FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
How do real estate agents get paid? Honestly, it depends on the type of service you're looking for. However, in a "typical" residential transaction, sellers agree to pay their listing brokerage a percentage of the sales price (commission) at closing. That commission is usually split evenly between the listing/marketing brokerage (aka the seller's agent) and the buyer's agent's brokerage. So buyers rarely pay for their own agent! Sellers, on the other hand, should be prepared to "pay double". In a Short Sale, the commission for both agents is typically covered by the seller's bank, as an approved part of the closing costs. There are other less traditional service arrangements and compensation packages vary, so be sure to discuss this with your agent in your initial interview.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
Real estate, in one capacity or another, is really all I have ever done. It's in my blood. My dad was a builder... I learned to read a blue print before I could read a book.