I’ve never met a home-seller who’s not unique. Different people, in different circumstances, experiencing different emotions, with different reasons for wanting to sell. [Which is what makes real estate so interesting.]
But I’ve noticed they all sit in one of two main camps:
They’re either ‘Definitely Selling‘. Or ‘Only Selling If…‘
If you’re ‘Definitely Selling’: Then it’s about achieving an efficient and hassle-free sale while moving forward with as much as possible in your pocket. Because once your property is sold. That’s it. You’ll never gain another cent from it.
If you’re ‘Only Selling If … [ Then you can insert your unique condition here]. Maybe you’ll only sell if you get a certain price. Are able to secure a different property. Or both. And whatever your conditions, that’s ok. There’s no right or wrong camp. Just different priorities. Although both camps are very closely related. Because if it does all work out for you… if your conditions are met and you do sell, then like the other camp you also want to maximise how much you end up with.
But on the other hand, what if it doesn’t work out? What if your unique conditions are not met? What if you don’t end up moving?
Well, in that case, you want to minimise your costs of testing the market. Correct?
Which is why the traditional real estate model may initially appear perfect for you. Because it caters to that fear of “What if… ?” – Kind of like insurance companies (but with a weird twist).
It offers you peace of mind by making the commission contingent (dependent) upon your conditions. It offers you the ability to carry no risk. If you choose not to sell, you pay nothing for the work done on your behalf.
Of course, that’s why the commission needs to be so high when you do sell. That’s the trade-off… the price you pay for hedging your risk. Which is fair enough. You can’t really expect the agent to carry all your risk unless the potential payout on their wins is high enough to more than offset their inevitable losses.
And maybe that’s a trade-off you are prepared to make. You factor it in, knowing full well that if you do choose to sell you’ll be paying out the insurance bill for the people who don’t.
But spare a thought for your cousins in the other camp.
They’re definitely selling. So don’t need that expensive insurance policy. They’re also dream-clients for the real estate industry. They tend to be easier to work with, present their home better and are prepared to accept the best market price. Therefore, they tend to sell quicker, with less work and outgoing costs needed by the agent. Making them very low – zero risk, and high payout for the agent.
So, while maybe only 50% of the ‘Only Selling If’ camp end up paying the insurance bill. 100% of ‘Definite Sellers’ have to. They don’t get a choice. They’re forced to pay. Because of how the real estate industry caters to the ‘Only Selling If’ camp.
Basically, they are carrying the majority of the burden to enable the non-sellers to get a free insurance policy.
Not really that fair when you think about it. And I suppose shows how much of a tolerant and generous bunch the ‘Definite Sellers’ are. Putting up with that situation for so long.
It’s also a bit odd, don’t you think, that the traditional commission-only agents punish their dream clients by forcing them into a model that is best for the clients who don’t sell.
Until now that is. We’ve fixed that strange situation by developing a model that’s designed primarily for them. Where they’re not having to pay for an insurance policy they don’t need or want. Where they’re not subsidising the non-sellers. Where they’re rewarded for being low risk. And where the less work needed by us to help them sell, the fewer fees they pay – which leaves thousands more equity in their pocket.
So if you’re a ‘Definite Seller’ then you may want to read this complimentary ebook: How To Keep The Most From The Sale Of Your Property.
It will open your eyes to how the traditional system works against you and how you can overcome it by keeping more of your equity where it belongs.
PS: We’re finding that most of our ‘Only Selling If…’ clients are also benefiting from this more efficient model. Because other than giving them that insurance policy, the commission-only system creates many other problems. So if you’re ‘Only Selling If’ … then it may also be worth you taking a look.