Stop Choosing Agents Based On Cheap Fees
Most people are wrong about agent fees. The assumption is all agents are equal. They select the discount agent. They think it is a saving. If one charges less and the other is higher, they pick Agent A. They think they saved $5,000. This is wrong. The discount broker costs you the most in the end. The reason? The result is poorer. The gap in the final figure is often far bigger than the small saving.
Use logic. If an agent cannot negotiate their own full fee, how can they defend your house price? They won't. They fold instantly. When the heat is on, the discounter says: "Take it." They want volume. The last dollar doesn't matter. A good agent pushes for more. We know our worth.
I see sellers in this market drop tens of thousands to save $4,000 in fees. It is tragic. You sell your home once. You want the top dollar. The fee is an investment. If the agent gets $20,000 more, and the fee is slightly higher, you are $15,000 better off. That is what matters. Focus on what you keep, not the expense.
The Difference Between Cost And Value
Understand the distinction between cheap and good. A cheap suit and a tailored one are worlds apart. Real estate agents gawler follow the same rule. Some are basic. They put it on the internet and hope. That is zero skill. Why pay for that?.
A professional markets proactively. We call buyers. We advise on presentation. We market aggressively. And most importantly: we close. When the offer is "$600,000 is my limit", the order taker writes it up. The skilled agent knows they have more. The gap pays the fee 4 times over. That is performance.
Discounters churn and burn. They need to sell 10 houses to make a living. They are too busy to spend time on you. You are just another sale. I focus on quality. So I can dedicate time on your sale. My commission enables me to give 100%. Avoid the churner.
The Skill Set That Matters Most
Negotiation is not arguing. It is psychology. It is knowing when to speak and when to shut up. Understanding signals. Building pressure. An expert gets more money without them knowing. We use the market to elevate value.
It takes practice to perfect. It is worth money. You employ me for this reason. Not for the sticker. You pay us to talk cash. If they are scared, they will cost you. They will suggest you drop your price because they can't get the buyer up. It is easier to crunch a seller than to lift a buyer. Lazy agents crunch sellers. Great agents lift buyers.
Ask them: "Show me a deal you did." Hear what they say. If the answer is "I got an offer and they accepted," worry. You need "I rejected the first offer." That is the winner. Brad Smith negotiates. That is my promise.
Why Free Marketing Is A Myth
Discounters promise "no marketing costs." Sounds good? Be careful. There is no free lunch. If they pay, they spend the minimum. Bottom tier. Bad pictures. You get no signboard. Because they are paying. They want to spend less.
For the best result, you need exposure. Premiere listing on RealEstate.com.au. Video. 3D tours. Social media ads. It isn't cheap. But it finds more buyers. Volume creates price. Bidding wars = profit. If you save $1,000 on marketing and fail to reach someone, you might lose $10,000 in price. Not smart.
I recommend investing in marketing. We do it right. We go big to find the buyer. Your house. Showcase it. Don't be invisible to save a grand. Marketing works.
Beware Of Over-Quoting Agents
A dirty tactic of bad agents lying about value. They tell you it is worth millions when it is worth $600k. The goal is to win the job. You hire them because you want $700k. Once listed, it doesn't sell. They blame buyers. They reduce it to the real value. It sells low after months of stress.
You chose the fake. The honest agent who was accurate was rejected. Don't punish honesty. If the price seems high to be true, be suspicious. Show me the sales. Without proof, it is a lie. I value correctly. I base it on facts. My price might be less, I hit the target. We beat it through negotiation, not by lying at the start.
Be aware. There are tricks. Choose honesty. Select the person who tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. That is the expert who gets results for the max.
How To Spot A great Agent
In the appraisal, quiz them:
1. How do you negotiate?.
2. Can you show visit this page me your track record?.
3. How do you handle multiple offers?.
4. Justify your commission.
5. How will you find buyers?.
What they say shows their skill. If they waffle, walk away. If they are sharp, they are the one. If they cut commission without a fight, do not sign. If they can't defend their income, they will lose your equity.
Ask me. Test me. I am prepared. I am confident. Choose Brad Smith. Not because I am cheap, but because I am the best. Excellence costs nothing ultimately.