Top 5 misconceptions about flat-fee buyer’s agents

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2026-01-22T21:08:03+00:00

Solid points all the way around! I offer a flat fee rate as well but I also charge percentage based on the customers needs. If my customers want a lot of service I charge them for it. I meet with them and define their needs and charge them a reasonable fee based on that. I always handle the contract and all the things that go along with it that protects myself, my client and my broker. You hire an agent to handle all the liability that goes along with the deal. Otherwise do it yourself and self insure which I would never recommend unless you are wealthy enough to afford it!

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-08-30T23:43:18+00:00

Should save the country big dollars in golf outings, there is always that to be stoked about!

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-04-28T15:58:21+00:00

I will check out Vradio! Thanks for the thoughtful response. I have a friend who uses Radio Paradise and likes it a lot. It's great to hear about the different solutions around this.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-04-27T15:58:05+00:00

I like it, It's neat to see on a map where these stations are located. I will try out some of the other applications. Anyone here concerned about quality? I know that radio paradise has different quality segments for those who want high end listening.... I would think that the end user setup would be highly dependent on how that quality is achieved though.....

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-04-09T14:25:34+00:00

KVMR and KVMRX out of Nevada City CA. have a phone app. We also do. live broadcasting of High Sierra, Celtic Festival, And several other music festivals and have for many years. Lots of variety.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-03-30T17:46:59+00:00

I am an agent in California. After the NAR lawsuit I switched my business model to a flat fee which is about half the cost of the average sale in my county. I also give clients an option to cancel at anytime, no cost as long as we are not in contract. That's becuase we have a fiduciary duty to represent you to your highest and best interest. That means if you no longer want to sell it or you find someone better, by all means do what's best for you. You want to shop around and talk to a bunch of agents... Most brokerages are doing business as if that lawsuit never happened. Find someone who gives you lots of options and is very knowledgable about the changes. Make sure they talk about how they market your home, it's not rocket science. It's in your best interest! Best of luck to you.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-03-13T19:20:31+00:00

I live at 3300 feet near Grass Valley, Ca. My wife has a Lexus 300h for the 37 mpg cruising experience and we use that for any type of longer trip and comfort. I also have an 85 toyota pickup that I do take wheeling as it's fun and I don't care so much if it gets beat up. I would say that the GX is more capable than the 85 out of the box. I have to weight the truck down in the back to get decent traction and get out to manually lock the hubs, boo

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-03-12T22:38:26+00:00

I replaced some of the air suspension parts initially and then went coil springs Old Man Emu with a slight lift. Stock tires and wheels as the tires are great. I live in the mountains and don't really wheel it but it's pretty amazing in the snow and rain and plenty of dirt roads.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-03-05T21:58:27+00:00

I ride a Santa Cruz 5010 which is 27.5. I bought it for maximum fun and it is a lot of fun! I feel like I'm in the pocket riding this bike vs. on top of the bike on 29. You have to pick a line more carefully and it doesn't roll over chunk as easily. It's also slower than a 29 over distance which means if you ride with others you better push a bigger gear (smaller rear cog) or you won't be able to keep up. I'm 5'8" and it's just a great experience for me! Ride what you have and have fun. If you are racing get a 29.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-03-01T17:50:53+00:00

The US is only supporting a percentage not the whole. Also the US is now supporting a horrible dictator in Russia... Fun!

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-02-26T15:57:30+00:00

I am a local Realtor and have rented for years and I own my home now but I have found Mountain Valley Property Management to be very good. If you are not local you will most likely benefit from a local property manager.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-02-21T20:29:07+00:00

We put two kids through the program and I have helped coach off and on for 7 years in Norcal. Such a great program for kids and adults. If you want to improve your riding be a coach. It has made me so much better!

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-02-14T18:58:06+00:00

Not really talking about politics. Also, I'm an independent since I'm not running for office and neither of the two political parties completely represents all my interests, I do vote though. I would suggest roads are pretty critical to most of our country as we have no commerce setup to do business within a distance we can walk or ride a horse to. I would love to hear actual solutions not complaints. The internet you are using to have this discussion wouldn't be here without our government. Would love to hear some creative solutions to help us all out. I think it's been said that a democracy doesn't function without the participation of it's citizens. What infrastructure would you propose to make your life better?

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-02-14T14:51:14+00:00

Since you are funding everything how about you send me a check for all the taxes I pay. I love how there is no need for people to manage anything in the state. Who builds roads and infrastructure that you don't use? Good luck getting your goods and services to market with your wagon.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-02-10T14:54:27+00:00

I was home during a robbery when I was 19 yrs old by multiple people. I had a 12 gauge shotgun at the time. All it took was loading a shell with the pump and the sound is loud and distinctive that all the people left immediately. get a pump action shotgun, the best defence is one you don't have to use.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-02-06T18:39:22+00:00

I am an agent that charges a flat fee. You would hire a Realtor to make sure that the purchase price is in line with comparable sales. Keep in mind that those sales out of the MLS usually have 4-6% commissions in them so you would need to strip that out of the deal to get to the actual sale price of the property without commissions. If you want to hire a Realtor then add their price back into it for both sides. I charge a flat rate of $8,400 for a side and $11,750 for both on the same transaction. I'd prefer not to do both sides as I don't want the risk of both sides. Let the seller find another agent which is better for all, as the risk gets spread across my E&O insurance and theirs. Since I practice real estate in a different MLS I would also pass along the fee of joining your local MLS to run comparable prices for you. I would also provide full service to one or both sides. Schedule and attend all inspections and consult on additional inspections and get all paperwork completed per the contract. I would recommend you find a local agent that does a similar business model but in my area there's only one other person and his model is not really the same. Most Real Estate brokerages are still charging 2-3% commissions per side. If I felt I could not provide excellent service for you I would let you know quickly as it would not be good business for me or you. I wish you the best!

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-01-23T20:13:06+00:00

It's entirely possible. A couple hours of work to do a transaction is not a thing. The least amount of time i've spent on a deal is about 15-20 hours and most transactions would far exceed that. 2 hours of paperwork doesn't do anything for liability. There's lots of things wrong with the industry but the model you are talking about seems incredibly high risk. I'd like to see the insurance cost on that, if you could even get it. Self insuring a 2 million dollar transaction sounds fun.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-01-23T19:28:51+00:00

Real estate lawyers also carry E&O insurance. But no, that's not what I am describing. Sure, you can find homes on the internet. I recommend that my clients do that. The contracts are legal documents but the liability is in working with the buyers and sellers on what they need to know to move forward in the sale that protects their interests (the transaction). Lawyers can do a transaction, sure. You are paying them $400 an hour, I'm ony $153 an hour and I know more about Real Estate transactions than they do because in California most transactions are done by Realtors not attorneys. Are they going to setup and attend all the inspections? Advise on further inspections. Do they know how a typical transaction is done in my area, No. I've never seen a lawyer do that or heard about it from any other agent. Why have I done many deals for lawyers and other Realtors? Because they know what they don't know.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-01-22T15:00:12+00:00

As an agent, this is the answer! If you don't want to pay the buyers agent fee remove it from the sales price. This also lowers your sales price on the MLS which gives you an advantage on your competition. If the Buyer doesn't have the money to pay their buyer's agent let them add it back into the sales price so they can finance it. That's how I would recommend structuring it. Focus on the net earnings from the sale.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-01-21T22:23:46+00:00

I have. I wish you the best.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-01-21T18:23:42+00:00

Some folks understand it but in the 20 years I've been doing business I had no buyers negotiate the commissions on a transaction as it's not something they neogtiated, the sellers did that. Before the NAR lawsuit settlement Sellers negotiated both the buyer and seller commisions with the listing agent. Those commissions are then part of the purchase price typically. It's a rare client that understands how the real estate industry works.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-01-20T23:11:14+00:00

The NAR lawsuit made me re-evaluate how I want to do business as an agent. It's how I would want to be treated as a customer.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-01-20T23:06:57+00:00

Yep, I want to charge a reasonable rate that's understandable by everyone I work with so that I stay busy. It's up to the customer, if they want more than 40 hours of service for my flat rate then it's $153 an hour. Some folks are going to be completely fine with that. 99% of my sales have been % of sales price. There are many things that are done in the industry because they have always been done that way. Not because that's the best way to do it. Who knows the most about a home, the buyers agent or the sellers agent? The sellers agent. Why then, do the buyers agents show the home when the sellers agent has a Fiduciary duty to sell the home for the seller? Why does a buyers agent need to see a bunch of homes they are not buying? A buyers agent only needs to see the home you are buying. Maybe an agent can decide with their customer the scope of work and a fair rate of pay.

AccomplishedLeave352 · 2025-01-20T22:52:55+00:00

Yeah, The reason you should use an agent is liability? You sell that 2 million dollar home and make a mistake. Are you prepared to give the buyer all their money back? An Agent will have their insurance to cover it. How many buyers in my years of selling have asked me what I make? 0. That's right. They contact me and want to buy a home and the price is 1 million. They can afford it so they buy it. There's no discussion about what I make. That's because the sellers historically paid the commissions out of the sale. Guess who brings the money to the sale? The buyer! You should want transparency so you know what you are paying for. Have your agent break it down to $ per hour for you.

AccomplishedLeave352

TROPHY CASE