Why 1% Commission Can Cost You $20,000

Sellers often misunderstand what agents charge. The assumption is all agents are equal. They select the discount agent. They think it is a saving. If one charges less and the other is higher, they go cheap. They think they saved $5,000. But this is false economy. The low fee agent costs you the most at settlement. Why? The result is poorer. The lost value is much more than the saving in fees.

Think about it. If they give up their own income, how will they negotiate your equity? They can't. They give in straight away. When a buyer offers low, they advise: "You should sell." They want the quick sale. They don't fight. A pro pushes for more. We know our worth.

I see sellers in this market drop tens of thousands for a small discount. It is tragic. You sell your home once. The goal is the peak. The fee is an investment. By achieving $20,000 more, even with a higher rate, you are $15,000 better off. Look at the bottom line. Focus on what you keep, not the fee.

The Difference Between Cost And Value

Know the gap between cost and value. A cheap suit and a tailored one are worlds apart. Local agents are no different. Some are order takers. They upload photos and wait for the phone to ring. That is easy. You could do that.

A negotiator markets proactively. We call buyers. We advise on presentation. We market aggressively. And most importantly: we negotiate. If someone says "$600,000 is my limit", the amateur accepts. The skilled agent knows how to get them to $620,000. That increase is your money. That is value.

Cheap agents need quantity. They need bulk sales to survive. They are too busy to negotiate properly. You are just another sale. I take fewer clients. To give attention on your sale. My fee allows me to serve you best. Don't hire the busy fool.

How Negotiation Skills Impact Your Pocket

It isn't shouting. It is influence. Knowing silence and staying calm. Reading people. Using leverage. A master can make a buyer increase their offer against themselves. We use competition to drive the price up.

This skill takes years to master. It is valuable. You are hiring an agent for this skill. Not to put a sign up. You hire us to handle the money conversation. If your agent is weak, they will cost you. They will suggest you drop your price because they can't get the buyer up. Simpler to beat you down than to get more. Discounters reduce. Pros increase offers.

Interview question: "Give me an example of a recent negotiation." Watch them. Should they say "It sold quick," be careful. You want to hear "The offer was $500k, I worked them to $530k." Hire that one. I love the deal. I guarantee it.

Marketing Budgets: Who Pays For What?

Cheap agents often offer "advertising included." Great deal? No. Someone pays. If they pay, they spend the minimum. You get the small ad. Cheap snaps. Small sign. Why? it is their cost. They minimize cost.

To sell for a premium price, you need the best. Top spot online. Professional photography. 3D tours. Social media ads. It isn't cheap. It reaches more people. More buyers = more competition. Demand equals value. If you save $1,000 on marketing and fail to reach someone, it costs you value. Not smart.

I advise investing in marketing. We do it right. We go big to find the buyer. Your house. Showcase it. Don't be invisible to save a grand. Marketing works.

Beware Of Over-Quoting Agents

A dirty tactic of cheap agents promising a high price. They say you will get a huge price when reality is lower. They do this to win the job. You sign with them out of greed. Later, it doesn't sell. They blame the market. They ask for price drops to where it should be. And you sell for $600k after wasting time.

You chose the fake. The honest agent who said $600k missed out. Be smart. If an agent promises to be true, be suspicious. Prove it. If they can't, it is a lie. I tell the truth. Evidence based. I might be lower, but I deliver. I get more with hard work, not false hope.

Watch out. Real estate is full of sharks. Find the ethical agent. Find the one the hard truth, not fluff. That is the guide who succeeds at the top.

Questions You Must Ask Before Signing

Before you sign, ask these questions:
1. How do you negotiate?.
2. Show me recent sales.
3. What if we get two bids?.
4. Justify learn the details information your commission.
5. How will you find buyers?.

How they respond reveals the truth. If they are unsure, next. If they have a process, sign them. If they discount immediately, don't hire them. If they give away their money, they will give away yours.

I welcome these questions. Challenge me. I have the answers. I deliver. Let's work together. I am not the cheapest, I am the value choice. And the best is always free in the end.