I don't see any listings in CT.

Some of my best clients come from services like this.

I can compete with them - apples for apples. (if I want)

The clients generally want full service for a discounted price which they don't offer.....Oh well!

Janet:

They are not in Pennsylvania yet. however we have Help-U-Sell who puts the proprty in the MLS and offers a $100 Buyer Agent fee. Our MLS accepts it as OK.  That in my opnion is worse.  

Let's be real, the golbalization of the economy here in the US and the downward pressure on all business and industries EXCEPT the Gov't, and Hospitals and such has made things "lean" to say the least for Brokers.  The last survey I saw from NAR reported that the average "Broker" was only making $35 to $125 per transaction side after overhead.  

My point is the "discounters" or "new" business models have to be extremely efficient to produce a vaiable profit or build any amount of equity in thier business to survive.

How long to Coldwell Bankers 2% operation last?

Can Assist to Sell survive a "normal" market---I think not.

This Weeks PARADE Magazine most of you get in your Sunday Newspaper stated the same thing...no need to use a real estate agent.  It is all about value added propositons and realizing that what we sell is SERVICE---do yourself a favor and make yours stellar and people will pay more for it!

I too am in the Atlanta area.  I feel your pain.  I wonder why the Atlanta Board of Realtors or NAR doesn't do something about this.  We certainly pay our dues and try to abide by the rules.  We need some strong legislation that fights for us.  We do provide an excellent service and keep up on all the changes that are thrown our way.  I know that most sellers do not know half of the changes they made this January to the contracts.  It is disappointing.

I in Cartersville, GA and in my subdivision I have 2- Assist 2 Sells and 1- Help U Sell.  Two are right next door to me. The owners both refuse to even talk to a Full Service Brokerage. I've tried and so have alot of other agent. I agree Our Board of Realtors/NAR should do something because most of the agents that work for discounts aren't doing anything for the sellers.. I used to like Clark Howard but now I think my view has just changed..

It shouldn't matter what model of doing busines you adopt ... what matters is whether you do your job well or not. It's about clients and what is in their best interests ... sometimes that might just as well be discounted service.

I saw the same thing in the airline industry.  American and Delta, etc. offered full service.  Southwest offered flying without the frills.  Southwest took lots of business away from the full service airlines.  If we want to stay ahead of the low fare alternative each and every one of us needs to be sure that we do more than just put a sign in a yard.  We need to be creative.  We need to sell the property as soon as possible.  We need to make the client happy that they went with a professional.  Its not only a money thing - its an obligation as an agent to our client and the industry.  

I really do believe that Clark means well but I also firmly believe he is doing many of his listeners a disservice by bashing our profession.  To say that everyone needs an agent would be a lie, but to insinuate that nobody needs one is a damn lie - and potentially a very costly mistake for many home sellers!

Certainly if a person has the time to educate themselves on the laws and the ability to market their property, etc. etc., selling FSBO may save them a few dollars.  But I can't begin to tell you how much money we have saved people in the course of practicing our profession.  I dare say that we often save our customers as much or more than our commission and we do all the work for them!

But that isn't necessarily the point, anyway.  The fact is that almost everyone pays other people for services that they 'could' do themselves if they so desired.  Do I really "need" to pay someone $20 per hour to weed my gardens?  No... but I do.  Do I know how to paint my own house?  Sure... but I'll gladly pay someone else to do it for me.  Can I change the oil in my car for the small price of a few quarts and a filter?  yep, but......

When someone tells me they don't need my services because they can sell their home by themselves I DO NOT try to convince them otherwise.  I simply smile and say, "That's great... I wish you all the best.  By the way, if you find yourself in a bind and you decide to hire a professional you know where to find us... we are happy to help."

"Now, FSBO's can list on the MLS and Realtor.com themselves.  I don't know the cost, but all they have to pay is 2-3% to the selling agent."

What do you mean by that Janet?

If it's listed on Realtor.com then it came from the MLS, which means they had to have a realtor put it in for them.

......or are they changing things?

Not sure how it is in other states but Illinois has a minimum services law ... I have it posted on my website

http://www.mipeco.com/Illinois_Law_Compliance/page_1133114.html

I read on Iggy's site that they will list the home for free and the seller is expected to do the work themselves ... doesn't quite play along with Minimum Service Requirements law ... or does it!

Becky-In GA for a fee anyone can list on MLS. FSBO's pay the fee and now they are on MLS competing with everyone else. I haven't seen alot but it is going to start increasing with the media letting them know about it now..

Competition is everywhere and that is not necessarily a bad thing.  Are we going to lose some business probably.  Are the good agents that provide a real service going to lose business probably not.  If my memory serves me didn't the NAR go to court with Assist to Sell? Maybe it was board office somewhere and they lost.

I also offer to help my ex clients sell FSBO.  Several have taken me up on it and then listed with me a little later.  I like Tim and Susans' post.

Imagine, if you had to go through a painting mls or an agent to hire a painter.  Real Estate is not rocket science anybody can do it.  Remember the 2 page contracts?  They worked and we turned them into 7 pages.  A Realtor provides due dilligence a sense of security, familiarity and education.  How many times do I have to educate my clients before they get the hang of it?  On the other hand some people will always pay for security.

NAR and state leaders operated from behind closed doors for years.  Realtor.com knocked on the door got a foot in and the rest followed.

We don't need to go back to the old business model, we need to adapt, many many of us are doing just that.

Bloggers write to get attention and reponses from people.  Entertainers try to shock you for attention.  I think Clark is somewhere in the middle.

Good Luck to all.

Realtor, Columbus Ga

Janet use an email address that doesn't tie to your info or name....AOL or yahoo or any others that are free.....

This is what I do when I want the info but don't want them spamming my regular email address.  Get a free email account that doesn't tie to your name and request the info!  Well....as long as you don't have to pay for it!

Then the crap emails they send me go to an account I don't care if it gets filled up with junk mail.  I just go in every now and then and delete the emails!

;)

Here is part of their disclaimer:

Our MLS listing service is provided by Iggys House Realty, Inc., a licensed real estate broker. This service is available only in certain states (check here) and only for single family homes, condominiums and townhouses. Iggys House Realty, Inc. is a member of, and lists properties on, many multiple listing services (MLSs). However, it lists any specific property on only one. MLS rules require us to inform you that we are not an MLS ourselves, and do not enable any consumer to be a member of, or to otherwise directly access, any MLS. Only owners may request us to list their home on an MLS.

PLUS, they say they share 75% of the selling commission and keep 25% of it.  So they are pretty much earing referral fees on the sold properties.

I agree with Janet about Zip Realty. I had one about 6 months ago and it took 3 months to close. I thought I was going to go crazy..I read their website and they give back a % of the commission to the buyer.. Another one here in the Atlanta area, I won't mention names but her's is the same as mine but spelled RHONDA, charges $500 to list your house and everything is extra. She doesn't even show it, you have to call the homeowner to negotiate the contract. Her business must be making money she is always on TV..