Should My Real Estate Agent Have a Conversation With Me About Commission?

The answer is yes!  The reason is that, you as the seller, are paying your real estate agent to work for you.  When you hire a fence builder, appliance repairman, or mechanic, you want to know what they are charging.  The same applies to a real estate agent.  Some real estate agents have a conversation with the seller and others just put it in the listing agreement and if you don’t know what you are getting for the commission, it puts you in an awkward position to ask the agent what they are charging and why they are charging that amount.

They should tell you what they typically charge in commission and tell you exactly what they are doing for that commission.  Some agents charge 3.5% total commission and the service they provide is bare bones.  I have also seen ones that charge 4, 5 or 6%.  I recently heard of agents charging 7.5-8% on the east coast. 

Whatever the case, your agent should be clear and confident as to why they charge the amount of commission they do and what they provide for it.

Some things agents may cover with commission:

• Staging – If you will be moved out of your home when it goes on the market, staging is a way to help buyers imagine themselves living in your home and it’s more likely you will get top dollar for your home and help it sell faster.  If you will be living there, then a stager can consult with you to help you use the furnishings in the home to show it looking the best.
• Cleaning – Cleaning is the last thing you want to do when you are moving out of your home, so if your agent covers this – it is a big help! 
• Photography – Professional real estate photography is essential when putting your house on the market.  Photographers know the right time of day to photograph your house to put your house in the best light – literally!  If your agent covers this, it shows they really care about your home.
• Drone Footage – The photographer most likely also does drone footage which is an excellent selling point for a buyer if you live near a lake, park, or school.  It allows the buyer to see how close you live in proximity to these community features and is easier to imagine than just describing your property as “2 miles to the lake or 4 blocks to the park.”
• Billboard Advertising – If you have digital billboards near your city, your agent may choose to advertise your home on it.  It’s fun to see your home for sale on a digital billboard and it typically gets a lot of attention! 
• Door Knocking or Flyers – This is something your agent may do to see if anyone in the neighborhood is interested in buying your home.  If you have a nice neighborhood, chances are your neighbors have friends or family that would like to move there if only they knew your house was going up for sale.

I hope this article has been helpful – a transparent agent is a comfortable agent to work with!  If I can answer any of your questions, please feel free to send me an email at realagentcarla@gmail.com.