Home sellers: how you can pay your agent less commission, or none at all

When folks decide to sell their house, they often interview several real estate agents. Generally their decision on who will list their home is based on one or more of the following criteria:

1. Who will work harder, spend more time and money, trying to sell my house?
2. Who says my house is worth the most?
3. Who works for my favorite broker?
4. Who will charge the lowest commission rate?

No matter who you choose, there will be more that is the same than different. All will likely stick a sign in your front yard, and buyers will not care whose name is on it. All will likely enter your home’s listing in the applicable multiple listing database. Your home will then be seen by almost all active buyers. That is, if you have an asking price that is near market value.

Now, here’s how to reduce the amount you end up paying the listing agent. Find an agent who is not available to handle calls from interested buyers or their agents. That will reduce the number of showings and delay the time until an offer is received. Time on market is often what triggers price reductions, often necessary, sometimes not. Make sure that your listing agent is a not an experienced negotiator so the final selling price (if you actually get an offer) is lower. If the selling price is lower, the commission you pay will be less. You may even avoid paying a commission completely – if your house does not sell.