Frequently Asked Questions

We normally have you listed within 1-2 business days after we receive the paperwork & photos. Photos must be in Jpeg format. Photos sized in 640X480. We expect you to get us the photos sized appropriately or get a professional to take the photos is a good investment in marketing. We start work 5-6 a.m. and available to 9 p.m. and weekends.

Yes, we put your contact info on the MLS for agents to call you if they have questions if allowed in the MLS. Not all Mls's allow owner phone #'s in the listing. On national sites they don't allow Owners phone #'s. In some markets the MLS does not permit owners phone #'s as well. We have no control over MLS policy on this. In some markets there are centralized showing services that coordinate showings with the Sellers phone #.

Your phone number goes on the info-line for some of our pakages . Buyers can contact you directly if you put out flyers or advertise it. Please tell potential buyers  you are listed and if you enter a contract make sure they are not represented by an Agent or you will be looking at paying them a commission. Keep us informed of any offers and contracts to comply with the rules of our MLS's and laws of S.C. If you don't, Agents can give you a full price offer with no contingencies and you might end up owing them a commission. We must represent the current status of the listing ASAP to protect you . THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Failure to do this will results of fines from the MLS passed on to you.

YOU CAN MARKET WITH OPEN HOUSES, NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES , AND THE INTERNET. NETWORK WITH EVERYONE IN YOUR SPHERE TO GET THE WORD OUT.

Agents will either deliver a copy to you or email us a copy and we will forward to you. We need all paperwork to comply with state laws and local MLS rules.In the MLS on limited service listings Agents are given permission to deal with you directly and told to forward us paperwork.

Our Company # accordig to state law must be on the sign and rules of MLS. Your # can go on the Info-line on the sign with your extension.

We started  Real Estate Advocates in 1991 in Columbia and now serve  Columbia and  Charleston,with 13 Agents . We can refer you to our Broker networpartners  in any other markets in the U.S and have over 25 local Brokers and Agents who are licensed with our company  in S.C. This gives us a competitive advantage over out of state companies not familiar with rules, laws and other information about our markets. We know the areas, schools, give local mls secure electronic lockboxes and know other Agents, Lenders, home inspectors, Attroneys and other local professionals. We are there in your market  and not in another state .

We don't have statistics measuring that.  One of the keys to selling a home is the list price. If you list your home too high, it will most likely not sell quickly. With our program you save 3% on the listing side and more on the buying side if you secure the Buyer with no Buyer Agent involvement. That leaves you more $'s to negotiate sales price, offer closing costs, or Buyer Agent bonuses to show and sell your home. Success is larely a function of location and condition of the house and does not change with a change in Agents. We suggest offering 2-3 % to  BUyer's Agents so there is no disincentive in showing and selling our listings. Staging for photos is a great marketing tool as empty houses don't sell as well and usually invite lower offers.

This will vary with Agents. Some work 7 days a week and start by 6 a.m. and work evenings.When you interview Agents ask them their work hrs.

It is posted on the MLS for agents to see and most Agents look at it quickly to see what they are getting paid. On the input sheets it says SB which means selling broker commission. Paying less then 3% can deter some Agents from showing your property. AGENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT IS OUR COMMISSION . THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH WHAT THEY RECEIVE. You can change commissions by e-mailing us.

Yes, you may cancel your listing at ANYTIME, unless your home is under contract. We will REFUND part or all of your listing fee if you allow us to refer you to any full service Agent and your house closes and we get paid our normal referral fee. On free listing cancellation withdrawing before 90 days requires a $500 listing fee .

No, only a licensed Agent who is member at their local MLS board can list on the MLS. There is no other way. You are listed with Real Estate Advocates and have a By Owner no commission option. 

You only pay the flat fee at time of listing and you owe us no money at closing on most of our programs unless negotiated for further services. Some sellers pay us self repesented fee at listing and pay additional fee to get full service.  

The buyer's agent, Attorney, or  title company do most of the paperwork, but we are here to assist IN ALL LISTING PAPERWORK similar to any traditional Agent with our full service program.

Many sellers do use this option. However, some have never heard of listing for a flat fee and some feel there is some catch or it is too good to be true. The more research you do, you will see this is the best way to sell a property. Our market share continues to grow as people start to use our services , sell their properties, and pass on their experience.

Your MLS# is generated at the time we list your property on the MLS. Once listed we will email you a link to your listing and your MLS number.

No, as your listing looks just like all other listings on the MLS. You are listed the exact same way as all other listings. How much money you pay us to list your property is not posted on the MLS and agents are not concerned with how much you paid us, only how much is their commission split.

We feel that Pay Pal is a better MORE SECURE way to protect your transaction. Zelle, Venmo, or check is the desired method of payment for your security and ours.  We input your listing after payment is made.  We do have LOCAL AGENTS availalble in all markets for flexibility of payment or you can even Bill pay into our account. 

Yes, you can find out more information on our local Broker site www.RealEstateAdvocates.com. You can search mls's and can get a history of the property, price changes, and may find out why they are selling and motivation to sell. You can get from $500-$5000 rebate on any listed house depending on the price, Agent , and commission paid if the house is price at $90,000 or more. Other markets we can co broke with our partners.