Flat Fee Listings will Buyer’s Agents show mine ? The answer is an emphatic YES! The fact that a Client has Flat Fee Listing or a Traditional listing shouldn’t make any difference. They look identical on the MLS and on the other websites like Realtor.com and Zillow.com. Take a quick look at some listings on http://Realtor.com see if you can find any differences. I know you won’t. Having been in the business for over 35 years, I have seen a lot of trends come and go. The Flat Fee Listings service is one that is here to stay. A Buyer’s Agent would be wise to embrace it and use them to their clients best interest. Some of my clients feel like they are black balled by local Agents who will not show their Listings. The premise is that Buyers Agents are also many times Seller’s Agents and they don’t like the competition. However, If the Flat Fee Listings Service provides for a great savings for the Seller, they often times reflect that in their price. Thus, offering a lower price to prospective buyers than if they would have had to pay a Seller’s side commission. So Flat Fee Listings are good for the Buyer Too! As a Buyer’s Agent why wouldn’t you show a flat fee listing if you are looking out for your Buyer’s best interests? Here is where Ethics takes over.
Are Buyer’s Agents being Ethical if they don’t show Flat Fee Listings?
The answer is of course no. Ethically, Buyer’s Agents should show all properties that meet the clients criteria regardless if they are Flat Fee Listings or not. Now, what if the Buyer’s side commission is low? Well, this is not indicative of Flat Fee Listing, many Traditional Listings offer low Buyers side commissions. However, an Ethical Buyer’s Agent would not exclude a property based on commission alone. However, we are all human and money is always a factor. That is why we recommend to our Flat Fee Listings that they pay a Buyer’s Side commission commensurate with the local custom. You can find out more about our Flat Fee Listing Service at http://123FlatFeeMinnesota.com. The bottom line is Buyers generally look for properties on their own through the various media available online. Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, just to name a few. If a Buyer finds a property they like, that is when they call an Agent for a showing. So, the Buyer is choosing the properties, if an Agent won’t show you a property, ask them why? Find out what the Seller is Paying for a Buyers Side commission, and if they are Flat Fee Listing or For Sale By Owner. If the answer makes you wonder if your Agent is Ethical. Get a different Agent!
