| Unfortunately, perception is everything! | | | | This is why real estate discount brokers are |
| Politicians know this, which is why they | | | | able to charge clients less to list a home |
| spend millions of dollars on election | | | | and give sellers a rebate without |
| campaigns. The overwhelming majority of | | | | compromising the level of service. |
| people will be influenced by ads and will | | | | |
| vote accordingly. Open any newspaper and see | | | | Most home buyers today are computer savvy, |
| how ubiquitous real estate ads are and why | | | | their search online for homes go to open |
| not, real estate is the largest industry in | | | | houses and often call the broker only when |
| the US. | | | | they are ready to put in an offer. Such |
| | | | clients definitely deserve a rebate because |
| When someone wants to sell a home he or she | | | | the tasks remaining for the selling broker |
| signs a real estate listing contract which | | | | are minimal. |
| provides a brokerage commission for the | | | | |
| listing broker and the selling broker. | | | | One important factor in selecting an agent is |
| Typically, this commission runs about 2.5% to | | | | that the seller should feel in harmony with |
| 3.0% for each respective broker. Since a | | | | the agent. The agent is going to be in the |
| large percentage of homes are approaching a | | | | seller's home for a number of days and have |
| million dollars this represents a costs of | | | | numerous interactions with the seller. Good |
| $50,000 to %60,000 for the homeowner to sell | | | | chemistry between the seller and agent is |
| his/her home. If you think about how little | | | | essential in order to have a pleasant |
| work is involved by the real estate | | | | experience. The client can also request from |
| professionals, it is simply insane especially | | | | the agent to see "Testimonials" from previous |
| in this age of computers, faxes, cell phones, | | | | clients and to see a list of transactions for |
| and the internet. It does not make any sense. | | | | the last two years. Finally, ask the agent |
| This is why a new breed of real estate | | | | how long he/she has been in business. |
| brokers have sprung up: The Independent | | | | |
| Online Discount Real Estate Broker like . | | | | Invariably, I find that agents with |
| | | | traditional brokers will tout the clout of |
| The discount real estate broker will list | | | | their brokerage house and their in-house |
| your house for less, typically 1% and will | | | | marketing tools. There is absolutely no truth |
| give the buyer a rebate of somewhere around | | | | to this. It is nothing more than a sales |
| 1%. How do you find a Discount Real Estate | | | | gimmick. It is actually unethical for agents |
| Broker? You simply do a search on any search | | | | to push their in-house listings instead of |
| engine like Yahoo or Google, specifying the | | | | giving their clients the full benefit of the |
| area you are interested in, like the city or | | | | MLS. |
| county or metropolitan area like San | | | | |
| Francisco Bay Area or San Francisco | | | | When an independent discount broker lists a |
| Peninsula. | | | | home on the internet it also gets listed on |
| | | | all major websites like or and the client |
| These few minutes of searching will save you | | | | gets just as much exposure as with |
| thousands of dollars. This is one instance | | | | traditional brokers. No matter, many sellers |
| where the old saying "you get what you pay | | | | are not convinced and pay huge listing |
| for" does not apply. There is no correlation | | | | commissions for exactly the same service. |
| between the brokerage commission you pay and | | | | Some brokers offer free decorating or even |
| the quality of the service you get from a | | | | full scale staging as part of their service. |
| full service discount broker. Many | | | | |
| independent online discount brokers are | | | | It is important for the public to become |
| highly qualified professionals who have | | | | educated about real estate transactions since |
| worked for traditional brokerage houses | | | | most people will be involved one or more |
| before starting their own online business. | | | | times during the life in buying or selling a |
| Clients often ask me how is it possible for | | | | home. Traditional brokerage houses have lost |
| me to charge one third the brokerage fee of | | | | and are continuing to loose business to |
| large real estate companies! The answer is | | | | online brokers. It is important for people to |
| very simple, online brokers have almost no | | | | understand that discount brokers are just as |
| overhead. Brick and mortar companies are | | | | qualified if not more so than agents who work |
| expensive to run. They have stockholders, | | | | for a traditional brick and mortar brokerage |
| high paid executives, managers, secretaries, | | | | house. Sellers can save thousands of dollars |
| and foremost expensive ubiquitous | | | | and buyers can receive thousands of dollars |
| advertising. Depending on the level of | | | | in rebate by going online and searching for |
| transactions, real estate agents pay up to | | | | discount real estate brokers in their are of |
| half their commission to the brokerage house. | | | | interest. |