‘discounters’ Are Realtors

Right?

Respectfully,

Matt Smith

First of all all commissions are negotiable.

Second of all agent who even work for the same full service company provide different levels of services for their clients - all agents are not created equal. Take the top 5 agents in your office do they all do the same - I think not.

Third depending on the price range or level of what you have to do - for example if I have to met every appointment at the house we charge more. If the sale price is under $100,000 we charge more. If the price is over $500,000  I can charge less.

For each of us there are real fixed costs - like cost to mail and a value to time - negotiating sitting open houses.

I think we are all unique and that commissions are flexible.

Matt, I couldn't agree more!

plus, I hope I am not going to offend anybody ... but paying a fee to be a member of an organization doesn't make that person be any more or less of a professional ... it all depends on each individual.

Like it or not we have the freedaom in this country to charge whatever we want to for our service and provide whatever level of service our customers want.

Discount brokers are just as much a part of this business as full price brokers.

Sometimes I charge more, sometimes less, depending on the type and size of the home or land or building, depending on the amount of previous business from the client, and many more reasons.

You have the choice in a free market economy to do whatever the market will bear or whatever customers demand.  All commission models are equal until you thrive and prosper or go out of business.

Trashing discount brokers won't help you prosper.  You have to compete with them on a different level and satisfy your clients so you get repeats and referrals.  Then you can charge whatever your client base is willing to pay for your level of service.

I don't like to knock anybody that is working...discount brokers have been here a long time.  In the beginning people were in an uproar and come to find out nothing much changed, but some people  can't get over it.  Business is changing keep up or prepare to miss out. Very few

of us shop for something more expensive, if quality or service warrants the extra cost then we do pay more.

My service doesn't change with the commission rate.  I have dealt with discount services and their work was great, others I dealt with emails, voice mail and never a live person.

If you are trying to overcome seller objections, don't.  Point out the differences, let them know the other guy can sell their home. I have found that most people list with me because I'm honest with them.  If

they have time I encourage them to try fsbo. Remind them, it is a job and we all need a paycheck after we do our jobs.  Ask them if they would be willing to take a paycut simply because their boss asked them to.

We are in an era where changes are coming is it going to be the end of

realtors not likely.  Your how and why book will certainly help some newbies.   Good luck!

Regarding Mr Howard, and publicity in general, if you keep adding fuel to the fire Mr. Howard will just have more things to say. The best response is simply not to.  Let it run it's cycle.

Realtor, Columbus Ga

I agree with Mark but I think that this thread started with a misunderstanding of Janet's request.

She wanted to compile the services and extras that full service brokers use and those used by discount brokers and compile the list for everyone to see.

As a full service agent, I arranged with some of my sellers that I will be present to all showings, get feedback and communicate with them. It is a comittment but for a full commission, I will do it. Will a discounter do it?

I spend a lot of time writing a great copy for my advertising and I present a 4-6 page booklet instead of a 1 page brochure to each visitor.

In broker's open, I cater a nice lunch! Will the discount broker do that?

I will hold weekday Open House if a house is close to a hospital or any large employers, will the discounter do that?

Too many to list and frankly, I don't want the discounters to know what other marketing activities I commit to........

We have enough discounters that have sites on P2 for contribution on this thread. What else do you, discounters offer, besides a lower price?

Hope that helps you Janet

Sagine

I sympathize with you Janet. The substance of your question is blatantly obvious and to think someone would get so up in arms over semantics is almost comical.  Certainly, I've experienced the same with some of my posts.

Having said that, I think we can all agree that market forces have cascaded down on vanilla real estate servcies. I've tried to initiate similar discussions which revolve around Value Propositions that we provide as a Realtors in order to distinguish ourselves and therefore command the fees we would like to charge.  

The fact of the matter is that every situation is different and I think the key to it is to offer a variety of options in order not to limit yourself and your business.

One obvious approach is to literally brainstorm and note a "complete" set of services.  From there, you can "package" options for your prospective client.  ex. The Gold, Silver and Bronze option in which you do less and charge less accordingly.  

Personally, time is my worst enemy in life and if a transaction can come to fruition in a short amount of time, I am willing to see a reduction in fees.  (You should be aware of the governing rules for setting fees and the limitations therein, in your state/province).

p.s. keep posting!

Janet, not responding to the actual words you used but rather to the subject itself ... I mentioned it before at your other post, I provide a wide range of services ... from the flat fees to full service. So I consider myself in between. The services that I provide probably aren't that different from yours but I leave it up to the seller to tell me which of these services they want and which services they don't need. Lets say I go on a listing presentation ... I tell them all the things I can do for them ... I ask them what services THEY WANT me to provide ... if they want the whole package, I'm happy! ... if they say, we just want this, this and that ... my answer would be (provided I am interested in the listing) ... ok, I can do that for $$$ or %%%, depending on the situation ... or sometimes I ask them, what commission are they willing to pay and I tell them what services to expect for that.  As I mentioned before ... it's about being flexible.

Janet,

    Sorry for the misunderstanding.  This post has gotten long and back in the line so I have posted my list of services in a new post - afternoon April 11th.

I saw a list of 200 services that listing agents provide if I find it again I will post a link.  As for Clark, "no comment".  

It's a freedom of speech thing with me, feel free to exercise your right! I'll stay tuned.

Realtor, Columbus Ga