Friday, April 07, 2006

And so it begins...

I received a notice for REALTORS from a local home builder that is offering a higher than what has been normal commission rate for sales of their homes. Over the last few years the local market saw builders offer a flat rate fee commission, usually far less than the normal market commission. Many builders didn't even hire a REALTOR to list their new homes on the local MLS.

While I never experienced anything like it, I did hear of attempts by builders to practically steal would be buyers from REALTORS so they wouldn't have to pay ANY commission to anyone.

On one hand I don't blame them, and I'm certainly not saying that they did anything illegal, afterall this is a free market and a customer has the right to get the best deal for themselves. However on the other hand, perhaps the smarter play was for the builders to treat ALL parties a touch more fair. They could have simply worked with real estate agents all along that time frame where sales were basically automatic.

Now that the position of power is changing a little, at least in my perception, I hope the REALTORS in this area will just graciously accept the better benefits from the sellers/builders, and prove to them the value of their service... To work hard, not just for the buyer but also the seller... To go the extra mile and make the process better and easier like only a good REALTOR can. That way when the balance of power shifts again (and it will in this market), the builders/sellers will see the true benefits of working along side a REALTOR.

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