Can I bypass the sellers realtor?

[John Lindemann]

In my market it seems like there are a lot of sellers that are getting bad (too optimistic) pricing advice from their realtor and their house sits on the market for months.  So, there are several houses near me that have been on the market for a while.  I wanted to get the BP communities thoughts on bypassing a realtor to contact the seller directly.  NOT to bypass the realtor in the contract phase and NOT to cut the realtor out of their commission...ONLY to offer and negotiate directly with a seller.  I definitely believe that if the house is listed with a realtor and that is why I found it then the realtor should be paid their commission.

It is unethical or illegal to do?

In old days it may have been tough to find out who the seller was or how to contact them...well actually if it was an owner occupant it may have been easier when everybody's home phone number was in the phone book!  Nowadays I can look up the owner online then typically use Facebook or other site to send them a message or even get their cell number.

I see 4 primary ways to contact:

• Knock on their door
• Mail a letter
• Phone call
• Online message (Facebook, etc)

I imagine the conversation or note saying something like "Hi, I am a real estate investor looking to buy properties in your area and I noticed that your home is listed for sale.  If you are interested in selling your property quickly and easily please give me a call so we can discuss how I can help you.  I want to ensure you that I am a buyer, I am not a realtor or wholesaler."  Obviously expanded upon and formalized for a note or informalized for in-person or phone call.

I would then hope to meet with the seller directly, agree upon a price and then I would submit my final offer to their realtor.

Thanks for your input!!

My investment areas: Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Coweta, Bixby, Claremore, Wagoner

[Russell Brazil]

@John Lindemann The problem on the pricing is most likely not the Realtor but the seller themselves.  The Realtor is incentived to sell the house, not to get the best price.  Any Realtor does not want to have the house sitting for months. If it is the seller wants too much for the property, not the agent. So bypassing the agent is not likely to yield you the results you want, and will likely have the opposite affect, the seller holding a grudge agaisnt you.