Question:

Why should I choose Seller Solutions versus other flat fee listing companies and online services?

Our Answer:

There are several reasons why Seller Solutions is your most valuable resource.

1. Seller Solutions is 100% local – born and bred in Asheville! We know this market and are well networked and respected by other brokers and firms. We come to your home and tour with you, conduct all necessary due diligence on site, and place a professional yard sign and REALTOR key box.

 2. We support you! We do not “list and dismiss”. When brokers contact us with questions about your home, we can provide accurate answers. This makes them comfortable showing and selling your home. We actually receive many of our referrals from fellow brokers!

3. You have a respected professional “in your back pocket” throughout the process. The sale of real estate is a complex and important transaction that is strictly governed and regulated. You may never need more help than the initial listing. But if you do, we are available to guide you through the entire process, provide documents on an ongoing basis, and make sure you have all the information you need to move through to closing your sale. Phone calls and emails are encouraged and are always FREE!

Question:

Some of the FSBO type websites have hidden charges for changing your listing, even just changing your list price. What happens if I want to make changes to my listing with you? And, how long will my listing last?

Our Answer:

Both of these are very good questions. We don’t have any hidden charges. All listings are originally set up for six months. Most homes sell within this time period. If your property doesn’t sell within the initial listing period for some reason, we can renew and update the listing for an additional three months for a flat fee of $100.00 or six months for $200.00. You can also withdraw your listing with just 24 hours notice (so we can take it out of the MLS). There is no fee to change the information in your listing. We’ll make any adjustment that you need.

Question:

What’s the story on commissions? How can you charge me no commission when most other local Realtors want to charge a big commission?

Our Answer:

Seller Solutions is a fee for service firm. That means that you only pay for the services that you use. And, you get to pick which services you buy. The $995 flat fee is to purchase a package of listing services including; a market analysis, MLS listing, a walk-through Staging® consultation, use of a lockbox, a customized yard sign, and the necessary forms for you to sell your home. You save money because you don’t pay for services that you don’t use. If you want to buy other services, you can add just what you need. We never collect a commission for ourselves and there are no hidden costs.

Question:

I understand that I have to agree to pay a cooperating commission if I want to list my property on the MLS. But what if I find my own buyer, or if a buyer calls you because they see the Seller Solutions sign in my yard?

Our Answer:

If a potential buyer calls us because they see the Seller Solutions sign or see your property on a website, we will answer all calls and refer interested buyers to you to show the home. If you have purchased showing services from us, we will show the home as your agent. We do not work as buyer’s agents on our flat fee listed properties. If you sell the home directly to an unrepresented buyer, you will not pay a commission. You only pay a commission if your buyer is working with an agent. You get the best of both worlds! Most agents require you to pay the full commission even if you find your own buyer.

Question:

This sounds great! How do we get started?

Our Answer:

“ Contact us” through this website. We will get back to you, answer preliminary questions and let you interview us by phone! When you are ready to schedule a listing meeting, we will conduct a phone consultation to gather information about your home to prepare for our listing meeting. When we come to your home, we conduct the final CMA (comparative market analysis) to help you set a listing price, complete all listing documents, do a staging “walk through”, and place a yard sign and lockbox (if desired). Your listing will be in the MLS within 24-48 hours!

Additionally, if you want to schedule an onsite consultation prior to the listing meeting, this service is available at our hourly rate of $75.00 . This is usually not necessary, but can be good for those who are still in the initial stages of determining when/if they are going to sell. However, we can provide FREE market data by email after a phone consultation. This is usually enough information for those just contemplating a possible sale and trying to get a feel for the market.

Question:

If I don’t buy your showing services, I will be showing my own house to buyers who call directly. Right?

Our Answer:

Right. And before you show them your home, you will need to carefully pre-screen all buyers who are not working with a Realtor. If you are uncomfortable showing your home or screening buyers, we can provide that service for you as a "side order". However, this will be a small percentage of the buyers who want to see your home. Most buyers will be represented by Realtors. These Realtor showings will be scheduled through a Centralized Showing Service (CSS). You will choose how you want to set up showings through CSS. You can require that they make an appointment to show the house while you're not home. It's up to you. We can provide you with a computerized lockbox so that Realtors can show your property either way. It's best for you to make your property available for showings as much as possible and for you to leave the house during Realtor showings.

Question:

Can agents with potential buyers refuse to show my property because I am saving money with a flat fee listing?

Our Answer:

Agents want to find the perfect home for their buyers as quickly as possible as long as long as they are paid a fair commission. All Realtors are also bound by Law and a Code of Ethics. We are not allowed to try to fix commission rates across the market, “boycott” or “blacklist” agencies. We can lose our licenses if we do that.

Question:

What about open houses?

Our Answer:

Open houses are a good way to increase the exposure of your home. If you want to have an open house, we can list it for you on the MLS site. If you don’t feel comfortable actually showing your own house to potential buyers, you can purchase our open house hosting services.

Question:

I guess if a buyer who doesn’t have an agent wants to make an offer, they’ll come straight to us. But how does it work if a buyer with an agent wants to make an offer?

Our Answer:

Some agents will be comfortable coming straight to you to present their buyer’s offer. But, most brokers will be most comfortable presenting their offers through us. We will then deliver the offer to you. We’ll explain the terms of the agreement and make sure that you are comfortable with all of the nuances and details of the offer. If you believe that you need our contract negotiation services once we review the contract together, you can ask us to add that service. If you are comfortable negotiating the deal yourself, we will provide you with any necessary forms.

Question:

This all sounds good. But, I have to do some of the work. How much money will I save?

Our Answer:

Yes, you’re right. You do have to do some of the work. But, if you have the time and energy, it will be worth it! Let’s say that the average home in our area sells for $250,000. If the owner paid a full 6% commission, they’d pay $15,000. If the same property was listed with Seller Solutions and sold with the help of a buyer’s agent, the total cost would be only $995 plus 3%. That’s a savings of over $7000! If there was no buyer’s agent, the savings would be over $14,000! Is that worth the work to you?