A la carte real estate, what you need to know
Sellers sign up with a flat fee agency for, as the name implies, a flat fee, that is paid upfront. The agency assigns a broker who is responsible for adding the listing to local and national websites and acting as point of contact for contract negotiations or other instances where professional representation is warranted. The sellers are allowed to display a For Sale By Owner sign and work with potential buyers on their own but, if their eventual buyer is represented by a broker, they are still obligated to pay the commission. Another way to obtain a real estate commission discount is to engage a brokerage that offers time accountable, hourly real estate services. The customer pays a fee based on actual number of hours worked and level of services performed instead of paying a straight percentage based commission.