Hi Scotty,

Fair is very relative. As mentioned in previous posts not all agents are created equal in skills, experience and devotion to this profession. Maybe think about the worth of a Realtor versus a fair commission. Then consider your needs. I may take my Ford to Jiffy Lube for an oil change but I won't expect them to replace the transmission. Both work on cars but not with the same tools.

As for selling your home, find an agent that works and lives relatively close to your home. Always interview multiple agents. Find the agent that you are most comfortable with and give them a chance to sell it. Ask lots of questions about their business as they should know the answers.

You get what you pay for is just a cliche because it is not always True.

You do not always get what you pay for is a Fact....

Shop around and as Debbie said "After interviewing several realtors and analyzing your options, I am sure you will find the right agent and plan that will work best for you."

Good luck, Dunes

Depends on the type of service you are looking for from your agent/ broker. You will get what you pay for, and being that most fees are paid through escrow at closing, it doesn't cost you anything up front for the service that will be provided. In what other industry can you hire someone to perform for you as a full service agent representing YOUR best interests AND incur all their own costs to do so UP FRONT?

Interview real estate agents in Surprise Arizona to find out who YOU want to hire to SELL your home!

http://www.buysellsurpriseaz.com

Debbie,

Just wanted to make sure you didnt think nor the readers thought I was mandating a specific "fee" as it is all negioated. I guess I just dont like seeing homeowners paying for a service when they could save some money.


Sean

Sean - I respectfully disagree with your position on openly discussing commissions, but you are free to post whatever you choose. Here is an excerpt from one (of many) articles published on the subject of anti- trust laws, and agents discussing commissions, especially in public - it includes stating what is customary and usual in your area.:

"Agents and brokers in any setting, business or social, should take great care to never even discuss commission rates in any context. It's much better to be safe than sorry in this case."
"Never use the word "standard" or "prevailing" when describing your fees and services"

When in doubt, I choose to air on the side of caution.
It's your prerogative to post whatever you choose. I wasn't trying to lecture..... just to be hepful.
Have a great day
Debbie

Agree with kathleen below.

Interview a bunch of agents, see what they have to offer and negotiate the commission with the best agent you like. Nothing is set in stone. This will give you a good range in terms of what is out there.

I would highly recommend you pick an agent who is tune to online marketing versus just newspaper stuff.

You can go under "find a pro" on trulia and see if any agents near you are on here. Great place to start your search.

If you want to compare apple to apples consider what you are getting for lets say 6 apples. How is the agent going to market the home, will it be staged , at whose expense, what website are they on and where will your home be listed on the internet? How many MLS systems does the agent belong to? How easy are they to find on an internet search of their name? Many agents still plunk a sign in the yard. put the home on their local MLS and hope it sells itself. They may do an open house, they may do flyers( but do not keep the flyer box filled) . Those flyers will be a print off of the MLS listing which is a page of numbers not something creative and interesting. There are lots of agents just working the old system and for some because of name recognition still getting listings and buyers. What do you want? What is that worth>
A home that shows well will sell faster and for a better price that comparables that do not show well. That is worth a good deal, at least several apples.

Wow it is very interesting actually the COMISSION IS NEGOTIABLE it violation
dicuss the commission : Now if you interview an agent in that neighborhood
you will get exactly what the really charge : Based on the quality of service the
have offer like FULL SERVICE, DISCOUNT SERVICE and JUST PUT IN MLS.

Remember the service that they will provide to you is crucial,so have to be careful about
comission : The agent will give you a details about how enticed buyers inorder for them
to make an offer like STAGING THE PROPERTY that is the main important to the listing.
Put it in Magazine, News Paper, Door knocking, and etc. this kind of service FULL Services,
While the DISCOUNT service you will see this to offer just put the computer or may be not,

Those are the important things to remember, you get what you pay for,

Debbie,

As mentioned before commissions are negioatable. There is nothing wrong with sharing what i see in my area.

Agents cannot say that commissions are set in stone but must state they are negiotable. Which they are. He was just curious what you generally see.

Scotty, it depends on what your definition of fair is and yes commission are negotiable.

I for example have a variable rate commission based on the needs of the customer. For example you are listed as both a Buyer and a Seller. If I am going to represent you as a seller to get your home sold fast and for top dollar and then be allowed to represent you as a buyer to find you your next dream home, then you are going to receive a VIP customer discount. Fees vary. If I am selling a home as a Short Sale, then there is a lot of additional work to be done and I may choose to charge an extra fee.

Scotty, you also need to understand where the fees go. Let's say that a REALTOR charges X% of the purchase price. Usually 50% of the X% is offered to a buyer's broker in order to bring a buyer to the home leaving 50% of the X% for the selling broker or listing broker.

Now let's take the selling agent/broker show received 50% of the X% he or she has expenses in taking a listing. (Sign, post, lockbox, yearly dues and fees for MLS and REALTOR boards) In addition there are MARKETING costs involved in selling a home. I often spend up to 33% of the X% I receive on the listing side on marketing the home online (Over 30 different websites), print (Home Magazines), to my database of over 300 buyers currently looking for a home (I may already have a buyer for your home) and making phone calls to top buyer's agents to let them know about a new listing I have available and do you have a buyer.

So let's say we are dealing with APPLES for commission. If an agent charges 6 APPLES to sell your home, then they are offering 3 APPLES for another agent who brings in a buyer leaving 3 APPLES for them. They agent spends 1 APPLE on marketing and advertising leaving 2 APPLES. Of the 2 APPLES left, the agent usually has BROKER FEES (Yes an agent PAYS MONTHLY FEES to go to work even if they make no money for the month - most buyers and sellers do not realize this - how would you like to be charged to go to work?). So of the 2 APPLES remaining, up to 1 APPLE goes to the broker leaving the selling agent with 1 APPLE in order to pay their bills and feed their family. After all fees and expenses are paid to market and advertise a home , broker fees, (including federal, state, local taxes etc...) a listing agent is often left with just over or just under 1 APPLE to feed their family. Here is the interesting part, if the home doesn't sell, then the listing agent just incurred expenses in order to market and take the listing.

If would love to have the opportunity to visit your home and give you a free honest market evaluation of your home to determine what it would sell for in today's market, I could also give you tips on what to do and what not to do in order to get your home sold fast and for the most money and go over all the different fees involved with selling your home. I will be in Surprise today (Thursday) for two home inspections if you are interested in this free no obligation service give me a call at 623-337-8965 or drop me an email: Donald@DonaldKeys.com By the way, ask me about my Seller Guarantee - Your home sold in 59 days or less or I'll sell it for free. Call for details.

** YOUR HOME SOLD FAST - FOR TOP DOLLAR *
FREE Home Evaluation Over-The-Net!
http://www.SoldFast-TopDollar.com

Sean, in all fairness, advising Scotty that the "new average" may be 5% may be totally inaccurate for his area. You are from PA, not AZ...........Scotty needs to speak to local agents to dertermine what is "average" for his area. Agents should NOT discuss average commissions........please refer to the Sherman Anti-trust laws before doing so.........then the choice is up to you whether you care to publically post that kind of response.

Thank you Dunes......nah, I didn't mean it - I just said it to make you say you concur and agree! :)

I like your answer Debbie..

Do you mean it or do you just enjoy making me say I Agree, I Concur?..lol

Scotty, I think Debbie just gave you Best Answer material...Unless my pointing that out makes me
deserve.....oh nevermind...

Good luck, Dunes

HI Scotty
You really need to speak to a few local agents to see what they charge. Commissions are negotiable, and "averages" may vary from area to area, and from company to company. It is really inappropriate for agents to discuss their specific charges here.

You may look into full service brokers and limited-servide brokers, sometimes referred to as "flat fee" brokers, who offer an a la carte menu of services.
Make sure you are given a written marketing plan so that you can compare what you are being offered.

A full-service broker will routinely do a full market analysis, discuss comparable sales in the area, average days on market and offer a detailed marketing plan. A flat fee broker will basically put you on the MLS, and you will also be able to select from a menu of services, and pay accordingly.

After interviewing several realtors and analyzing your options, I am sure you will find the right agent and plan that will work best for you.

Best wishes............
Debbie Rose
Prudential NJ Properties