Q: In your advertising you mention "examining your options." What do you mean?

A: In a general sense, I'm trying to get all of us to think outisde the box about how we market real estate. Specifically, whether you are a seller or a buyer, you ought to have some choices about such things as: how you relate to your Realtor, various levels of service available from your Realtor, various obligations between yourself and your Realtor, and various fees or charges for services rendered.

For example, you list your property for sale with a broker. Even if you and the broker agree that you will receive a full menu of services, how do you decide how much the broker will be paid? There may be a good reason for paying, let's say, a 6% fee. There sometimes are situations in which you would be better off to offer a higher commission rate, or a bonus to the selling agent. On the other hand, what if you can get approximately the same level of service for less cost. Wouldn't you want to talk about this with your listing agent?

What if you don't want the full menu of services? What if you want the broker to do this, this and this, but not that, that or that? How do you arrive at a reasonable brokerage fee? Parenthetically, I might add, when you consider all the duties the broker must perfom to get your property sold and a check in your hands, you may decide the full menu is a bargain. The alternatives are to perform some of the duties yourself, and possibly to arrive at closing with important tasks undone, a sale that cannot be closed, and a buyer who gets mad and walks. Not to mention an attorney and a real estate broker demanding to be paid if they performed their obligations.   

If you're a buyer, you need to think about your choice of being the Realtor's customer or the Realtor's client. There's a major difference that you need to understand before you look at properties. This subject is addressed elsewhere in this web site, but you may always call or email Michael Dixon if you want more information.

These considerations are part of the broker's, and the agent's, obligation to put the interest of the client ahead of his or her own interest, and to always be honest with both clients and customers. These obligations are spelled out in the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Realtors. Make sure the broker or agent you are working with is a Realtor.