(NAPSA)—Ifyou're thinking about selling a home,you mayhave wondered: “What,really, doesa realestate agent do to earn a 6 percent commission?” In thepast, real estate agents had to scourliteral books oflistings and drive clients aroundto see listings to make sales. But today’s real estate process is much simpler—and increasingly digi- tal. According to a 2017 study from the Technology allows real estate agents to focuson building a strong online. And asthe search process moves core business. National Association of REALTORS, 44 percent of homesearches now start online, almostall of the paperworkhas, too, allowing agents to handle more business even morequickly. Soifeverything's easier now, whyare mostagents still charging 6 percent? It comes down to the time and money that agents spend finding new clients. “Many agentsstill find most of offers, but when you come through Clever, they do it for our competitive prices” Steve Huffman, a Keller Williams broker and Clever Partner Agent in Atlanta, says that discountprices don't stop him from providing a quality, their business by cold calling, sending full-service experiencefor hisclients. “If mailers or knocking on doors”explains you do a goodjob with discountclients, Ben Mizes, CEO ofonline real estate they can refer friends, and you have brokerage CleverRealEstate. “The time buyers whowill call your yard sign? he it takes agents to find customersputs a explains. “The morelistings you have, floor on how low theyare willing to go the more exposure you have” on commissions.” Luke Babich, Clever’s Chief Strat- Clever works nationwide to solve this problem by matching customers with local Partner Agents, who sell egy Officer, explains why it's a win- cent in listing commission. Clever is $9,000 in commission” win: “Our Partner Agents can focus on homesfora flat fee of $3,000 or 1 per- doing what they dobest: selling homes. Meanwhile, the average customersaves part ofa growingtrendin therealestate industry; discount firms like Redfin els that are shaking up the realestate now operate in many U.S.metro areas andevenlocal brokeragesare increas- ingly discountingtheir rates. In a 2017 article, The Washington Post estimated that average commission rates nationwidewill soon fall to 5 percent as agents compete more aggressively to win business. Tech-focused entrants to the discountreal estate space have the potential to accelerate the change. Unlike tra- ditional brokerages, which expand one city at a time with local brick-and-mortar offices, Clever partners with agents all over the country. Mizes says, “We have a full-time team dedicated to recruiting and vetting top-performing agents from major agencies. They provide the exact same full service that a top agent usually Among the emerging business mod- industry, tech-focused brokerages like Cleverdifferentiate themselves by being humanfocused, too. “Real estate com- missions are readyto be revolutionized? says Babich. “But we'reselling homes the sameway that they've beensold for thelast half century—with great, attentive, professionalagents.” With dramatic changesin the real estate industry—which somehave said threatens to displacereal estate agents— tech-focused brokerages like Clever differentiate because they are agent focused, too. “In the end, concludes Huffman, “you're not losing money because you're gaining moreclients.” To learn more about the ways that technology is changingthe realestate industry, visit https://listwithclever.com.
