There's no denying that purchasing and selling a home may be costly!

So, why don't we work with discount brokers?

To begin, the average cost of selling a house in the United States is more than $15,000. This figure covers closing costs, house preparation (staging, inspections, repairs, etc.), and real estate agency fees.

That's a lot of money, regardless of who you are or how much you make in a year. It's significantly higher in more affluent sections of the country.

The commission paid to real estate agents accounts for the vast majority of this expense.

A buyer's agent and a selling agent are traditionally used when selling a home. The buyer's agent is usually free to deal with (for the buyer), and both agents are paid by the seller when the house closes.

Today, the industry standard is for both buyers and selling agents to get an average commission of 3%. This means that real estate brokers receive 6% of the sale price of the home.

For example, if a house sells for $275,000, real estate agent commissions will be roughly $16,500, with the buyer and seller agents each receiving 50% of that $16,500.

The entire $16,500 comes out of the home's purchase price and is money you would have been able to keep if no real estate brokers were involved in the transaction.

This is a significant amount of money being taken from the sale of your property, and it can be especially unpleasant if you haven't lived in the home for a long time prior to the sale.

You won't have much left over after paying off your original mortgage with the proceeds of the sale if you have low equity.

It's also a lot of money if you're close to or have already paid off your mortgage and had planned to use the proceeds from the sale to fund your retirement, buy another house, or invest in something else.

In either case, real estate agents get paid 6% of the sales price of a home, with the amount given to both agents growing as the price of the home increases.

Enter A New Real Estate Era - With Countless Options

The digital age has influenced how houses are sold and promoted both online and offline.

Sellers can now use new technology, smartphones, and a variety of "Do It Yourself/List It Yourself" real estate websites and platforms.

Nonetheless, despite all of the advances in the real estate industry, the "old way" of listing and selling property remains the majority.

However, with a plethora of instructional videos, technology, and websites to assist homeowners in selling their homes more easily, the alternative real estate broker model is disrupting the market.

So the good news is that you don't have to sell your house the usual way if you want to save money.

Hiring a discount real estate broker has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars in commissions when selling your house or property.

With discount real estate brokers and agents becoming more accessible, some offering a la carte services and cost-effective solutions, you now have many options to consider when determining how to sell your home which is why you should work with discount brokers.

Types of Discount Real Estate Brokers

Real estate commissions can be arranged in a variety of ways, the most common of which is a 50/50 split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent.

Asking the listing agent for a discount is an option that is worth considering because it could effectively and significantly reduce the amount of commission paid when the house is sold.

However, most traditional real estate agents and brokers preserve their commissions and refuse to negotiate the amount they are paid to represent you when buying or selling a home.

There are additional possibilities if you wish to go outside of the standard approach, which we'll look at in this tutorial.

The following are examples of discount real estate brokers:

1. Low Commission (%) - a broker that charges a low commission percentage when selling your home.
2. Low Commission (Flat Rate) - a broker that charges a flat rate when selling your home.
3. Hybrid Real Estate Brokers – When selling your house, use a hybrid approach that combines minimal commissions and flat fees.
4. 2 for 1 – The 2 for 1 strategy is built on an agreement to buy a house with the realtor and have them sell yours for free.
5. No Commission (Flat Fee MLS) – The no-commission approach implies that you are selling the house yourself, yet a real estate agent can provide a few valuable MLS listing services.
6. Buyer Rebates –Buyer rebates are a concept in which real estate brokers agree to reimburse a percentage of their compensation to the buyer.

We will go over each of these options in greater detail below to help you determine which one is best for you.

1) Low Commission (Percentage)

This approach, known as the 1% Listing Broker (occasionally the number is 2%), proposes to charge the seller between 1% and 2% of the sale price, with the money going to the listing broker.

The buyer's agent commission is still commonly 2.5%-3%, however, with this approach, you wind up paying a significantly lower proportion than is often required with full or "standard" commission brokerage.

Best of all, the decreased commission rate is predetermined and made accessible for inspection ahead of time, so there are no surprises at closing.

Because of the lower commission fee, you may believe (often incorrectly) that you would receive less service from the brokerage. However, if you choose well, this is not always the case. These discount real estate brokers will almost always provide complete service to the sellers.

Low or reduced commission brokers can frequently provide the same (or similar) services as standard sellers' agents.

They will usually include and conduct a comparative market analysis to ensure that your house is priced correctly, they will negotiate the sale, they have insurance to cover any mistakes made, and they will advertise the house on MLS and other real estate sites.

Doesn't it sound like a decent deal? That's because it frequently is.

But why would they offer a cheaper commission upfront if they manage all that traditional agents do?

To gain more business, they understand how to sell a house in a simplified manner that allows them to manage multiple listings at once.

They bet on a reduced profit when selling clients' properties in exchange for closing more deals.

They are frequently able to offer lower commission rates since technology allows the sellers' agent to sell a home faster and with less effort.

For example, after all of the facts are in place and the house is 100% ready to go on the market in a way that would lead it to sell, it takes minimal further effort to list it on the MLS and then share it with brokerage websites and real estate portals such as Zillow and Trulia, among others.

2) Low Commission (Flat Rate)

Flat Fee Real estate agents offer to sell a house for a flat, fixed dollar amount, typically ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, or another agreed-upon figure based on the worth of the house or the service quality of the real estate broker in question.

As the name implies, there is no typical commission, only a flat, fixed price.

The degree of service provided is determined by the agent or broker engaged, and it can vary substantially amongst providers. If you choose this route, make sure to carefully read the contract so you understand exactly what they will (and will not) do for you.

Services may include the first consultation about the house, professional photography, yard signs, planned showings, and marketing, depending on the agent or broker.

A flat-fee real estate agent will also publish the house on the MLS, which involves distributing the listing information to thousands of related databases and websites, utilizing the internet for distribution, and obtaining the best publicity for the listing.

You may be required to pay a portion of the charge upfront. This charge is used to cover the agent's or brokerage's first marketing and administrative expenses. If the complete sum was not paid ahead, the remainder of the flat charge will be required at closing.

Keep in mind that you will still be liable for paying the buyer's agent costs, which are normally 2.5%-3%.

The most important thing to ask this type of discount real estate broker is how much they will charge and when the cost is due.

3) The Hybrid Model

Brokers and real estate agents may combine a low commission percentage with a low commission flat rate.

The Hybrid Model has existed since the late 1970s, when agents and agencies negotiated fees and services, typically with higher-priced homes.

This paradigm has evolved and can take on a variety of forms.

Two frequent alternatives are charging a percentage up to a particular amount and a flat cost after that number, or charging a flat price and then a percentage after that amount.

If you are considering this model, pay close attention to the contents of the agreement for the commission being paid so that you do not have to pay a higher amount than you expected.

Whatever alternatives you select, the fundamentals of having a seller agent remain:

• The house is on the MLS as well as thousands of other websites.
• The agent handles the contractual and legal requirements for that state.
• The broad marketing of the residence will take place.

4) The 2-for-1 Model

As with most real estate transactions, the seller bears the charges of the transaction's agent. The listing fees are removed from the equation in the 2-for-1 scheme.

The 2-for-1 concept involves a real estate agent promising to sell your house for free in exchange for you buying a house with them and paying them a commission.

The seller receives free counsel and marketing, the house is added to the MLS and all other real estate websites, professional photography and occasionally videography is done, yard signs are provided, and the standard real estate contracts are performed.

The great draw here is that the seller subsequently becomes the buyer of their new home, using the same real estate agent to do so.

With this arrangement, a seller who is both selling and purchasing a home can save a lot of money and will most likely avoid paying any commission at all.

In addition, the 2-for-1 model is the least popular sort of discount real estate broker.

5) No Commission (Flat Fee MLS)

The flat cost MLS contract, sometimes known as a "no commission" deal, is an option for any seller who wants their home listed on the MLS as well as real estate databases and websites but does not want or desire the additional services provided by a real estate agent.

There is no listing commission with a flat rate MLS listing agreement, and the house can be sold as a "For Sale By Owner" listing.

The minimal flat fee paid covers the expense of listing the property on the MLS and other public real estate websites.

You can buy this type of listing immediately from your laptop or mobile device and begin dealing with your broker right away.

The house, like all MLS listings, will remain on the MLS for the length of time agreed upon in the listing agreement between the seller and real estate broker.

With this service, the home seller will act as the "selling agent" and be in charge of contracts and marketing.

Yard signs, advertising, photography, and final discussions with purchasers and buyer's agents are all part of the process.

The seller will also be obligated to pay the buyer's agency fees.

Keep in mind that this type of transaction will necessitate a significant amount of hard lifting on your part.

That being said, if you have the time and knowledge to perform the extra work and are confident in your abilities to manage the marketing and sale on your own, this type of offer may be a fantastic alternative for you.

This is usually the greatest option for saving the most money.

6) Buyer Rebates

Buyer rebates, often known as "commission rebates," are paid to the buyer's agent.

In these types of transactions, the buyer's real estate agent will return a percentage of the commission.

The buyer can apply this money toward their down payment, closing costs, mortgage points, or in some situations, take the rebate as cash at the closing (if the bank allows it).

Buyer rebates are permissible in 40 states under current legislation. Check the state's website for real estate regulations to determine if this is a possibility for you.

This form of discount real estate broker usually has little effect on the seller because they must still offer the same amount they would normally.

Will Discount Realtors Provide the Same Service as Traditional Realtors?

Some do, but others do not deliver the same degree of service. It is determined by their business model, their ability to be flexible with their services and pricing, and the services they wish to provide.

If a discount real estate agent advertises as "full service," it is likely that they will provide the same services as a typical real estate agent.

However, if the bargain real estate agent offers a "limited service," they will be removing some of the services from their offering to the seller to explain the lower fees.

Pay carefully because these services may or may not be important to you.

Questions to Ask Before Signing An Agreement

The Listing Agreement is a legal document. It is a legally binding agreement in which the seller agrees to pay a commission to the real estate agent or brokers.

As a result, it is advisable for the house seller to thoroughly study the listing agreement and determine exactly what the expectations are of both the homeowner and the selling agent/brokerage.

Questions to Ask a Discount Real Estate Agent Before Signing a Listing Agreement:

• What is your experience?
• How will you determine the value of my home?
• How will you market my home?
• How will you communicate with me?
• How much commission is to be paid?
• Is there an exclusive right to sell?
• How long will the listing agreement be in place?
• What specific duties will the agent be responsible for?
• How will disputes be handled?
• Representations expected on the seller/owner side?
• Will you be allowed to cancel the agreement?

 Final Thoughts

You are interested in selling your home. You want to cut costs and shorten the amount of time it takes, but you don't want to do everything by yourself. You want your house to get the most possible exposure for the lowest possible price.

And perhaps most importantly, you want to finish the process of selling the house with a larger sum of money in your possession.

Because of this, working with a real estate broker or agent who offers discounts is a sensible choice to make.

You will come out ahead financially, as you will not have to do all of the selling yourself, and you will save money.

Have you worked with a real estate broker who offers discounts, or have you considered employing one? Tell us about your experience, and feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments you might have for us down below!

We negotiated lower realtor fees on your behalf.

So you don't have to, Realiff.com has negotiated drastically cheaper commissions with some of the greatest real estate brokers. We will connect you with a top local agent in your region who will sell your home for a substantially reduced fee (without losing service)!