Orange County Information Center - Home Selling

What is the difference between a flat-fee real estate agent and a traditional real estate agent?

The biggest difference between a flat-fee agent and a traditional real estate agent is how much you have to pay the agent who helps you sell your home. Most agents are traditional real estate agents who work on commission. The average commission for a real estate agent in California is 3% for the seller’s agent and 3% for the buyer’s agent, for a total of 6% commission. Even though 3% of the commission goes to the buyer’s agent, the seller is responsible for paying all of the 6% commission.

In contrast, flat-fee agents like O.C. Real Estate Advisors do not receive ANY commission when they help you sell your home. We receive a low flat fee that never varies no matter how much you sell your home for.

There may also be a difference in the type of services that traditional agents and flat-fee agents provide. For example, in exchange for saving our clients an average of $15,000 in commission, O.C. Real Estate Advisors will not hold an Open House for your home. Instead, we will provide you with all of the tools and information you need to hold your own Open House, if you choose to do so, including Open House signs, an Open House Registry, and tips for making your Open House a success.

But do you really need to hold an Open House to sell your home? The answer is no. You do not need to hold an Open House to sell your home. Although it is not uncommon to see Open House signs if you drive through a residential neighborhood on the weekend, statistics show that very few buyers find their home by attending an Open House. Some real estate agents hold an Open House simply to meet potential buyers who are not already working with a real estate agent.

Warmest Regards,

Peta Carley
Orange County Real Estate Advisor

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