I received a letter from Cathy Zimmerman, who is selling 17 Ashleaf Drive, Cheektowaga, NY.  Cathy is marketing directly to buyers through America’s Choice while at the same time selling with 2.5% Real Estate Direct through our exclusive program for America’s Choice sellers. The concept is simple. Low 1% commission if  the home sells through America’s Choice or directly through 2.5% Real Estate Direct. Ahigher commission if Cathy offers a buyer’s agent commission and the home sells through the efforts of a buyer’s agent.   Thus, Cathy is marketing directly to buyers through America’s Choice while at the same time marketing to real estate agents through the MLS and 2.5% Real Estate Direct.

Cathy is offering a commission to other real estate agents through MLS.  She writes that an agent from another real estate broker came to her home. In contravention of the rules governing real estate agents, this agent attempted to solicit her listing. Worse, this agent called our agents at 2.5% Real Estate Direct “nothing more than secretaries.” Further, she stated to Cathy that her company was ”more aggressive than Realty USA.” She stated that if she had the listing she would reduce the price by $5,000 (now that is aggessive marketing).  Cathy wrote that she had been previously listed with a friend at Realty USA before listing with America’s Choice and 2.5% Real Estate Direct.  She was offended that an agent from a competing company would have the audacity to act in this manner toward us and towards Realty USA. 

Interesting enough, notwithstanding that Cathy was offering a commission in the MLS to real estate agents, the buyer came directly   through America’s Choice; so Cathy did not have to pay the buyer’s agent commission offered through the MLS.  I just heard that our seller at 28 Clermont in Lancaster just sold for $249,000.  He also was offering a commission to real estate agents which he did not have to pay. This happens more often than not.  There are examples of our homes selling very successfully through 2.5% Real Estate Direct’s exclusive  program.  1146 Woodsboro Farms in Webster just sold through this program for around $360,000 by Linda Lehtonen, one of our agents in the Rochester office.  5955 Donegal Manor, Clarence, NY just sold through this program for $490,000 by Laura Guiseppetti, one of our agents in the Buffalo office. 

I wouldn’t call Linda Lehtonen “just a secretary.”  Linda has eleven years of experience selling real estate in Rochester mainly with Nothnagle.  Since joining 2.5% Real Estate Direct she has sold millions of dollars in real estate, quadrupling her production from her days at Nothnagle.   Laura Guiseppetti just sold four homes within the last month through our exclusive program.  She is a wonderful agent with great skills. 

Peter Epolito is the agent for 17 Ashleaf Drive.  Peter just closed on a $340,000 sale on East Avenue in Lockport.  I wonder if the real estate agent calling our agents “just secretaries” sells homes for $340,000.  The seller is an orthodontist.  It took many years of dental school coupled with a residency program to attain his position.  Do you think he would hire “just a secretary to sell his home?”

This week we are hiring an agent in Buffalo who has four years experience with Realty USA.  In Rochester we have justed hired Susan Payne.  She has a few years of experience with Nothnagle. In a short time she rose to the number six agent at one of their large offices – vaulting ahead of agents who had been there for many more years. We are all looking forward to Lynn  and Susan joining our team.  I assure you that they are not “just a secretaries.”   By the way, I find that comment offensive to all those people whose profession is that of a secretary.