Real Estate Coach Thinks That I Should Charge Much More Than I Do. What Do You Think?

Business coaches exist in every industry, and I’ve dabbled in hiring a coach over the years.

When I first entered the business, I had a mustache, and Mike Ferry, the best known of all real estate coaches, said to shave it off because “people don’t trust agents with facial hair.” A week later I asked a seller why he listed with someone else, and he said, “Well, I didn’t trust you.”  Off it came!

Recently I was offered a free one-hour coaching session with a lesser-known coach, and I accepted the offer.

During the session, he thought I was giving my services away too cheap. He said I should charge 7% and not reduce my commission when I don’t have to share it with a buyer’s agent. (I charge 5.6% and reduce it to 4.6% if I double-end a transaction.)

He didn’t like that I further reduce my commission when I earn a commission on the purchase of a seller’s replacement home and that I provide totally free moving in that situation, too.

“You’re worth more than that,” he said.  I didn’t hire him as my coach.

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Author: Jim Smith, Broker

Jim Smith is best known for his weekly "Real Estate Today" column published on the Real Estate page of The Denver every Saturday and in 24 metro area weekly newspapers the following Wednesday or Thursday. Individual articles are also published at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com. Over a decade of the columns are archived at www.JimSmithColumns.com.

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