Comments for An Inside Look at the Real Estate Market

Comment on About Jed Carrol by jed carrol

jed carrol — Sat, 02 May 2009 21:19:23 +0000

Hello Mary, Thank you for your comment and viewpoint. My family spent last July 4th holiday on Keuka Lake. I must say it is breathtaking and well worth the trip. It appears your clients are well served by working with you and it most cases I am sure they appreciate your knowledge and expertise and do not mind compensating you fairly for your role in their home search. Have a great weekend! Jed

Comment on About Jed Carrol by mary st george

mary st george — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:42:23 +0000

Jed,

I agree with most of what you said. I have taken buyers to FSBO’s and explained to the buyers that I would expect a minimum commission from them if the seller would not pay. My expectation with buyer was 1%. It was not the home they wanted, but if it was, it would have been worth the 1%. I know many realtors avoid these places like the plague, but I believe in this internet available world, we need to think about what we are charging the lister (seller).

Comment on Buyer’s Agents Won’t Show Your Home? Read this letter and my thoughts by Alyssa Hedges

Alyssa Hedges — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:16:18 +0000

As the listing agent for the property on Seneca Lake (that sold for $515,000), I would like to add, the buyers agent that took the 1% commission, not only showed one buyer, but five to six groups of buyers. She wrote a total of two offers, one that did not go through. She recognized that she was working for the buyers’ interests, not her own!

Comment on Do People Just Give Up? by jed carrol

jed carrol — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:29:06 +0000

Thank you Kim and Melanie for your comments. The vast majority of our clients have similar experiences to that which you described. Most of our sellers understand quite well that with America’s Choice they can price their home better, and without paying a high commission they sell faster and put more money in their pockets. Please spread the word about us to everyone you can. Word of mouth is everything to us, particularly since so many real estate agents take great pains to tell people false and malicious statements about us. Thanks again.

Comment on Do People Just Give Up? by Melanie

Melanie — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:17:32 +0000

We have also sold multiple homes with America’s Choice in the Rochester area. I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t use America’s Choice. Our son even bought a home in Charlotte NC through America’s Choice. Keep up the good work.

Comment on Do People Just Give Up? by Kim

Kim — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:12:02 +0000

My husband and I have sold three homes with America’s Choice over the years. Each has been successful. I can tell you that we received a lot of phone calls, emails and letters from agents. Each had a reason why we should use them and most of them said they guarantee to get us a higher price. The agents did put pressure on us. When we said we needed them to put their guarantee of a high price in writing the tune seemed to change. Now the high price was not so sure. Thank you America’s Choice for providing what we needed. We simply looked at the information about comparable sales and we looked at what was available at the time we were selling. From there it was easy to arrive at the right price. Each of our homes sold at the high end of the price per square foot for our neighborhood and at 0% commission.

Comment on Less Is More – Really by jed carrol

jed carrol — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:51:19 +0000

Good morning Lisa. Thank you for your comments. I will answer your inquiries point by point. We are called 2.5% Real Estate Direct because when we list a home, pay for all the advertising, conduct all the showings and include the home in the MLS we charge 2.5% commission upon the sale. We do have a wonderful program for America’s Choice customers where we charge only 1%. We can do this because the America’s Choice customer is paying for the advertising and conducting the showings. We include the home in the MLS, receive the phone calls or emails, negotiate on behalf of the seller, facilitate the contract paperwork and perform duties typical of a real estate agent. Only upon procuring a buyer from the MLS or from our efforts will we charge the 1% at the closing.

We sell most of our homes for 2.5% when we take on the entire burden or 1% when we list an America’s Choice customer.

Your comment “Of course if I want any chance of an agent showing my house I have to offer 3% to buyers agent…” is not true at all. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise

For our sellers who want buyers agents to show their home our programs allow a seller to offer any amount they choose. Buyers agents have shown our homes for 1%, 1/2%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5% and 4%.

Remember, today buyers through the Internet have complete access to the America’s Choice homes and the MLS listed homes. Buyers know all the homes which are available. A buyers agent has no ability to steer a buyer away from your home. The buyer will simply call another agent or contact the listing agent.

Just last night we completed a sale for a homeowner who had been previously listed unsuccessfully with a traditional 6% real estate brokerage. This homeowner during the 6% listing agreement was offering 3% to buyers agents. After expiring he decided to list with us. We sold it last night and, interestingly enough, the buyers agent accepted 1.5% commission. What is more, the buyers agent was from the same brokerage that had him originally listed at 6%. So by coming to us he sold at just about his asking price for so much less. 8330 Ascot Circle sold last week for $382,000 with the buyers agent getting 2%. We sold a lakefront house on Seneca Lake for $515,000 with the buyers agent getting 1%.

As I wrote in this article, the entire real estate market has changed. Don’t let anyone tell you that you must offer 3% to buyers agents.

Have a great day Lisa and thank you again for your comment.

Comment on Less Is More – Really by Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:48:21 +0000

Why are you called 2.5% real estate direct? I thought you charged 1% for listing in the MLS. Of course if I want any chance of an agent showing my house I have to offer 3% to a buyers agent – which adds to 4%. So do you charge 2.5% or 1%?

Comment on Are You Food For Real Estate Bottom Feeders? by Lorraine

Lorraine — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:17:47 +0000

I sold my own home all by myself without any realtor help and save over $5K. Attorney’s are all that you need to help you. Simple stuff that realtors make a big deal out of.

Comment on Great Evening at Rochester YMCA Invest in Youth Reception by Dan

Dan — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:23:37 +0000

I also attended the YMCA reception. It was a great evening. The speakers were inspirational. I also enjoyed the ambiance at the Valley Club.