Negotiate commission?

I think the discussion about the amount of the commission is mostly emotional because the primary focus is on "one" sale and thus a sum "x". All the appointments that lead to nothing are not considered in this view; however, they cannot be dismissed through debate.

All the appointments that an agent has conducted with other interested parties matter relatively little to me as a buyer. Then the seller should just cover those costs, since he also set the selling price and may be causing the reason why nobody bites.
It’s different when I commission an agent to search for a property according to my requirements and then he shows me several properties he has found or has listed as an agent. Then I could understand having to pay the commission.
In my opinion, the client should always pay, and if a seeker and an offerer meet at an agent, then the commission can be split (or the agent earns twice ;)).
In the end, the buyer often pays anyway, because the seller will try to add the costs to the property price if in doubt. Whether the market always allows this depends on the current supply situation. As a buyer, I’m also fine if no agent earns anything and I can buy directly from a private seller.
In my opinion, there is hardly any trade that has such a questionable billing practice. It can be quite simple. Whoever commissions the agent signs a contract with the scope of services and pays for it. Then there are two types of assignments: sales orders and purchase requests. In case of success, the agent collects a commission, which must of course cover his failures as well. As a customer, I have to have the impression that the agent works for me, just like a craftsman. The agents can then compete with each other over the amount of the commission, and one can determine the scope of services and also negotiate the amount of the commission (to come back to the topic), just like in any other trade.

Hello Frank,

All those appointments that an agent has conducted with other interested parties are of relatively little interest to me as a buyer.

They don’t have to be. I just wanted to raise awareness that it’s not done with a supposedly high commission ;)

In my opinion, the client should always pay, and if a seeker and a provider meet at an agent, then the commission can be split (or the agent earns double;)).

Agreed. In the rental sector, this has already been implemented; that’s encouraging ;)

Rhine regards

No, I don’t know if they are doing well. It’s also annoying to deal with interested parties and to show some properties to potential buyers over months, who in the end do not buy. Nevertheless, I pay a lot of money for little service TO myself.

You pay to yourself?? :confused::confused:

Afterwards, I was sent some offers, at least I had the impression that the agent was actively looking for a property for me, even though ultimately nothing suitable came up. But that would be the least I would expect if I am supposed to pay the agent.

Apparently, or rather, someone wanted to work for their money. If that's the case, I'm happy to pay. But I can also convert the website into a PDF and send it to myself. Because that's all they do with the ones I've dealt with so far. Furthermore, I get sent the same exposé every two weeks, even though I've declined many times... I was never offered another one, unless they had it for sale themselves. But that was only once and in a completely different city. Imagine you're looking in Berlin and they offer you a plot of land on the border to Saxony... Man, I really have no luck with agents :D

The broker is rarely to blame; selling prices are set by the seller. Since we are currently discussing a manageable market for used properties/plots, sellers also see no need to give up their privileges. Of course, the broker is also happy when these conditions lead to a notary contract.

Oh, I always thought brokers were mature individuals? They should have enough experience to accurately assess the value and, if necessary, point this out to the seller. But apparently, they take whatever they can in the hope of somehow getting the property sold.

Brokers are demonstrably not among my "friends"; however—the exposés I have seen over the past weeks and months all contained the necessary information to make a purchase decision.

Well, I have received many careless PDFs. That can be tolerated as long as the content fits. But when supposed top properties turn out to be wrecks, or when you need a mountaineering qualification for a "barrier-free" apartment, my understanding wears thin. In the end, it’s also my time wasted on research and appointments.