Discount brokers

Online and fee-for-service brokers have become a very popular way for some individuals to list their homes. However, just know that in everything (ESPECIALLY real estate) you definatley get what you pay for.

I took a listing recently that had been listed with Buy Owner for over a year. The sellers paid over $2000 to get Buy Owner to ship them a crude sign, a dvd of how to sell your home and that's about it. After a year, and having the ugly buy owner sign fade, the sellers called me because they were at a loss for what to do. I listed their home and sold it in less than a month.

Now, it would be great if I could collect $2000 up front and then the house never sells. Is there a chance it could sell? Sure, but next time you see a buy owner sign, call the numbers and see if anyone even picks up the phone after 5 p.m. or at all on the weekends.

A professional like myself gets paid when we have done our job. That job is to market and sell your home. If you do use a discount broker, you need to be aware of how to negotiate, market your home, structure a deal that will close, hire the right title company, apraiser, surveyor, inspector and you need to know to look for in the TREC real estate contract.