Real Estate Fees: You Get What You Pay For

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 the fee is low and the pro charges more, they go cheap. They calculate saving $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.

Consider this. If they can't defend their own full fee, will they fight for your money? They won't. They give in straight away. When a buyer offers low, the discounter says: "Take it." They want volume. The last dollar doesn't matter. A good agent pushes for more. Because we value our skill.

I witness owners locally lose $20,000 or $30,000 to save pennies. It breaks my heart. It is a one-time event. You need the maximum price. You pay for performance. If I get you a higher price, and I cost $5,000 more, you win. That is the net result. Look at the net, not the fee.

Price vs. Performance In Real Estate

Know the gap between cost and value. McDonalds and fine dining are not the same. Local agents are no different. Some are order takers. They list online and wait. Anyone can do that. Why pay for that?.

A professional creates competition. We chase leads. We manage the look. We market aggressively. And most importantly: we close. When the offer is "$600,000 is my limit", the order taker writes it up. The skilled agent knows they have more. That extra $20,000 pays the fee 4 times over. That is performance.

Budget brokers churn and burn. They need to sell 10 houses to make a living. They are too busy to spend time on you. You are just another sale. I focus on quality. So I can dedicate time on your sale. My fee allows me to give 100%. Avoid the churner.

The Skill Set That Matters Most

It's not fighting. It is a science. It is knowing when to speak and when to shut up. It is reading body language. It is creating FOMO. A good negotiator 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 negotiate. If they are untrained, money evaporates. They lower expectations rather than negotiating. Simpler to beat you down than to push a buyer. Bad agents lower price. Pros increase offers.

Ask the agent: "Give me an example a deal you did." Watch them. If the answer is "It sold quick," run away. You need "I created a bidding war." That is the winner. I love the deal. That is my promise.

Why Free Marketing Is A Myth

You might hear "no marketing costs." Sounds good? Be careful. There is no free lunch. If marketing is "free", they spend the minimum. Bottom tier. Bad pictures. You get no signboard. Because they are paying. They want to spend less.

For the best result, you need exposure. Premiere listing on RealEstate.com.au. Video. Floorplans. Facebook boost. It is an investment. But it finds more buyers. Volume creates price. Bidding wars = profit. Being cheap on ads and lose a bidder, you might lose $10,000 in price. Poor return.

I recommend you pay for ads. Because then we control it. We go big to get the result. Your investment. Give it the best chance. Don't scrimp to save a few dollars. It drives the sale.

The "Buying The Listing" Trick

A common scam of desperation promising a high price. They say your home is worth $700k when market value is less. Why? to flatter you. They get the listing because you want $700k. Once listed, no offers. They blame the market. They ask for price drops to the real value. It sells low after months of stress.

But you hired the liar. The good agent who was real lost the job. Don't reward lies. If it sounds too good way more than others, ask for proof. Where is the evidence?. No data, they are faking. Brad Smith gives honest appraisals. Data leads me. I might be conservative, I hit the target. I often exceed it through negotiation, not empty promises.

Be aware. It is a game. Choose honesty. Find the one who tells you what you need to hear, not fluff. That is the expert who succeeds at the top.

How To Spot A great Agent

Before you sign, ask these questions:
1. How do you negotiate?.
2. Show me recent more information overview sales.
3. What if we get two bids?.
4. Justify 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, do not sign. If they give away their money, they will give away yours.

I welcome these questions. I love the interview. I am ready. I deliver. Let's work together. Not on price, I am the value choice. Quality pays for itself in the end.