Joe,

This is becoming common practice but a position we DO NOT suppport.

Our belief is that it is the home and its price that are the most important features that sell a home not the additional money that goes in the pocket of the selling agent. The plane tickets, extra commission, etc. value should be deducted from the asking price. Forget the gimmicks and focus on the important issue PRICE....

There is only one reason why a home does not sell, PRICE...........Do you really think people will buy the home because of plane tickets???????

Joe,

This is becoming common practice but a position we DO NOT suppport.

Our belief is that it is the home and its price that are the most important features that sell a home not the additional money that goes in the pocket of the selling agent. The plane tickets, extra commission, etc. value should be deducted from the asking price. Forget the gimmicks and focus on the important issue PRICE....

There is only one reason why a home does not sell, PRICE...........Do you really think people will buy the home because of plane tickets???????

Joe
Thanks for this question.Is your home already on the market?
If so, what showing activity have you had?
According to Trulia over forty homes have recently sold, and there are 101 homes are the market.
That seems like a fairly balanced market to me.

How many homes, like yours, have sold during the last three months?

Buyers are looking for value. There are many ways to add value to a listing, however lowering the price is the easiest way to add value. If homes are selling, but not yours, then no amount of incentive is going to cause a buyer, their Realtor, and a lender, to buy a home for more than market value.

Good luck!
Merry Christmas!

Any incentive that you offer will be split with the selling agent's broker. At least the companies I have experience with work that way. Houses are selling but they have to be priced right. Period. I don't know what you have out as the selling agent commission but I would raise that by a point and have your listing agent call the agents in the area who have sold homes in your area to personally let them know about the incentive. Hopefully things will pick up after everyone gets over their holiday hangovers. Good luck and happy holidays to you and your family.

Certainly if it ( the house) is an in-house exclusve, as the broker keep it in front of your agents by caravans, work-ups and pictures, and of course staging both internal and external. In short make the house easy to sell for your agentsl, nothing exotic.

A separate bonus paid is not subject to split with some agencies, I can't say for all. Usually the bonuses are from $1000 to $5000 if in contract by a certain time.

Instead of attracting agents, you need to attract buyers. I would recommend paying 6 months of taxes or some closing costs to attract more buyers. The property must also be priced well.

Joe, any kind of bonus is given to the selling agent is split between the agent and the broker (sorry you have been misguided). You could also give the bonus to the buyer..pay taxes, closing cost part or full, pay the point to lower the interest rate, and/or lower the price of the house, etc. You could ask your agent to do the current market update and see what is selling--price , condition--and then set your price. Good Luck with your sale.. Please tell us what was the outcome.

Joe the advise you received is misguided. Anything you offer has to go to the broker and the broker than splits at what they are contracted with the agent for. so plane tickets may cost the agent instead of benefit them. You should first see that your listing agent is offering a 50/50 cobroke. then make sure your house is priced at what similar houses ahave sold for in the last 6 months. have your broker do a bpo to arrive at this. then make an incentive to the buyer. if the buyer likes, the agent will come. good luck with your sale

I think I would be more inclined to offer an incentive to the buyer...pay the first year of taxes...pay their mortgage the first 6 months, etc....do the math, it's not much different than negotiating the price a little.

The biggest incentive is to lower your price and make sure it is being marketed to the dozens of websites available to Realtors and watched by more consumers.

Hey Joe,

I'm sure you have heard enough of the Jimi Hendrix reference, but I just had to do it.

Check out the thread attached to the link below.

http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Selling/Does_any_body_want…

Also, get more proactive if you are represented. The link below is to my blog that is directed more to FSBOs, however if you are represented there are still ideas in it to possibly supplement your agent's marketing, if you have one. While being represented always discuss, and keep your agent abreast of any efforts on your own first.

http://www.trulia.com/blog/rockinblu/2008/08/thinking_about_…