Real Estate Fees That Make Sense!

We are unique!  We do real estate differently, and the difference means our sellers save thousands over what they’d likely pay an ordinary real estate company.  But the Help-U-Sell Difference is more than full service for less.  There are a lot of ways in which we are different!

 

Back to Basics: What is the MLS?

The MLS is the Multiple Listing Service.  It is the place were all of the real estate brokers and agents share all of their listings with all of the other brokers and agents who are members.  It’s like a clearing house that makes it possible for an agent in one office with a buyer prospect to find a suitable home listed with another agent in another office.  It’s a great tool!

Our Oahu MLS is operated by the Honolulu Board of Realtors and almost every real estate broker on the island is a member. It is a wonderful, up-to-date MLS that is so effective at matching buyers and sellers that today, more than 80% of all residential sales on the island involve two brokers and two agents who come together with a buyer and seller through the MLS.

At Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties, we routinely put our listings in the MLS and make an attractive compensation offer to agents and brokers who may have a suitable buyer.  We believe in the MLS and use it every day in our business.

But, there is down-side: it’s expensive.  Think about it.  You’re hiring an agent to list and sell your house.  The agent works for a broker and both have to be compensated.  But you’re also making allowance for that outside MLS agent and broker who may come in with the buyer – they have to be paid too.  Ultimately that 6% commission has to be enough to compensate two brokers and two agents!

Of course, we don’t do it that way at Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties.  We charge our home sellers a reasonable set fee to list and market their property and to represent them through the process.  We make allowance for the possibility that an outside MLS broker and agent will come in with the buyer, but if none is involved in the transaction, you, the seller, don’t pay for one!

It’s just one of the ways we are able to save our home sellers thousands of dollars in commissions.  There are other ways, too.  Truth is we save every seller thousands over what the’d pay an ordinary real estate broker no matter how their home sells.  Before you pay $30,000 – $50,000 or more to sell your house, call us and let us show you how we can save you a lot of money without giving up anything.

Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties is a full service real estate company that provides exceptional service while charging less than ordinary Realtors.  We’ve been successfully helping buyers and sellers all over Oahu for more than 12 years and we’d be delighted to help you achieve your housing dreams.  Contact us at (808) 593-8811, or visit our website.  

How To Choose Your Real Estate Broker

barYou want to sell your home.  You know it’s going to cost you something to accomplish this and you’re hoping to keep that expense as low as possible.  That’s probably why you’ve come to Hirealestateblog.com and Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties.  We specialize in getting the job done while saving home sellers thousands of dollars over what they’d pay an ordinary real estate broker.

But beyond savings, let’s talk a little about what to look for and what to expect when you hire a real estate broker.  I believe that most home sellers are looking for help in four broad areas.

First is advice.  They need an expert to advise them on things like pricing, preparation for selling, staging, evaluation of offers, estimation of net proceeds and so on.

Marketing.  Exposure to the largest number of potential buyers through a broad range of media:  signs, flyers, advertisements, the Internet, open houses, networking and so on.

Expertise – or know-how.  The ability to solve transaction problems as they arise – and they will.  This is so important and it only comes with experience.  The agent who has sold a significant number of properties recently is much better equipped to handle transaction issues than one who has only sold a handful.

Communication – someone who is readily available, who answers your questions and responds to your calls.  Someone who keeps you updated on progress – even if there is none – and who explains the process in a way that ensures your comfort.

At Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties, we exceed expectations in all four of those areas . . . every day.  our track record is evidence of that as are the numerous client testimonials we receive on a regular basis.

If you’re thinking of selling, you owe it to yourself to find out how we’re able to delight our clients while saving them thousands in  real estate commissions.  All it takes is a phone call to (808) 377-1200

Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties is a full service real estate company that provides exceptional service while charging less than ordinary Realtors.  We’ve been successfully helping buyers and sellers all over Oahu for more than 12 years and we’d be delighted to help you achieve your housing dreams.  Contact us at (808) 593-8811, or visit our website.  

*Savings are calculated by comparing actual fee paid with a typical 6% real estate commission.  Real estate commissions, whether percentage or set fee are always negotiable between the seller and the real estate broker.

 

Is It Time For A Real Estate ‘House Cleaning?’

Inman News is a big real estate industry portal.  It’s not the National Association of REALTORS, but carries a lot of weight in Realtor circles.  Recently, Inman surveyed real estate brokers and agents along with a smaller group of “industry insiders” about the biggest challenges and opportunities in real estate.  

The results were strong enough that the published report bears the title:  Why and How Real Estate Needs to Clean House.  The respondents put much of the responsibility for the industry’s tarnished image on their own shoulders, citing lack of professionalism, ease of entry, part time agents, and poor supervision as issues.  

Here is a smattering of comments from respondents:

  • “Inexperienced and uneducated agents intentionally or unintentionally commit ethics violations and give the industry a bad reputation.”
  • “As technology becomes better and faster, the relevance of agents in the next three to five years could be in trouble.”
  • “Customers are already finding homes without agents, can process a loan online.  The next phase is title search, inspections, closings, etc., without leaving your desk.”
  • “Technology is watering down the personal touch consumers need to feel confident the agent is taking care of their need.”

I admit it:  I chuckled.  Not to downplay the professionalism issue (the industry could probably shed half or more of all licensees and better serve the public), I am amazed that nowhere in the report did anybody ever question the pricing structure of traditional real estate brokers!

There’s all of this chatter about consumers using technology to marginalize agents and yet no questioning of why they’re doing it. And yet the reason is so simple: real estate sales commissions are way too high. Consumers no longer see the value return for those high commissions and are opting to go it alone.

Over the past 50 years there have been huge changes in the way real estate professionals transact business.  Think about it!  We’ve got lock boxes and talking signs, websites and the MLS, Facebook, email and blogs, mobile phones and tons of technology that didn’t exist a few decades ago. Every bit of it has made real estate easier and less costly to sell.  But what has happened to commission pricing?  Nothing.  Traditional realtors charge home sellers exactly as they did 50 years ago:  6% (or 7% or 5% or any other %).  It makes no sense.

It made no sense a dozen years ago when I made the decision to become a Help-U-Sell broker, and stopped charging consumers like everyone else.  At Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties, we charge a Low Set Fee for our service and consumers save thousands of dollars over what they’d likely pay an ordinary Realtor.  It’s logical and fair;  and it’s like a breath of fresh air in a stuffy room.

Nobody has a problem with the service we offer because it is at least as comprehensive and complete as what our competitors offer (and in some ways it is far superior).  We don’t cut service.  We just charge differently and we charge less.  At Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties, the fee you pay is a bargain for the service you receive.  

You don’t have to be fed up with the poor service and high commissions typical of regular real estate to call us; you just have to be curious about how we can save you thousands when you sell your house.  Make the call today:  (808) 593-8811.

A Banner Month For Savings!

June was a pretty good month for Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties!  We helped 14 buyers and sellers realize their housing dreams.  Most important, though, is that we saved home sellers almost $125,000 in commissions compared to what they might have paid an ordinary real estate agency.*

Savings is a key part of the Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties experience.  Our low set fee pricing enables us to save every seller with whom we work thousands over what they might have paid for real estate services.  And our sellers save without sacrificing service; we are a full-service real estate company.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here are just three of the listings that sold in June and the savings each of those sellers realized:

ss1

 

 

 

This home in Makakilo sold in just 14 days.  It had great coast and city views and a mother-in-law suite.  With 7 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, it was an updated gem!

 

 

ss2

 

 

 

This Kalihi Valley home sold in just 4 days.  It is on a quiet 21 home cul-de-sac, has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and a 3 car garage.

 

 

 

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This fixer upper in Hawaii Kai’s Koko Head Terrace area has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and a large lot.  It was a great opportunity and sold in just 10 days.

 

 

 

 

I am excited about our June activity and pleased as can be that we were able to save sellers so much.  But I have a hint for you in July:  so far this month we’ve saved sellers almost twice as much!

If you think it’s about time you started saving on high real estate commissions without giving up service, Call Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties!

Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties is a full service real estate company that provides exceptional service while charging less than ordinary Realtors.  We’ve been successfully helping buyers and sellers all over Oahu for more than 12 years and we’d be delighted to help you achieve your housing dreams.  Contact us at (808) 593-8811, or visit our website.  

*Savings are calculated by comparing actual fee paid with a typical 6% real estate commission.  Real estate commissions, whether percentage or set fee are always negotiable between the seller and the real estate broker.