Flat Fee Brokerage Recommendation in Bay Area / California

[Gary A.]

Hello,

Can anyone recommend a flat fee brokerage that they prefer in California? Property is located in Northern California. Please let me know why you prefer that specific flat fee broker and if you have time, please highlight your experience. Would be really helpful for me to make my choice. thanks so much!

[Robert Marston]

I was a buyers agent for a deal in Alameda California a while ago where the sellers used a flat fee agent based out of Tracy. The home was newer and actually very beautiful but not staged, not cleaned, and super cluttered. The agent had no idea about the Point of Sale requirements in Alameda nor were they familiar with geographic issues that potentially affected the home. (FEMA)I was able to use those to negotiate a ~70% closing concession to my buyers(In a market where buyers are writing 0 contingency offers and paying all their closing) and got the home for 5% under what a cleaned home would have got. The listing agent only came over to do the AVID and told the sellers the market would sell their home for top dollar. Well, I got my buyer clients a SCREAMING deal because this agent did not know Alameda and used what I said to convince their sellers to give me the deal we wanted, never once questioning me. #Easy

This has been my experience with discount brokers, a lack of knowledge in the local markets and little no to sense of urgency! If this is the path you choose I would advise brushing up on any local sale requirements so that you do not put yourself in the same situation I described above, being on the side of the table that is losing money is no fun! Best of luck!! =)