Wonders never cease! I received an email from one of my Blog (the Northern Virginia Real Estate Guide) followers asking for clarification on our business model. I set up an "on-line" appointment with him with a password protected website I built that has a link to my fee schedule. The conference occurred this morning at 8:30. I spent about an hour with him explaining the consulting approach and walking through my fee schedule (literally designing a listing program with him on-the-fly). He was impressed with how transparent it is is (full disclosure on what I will do and what it will cost.

Net: The resulting fixed fee I will charge is equivalent to a 5% listing on a $425,000 property (3% to a coop broker and the equivalent of 2% to me). I asked if he wanted to talk it over with his wife and his response was "No, I like this approach, I know what I will be paying for...when can we sign an agreement!" We will sign the listing Tuesday night.

This is about the fifth time in the last 12 months I get a call and literally take the listing over the phone. It pays to be a consultant and it pays big time to get on-line exposure. In my case, the Blog.

From Deb Orth:

Hi all,

I have a question for anyone who would like to respond. This is in regard to rebating or crediting all or part of the consulting fee. Do you offer to credit a portion, half, or all of the fee if the client converts from the consulting program to a conventional listing? I like the idea of offering a credit because, as Mollie states, it sets us apart from the discount brokers. I'm just curious to what portion you agree to credit and in what circumstances and time frame.

Deb Orth