Sellers often misunderstand agent fees. People believe agents do the same job. They pick the lowest fee. They think they are saving money. If Agent A charges 1.5% and Agent B charges 2.2%, they choose the discounter. The math says a few thousand. But this is false economy. The cheapest agent loses you money at settlement. Why? Because they sell your home for less. The lost value is much more than the saving in fees.
Think about it. If they give up their own income, how will they negotiate your equity? They won't. They give in straight away. When a buyer offers low, they advise: "You should sell." They want the quick sale. The last dollar doesn't matter. A good agent pushes for more. We know our worth.
I witness owners locally lose $20,000 or $30,000 for a small discount. It breaks my heart. You have one shot. You need the maximum price. You pay for performance. If I get you a premium, and I cost $5,000 more, you make more profit. That is the net result. Look at the net, not the expense.
The Difference Between Cost And Value
Understand the distinction between cost and value. A cheap suit and a tailored one are worlds apart. Real estate agents gawler follow the same rule. 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 is pure profit. That is performance.
Budget brokers rely on volume. They need to sell 10 houses to survive. They are too busy to maximize your price. They treat you like a number. I limit my listings. To give attention for you. I charge correctly to serve you best. Don't be a number.
How Negotiation Skills Impact Your Pocket
It isn't shouting. It is influence. Knowing silence and when to listen. Understanding signals. Building pressure. An expert pushes the price willingly. We use scripts to get the max.
It is learned to get right. It is gold. You employ me for this reason. Not for the sticker. You pay us to talk cash. If they are scared, they will cost you. They will suggest you drop your price because they can't get the buyer up. It is easier to crunch a seller than to lift a buyer. Discounters reduce. Good agents build.
Ask them: "Tell me a story how you negotiated." Listen to the answer. If they just say "It was easy," be careful. Look for "The offer was $500k, I worked them to $530k." That is who you want. I fight for you. I guarantee it.
Understanding Advertising Costs
Cheap agents often offer "free marketing." Attractive? Wrong. Nothing is free. When it is included, they go cheap. You get the small ad. Cheap snaps. Small sign. Why? it is their cost. They minimize cost.
To sell for a premium price, you need the best. Top spot online. Professional photography. Virtual styling. Targeted marketing. It isn't cheap. It reaches more people. More buyers = more competition. Demand equals value. Cutting ad spend and fail to reach someone, it costs you value. That is bad math.
I advise vendor paid marketing. We do it right. We spend what is needed to find the buyer. It is your asset. Showcase it. Don't hide it in the dark to save a grand. It creates the result.
Beware Of Over-Quoting Agents
A dirty tactic of bad agents lying about value. They tell you you will get a huge price when it is worth $600k. The goal is to win the job. You sign with them out of greed. Later, it doesn't sell. They make excuses. They reduce it to where it should be. And you sell for $600k after wasting time.
You chose the fake. The honest agent who was accurate missed out. Be smart. If an agent promises to be true, check the data. Prove it. If they can't, it is a lie. I tell the truth. Evidence based. I might be lower, but I deliver. I get more with hard work, not false hope.
Watch out. Real estate is full of sharks. Find the ethical agent. Find the one the hard truth, not fluff. That is the guide who succeeds at the top.
Questions You Must Ask Before Signing
Before you sign, ask these questions:
1. How do you negotiate?.
2. Can you show me reference page guide your track record?.
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 as soon as you ask, don't hire them. If they give away their money, they will give away yours.
I welcome these questions. Challenge me. I have the answers. I deliver. Pick me. I am not the cheapest, I am the value choice. And the best is always free with the final price.