Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:10:52 -0400
From: Marie Scheuring
Subject: Re: Chatham Chatlist #3160
Response to Cramer:
I think you are generally misunderstanding the commission fees and I know I probably won’t change your opinion. Â Commissions are always negotiable and there is no set fee. Â The reason the fees are 2% in England is because you can barely find a property for less than a half million.
If a realtor accepted a 2% commission for a $150,000 listing, here is how that would work out; Â the total commission on the sale would be $3,000 dollars, which would most likely get split four ways between the listing agent, listing company,selling agent and selling company. Â Each party who is invested in time, out of pocket expenses and liability/accountability would get a little over $700.
In addition,there are other expenses that realtors pay to stay in business such as monthly access fees to the Mulitlist Serivice, errors and omissions insurance, office expenses, vehicle insurance, gas and auto maintenance, association dues, continuing education,……
The average realtor in the triangle  is earning $25 to $30,000.  We only get paid if your home sells or if you buy a home.  The public can run you around for weeks and decide not to buy, not to sell, or to just fire you for no reason with no compensation owed.  Most realtors are hard working, honest people who care about their clients and become trusted advisors and advocates for them.
There is no way to summarize how much we do, and how often we do not get paid for what we do,  but I hope this message will serve to at least let you consider that there is another side to the real estate industry.  If you are trying to sell your home on your own, I think you will quickly learn that there is much  more to it than placing a sign in the yard.
—
Marie Scheuring, Broker
Eco Broker
www.mariescheuring.com
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