In Freakonomics, we wrote about my research with Chad Syverson which looked at how real estate agents did when they sold their own houses versus those of their clients. You can read the original academic paper here.
Now we’ve got a new paper idea on real estate, but we need some help from real-estate agents/brokers — especially ones that either themselves provide a flat-fee service for clients wanting to list a house on MLS, or know a lot about such services. Please spread the word.
If you fit the bill and want to help us, I think you might have some fun and possibly get a great marketing tool for your business. Please email me at levittdubner@freakonomics.com.
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. You can also watch it on 
For what it’s worth, I had such trouble trying to find a flat fee broker to sell my house that I decided to start a blog dedicated to the subject. So far, I’ve compiled a small but growing list of websites for flat fee brokers (only where I can verify the license, no referral sites) and am working writing brief reviews.
For what it’s worth, I had such trouble trying to find a flat fee broker to sell my house that I decided to start a blog dedicated to the subject. So far, I’ve compiled a small but growing list of websites for flat fee brokers (only where I can verify the license, no referral sites) and am working writing brief reviews.
Gents:
I found this by coincidence, although I am a “fan” of the book. I am an owner of a Help-U-Sell office in Northern Virginia; we are a flat fee company, but not as described in the first post. Actually, that post is riddled with errors and common misconceptions. The most egregious being the “limited service broker concept.” Unfortunately, I am in a rush right now, but please feel free to email me with any questions regarding the company- or for the authors, the front lines of the Flat (or set) fee real estate business models. Thanks.
Gents:
I found this by coincidence, although I am a “fan” of the book. I am an owner of a Help-U-Sell office in Northern Virginia; we are a flat fee company, but not as described in the first post. Actually, that post is riddled with errors and common misconceptions. The most egregious being the “limited service broker concept.” Unfortunately, I am in a rush right now, but please feel free to email me with any questions regarding the company- or for the authors, the front lines of the Flat (or set) fee real estate business models. Thanks.
I don’t know much about flat-fee real estate. Who would benefit more from it-the buyer or the seller? or the agent?
I don’t know much about flat-fee real estate. Who would benefit more from it-the buyer or the seller? or the agent?
The real estate business is due for a major overhaul, because there is no strong correlation between the amount of service and the compensation. % of price fees will eventually give way to flat fees, which may lead to agents/brokers charging for their time and expenses like other professionals – lawyers, CPAs, etc. This will lead to a huge reduction in the number of agents, and the whole business will become more transparent and rational. Or maybe not
The real estate business is due for a major overhaul, because there is no strong correlation between the amount of service and the compensation. % of price fees will eventually give way to flat fees, which may lead to agents/brokers charging for their time and expenses like other professionals – lawyers, CPAs, etc. This will lead to a huge reduction in the number of agents, and the whole business will become more transparent and rational. Or maybe not