Accredited Counselor of Real Estate

In its current state, the real estate commission structure is a bit antiquated and we are in the process of exploring new ways to make our fees more palatable to the consumer. Recently, I completed the ACRE on line certification (Accredited Consultants Real Estate).  While others may call themselves real estate consultants, nationally there are less than 100 Realtors that have actually completed and passed the course requirements. 
 
Those of us that have listened to the public are well aware of their discontent with the current system of charging a percentage of the sale as our commission.  Accredited Consultants of Real Estate Acre™ have developed alternative plans to satisfy not only the publics demand for a different approach  to a very old system of remuneration but one that satisfy the needs of the real estate practitioner as well.

Most of the public truly believes that every buyer that gets into our car and every for sale sign that goes up results in a 6% commission.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Statistically, the average agent closes 4.4 transactions each year.  The average commission is under $6,400.  Most agents certainly are not getting rich in this business and a full service agent’s expenses can be enormous The traditional commission is based on all of the time and expense put forth on the sales that never happened.  To mitigate this risk, we now offer our clients viable options.  We are not talking about discounting.  Discounting, for the most part, is less price, less service.  There will always be someone that will underbid the last person in every industry.  Discounting does not work because the discounter still has the inherit risks of the transaction not closing.  The discounter then has less reward and still all of the risk.

What is the answer?  We think the answer is to offer the consumer choice while minimizing our risk of never getting paid.  That choice is in the form of an upfront retainer.  A fee collected at the beginning of our relationship that will cover our expenses.  A fee the will be fully credited to the buyer or seller on the settlement statement when a transaction closes.  Along the way, we also charge an hourly fee just as any reasonable professional that wishes to stay in business would.

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