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Don't make a $10,000 mistake

 

Mistake #1:  Visiting a model home on your own

     Builders normally charge set prices for homes, but many offer referral fees to real estate agents who bring them buyers.  The only way you can capture part of this referral fee is to make an offer through an agency--like SixHomes--that's willing to share the referral fee with you.

     Many builders, though, won't pay a referral fee at all unless the buyer is accompanied by an agent when first visiting the models. 

     The safest way to ensure you get cash back when buying a new home is to list the model home development as one of your six choices and let one of our field agents accompany you during your first visit.

Mistake #2:  Signing a guestbook at an open house

     The agent on duty at an open house is usually the listing agent, who represents the sellers and splits the 5 to 6% total commission with the buyer's agent.

     Most listing agents won't mind if you tour their open houses and then ask SixHomes to represent you.  But some agents may object, saying that they should receive the commission since they were the first to show you the home.  If they succeed, they'll be able to "double dip" and get the buyer's agent's share of the commission in addition to the listing agent's.

     When going to open houses, we recommend that you do the following:

  • Say to the agent on duty, "I'm being represented by SixHomes.com.  May I take a look?"  (Note:  This will not obligate you to work with SixHomes, but it weakens the listing agent's ability to claim that he or she was procuring cause.)
  • Try not to sign the guestbook.  If the agent insists, sign your name, then write "represented by SixHomes.com."  (Note:  This will not obligate you to work with SixHomes.)

     Any questions?  Please call us at (707) 481-1776.

     Builders of new developments sometimes trick prospective buyers into giving them their names by hosting raffles.  Once you enter your name in a raffle, the odds that you'll get cash back go way down.


     Have you already made a mistake?  Call us at (707) 481-1776 and we'll find out if there's still a way for you to capture the commission. 

 

Be especially careful when viewing model homes.
You can easily lose a chance to save thousands of dollars.


SixHomes.com is licensed by the California Department of Real Estate through Lori Alden, Broker (License No. 01811185)  This is not intended as a solicitation of anyone who is already in a contract with a licensed agent. We respect all existing contract relationships.

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