1. They put it in the MLS, Multiple Listing Service, which distributed the information to other agents, and, secondarily, put it in front of a lot of buyer’s eyeballs who are looking for a new (to them) house via popular secondary sites.
2. They talked about it at their company sales meeting and took most of the agents in a “caravan” to view it after the meeting.
3. They handed it off to their assistant and a showing service.
4. They showed up at the closing to pick up their commission check.

Here’s the brutal part.

Next time you sell a house, you can do them all yourself for free, except the last three!

More brutality.

The buyer was sitting at home looking at a website when they, themselves, found the home.

They called a friend from work, who had a real estate license, to go with them to look at it.

That friend also showed up at the closing for their commission.

You put your house on the market two weeks ago, and you half-way thought it would be sold by now. But you haven’t really had a lot of calls, much less an offer. The only thing your agent-friends can think of is for you to drop your price. Click here for an e-book of some smart alternatives I have discovered over my 38 years in real estate. It will cost you three dollars. or you can drop the price on your house, and just wonder what to do.

The times they are a-changin’

Progress. These days, if you can answer your phone, you can put your house with a company who can put it in the MLS without your having to pledge thousands of dollars in commissions. It’s called an “MLS entry-only listing.”

You will still have to pay a fee or two at closing, and you will pay your “entry-only” company some upfront, and maybe a buyer’s agent’s commission, but it will total thousands of dollars you will save this way.

In case you think you might not have the time to sell your own house, you can check out this quick micro-course.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A 38-yr real estate broker, Don’s a keen observer and prolific reporter of truth, common sense, humor, & life. He’s a WRITER and humorist, sometimes serious, sometimes tongue-in-cheek. He lives in Nashville, TN. He publishes every weekday morning. Real-life Writing & Real-life Real Estate.