Is this typical? Or am I getting taken? I know the 6% is typical, but the additional $600?!

Just my opinion but fork em, find someone else. Thats what the 6% is for.

That was my first thought. My only hesitation is that this lady is the best in town. She sells over 100 houses a year.

I don't think you should ever choose a Realtor based on fee alone. Having said that, you would think she could absorb the $600 with her part of the commission. What's the price of the home?

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Home is around $150k.

There is no typical or standard as per our Ethics. You get what your client will agree to pay. Over 20 years, I had never seen a transaction fee until I moved back to B/CS. It struck me as similar to all the bank fees, and I wondered if it is disclosed up front. This is the first I heard of the internet posting fee. I would keep in mind that it is a very competitive market place among Realtors right now.

There is no out and out Best in Town, but there are many great Realtors. The comment sold over 100 homes? As listing Agent with another agent bringing in the Buyer, or as Buyer's agent and actually selling the house.

I know a lot of the big brokers charge a "transaction fee". I used to work for one and it was $175 charged to the client (at closing). I never received any of that fee and was never fully explained what it was for. When I asked I was told it was a "recording fee and just part of the cost of doing business".

For a home in the price range you are referring to I think a 350 "internet marketing" fee is ridiculous. Realtor.com charges around $300 for a full year of unlimited featured property listings.

My advice is - If you liked the agent and are comfortable they would do a good job tell them you will hire them for 6 percent. No fees. If you think this will be a sticky point to cause the agent to give you less than excellent service, look elsewhere.

I would ask what sites she is posting your home on that costs you $350. If she is with a large company - Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, ReMax etc then pretty much any site worth posting on shouldn't cost her extra than what she already pays back to the company.

The transaction fees are becoming more common, but I refuse to charge one. She is likely charged a transaction fee on top of what she has to split with her office, you might ask for what that cost is exactly because she is likely marking it up.

My personal opinion, she is sticking it to you, but also keep in mind, with a $150k house she isn't going to take home the full 3% or $4500. She will have to pay a %age back to her office, plus transaction fees, plus marketing expenses - color copies, advertising etc and of course taxes. So after taxes if she clears ~$2000 she is doing pretty well.

[This message has been edited by East Dallas Ag (edited 2/1/2011 10:52a).]

As has been mentioned, the "broker fee" is standard for a couple of the larger companies (I think Coldwell Banker or Prudential do that).

The marketing fee is just silly. That's just part of doing business.

she is definitely jamming it to you

tell her 2% to her and 3% to the selling agent

If she doesn't like it, there are plenty of agents that will take it.

I would.

totally agree with Shooter....it is a bad economy and there are plenty of great realtors that will negotiate down their fees to get a listing and bust theirs to get it sold so they can survive....never pay full price for anything!

By the way, this is coming from a realtor!

I would rather a Realtor try to upcharge me than come in cutting their commission. If they are that eager and willing to cut their commission it tells me 2 things:

1. They are desperate for the business and might not be in the game long enough to fulfill the listing agreement
2. If they cant even negotiate their own commission I'm sure they would be willing to give up my equity real fast. I want someone tha can negotiate for me and can prove to me what their services are worth.

With that being said I wouldnt pay those fees.

Did they used to work at Ticketmaster ? ? ?

They dis-respecting you dawg.

Bernard - thank you.

I won't take less than 6%. For as much as I put into it and the crazy things I will do, most agents would want 10%.

That's crazy. Agree above. There are good agents that will do it for 1.5 to 2% with a full-service listing.

Most full-service agents all the same stuff... hire a photographer to take pics (most do on their own, but some get professionals), put on MLS, put on the various sites (zillow, trulia, etc), do open houses, provide you imput on what you can do to help get the house ready to sell, pricing of your home, etc.

Most of that can be done in a day or two.... which is why the market prices for listing agents has been going down.