One interesting phenomenon we’ve noted
since we opened the doors at ComFree
Private Sales 12 years ago is the large
number of former real estate agents who use our
services rather than list their own home on the
MLS.
We know because they tell us. ComFree offers
two appointments with our clients. The first is to
collect information about the home. The second
is to train the homeseller on what will happen
when his home hits the market, what to do when
it does and when to call us or his lawyer. When
the time comes to schedule this training session,
the ex-agent will say: “Oh, I don’t need the training.
I used to be a realtor. I know how everything
works.”
What they know is that they will be further
ahead to sell privately through ComFree than pay
commission. They know they will walk away
with more money in their pocket by staying off
the MLS. That’s for the people who don’t know
any better.
We’ve recently seen two interesting variations
on this theme. In one, the ComFree consultant
arrived at a home full of tension. The wife was an
active realtor, while the husband was not. She
wanted to put their house on the MLS; he
refused. He said he thought it was ridiculous that
agents wanted 6% (even though they would likely
pay 3%) to list a home that will “sell itself.”
The wife wasn’t happy, but she signed the
ComFree agreement. She would have to explain
to fellow agents why she was supporting the
“enemy.” He prevailed. The home sold. They
pocketed the entire proceeds of the sale.
On another occasion, the ComFree consultant
arrived at an East Kildonan home to find that the
young owner had been joined by her father, an
agent.
Beechtree Cres., St. Vital
List Price: $219,900
Sold For: $235,000
Saving in GST
& commission: $14,805
(6% comm./GST)
He had advised his daughter that she would be
better off using ComFree than the MLS. He was
there to guide her through the process.
When those with the most intimate knowledge
of the commission real estate system don’t use
the MLS themselves or discourage those closest
to them, it makes you think.
It seems loving agents don’t let loved ones list
on the MLS.
* * *
The market remains active into June for
ComFree sellers, with more than 66% of solds
going for at or above their list price. Of that,
44.3% of ComFree sellers are receiving more
than their asking price. With what is happening
in the rest of Canada (outside of Saskatchewan),
it’s anyone’s guess how long this market can last.
