Jerry
Would you hire me if I charged your ZERO?

We receive a lot of questions like yours.

My suggestion to you is:
1. Interview Realtors.
2. Have them analyze your situation and give you their proposals Let them know in clear terms what you expect: When you need to move, how much you need to net, etc.
3. Compare the proposals
4. Evaluate their negotiating ability: Many "top agents" are actually "discount brokers". By that, I mean that some use commission rate as their selling point.

The big question I would ask myself is "if this is how they negotiate their commission, then how are they going to negotiate the best price and terms for me?"

I would also advise you to focus on how they propose to market your home. The listing agent's job is to analyze your home's features and promote those features that buyers will think have the most value. A great example is a property that has extra storage space. It may be to top of the garage, it may not be permitted living space, but how big is it? How would they promote that space to give it value?

In addition to features, how will they get the word out. To find out, ask each Realtor for a listing that they currently have on the market. Type the address in Google, and see what comes up. They might say "we market on 25 sites", but what does your google search show?

Good luck.

Commission is always negotiable.

Agent commissions are negotiable. Large, franchise brokerages seem to hold the line higher than small, independent brokerages.

Some agents charge a flat fee. Example: my brother in Peoria was selling his home and had a buyer. Called in some agents to interview and selected one who did the job for a flat fee.

Check around, interview several and ASK FRIENDS of their personal experiences with agents.

Good luck!!

Comission percentages are negotiable. A full service realtor will require a higher comission and rightly so. A successful full time realtor will spare no effort or expense to get your home sold.

Agent compensation may range from 0% to 10 percent. It will depend on the type of property, i.e. land typically has a higher commission rate, and the level of service or marketing required.

Real estate marketing sites on the internet can expose your home on many different levels. For example, if your home is not shown with any pictures, the number of people viewing it decreases. More pictures and more text are upgrades on these sites and therefore agents who take on these additional marketing methods will need to cover their costs.

In a fast selling market you need your agent to get your home exposed to the most buyers as quickly as possible so you have the best chance of getting any and all interested parties to have seen the house before it is under contract.
In a slow selling market you need your agent to continue to get your home exposed to new buyers, and by refreshing and adapting the information, to re-expose your home to buyers that have been looking for sometime.

Decide what you are looking for in an agent and then interview a few to see who will best meet your needs. The lowest commission price charged will not net you the most money, and the highest suggested list price will not insure your home sells. Get the data, know what you are getting and best wishes for a successful transaction.