It's Common Sense, You Get What You Pay For

One subject that always comes up when I talk with a new client about listing their home for sale, the commission rate. Homeowners are bombarded with information on ways to save money selling a house. And one target is always the agent's commission. Discount brokers and agents who provide limited service can promise smaller commissions. Sell-it-yourself plans promise no commissions. How is a seller supposed to know what to do?

Go back to basics and common sense. If you buy a television and choose a no-name cheap brand, do you expect it to have a great picture and last a long time? Or do you know that you are getting lesser quality? Most people recognize that you still get what you pay for.

It's the same with choosing a professional Realtor® and a full-service commission. You want to sell your house quickly and for the best possible price. The more qualified buyers who see your house, the more likely you are to do just that. And finding those buyers – not just lookers – takes experience, market knowledge, and investment in a Realtor®.

The Realtor® does so much more than put a sign out front and put your house on a web site. An experienced professional will qualify buyers so you only have people in your house who can buy and who are seriously looking to buy, help you negotiate the best deal, handle the piles of paperwork that today's real estate transactions require, make sure all the details are covered, and be available to answer your questions. Remember that you may buy or sell a home a few times in your life, but professional Realtors® do it many times a year. The right one can save you time, money, and a lot of headaches.

One of the things we're seeing in the current buyer's market is an increase in the number of people who choose a full-service Realtor® after having gone the do-it-yourself or discount route. When there are no showings and no offers, it doesn't take long for them to recognize the value of an experienced professional.

And here's the bottom line…when you walk away from the settlement table and the money in your pocket is what you want and need, you know the commission is worth it.