Flat Fee Group Michigan • Kermath Realty LLC (MI Broker License #6502334057)

Michigan Buyer Rebates Step 3: How To Tour Homes While Preserving Your Commission Rebate

Important rules on how to view homes (open houses, seller-direct showings, or arranged tours) without accidentally signing a Procuring Cause / Exclusive Buyer Agency agreement with another agent.

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This was perhaps the most difficult part of earning your Home Buyer Rebate NO MORE!

VIRTUAL SHOWINGS: With the Corona virus, virtual showings is an ideal solution!  Simply do a “Group Virtual Showing” with you, the buyer, me as buyer’s agent, listing agent and the seller!

Make sure you have either Facetime  or Google Duo  on your cell phone then we set it up.

Open houses are another way to get in. However, most buyers want to get in asap when they find a home.

Remember:  The listing agent works for the buyer. They are typically NOT there to show homes to buyers unless it is their buyer.    The buyers agent (us) works for you, the buyer. Typically, the buyers agent contacts the listing agent to set up a showing.

If you can imagine, if you contact a listing agent and ask them to get you into a home their typical response is, “Have your agent schedule this”.

This is where the frustration begins to set in…  Having listing agents not be that helpful. We can’t blame them as again they work for the seller and they expect us, the buyers agent to “Earn our half” of the commission.

What do we do? How do we get in?     Simple! We have to somehow motivate the listing agent!

  • Make sure you let the listing agent know you are approved to buy your next home.
  • Make sure you tell them you already have a buyers agent.
  • Let them know how much you love the home and you’re ready to buy.
  • Be courteous and respectful of their time.

Other Ways to motivate the listing agent:

  • Ask the listing agent for a convenient time for them to let you in.
  • Offer to pay them like $20 or $50. (Cash is always king). If you really are serious this is a small amount relative to the entire process.
  • Offer part of our commission at closing. We coined the term, “Showing Incentive Fee”.  Basically, we will give the listing agent part of our commission if they get us in the home. (Don’t give away our commission though if you don’t have to).  Only if you meet resistance, offer this as an incentive for them to open the home for you.

Here’s the math

Sales price $400,000
Commission usually 6%  3% / 3% $24,000 / $12,000 to list side and $12,000 to buyers agent
Listing agent commission $12,000
Buyer’s agent commission $12,000   Your rebate is based off of our commission and is typically 50% or $6,000
Your typical rebate of 50% $6,000
   
With the “Showing Incentive Fee” 5% of our total commission $12,000 x 5% = $600 (or it could be what you can negotiate with the listing agent )
NEW MATH –  Sales Price $400,000
Listing agent $12,000 + $600= $12,600  (adding our showing incentive fee)
Buyers agent $12,000 – $600 = $11,400 (less the $600 showing incentive fee)
Your rebate  $11,400 / 2 = $5,700 (This is only $300 less so not a huge difference but it works!

These are only a few ways to motivate the listing agent.  Remember, some will be happy to get you in, some will expect us, the buyer’s agent to get you in. It’s up to you to how to motivate that listing agent. Be courteous, respect this and their time and you’ll find if you explain things and try to motivate them, they’ll get you in.

Step 4 –  How To Make The Offer!


How do I get in a home to view it?


This is the hardest part of or our home buyer rebate program…  Remember, most listing agents expect us as buyer’s agents to set a showing then get you through to view the home.
 

  • As you contact listing agents it is critical you tell them that we are your agent. If you don’t the listing agent will think you are their buyer so no commission is due. If we don’t get paid then there is no rebate.

Tips on how to get in:

  • Offer $25 to the agent to get you in. Money talks and a small amount usually does the trick. Just Venmo, Paypal or any other means funds to an agent. This works great!
  • Make sure you have your mortgage approval with you so the listing agent knows you are approved or email it to them so they know you are ready.
  • Tell the listing agent how you’ve really narrowed your serch down and “This could be the home we’re looking for”. This way you’re not wasting their time and yours.
  • Ask the listing agent if there are any open houses planned. That’s an easy one but remember, if you attend an open house you must tell them Kermath Realty is representing you.

Thank you,
Jeff Kermath
Mr. Flat Fee MLS Jeff

Flat Fee Group Michigan — Regional MLS & Seller Resource Directory

Kermath Realty LLC (Michigan Licensed Real Estate Broker #6502334057 • Verify License with MI LARA ↗ • BBB A+ Accredited ↗) is your direct, local Michigan MLS broker across all 83 Michigan counties — never a national referral middleman.