Buyers and sellers of real estate have the option of choosing what they want to do with one of the most important investments they have from buying a book on "selling your home for dummies" , to hiring a "I'll work on your deal 10 hours because I have to PROCESS four deals this week" internet realtor, to hiring a Full time real estate professional who will keep them informed, generate more interest, keep them from our court, and ultimately sell their home for more than enough to cover the money they would have "SAVED".
It's a well know fact that people who do their research and consider all the facts, overwhelmingly elect to hire realtors. Doctors, lawyers, nurses, school teachers. Anyone who believes in the saying "you get what you pay for."

When you don't rely on the assistance of a professional when completing a "transaction"? It's a disaster! Mistakes are made, problems beyond comprehension happen and money and time is lost. The average person selling or buying a home today understands the importance of relying on professionals who know the ups and downs of home selling and purchasing. Professional who understand that unexpected situations may occur and know how to deal with them and the emotional toll they take. Can these internet companies provide that kind of hands on personal care? When there is a problem (and there are problems) most clients want a live person to speak with in a face to face, rather than an anonymous person on a telephone or keyboard. By the way; would you go to the internet for a "Do it Yourself" or "Discount" surgeon? Or would you prefer someone with proper training and experience to "take care of you"?

I concluded from my own experience, my clients would not even consider using the internet alone to buy or sell a property. It is merely a tool but not the finished product. In the rare instance a seller requests I discount my commission (which ranges from 5% to 6%, but always 3% or more for the co-operating broker), I provide them with a list of my services and ask which ones would they like me to delete. End of discussion. What's most important to sellers isn't how much they saved, but how much did they make. I haven't the time to moan and groan over discount brokers who charge what their "service" is worth.