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Discount Brokers: Hard times ahead?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros

Like in any business model if you operate on thin to almost no profit margin you must have a large volume of business.  This is how a company like Wal-Mart can come into small towns and basically force out smaller family owned businesses.  There is a high expense to running a business in this nature which is why few companies like this exist. 

Now let's talk real estate.

Our current market (buyers' market) is one in which houses are staying on the market and often times expiring, this hurts the discount brokers that are out there because they do not have the high volume of sales that a sellers' market offers.  These are most certainly hard times for discount brokers as they have to cut expenses in order to stay open for business.

This isn't the case for companies like Keller Williams whom I am a part of.  The foundation of Keller Williams was built upon a model of a "tough time."  By keeping overhead low and to a minimum Keller Wiliams agents are able to provide supperior marketing and not feel forced to cut expenses related to overhead.  That just isn't how we operate. 

If you are looking for a Realtor I would strongly urge you against going with a discount broker...sure when it is a sellers' market this might seem the way to go, but it is absolutely not the way to go in a buyers' market (quite honestly I don't feel it is the way to go ever...but...).  Go with an agent/broker that doesn't feel the need to cut expenses...that deals with this market because it is the only market to work in...the agent that takes on the market as just a day at the office. 

Our team has taken on so many listings in the past few months of people that originally listed with a discount broker and ultimately relist with us and we get them under contract on average in 35 days.

That's why we have...THE POWER TO MOVE YOU!

Rosario Lewis
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
GRI, SRES - DDR Realty - Orange County, NY
The local discount broker in our area, Foxtons, recently went under. They failed for a variety of reasons, one being inferior exposure of listed properties.  Conventional agencies definitely provide superior service.
Oct 11, 2007 02:58 AM
Nancy Moeller
Seven Gables Real Estate - Anaheim Hills, CA

You don't always get what you pay for. The key is to hire the best agent in your area who understands your goals and will honor their commitments, and pay whatever they charge. Any difference in commission will easily be made up in selling price, terms and time. Great post.

Oct 11, 2007 03:02 AM
Sandy Bacon
MacDoc Realty - Fredericksburg, VA
We have always known that there would come a time when discount brokers would shoot themselves in the foot.  It was just a waiting game.  Coldwell Banker Elite agents are standing firm on our commission.  We are professionals and we earn what we charge.  Not reacting to the discount brokers by lowering commissions is our best offense.
Oct 11, 2007 03:04 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL

Carl, as much as I like the concept of what you wrote, remember that there are models out there for everyone.  The whole idea is for the consumer to educate themselves and know what they are getting and why the services are being discounted (at what price). 

There are tons of educated professionals that can work with a discount brokerage model and are willing to do most of the work and others that are not.  Rick and I are not discount brokers and give full service and beyond.  It's up to each one of us to prove what value we bring to the table. 

Oct 11, 2007 03:29 AM
Carl Martens
Geneva, IL
Ines...very good point to be made here.  I suppose if I was to list I might actually use a discount broker, but that's because I do the marketing of all our listings fulltime...thus, providing myself with the marketing that a discount broker doesn't offer.  Unfortunately, I don't think there are many people with these skillsets...although I have these skillsets I think I would actually prefer just to hire a professional who has the time to devote to this, rather than take on additional work for myself.  Good post nonetheless...valuable comment that I didn't point out in my post.
Oct 11, 2007 03:52 AM
Carrie Ann Higgs
Branson House Realty - Branson, MO
Your Key To The Ozarks
Hey Carl, thanks for e-mailing me today. Your blogs are very good especially this one-I hear Keller Williams is a great brokerage. My broker almost went with them but then chose Realty Executives because we get so many buyers from the west coast. Anyhow can you share with me how to hyper link in my blogs? Just some direction when you have tme, you seem like you know what you doing...thanks!   
Oct 11, 2007 10:15 AM