Anyone ever use a "premium" Selling Agent - 3.5% fee

[Eric C.]

I have a 1M investment property I'm looking to sell in CA and noticed a model match closed for $30k higher than the previous comps.  I called the listing agent and he gave me a 1.5 hour presentation about how great of an agent he is and how other agents get steam rolled when they deal with him due to his "success confidence".  I asked him why he thought he was able to get $30k higher than the previous comps, but he just provided general information - good staging, photos, clean up the property, and re-painting the interior.  

When I asked about his commission structure he told me he charges the highest in the area - 3.5% on the sell side (2.5% on buy side so total 6%).  The highest I've heard of in my area is 2.5% and most agents go much lower.  I would say average is 2% with a few broker agents going down to 1%.  All full service agents.

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with BOTH a premium selling agent (above average in the area) and a lower fee agent.  Would you pay a premium again?  What do you think was the secret sauce of the premium selling agent?

[Dustin Johns]

The price of the home is irrelevant. A full service agent does nothing different on a 500k vs. a 1m house. The hard cost of the listing agent is the same. Therefore, a % commission is not justified. 6% or higher commission models have been around since before the 1960's. Why has this antiquated model not evolved? Greed. Lack of willingness to change. Who knows but if you are paying anything near a 6% commission, you are being fooled and lied to by an ancient model broker who doesn't adapt to marketing efficiencies. A flat screen tv cost 5000 20 years ago. That same, but better tv is now less than 500. Why? Technology evolves and becomes more efficient. Placing a percentage on a home's sales price is asinine. Listing side should be fee based.