ALLEN TATE REALTORS

I recently lost my wife, job and found myself suddenly in the position of having to sell my house nestled in a 3 acre lot in the woods, yet seven minutes from Burlington and 20 minutes from Greensboro.  This property sold itself, but I have dealt in buying and selling properties since the 1970's and though I saw this property only half built, I bought it twelve years ago.  I added at least 20K in improvements, and I must admit, due to the current market, the price received was fair.  I walked with 1K more than I used for my down payment in 2001.  That is not the problem.  I found the Tate Agent, or possibly Agency, to not disclose many facts prior to their occurrence.  I am a senior and not interested in throwing out savings.  The first thing the agent did was to tell me that he was going to send over a "staging" expert.  I dead asked him, "how much will this cost?"  He said, "Don't worry about it."  She came and I asked before she started, "how much will this cost?"  "Don't worry about it, only around ten dollars an hour."  I must add that I have been ill with pain, and as well, was out a portion of the day.  While she worked, I slept not feeling well.  I woke to a nightmare.  A 750, pay me immediately, bill was handed to me.  Let me also add that when well, I am an obsessive cleaner and an excellent decorator.  The setting in the woods, where window coverings aren't even necessary and the unusual layout of my place, with skylights and large open lving/dining room, as I said, sold itself.  As I surveyed what she had done, after paying, and noting that she charged me hours for shopping at ten dollars an hour, bought new beddings and other items, added to the bill, and although I kept a few of her ideas, I threw out much of the the gaudy cheap material and put down bedding that I had in my closets that were perfect, as well threw out many other ridiculous looking pieces of cloth she draped over furniture.  She did not clean, she stuffed things she didn't want showing into places where I still don't know if I can find, after moving.  I would open a closet and see cans of food surrounded by kitsch from the living room.  All the agent had to do was to say to me to remove all unnecessary items, make sure the house was presentable, as he knew I was an experienced buyer/seller.  I complained bitterly and he said that he had no idea that she would do that and he wouldn't use her anymore.  Also, there was the fact that they don't want you there when they show.  That, in this company's case, was not a good idea.  I had several boxes of pistol ammunition on one of my table tops which disappeared through the "showing process."  When questioned the agent wasn't apologetic, just took the information in and was indifferent.  The positives: he got a price that was "acceptable," although I believe, since the house sold so fast and had so many quick offers, that the listing price could have been higher (admittedly I wanted it "priced to sell."  It is just that I might possibly have walked with slightly more.  Still, no problem as at least I had the down payment back.  I walked in on a Sunday when he was "guarding" an empty office and he still managed to come to my house that day, also a positive.  I have another house, and I will admit that having gone through the tragic losses I did, and feeling unwell, I can be awful cranky.  As an experienced behavioral expert, if that's the case, change your style and suit the customer.  I'm sure he had as unpleasant a time, well not quite as bad as me, as the commission and who knows what else was there, and he did not have to work that hard as it was a quick sale.  For my behavior, it came from the shock of losses piled upon losses and ill health, and I apologized for that.  I recently sent him a message and he did not respond in regards to my other house that I am moving to.  Next sale goes to a different agency.  Note that I have used this agency in the past, but the agent was no longer there.

See above.

They were very helpful and responsive. We called them to see a few houses and they were able to meet us the same day to show us houses.