Trelora Realty Joshua Tree Realty Completely Failed to uphold their end of the contract Miserably, and Ripped Me Off Of A $500 Non-Refundable Fee! Centennial, Colorado

Colorado Realtor general comment #2 is retracting Colorado Realtor general comment #1 ... which appears somewhere other than above the retraction.

After reading this caustic review I went to the local BBB report and read it entirely from beginning to end. Some people do not wish to settle, just complain about the "injustice" their own behaviors bring to them. This seems to be such an individual complaining with no desire to settle rationally. I have every intention of using Trelora or a similar business to sell my house in this Web-fed real estate market. I would be curious to know how much profit she walked away with after the realtor took his commission, more or less than she would have if she had lowered her price, cleaned up before showings, and gone for a walk or ride with her animals while prospects viewed the house. I would not waste my time viewing a house with the owner shadowing me throughout the tour. Sounds like the "client from hell" scenario to me. P.S. Interesting that hers is the ONLY complaint registered against Trelora with the BBB and that should tell you something about both the company and this particular client.

Hello,

To anyone that has read the above comment I would like to retract it. Trelora is a good company and if you have them as an agent you are very fortunate.  They are just as good as any other agent out there.  I wish them the best with their cutting edge business plan.  I would have just deleted the comment but the nice folks on this site don't do that.

Thank you

My question to Trelora is what do you tell your listing clients upfront regarding a buyer brokerage relationship that states in the buyer agency contract that the buyer may be on the hook for anything above and beyond what you are paying the buyer agent? In other words you are about the same as a FSBO in my eyes.  Brokers add to their buyer agency agreement that YOU and FSBO's may cost the buyer money to buy your listing.  You know as well as I do not many buyers will pull cash out just because your business model makes them.  The other solution is the buyer can instruct the buyer broker to negotiate his commision with the seller.  What that means is if the seller wants to sell his home he still needs to pay between 2.3% and 3% to the buyer broker.  If not the buyer must pay his broker that money.  Do you feel this narrows your buyer pool by a huge number?  Well I do!  What it boils down to is many times sellers end up paying alot more than they thought they would or they simply don't sell the home.  Not many buyers are willing to pay a commision on the buy side.  That money almost always comes from the sell side in a normal residential transaction.  You are doing a huge diservice to your community, your piers and anyone you tell it will only be $3000 and they get an offer with a 2.8% commision negotiated to the buyer broker.  But hey, good luck with that businsess model. 

First I will start with full disclosure.  I am a real estate broker in Colorado that provides full service to my clients.  I am not sure exactly sure the amount of service provided by this discount prokerage firm.  I can assure you that I would never charge my clients a deposit.  If I don't sell your home I will never take your money.  I also know that there is alot of talk by very reputable brokers about this practice of non-refundable deposits as well as discounting fees to a leval that you need to sell way too many houses to be able to provide your clients with reasonable care.  I actually am confused about how they can even stay in business if they are properly marketing your home.  My marketing costs are way more than anyone could ever imagine. 

Another issue I have with these guys is the public already ranks real estate broker somewhere between used car salesmen and lawyers.  We go through a great deal of training in Colorado, more than almost any state in the country them we have a great deal of continuing ed.  Would you ever use a discount lawyer? A discount doctor? Why would you use a discount person to sell your biggest investment?

There is also something you may want to consider before using a discount brokerage firm.  Not many people know this but there is line on the back end of a local MLS (this is the service brokers use that has the information about homes listed in the area) the line says "co-op comission" this is the rate paid to the broker that brings the buyer.  Now just think, my buyer wants a $500k (most homes sell for less this is just an easy number for math reasons) home, a broker finds 2 homes on the MLS.  One pays a rate of 2.5% this is about $12,000 now not all that goes to the buyer broker.  The buyer broker company takes a split.  Usually about 30% or so.  So that leaves them with about $8,700.  Not a bad take unless you take into account how much time and money it takes to get that one sale.  The fact you don't sell a house everyday.   Actually you are considered a super star if you have one closing a week and most homes are not selling for $500K.  Having a buyer in your car week after week for months or sometimes years.  Not to mention all the advertising, gas, time, weekends away from our children, missing soccer games, birthdays you name it.  Then there is another house that is listed and that "co-op" line offers $2000.  The broker firm still takes their cut and leaves you with $1400 on that $500k home.  Now with all that said, Which home do you think most brokers will show.  I know we have to show all the homes our clients want to see.  But I assure you a broker can find a reason why they should not buy the discount brokers listing.  Now I am not here to have a morality discussion I am just stating the obvious. 

I have multiple other reasons not to use a discount brokerage but I feel I may be boring you already.  In short you get what you pay for.  I would never in my life think about using a discount brokerage.  If you want to have a good selling expierence I would suggest you use a full service reputable firm.  One of the big guys, Remax, Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams or Fuller.  Just my 2 cents as a full service broker here in wonderful Colorado.

 

 

Not sure if you have recovered your loss caused by Trelora...but you may want to file a BBB report.  This could help you recover your damages.

I can see why realtors compLain.  They get marginalized for the little work they actually do.  Trelora was a breath of fresh air.  Did an open house.  Showed it 4 times. Be helped me negotiate and close.  VERY professional and all process oriented.  Reminders and follow ups.  Unreal.   Just saying... Watch the source.  

To the complainant:  I am wondering if you have had better results with your new realtor, as I noticed your home is now under contract?   I am presuming that your home is getting very close to your asking price this time around working with a new agent since it went under contract so quickly....thus proving that your house was most likely not overpriced.  Did you get your $500 back?  If you can prove misdoing by Trelora, the Colorado Real Estate Commission takes complaints from consumers.  Perhaps that might be worth a try as well.  Since real estate agents are required to have a state-issued-license to practice they have to answer to the state when a consumer feels as if they have been wronged.  i recommend filing a complaint with them as well.  Also, always make sure you are working with a Realtor (not just an agent, but a member of the National Association of Realtors--NAR).  A Realtor must abide by NAR's professional standards and code of ethics.

Omg!  Lmao!  Obviously written by the one & only owner of Trelora, or he dictated to a pal exactly what to write here!  So obvious, because he goes on insisting the issue was all due to my house being listed at too high of a price (same thing Mr. Hunt goes on & on about!), which I have feedback and comps to prove otherwise.  The price of the house has nothing to do with anything here!  The report on this site was filed due to Mr. Hunt miserably failing to uphold his end of our contract, and failing to have my house listed on Trelora's website (I have witnesses!) when they changed their business's name from Joshua Tree Realty.  It was when I discovered my house not being added to Trelora's website that I fired them, and requested a refund, which at first I was vehemently denied, then later Mr. Hunt's & his attorney promised me, and still have failed to issue me!  I was strongly advised by the BBB and DORA to take Mr. Hunt to small claims court, since even they are well aware that he offered a refund (which I have proof of via email from his attorney!) and still has failed to issue me one, and they don't understand why he has failed to do so.  I know it is partly due to Mr. Hunt oweing the IRS over $25,000 in back taxes, since I did a UCC Lein search on him and discovered that fact, plus I know Mr. Hunt needs that $500 for medical expenses, hence my reason for not pursuing an easy win case against him; I know Mr. Hunt needs that money for medical reasons.  I'm sure after Mr. Hunt's recent divorce he truly needs to keep that $500 even more for himself.  I've also noticed on Trelora's website recently that none of the houses listed are under a contract with his real estate company, that they are all listed with other realtors, hence more reason Mr. Hunt seriously needs to keep that $500 refund for himself!  I tried to warn Mr. Hunt about being an honost person, that Karma always pays, it appears Karma is now paying.  What a shame.

As for Mr. Hunt yelling at me (which I have witnesses for that too!)... he and I both know he did, and that is all that matters!

I wish Mr. Hunt the best with his health condition; I hope they find a cure soon.

I wouldn't typically go through the time to sign up and post a response to this sort of thing but this complaint seems to be logged by a highly irrational person.  I had the completely opposite experience with Trelora.  I found Joshua Hunt and his entire team to be highly professional. His extensive knowledge and expertise helped me to determine the appropriate price for my home.  They marketed it very quickly and the house sold in 5 days for really close to the full asking price.

From what I've seen, people almost always believe that thier house is worth more than it really is. Any house is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.  Regardless of how amazing you think your lawn and peach tree is.  If three realtors (including her own) told her that her house was over priced then guess what? ....... It was.  Your listing agent can't drive showings.  They can do thier best to market your property, then the market determines if there will be any interest in it.

I had no issue whatsover paying the $500 upfront knowing that it was non refundable being as this firm is only going to recieve a total of $1700 for the transaction.  This $500 covered thier marketing fees and I was credited it at closing. 

I followed Trelora's advice and direction to the letter and had amazing results and saved over $10,000 in commissions in the process.  I would absolutely recomend this service to anyone that I know that is contemplating selling thier home.  Also, from what Iexperienced from working with this firm I find it extremely unlikely that Joshua Hunt or his wife "Lied and Yelled" at anybody.  This has to be an exageration.  Every single member of this firm that I worked with throughout my home selling process acted with the utmost integrity and professionalism.

Hopefully this woman was able to sell her home eventually (once she was able to accept that the price wasn't appropriate)

Full of Lies!  I have proof and witnesses to All of the Facts contained in my complaint report.  I Never Slandered this Company, or Mr. Hunt.  Everything I claimed in my report is Fact, with proof by witnesses, and all of our corresponding emails.  This rebuttal of Mr. Hunt's is only a last ditch effort for him to try to salvage his reputation.  Mr. Hunt has tried to get me to sign a "hold harmless and silence" agreement, and to remove my Free Speech Consumer Report Complaint, in order for him to consider me receiving a refund, and it wasn't offered AT ALL, In Fact Flat Out Refused, until I went forward with filing this complaint.  All of which I have witness too. 

Now today, I received an email from Mr. Hunt threatening me he has obtained an attorney and is now filing a slander and defamation of character lawsuit against me, but then states "it's not too late for me to stop this".  Of course, that would entail me having to bow to him (and sign his "hold harmless and silence agreement"), when he has clearly been the one in the wrong, especially by my house NOT being listed on his website for a month, which is clearly a major breach in our contract on his behalf, and I have numerous witnesses to the fact, even by two other realtors.  None of this ever would have come to this (the Rip Off Report, and upcoming court case) if this man simply would have done his job, and not failed me with what he was hired to do. 

Look at all the time consuming B.S. this is entailing now, writing these consumer reports, filing complaints with the Real Estate Board, and now an upcoming court case, when all Mr. Hunt needed to do to avoid all this, is just simply admit and apologize he failed to fullfill his end of our contract, and issue me a refund, or even just step up to the plate and apologize and right his wrongs, then he could have still represented me as my realtor.  I would have never gone to this extent if Mr. Hunt would have simply just done the right thing, there would be no report on this site and the others, if he would have simply just done the right thing.  Obviously Mr. Hunt is too self righteous, arrogant, stubborn, and dishonest to have made matters right with me. 

As for Mr. Hunt's opinion of my house being listed for too high of a price, I have proof otherwise, and in Fact, the man never even did a walk through of my house to even determine a legitimate opinion of the value.  He never made it past a 1/3 of my living room!  Joshua Tree Realty/Trelora had only ever showed my house One Time (which I have documented Fact Proof from Centralize Showing Services!) and that was from the One & Only Non-Advertised Open House, in which the agent left my home completely unlocked and subject to a possible robbery (see original report above!), which I had sent an email to Joshua's wife Ambyr in regards to my concerns over their agent and him doing future open houses for me or any of their other clients.  I have saved all my email correspondences with this agency for documentation of all the facts.  I have witnesses for all my claims against this agency, and proof against all Mr. Hunt's numerous flat out Lies!  The Truth ALWAYS Comes Out In The End! 

We appreciate Ms. Kimberly Hogans frustration with the real estate representation of her home. 
Regretfully, she declined to accept a full refund of her $500 fee, although this complete refund was offered to her numerous times. 

As part of our responsibility to all clients, we listed Ms. Hogans property on our company website, the Denver Craigslist, and MLS which automatically syndicates to over 100 websites. 

Our company did host multiple showings and an open house for Ms. Hogans property, however, no damaging or irresponsible behavior by the licensed realtor occurred at any time. In addition to listing her property on numerous
websites, our selling team participated in a door-to-door endorsement of the Open House for Ms. Hogans property. 

We recognize that the condition of any home is relevant to its listing price.  We stand by our years of professional experience and success in real estate, as well as comparable properties specific to her neighborhood, when stating that Ms. Hogans property was overpriced for todays market values. 
Additionally, we were very open and honest about the condition and staging of Ms. Hogans home.  After addressing these concerns, none of our professional advice was taken by Ms. Hogan. As much as we would like to control the pricing of her home, the real estate market determines this for us.

It is unfortunate that Ms. Hogan felt the need to slander the reputation and name of a well-respected business and to personally and verbally slander the name of Joshua Hunt.   There is no basis for Ms. Kimberly Hogans statements that our company participated in any false advertising, nor that Mr. Joshua Hunt verbally abused her during any of their communication.

Our company reputation and personal commitment to excellence is strong in our industry and evidence of this can be seen on our growing fan base, which includes many positive testimonials on Facebook, Denver media
recognition by public news stations, and consumer advocate Tom Martino.  We can provide evidence of hundreds of satisfied company clients in addition to the thousands of clients Mr. Joshua Hunt has worked with throughout his career. We welcome the opportunity to provide additional feedback regarding this report and encourage you to contact
us at 303.886.3000.