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A comment on Zillow CEO: startups trying to disrupt real estate commissions will fail (2012). Parent comment

Re:Zillow CEO: startups trying to disrupt real estate commis... by iwantedjusttom on Wednesday January 16, 2019 @05:54PM (#18926362)
in most cases the seller has already agreed to pay 6% to the agent for the sale of their home - then that selling agent agrees to split it with the agent that brings a buyer. If you come in off the sign you're basically handing the seller's agent another 3% commission - even if you "negotiate" 3% off the top of the house the seller is still paying that 3% to the listing agent.

In the eyes of the buyer it might not matter if you got your 3% off... but that seller probably isn't saving any money on his/her end.

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Re:Zillow CEO: startups trying to disrupt real estate commis... by notahacker on Wednesday January 16, 2019 @06:53PM (#18926883)
The selling agent getting double the commission if the vendor accepts your offer over anyone else's sounds like it could be a lot more help in negotiating a quick and satisfactory deal than any negotiation prowess having your own agent might offer, especially if your own agent would be financially incentivised not to reduce the price...
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Re:Zillow CEO: startups trying to disrupt real estate commis... by megaman8 on Thursday January 17, 2019 @05:38PM (#18935343)
No, you're asking the selling agent to give the 3% he would have given to the buyer's agent, and instead give it back to the seller.
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