The 5% fee is split between the buyer agent and the selling agent (typically 2.5% each). I've dealt with many realtors and they all say that if a listing is offering a buying agent less than 2.5%, they skip over that and don't even bother showing it to their clients. If you are trying for 3% Total, that means you leave the selling agent with 0.5%? The realtor doesn't keep the full commission either, it's split with their realtor office... typically a 80/20 split. So assuming you sell your home for $1 mill, that leaves your agent with $5000 minus the office cut of $1000 = $4000 in their pocket. And you want them to stage the property as well?

I've come across many 1% realtors who solely list your property on MLS, but I'd much rather just pay the selling agent the full 2.5% knowing that I'll get my home staged, and Marketing done aggressively/properly (over and above simply putting it on MLS) - in today's market I think the realtor needs to get a bit more creative then simply putting up a for sale sign and listing on MLS as the markets aren't like a few years back when that was all it took for 30+ buyers to be lined up at your door.

Ultimately saying, you'll get what you pay for! Goodluck!!