Susan Payne, one of my Rochester agents at 2.5% Real Estate Direct, joined us this year after successful years at Nothnagle.  This week we received two calls from long time successful agents in the Buffalo area inquiring about joining us.  Why would successful agents seek us out to work for us while at the same time other agents are telling another story to potential sellers?  Let’s explore.Susan listed 107 Judson Street in Webster on May 8th for $196,900. The seller had first met with an agent from RE/MAX and the seller told Susan that the other agent said the following:

1.  We would charge money upfront as part of our fee

2.  We Would not advertise

3.  We would not conduct any showings or open houses

4.  No other agents would show the house

5.  Other agents would tell “their” buyers that the house is no longer available.

Let’s look at each of those statements:

1.  We do not charge an up front fee at 2.5% Real Estate Direct.  We get paid at the closing upon the successful sale of the home.

2.  We advertise more than any real estate broker.  We own our own expensive full color publication called “Your New Home”.  We pay dearly to distribute our magazine and your ad through all the Wegman’s and Tops.   Your color photo advertising is produced and compiled each month, printed, distributed and placed in the supermarkets throughout Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.  It is restocked each week so that there are magazines available daily.   Costly.  Yes.  Effective. Yes.  We also take an expensive display ad each week in the Democrat & Chronicle.  Our listings are rotated in that ad.  On top of that our ad directs people to our websites to find open houses and more listings.  We pay everyday to secure good placements on Yahoo and Google.  It works.  That is why our websites receive thousands of hits daily and 20-40,000 new visitors each month.  That is unbelievable exposure.  The key for you is that it costs money and we are willing to spend it.  Where does that Re/Max agent advertise her listings, I wonder?

3.  We are true believers in open houses and all our agents conduct open houses.  I even pay for assistants to help our agents hold multiple open houses on a given weekend.  Does RE/Max do that for its agents?

4.   The statement that no other agent would show the house is a complete and utter fabrication made solely to instill fear in the seller.  Awful is the only way to describe such a statement.  Lets examine it carefully.  First, it is just not true.  In fact, the interesting thing about this story is that within one week two other RE/Max agents showed the house and both made offers.  The seller accepted $193,000.  The buyer’s agent commission was 2%.  Susan received numerous calls for more showings but we already had it sold.  Our homes are showed by all fellow members of our Greater Rochester Association of Realtors – and at varying commissions.  Our homes have sold through just about every reputable real estate brokerage in the area.   Why is that?  Well, as I have discussed before, it is because all the realtor listings are available to the public through realtor.com and homesteadnet.com. Real estate agents can no longer steer a buyer away from a home by not showing it.  Buyers know all the homes that are available.  The buyer will simply call another agent or the listing agent if they are not shown the home.  Real estate agents do not “own” buyers.  You are not “owned” by your agent.  Your agent works for you, not for him or herself.  Do not work with any agent who is not looking out for you.  Also, there are many good, professional agents out there who would not condone such behavior.

5.  The statement that other agents would tell “their” buyers the  home is “no longer available” does not deserve comment.

So, it is clear that real estate agents are well aware that we sell homes and that we sell them very successfully.  That is why they are calling to join us.  Our agents make a good living selling nice homes.  I give them all the tools and pay the expenses associated with selling a home. 

I mentioned in the title some other homes.   We just sold 426 Woodbridge in North Buffalo. The seller, a successful and well known attorney, used America’s Choice and Real Estate Direct through our exclusive agency program.  Within two weeks he had two offers.  One offer came commission free from America’s Choice and one was through Gurney, Becker & Bourne in Buffalo. The offer to the buyer’s agents was 2%. The seller was able to use the two offers as a negotiating tool to drive up the price.  The ultimate sale price was $290,000 with 2% going to the buyer’s agents.  What about the statement that other agents wouldn’t show our homes?

280 Old Glenwood Road, in Aurora is another good story and example.  This home was listed at 6% with another real estate brokerage.  It didn’t sell.   After expiring, the seller came to America’s Choice and went on the MLS with Real Estate Direct.  The home was shown by an agent from the same real estate brokerage that had previously had the listing.  We just sold it  and the commission to the buyer’s agent was 1.5%.  

These stories are fresh and truly reflective of the what is happening.  Don’t fall prey to false statements designed to scare you.  Call us.  Talk with me.  We truly care about all of you and we are here to make a difference.  Have a great day.