Sorry, but I am NOT a discount realtor!

Cutting your commissions fee makes you look desperate for business. If someone thinks it's too much, then that is not your clientele.

I know there are some people out there who think my consultation fee is too high. I believe in you get what you pay for. If they want a discount on price, they'll get discount service.

Bam!  You are 100% right on here.  If your client can out negotiatiate you at the listing appointment, do they really want you to negotiate on their behalf against another professional negotiator?  I think not.  Well written post.

I am so with you on this issue! You really do get what you pay for. And I'm ready to deliver what my clients pay for. It's also important that we be able to articulate to our prospective clients what it is they are paying for and why. I've found that always helps reduce the request for lowering a commission.

Stand tough!! you will earn your commission in the end with great service,  keep up the good work and good luck with your business,  E

Hi Kimberley,

I say do the very job you can for every client and the compensation will follow.  Good post and congrats on the feature!

I have charged 1495 (upfront) plus 3% MLS to whoever sells the home, am I a discounter. I always ask the customer, what more is the other interviewees doing for your 500K, listing while charging you $15,000 that they are not doing for that 100k listing at $3000. commission, then they sign the listing agreement. When folks really think about it, it comes down to money.

I will match my 27 Golden Rules of Marketing against anyones 101 ideas and win every time. Their first 4 start with a P, Put a sign up, Put it in MLS, Put it on craigs List and  Pray that it sells before the customer starts hollering or realize how long they are stuck.

My listing Agreements are for 30 days with right for me to renew.

Kimberly, I agree with you.  We are not discount Realtors either, EXCEPT just this past month I did cut my commission on 2 listings that one person had.  She bought at the height and will lose big time.  Normally I would never do this but I did get 2 listings, got my name out there again and quite frankly it's summer here so after I explained to her that we're in a slow mode, she hired us anyway.

Kimberly!  I love the way you initiate the conversation up front by distinguishing yourself from "discount brokers."  It completely changes the way the Sellers see you.  Great post!

Kevin

Business minimum standards.  Good for you.

Good post. some folks just feel they have to ask. Perhaps their brother said "ask for a point off on the commission" so now they can say " they would not budge" and all is OK in sellers house.

So you really are looking for a discount Agent, thenyou probably don't want the best negotiator for your biggest asset.  if you select and agent that will automatically discount then how is that agent going to work to "negotiate " for your largest asset??????????????????????????  Don't think it is a good Idea if you want the best, full service agent.

Well put Kimberly! Bravo!! I will definetley use this way of thinking next time I'm off to a listing presentation. Thanks.

As we cannot discuss pricing or set prices together you have to ask what is a discount.  I know some charge more than others.  I have gotten different fees based on different considerations.  There is a point where it does not make sense to take the listing.

This will be a problem for many more years to come. I agree with Michael, I have found that those who seek and get discounts are always going to ask for more somewhere along the line. If there is a problem with an offer that can be solved for a few hundred bucks guess who the seller will want to pay for it.

Like the poster if asked I used to say I don't do that. And now I add and why should you hire someone who may charge you 1% less only to get you a price that is 2% or more less then you should have gotten, I know I wouldn't hire that person to sell my house but if you do I will be happy to leave and let you find one. And if that is what they want I know I have just avoided a probable pain in the neck seller and would be better off serving someone else. And as a side note these are generally the ones wanting to overprice. Greed travels in both directions.

A popular blog with a short but very important subject for all agents who want to be treated as true professionals, no client will respect an agent to negotiate the best deal on their property if they cant even hold on to their commission.

I truely believe in my ability as a quality agent.  I too am not a discount agent.

Good morning Kimberly. I couldn't agree more. I found that if commission was the major factor in deciding who to hire, the potential client usually mentioned it on the phone at least twice. If that happened I knew we wouldn't be doing business so I saved a lot of time. Great post.

You do get what you truly pay (or not) pay for. It is a matter of principle.

I recommend that my sellers list at 7 percent, with 4 percent going to the selling office.    I want agents to look at my listings and think, "I can make a third more by selling this property than another property listed at the customary 6 percent.  Maybe instead of a $6,000 commission, I'll eare $8,000!"  I explain that to the seller.  It's an easy sell.  A good asking price motivates buyers and a good commission rate motivates agents.