Most people are wrong about agent fees. People believe agents do the same job. They pick the lowest fee. They believe they are smart. If one charges less and the other is higher, they pick Agent A. They think they saved money in the pocket. This is wrong. The low fee agent costs you the most in the end. Why? The result is poorer. The lost value dwarfs than the commission difference.
Think about it. If an agent cannot negotiate their own money, how can they defend your money? They won't. They give in straight away. When a buyer offers low, they advise: "You should sell." They want the quick sale. They don't fight. A pro fights for every dollar. We are professionals.
I watch vendors in gawler real estate miss out on huge sums to save pennies. It breaks my heart. It is a one-time event. You need the maximum price. You pay for performance. If the agent gets a premium, and the fee is slightly higher, you make more profit. That is what matters. Count the cash in hand, not the expense.
You Get What You Pay For
Understand the distinction between cheap and good. A Kia and a Ferrari are worlds apart. Real estate agents gawler follow the same rule. Some are order takers. They list online and wait for the phone to ring. That is easy. That is not service.
A negotiator markets proactively. We call buyers. We advise on presentation. We market aggressively. And most importantly: we deal. When a buyer says "$600,000 is my limit", the cheap agent believes them. The pro knows how to get them to $620,000. The gap pays the fee 4 times over. That is performance.
Budget brokers churn and burn. They need to sell 10 houses to survive. They rush to negotiate properly. You are a transaction. I take fewer clients. To work harder on your sale. My commission enables me to serve you best. Don't be a number.
How Negotiation Skills Impact Your Pocket
Negotiation is not arguing. It is influence. Knowing silence and when to listen. Understanding signals. Using leverage. A master pushes the price willingly. We use competition to drive the price up.
This skill takes years to master. It is valuable. You are hiring an agent for this skill. Not to put a sign up. You hire us to negotiate. If they are untrained, money evaporates. They lower expectations rather than negotiating. Simpler to beat you down than to get more. Bad agents lower price. Pros increase offers.
Interview question: "Give me an example of a recent negotiation." Watch them. Should they say "It sold quick," be careful. You want to hear "The offer was $500k, I worked them to $530k." Hire that one. I love the deal. I guarantee it.
Marketing Budgets: Who Pays For What?
Cheap agents often offer "advertising included." Great deal? Wrong. Nothing is free. When it is included, they go cheap. You get the small ad. Bad pictures. You get no signboard. Because it is their cost. They minimize cost.
To get top dollar, you need premium marketing. Highlight ad. Drone shots. Floorplans. Facebook boost. It is an investment. But it finds more buyers. More buyers = more competition. Bidding wars = profit. If you save $1,000 on marketing and fail to reach someone, it costs you value. Not smart.
I advise vendor paid marketing. No corners cut. We do it properly to get the result. Your investment. Give it the best chance. Don't scrimp to save a few dollars. It drives the sale.
The "Buying The Listing" Trick
A common scam of desperation promising a high price. They say your home is worth $700k when reality is lower. They do this to flatter you. They get the listing because you want $700k. Once listed, no offers. They blame the market. They ask for price drops to where it should be. And you sell for $600k after wasting time.
You chose the fake. The honest agent who was accurate was rejected. Don't punish honesty. If the price seems high a crazy number, ask for proof. Where is the evidence?. No data, they are buying the listing. I tell the truth. Data leads me. I might be conservative, but I deliver. I get more via strategy, not false hope.
Protect yourself. There are tricks. Look for integrity. Select the person reality, not what you want to hear. That is the partner who gets results at the top.
How To Spot A great Agent
Before you sign, ask these questions:
1. How do you negotiate?.
2. Show me recent sales.
3. What if we get two learn more resource bids?.
4. Explain your cost.
5. What is the plan?.
What they say shows their skill. If they waffle, walk away. If they are sharp, they are the one. If they cut commission as soon as you ask, don't hire them. If they give away their money, they will give away yours.
I welcome these questions. I love the interview. I am ready. I am confident. Let's work together. Not on price, I get results. Excellence costs nothing ultimately.