You can't always get them down in price for the listing right away.If they are close you take the listing and chisel away at them.

Sellers hate change and once they have selected you it is hard to change and they don't want to start over and want to make it work.

If you go to many listing appointments you can say all the reasons it needs to be priced at XX or you can give a little to the seller and say will will try it slightly higher for the first week.

Then with feedback and traffic we will make adjustments if needed.

What you don't want to do is take a listing way overpriced where the seller has ZERO motivation and won't do what it takes to sell.

If you are a flat fee person you can just throw a sign in the yard and make a little coin and dump the seller if it doesn't work out and get more visibility for your company.

Duffy if you look at the site has tiered choices.The top choices are almost as much as the going percentage in this market.

The system is nothing but a hook to get the business and upsell services which is exactly how FSBO websites operate.Draw in with a low fee and add on and on to pump up profits.

Nothing wrong with it but it is not the way I want to conduct business.

I tend to be real selective on the commercial listings I take and close most of them rather than put wasted energy,cost,and time toward other properties that won't sell at this time.

That makes my returns go up a bunch per hour and leaves me more time for vacation,friends,family,and hobbies.

I do not belong to NAR by choice.It is overpriced garbage that is a shell of what it once was.Now all it has become is a bunch of vendors partnering with NAR to see how much profits to extract from agents until they run dry.

Not much meat and a bunch of fluff now.

It's just like BPO's used to be 100 per order or more to do.Now new people think getting 35 to 40 is great.If you don't know how great it used to be then you won't know how bad it is now.


About the only quality with NAR is the lobbying for brokers and agents interests.

If you have been in this game awhile the goal is to leverage up to larger deals and do your own investments so you work less and play more.

I have never tried that service....

I am a new agent and am not too familiar with flat fee agents. How does the buyer's agent get paid? Is there any incentive for buyer's agents to bring their buyers to these properties? thanks

Some offer NONE. Around here, our MLS doesn't allow $0.00 as compensation, so many Agents put in $1.00 for a Cooperation Agent. The idea is that you'll be compensated by the Buyer . . . . who is saving the bulk of the Listing Agent's Fee.

Some will offer a skimpy Flat Fee to the Buyer's Agent.

Usually with these, you'll have to draft a net to the Seller kind of Offer, where you will offer say, $180,000 gross, where the Seller will agree, by signing, to allow $5000 to be used at Closing to compensate the Buyers Agent (that's you) . . . . so the Seller nets $175,000 . . . . but remember, the Property will still have to appraise for the $180,000.

Often, the Listing Agent got whatever s/he's going to get at the time of Listing, and that's all he'll get. But sometimes the Listing Agent sticks around for the Closing Party (and work); but usually they cut their losses (or investment) by just bringing the Property to market and putting it in the MLS.

There are all kinds of variations. It can be worth your while to present what is often not much more than a FSBO.

Most serious buyers work through buyer's agents and from what you say it doesn't sound like there is much incentive for them to research and promote a flat fee listing to their buyers. It sounds like a hassle and as you say not much more than a FSBO.

But IF it's the right property for that Buyer . . . . you'll want to present it !
Maybe; but many others go it alone because "they know better" and don't use an Agent.
That depends on how you structure your Buyer Broker Agreement.
Maybe the first few times. True, it's different from having the Buyer Agent compensation dictated (or spoon fed) by the Listing Agent via the MLS. You just have to become comfortable navigating your way around the periphery of "the system", and once you clearly see it for what it is, it will not be a hassle. Just another way to make money.

But we don't want everyone to be doing it!
But I've made money presenting FSBOs to my (serious) Exclusive Buyer Clients. Flat Fee Listings and FSBOs are opportunities. Exploit them. They're anxious, and you don't even have to advertise them. They're often eager to receive the help that comes to them while you represent the other side (which they think they're getting for FREE).

But you're still being paid out of the proceeds of the transaction. (Just like always)

Around here all flat fee listings offer the normal buyer's agent commission via the MLS. We don't have any such companies offering 0% or something really small. Sellers here seem to be happy to pay the buyer's agent, they just don't feel the listing agent is worth the money.

I have sold many FSBOs and they don't have a problem with paying me either. Before I show the property I always send over the FSBO Commission Agreement. Once it's returned signed, then I show the property. This way my buyer is always protected.

In MY own opinion..

Flat fee listing is an idiotic way to do business..its a race to zero..

like trying to compete 3 gas stations on one block..

its called a race to ZERO profits...heres why..

say you charge..1000 per flat fee...
and since you openly tell the seller there is ZERO worth in an agent..

the next agent says..hey..Ill flat fee it for $500
then the next agent says no I'll flat fee it for $100
then yet another flat fee guy says..
I'll list it for $0

This is what fsbo.com does..

last I saw 2 agents competing to flat fee it for the least amount..
one savvy seller..got them down to $50
he expired..I called him..
I charged him full 6%..
and had him sold in 59 days.

not for $50. for $9,000
3% of the 310k of the sold price.

Guess what? he sent me 2 referrals..he is mega thankful I sold his home..
and now tells people that flat fee is a scam..


Mr seller, Do you truly believe you will get a decent caR..FOR $50
HOW About a decent mechanic..for $50?
How about a decent doctor or lawyer for $50?

Do you truly believe that Mr Seller?
if he answers this wrong..its simple..IM LEAVING..