Quick question about sellers fees (agent, commission, legal, broker)

[cubicdissection]

A realtor I'm considering hiring gave me a Sellers Net Sheet that shows the various fees involved in selling the home. One of the pre-completed line items is for "Brokerage Fee" of $495. What the hell is that? Sounds to me like they're just trying to tack on some gravy since the broker already receives half the commission. Am I missing something here?

[Ariel_Austin]

Sounds like he *may* be adding something but without seeing the sheet there isn't a way to put it into context...

[MikeJaquish]

LMAO.

Why? Because they can. They thinks.

[Silverfall]

It is a transaction fee. Some brokerages charge their agents these fees, and some pass them onto their clients.

[Brandon Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

It is a transaction fee. Some brokerages charge their agents these fees, and some pass them onto their clients.

That's what I'd guess too, but if you really want to know why don't you just ask the agent?

[Scooby Snacks]

They only way to stop being feed to death is to stop being feed to death. Our world is now full of ridiculous fees businesses tack on just to line their pockets with more of our money. My advice? Just say no to nonsense fees

[cubicdissection]

Here is what the agent said: "the brokerage fee goes to Re/Max as a different charge than our commission."
In other words it's a disguised flat fee.

It would seem to me that this isn't even legal...Q - A Charging Fees Outside Commission

[Brandon Hoffman]

Originally Posted by cubicdissection

Here is what the agent said: "the brokerage fee goes to Re/Max as a different charge than our commission."
In other words it's a disguised flat fee.

It would seem to me that this isn't even legal...Q - A Charging Fees Outside Commission

It's a commission regardless of what he's calling it. Legally speaking the agent should only refer to it as a commission.

[1insider]

DO NOT PAY IT. There are certainly many agents in your area and possibly within the same office that will not charge you this fee. I would question the integrity of any agent who tried to charge me above the agreed upon commission. I wish this practice would go away. As long as people allow themselves to be ripped off it will persist.

No need for those of you who continue to charge it to try to defend it here. Sleep well.

[jackmichigan]

Originally Posted by cubicdissection

Am I missing something here?

No--you caught it!

It seems that lots of brokerages these days are trying to sneak in extra fees because they think their suckers, I mean clients, will pay them. Since everything is negotiable...just say "no".