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