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Long Island Real Estate - How Much Is That Cheap Listing Costing YOU? by Jackie Connelly-Fornuff

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Real Estate Agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY

Long Island Real Estate - How Much Is That Cheap Listing Costing YOU?

I call on expired listings daily. Time and time again I see how low the commission rate was and then I know why that particular home didn't sell.

You know the saying, "you get what you pay for". It is true in all aspects of life whether you are selling your car, your home or see that "Coach" handbag on ebay that no one bid on and you got it for $10.00 and it turns out it was a fake handbag. You get what you pay for.

So, you know you saved about $5,000 to $6,000 on the commission by hiring a Realtor who offered a cheaper commission. Did you ask what are they going to do to market your home?

How many websites is your home going to be on?

Are they going to hold public open houses for you?

Are they going to hold a Brokers open house for you?

How creative are they when it comes to marketing your home?

Are they going to put your home on their real estate blog?

Do they have a real estate blog? Most agents in my area do not and that gives me an edge over them. That is 1 more venue for my sellers in order to market their home more effectively.

Are they going to keep an eye out for new homes that come onto the market and visit those homes for you to see if they are competition or not?

If you go cheap, you are NOT going to get the marketing you deserve in order to get your home sold. You did agree to pricing it at market value right? I hope so or it's not going to sell no matter how many websites your home is on.

Since 85% of home buyers do their home search on the Internet, it's imperative that your home is on real estate websites, period! 1 or 2 websites is not enough. A Realtor has to market your home in other ways as well. It's hard work. We have to be creative in these competitive real estate days in order to get your home sold at the price you want.

And 1 picture of your home? For-get-it! Most buyers toss those homes aside in their search. 1 picture will make them feel that something is wrong with the home on the inside. I work with a lot of buyers and every one of them has told me that they can't be bothered with the homes that have 1 picture only and pictures that are blurry. They feel that someone has something to hide. That is not good.

So, really think about is saving a few thousand dollars worth it only to have your home not sell? Did you say No? Good!

Have an awesome day!

Comments(9)

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh
Century 21 New Millennium - Upper Marlboro, MD
A doctor who makes house calls.

I like that sign.  I guess it is so true, unfortunately.  You get what you pay for.

Jan 05, 2010 11:47 AM
Liz Flint
Century 21 Hardee-Team Realty - Houston, TX
Houston\Tomball Realtor (832)816-8066

Hi Jackie, I love the sign too.  And you are right, most of the discount brokers don't offer as many services and some of them are out of business now.

Jan 05, 2010 11:52 AM
Roy Giordano - Top Real Estate Expert
RE/MAX Central, Marlboro, Manalapan, Freehold, Old Bridge NJ - Marlboro, NJ
Top Agent Marlboro NJ, Marlboro/Manalapan Homes

Hi Jackie, excellent blog and oh so true. There are sometimes when we can explain this to sellers until we're blue in the face - some people just don't get it.

Thanks for posting.

Roy

Jan 05, 2010 11:53 AM
Toula Rosebrock
Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ - Lacey Township, NJ
Broker/Sales Associate, Realtor, Lacey Township,

ToulaRosebrock,com

Hi Jackie:

You are so right! 

You get what you pay for...there is certainly a reason why that saying is so popular!!!

By the way, I LOVE the sign!!!

Jan 05, 2010 12:15 PM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Hi Stacey! It is so true but why do people ignore it?

Hi Liz, there are a few still around and if people truly shopped around and asked the right questions, more homes would sell and there would be more happier people out there.

Hi Roy, thank you and you are right! Blue is not my favorite color. At least not on my face :)

Hi Toula! Thank you and I wish people would listen to that saying more often!

Jan 05, 2010 12:23 PM
Ellie McIntire
Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD
Luxury service in Central Maryland

In a lot of these discount brokerage listings, the seller does a lot of the work themselves- BADLY. I always use the K-mart or Nordstroms analogy

Jan 05, 2010 01:35 PM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Hi Ellie, it's not just them, it's some of the realtors from major name brokerages. I'm finding that more and more people are clueless when it comes to hiring realtors and what they should expect from them.

Jan 05, 2010 01:45 PM
Nancy Murray
Keller Williams Clients Choice Realty, Colorado Springs, CO - Colorado Springs, CO
Your NICE Real Estate Agent in Colorado Springs

Jackie, this is SOOO true.  This was our motto when I was working software development, and from the looks of the background, that may be the source of your picture.  I have said this over and over again as it does apply to real estate, particularly when a seller lists their home.  I get a thrill of pointing out to FSBO seller that their home probably hasn't sold because they are priced at market and the coop fee is much less than the average.  It just isn't going to get the home sold in this market.  But I do have to admit, the FSBOs are a little harder to find....

Jan 05, 2010 02:40 PM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Hi Nancy, FSBOS here are easy to find. When their home doesn't sell, they blame the market. I tell them you have your home listed on 1 website and most buyers work with agents and do not want to deal with a seller directly. It's all about saving the commission to them.

Jan 05, 2010 02:55 PM