I can definitely appreciate the fact that you are sticking to the original post and are trying to answer to the best of your ability. Your are probably right about your feelings about the initial posts’ tone becoming a bit more anti realtor. It seems that way.
However, reading though all the responses, I would like to say that personally I’m not against using a realtor, I see their value, and also, there are good and bad in everything.
But what I would like to point out though is, that as a consumer, I would like to have your BEST service, BEST sharing of info, as well as BEST marketing techniques offered to me at a competitive price. But what I hear over and over is that, I should hire a you as a realtor based on your USP, but have to fork over, in what many, if not most, consumers see as a unreasonable amount of commissions. If your service comes at full commissions as opposed to new ways of marketing at half the commissions, you need to have a darn good convincing story for me to choose you. Right now I don’t see it.
Furthermore, many realtors (but not all) are still doing everything they can to keep a (slowly) changing industry to old standards.
So no, not negative about realtors as a whole, but definitely we do need a change in the industry.
I don't disagree with your sentiments...the real estate industry seems to be changing at a slower pace than other industries, and there are some real estate professionals who are trying to prevent/slow things from changing. For some of the very high income real estate professionals, they are simply trying to preserve their exorbitant income as long as they can; selfishly understandable. From a consumer perspective its obvious that those Realtor's arent fully representing a consumer's interests first and foremost.
My philosophy is that I want to be in this industry the next 30+ years, so I need to embrace the changes and find ways to keep earning business as opposed to just getting business today. In always looking for long-term business relationships and to create win-win scenarios that will earn a client's business and future referrals.
When it comes to Realtor fees, buyers rarely pay anything out of pocket for a Realtor's services.
For investor support services (such as CMA's for properties that won't be bought/sold through a Realtor), the fee per service is negotiated between the Realtor and investor pending that nature of that business relationship.
If you are a seller with an investment product that I want to represent, I will absolutely offer you my best service for a competitive fee.
A couple examples here.....
I have flippers who use me to acquire a property (I get paid buyer's fee from whomever is selling that property) at no cost to my client. When I go to list that property once its ready to go back on the market, the seller will pay a full buyer's fee (assuming another Realtor represents the ultimate buyer), and my fee for selling is smaller, but sufficient to cover my time and hard marketing costs. Flipper selles that property for a profit, and I take them shopping for the next one. Them having a good product helps me meet more prospective customers. Win-win.
Another scenario is where I have seller clients with a disirable investment product (showing healthy cashflow and/or cap rate etc.) that I want to represent. As a business man, I know this product help me meet prospective investor clients whom I want to work with. If I can double end that deal, all I'm looking for is a 1 sided fee for representing the new buyer. The investor saves $$ (fees) on the sale, presumably profit from the transaction, and I may have found myself a new client. Another win-win scenario.
I have clients who will say something to the effect of "if you can bring a buyer who will pay $__ for the property, I will pay you this fee." These become exclusive pocket listings, another win-win scenerio for everyone involved.
The fees are always highest for sellers, which in the context of this conversation are what Im going to call "general consumers", or a Realtor's customers. FULL DISLCOSURE - Realtor fees are always negotiable pending the relationship between the Realtor and customer.
I cant speak for all Realtors, but in my business fees vary for sellers based on a few things - namely urgency, price expectations and the specific product, and the fact that some homes are easier/harder to sell than others.
If the seller is looking to sell their home and simultaneously buy another, I will sell their home for less (low seller fee, but offering full buyer's fee), knowing that I will get the full buyer's fee when they make their purchase.
In short, everything is negotiable. Some people dont ask questions or try to negotiate... which is another argument of why they should have somebody representing their best interests. If they dont bring it up first, I often approach that conversation/negotiation as a way to demonstrate that I am looking out for their best interests, hoping to create a win-win scenario for everyone involved.