Dan,
Unfortunately, if you decide to "represent yourself" and try to capture commission to reduce your costs, you are not really representing yourself (at least not in Grand Rapids, MI where I work).
On those occasions where somebody has wanted to do this, the board still holds me accountable for the "unrepresented buyer". This means that I still incur risk from whatever actions you take, or do not take.
Since I am forced, I suppose, to take that risk, you better believe that I am earning that commission.
You get that "know it all" buyer who thinks that they can do it on their own, who promptly blames me when HIS mess ups cause the deal to go poorly. No Thank You.
If buyers knew how to do this properly, they would be Realtors too! - Wed Feb 25 2009, 20:46