Louie Pulice

The struggle continues regarding Real Estate Commissions. Sellers want to save money but don't want to sacrifice service. To acheive this there has to be consideration given to all parties to the real estate transaction.

Firstly the seller has to save. That means lower total commission charges than what is now "typical commissions".

Secondly the seller wants full service including MLS® listing.

Thirdly there has to be consideration given to the person I believe to be most critical in a real estate transaction and that is the person who brings the "BUYER". They provide experience and knowlege and often influence the "BUYER" in the buying decision. The "Buyer's Agent" deserves their compensation. They earn every penny.

Fourthly the listing agents need to be able to earn a living.

Team 3000 Realty Ltd has developed a winning formula.

First: The seller saves thousands because they charge a flat fee for listing of $3000 no matter the property value.

Second: The seller gets the same service and maximum number of showings because Team 3000 Realty Ltd recommends that the seller offers a "typical commission" to the person bringing the buyer( The Buyer's Agent)

Third: They respect the Buyer's Agent by recommending that they receive a competitve commission.

Fourth: Our Agents usually live and work in the same area. This allows them to save on costs and offer full service to the Seller while passing on the savings. Their listings sell faster and for more money. Therefore they get more listings and do more sales volume.

Sellers who feel they are paying too much in commissions, are also worried about listing with discounters.

Some people suggest that if you do not offer a fair commission to the Buyer's Agent then you will not receive the maximum number of showings. This is a question that the seller must answer for themselves.

Team 3000 Realty does not have this worry as they respect the Buyer's Agent. Their recommendation is to offer them "typical commissions"

This "Hybrid Commission" approach is a winner!

I operate a discount commission real estate company in Richmond BC called Team 3000 Realty which services real estate needs in Vancouver BC Surrey BC Burnaby BC Maple Ridge BC Coquitlam BC Chilliwack BC Ladner BC and basically the Greater Vancouver BC area.

There seems to be a lot of fear in discussing discount real estate companies in Vancouver BC. Why would anyone have to fear discount commission realtors®in Vancouver BC or anywhere else?

A lot of people use the old cliche that "you get what you pay for" but is this always true? For instance my company Team 3000 Realty Ltd offers discount real estate commissions without sacrificing service. Personally I have received many sales awards and I am very proud to offer savings to my sellers. But where does the insecurity come from when discussing discount real estate commission companies in Vancouver BC? Why can't a realtor®offer discount real estate commissions without sacrificing service?

It seems that the fear is unfounded. Discount real estate companies have been around in Vancouver BC and in Richmond BC for a long time. I know most agree that competition brings out the best.

Competition, Discount, savings and commissions are not dirty words.

I live in Vancouver BC. As you know we are hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics. Everyone here is trying to figure out what happens to property values after the Olympics. We have had a very good year in sales considering the world financial crisis. Property values have gone up anywhere from 10% to 50% in some areas.

I would love to hear from Real Estate Agents from other cities who have hosted the Olympics. I would also be interested in hearing comments from Agents in respect of their local markets.

Hope you all have a great sales day!

I am really amazed at the number of Real Estate Agents who are worried about "Commissions". Why is it so Taboo? Not all Agents charge the same fees. So what. Thats competition. Some Agents are Discount Commission Agents, so what. Some Agents are not, so what.

I am the president of a Discount Company called Team 3000 Realty Ltd. Our discount commission structure is quite different from the rest. So what!

Why does it have to be like some huge conspiracy? There are and always will be different business models.

So what!!

Recently there has been a lot of discussion in Canada regarding Real Estate commissions, discount realtors(r) and discount real estate companies. There is a lot of concern in the industry that the livelyhoods of Real Estate Agents is being erroded.

There is no doubt that Commissions will continue to be discounted. This should not be a threat to people but merely a matter of fact. Discount Real Estate companies have been around forever and have never cornered the market.

I am the president of a discount company called Team 3000 Realty Ltd. My opinion is that the MLS(r) system only works when the Real Estate Agents cooperate and support the system. Our commission structure is a "hybrid" where we ensure the Buyer's Agents are fairly compensated.

Compensation is often a the key to motivation. Therefore it makes sense that to offer fair commissions to cooperating Agents is important to ensure maximum MLS(r) exposure.

Technology is having a big effect on the way we do business. The sooner we all embrace the changes coming, the sooner we can retool our business models to suit.