The Housing Game: Nov. 5, 2008
Reports from the front on today’s market.
Dawn Harmon Aitkenhead
You want to sell your home, but values are down. How can you get the most value for your sales price? Cut commission costs, you think. So, you decide to go the for-sale-by-owner route. John Krol, broker and owner of Global Realty Advisors Network, Inc, is betting an increasing number of sellers will pursue this tactic. So he’s launched what is called a direct-access service that allows you to select a service plan from an a la carte menu of products.
John Krol
The bottom line—you only pay for the services you want, and you designate the commission paid to cooperating agents who show your home. John says most studies show 45 percent of buyers come from other agents, so a direct-access program gets your home in front of the pros that represent people looking to buy.
