Seller's agent fee

[Kara Markowski]

I asked the real estate agent who helped us purchase our home to assist with listing it for sale in the next few months. He sent a contract with a 5 1/2 % fee. From my limited 'Googling' of my local area, I know that is high but what realistically should a seller's agent ask for / make from selling our home? For reference, the home is a 4 BR (plus office) and 3 full bath just under 3000 square feet single story with 1/2 acre yard brick fence w'pool located in a nice neighborhood with very low crime and I am hoping to sell for at least 650k.

[Account Closed]

Quote from @Kara Markowski:

I asked the real estate agent who helped us purchase our home to assist with listing it for sale in the next few months. He sent a contract with a 5 1/2 % fee. From my limited 'Googling' of my local area, I know that is high but what realistically should a seller's agent ask for / make from selling our home? For reference, the home is a 4 BR (plus office) and 3 full bath just under 3000 square feet single story with 1/2 acre yard brick fence w'pool located in a nice neighborhood with very low crime and I am hoping to sell for at least 650k.

Let's do the math
Nice home in a nice neighborhood with very low crime, easy sell

$650,000 * 5.5% is $35,750 to list and sell (current offer of service)
$650,000 * 3% is $19,500 to fill out paperwork and put it in the MLS (his take)

Or, since there are 70,000 real estate agents in Arizona
someone will actually do
$650,000 * 3.5% is $22,750 to list and sell

$650,000 * 1% is $6,500 to fill out paperwork and put it in the MLS (his take)
and 2.5% to the buying agent (the buying agent is more important to yousince they are the one with the buyer)

That's a comparison of 3% to your existing friendly agent of $19,500 or 1% to someone equally competent at 1% $6,500 for a difference of $13,000 that stays in your pocket -