Discount Brokers

The number of part time agents in the Atlanta real estate market is scary. Scarier yet are the number of clients that use them because they’re friends, they’re friends of friends, they slash fees, or any other number of reasons. Buying and selling real estate in Atlanta is ripe with the potential for disaster. This can take many forms – ranging from misunderstandings, broken contracts, oversights that cost you money, to full blown law suits. This business is far from rocket science, but it does require attention, education, and experience – skills honed from doing it full time. CLICK HERE for more info and take a look at this "discount broker" list of options - CLICK - these things are not included with them!

Cut rate fees typically result in many of or all of the following:

  • minimal price/market analysis (marketing plan, marketing resources, price analysis...)
  • few credible prelisting suggestions (presentation, cosmetics, maintenance...)
  • reduced marketing and exposure (agent emails, just listed cards, lender affiliations...)
  • minimal MLS exposure (virtual tours, narratives, additional pix...)
  • minimal internet exposure (Realtor.com, AJChomefinder, Zillow, Truila, REMAX...)
  • minimal to no feedback (agent/buyer comments, updates, marketing strategies...)
  • no full time listing coordinator (immediate response to inquiries, available to you & agents)
  • no continued monitoring (if changes need to be made during listing)
  • minimal to no negotiation assistance (dealing with other agents, price, closing costs, stipulations...)
  • minimal to no assistance with objections (inspections, termites, problems that arise...)
  • no transaction coordinator (handles everything for you through closing, one point of contact)
  • no closing doc review (many discount agents don't review documents or attend closings)
  • YOU'RE REPRESENTED BY INEFFECTIVE, INEXPERIENCED AND/OR PART TIME AGENTS WHO HAVE NOTHING BUT CUT RATE FEES TO OFFER

You will not receive the best marketing and service from any agent or firm that only has "cut rate pricing" as their primary reason to use them - it's a simple as that.You will have “hard” costs to sell your home. Most buyer agents receive 3% of the sale price. Most discounters/flat fee shops/”friends” will charge at least 1%. What it boils down to is a swing of between 1%-2% when comparing professionals with amateurs. As your home sits and develops a history on the MLS, you will see less and less interest from quality buyers. 

I could easily bore you with stats from the Atlanta market that show expired homes that could have been sold for much more than they wind up selling for had the owners not been obsessed with a listing fee. There's a reason an agent is discounting their fee - don't fall into that trap!