-inclusive offering even includes a stocked, daily-refreshed mini bar, along with special events, 24-hour room service and a high-tech fitness center. 

    Then there’s the 420-room Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, the family-friendly destination resort, the one with the Beach House Kids Club and Aqua Park, a tech-filled Teen Zone, a wonderful spa and a signature swim-up bar. That’s along with a rich menu of daily entertainment with everything from dance classes to poolside bingo to bocce ball and karaoke. 

    The main pool at the Sonesta Maho.

    All-inclusive resorts are the hottest thing in Caribbean travel right now, with more and more brands entering the all-inclusive space as more and more travelers seek out resorts where they never have to take out their wallet. 

    But Sonesta has been doing this in St Maarten for decades, honing the art of the Caribbean all-inclusive. 

    An even on an island with so much to do, with so much calling you beyond your resort, the Sonesta strikes the perfect balance: you can stay all day at the resort, or you can venture out for unique experiences or haute cuisine dinners.

    Either way, you’ll never forget you’re in St Maarten. 

    It’s an island that has everything — just like the Sonesta. 

    For more, visit Sonesta St Maarten. 

    The post The Best All-Inclusive Resorts in St Maarten appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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