Tag Archives: real estate agent

Low commissions & discount brokerages: you get what you pay for


In BC, the most commonly used commission rate is 7% of the first $100,000, then 3-3.5% on the rest of the amount. Real estate agents have full control over their commission rate, regardless of who they are working for and some brokerages will go even as low as 1%.

  1. Lets talk about how commission works
    Real Estate Agents get paid to work and having a standard commission always helps. To agents, a 3% commission is a lot more attractive than 1% and if anything, is more of an incentive to show your property to their buyer. Although the Real Estate Council prohibits real estate agents to from doing this, some agents would rather show properties with standard commissions as this directly affects their paycheque.
  2. The resources available & marketing power of these agents are usually a lot less smaller. Less commission typically results in less resources for marketing and sometimes you as a seller may be asked to pay for marketing when is the real estate agent’s responsibility.

At Residencity, we offer a full commission to the selling agent ensuring that we do not deter other Real Estate Agents as they are the ones with majority of the buyers

We differ by utilizing a standardized 6 step process that we follow for every listing we receive regardless of marketing conditions, property size or location. 

With service from all of our agents, top of the line marketing from professional staging to enhanced MLS listings to professional photography and videography, all of this should automatically lead selling your home for a higher price. Give us a call at 604.288.9166 or email us to set up a consultation and see what we can do for you.

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Does the real estate brokerage matter when selecting an agent? (And what you should be looking for)


If you ask any of us here at Residencity whether the real estate brokerage matters when you are looking to hire, we’re going to tell you that it’s the real estate agent that matters, as they are going to be the ones doing the job, not the brokerage they work for.

A real estate agent should not be selected depending on the size of brokerage or how well known it is. A large firm demonstrates how well they recruit and keep agents, perhaps better training and support services, but this is not indicative of the quality of work that the firm does, as well as the agents. Each agent will have different accomplishments and methods of selling properties and it is important to find one whose style matches yours.

Choosing a real estate agent is similar to selecting a post-secondary institution. As a recent graduate out of high school you plan to study at UBC.  Are you choosing UBC just because it’s a well-known university or because of the degrees and programs offered?

In the end, the name of the real estate brokerage does matter to an extent, but should not be a major deciding factor when selecting your agent. Upon selling a house, real estate agents are the ones that the sellers thank, have a lasting connection with and recommend to their friends, not the real estate brokerage. It is important to keep in mind that there will be good brokerages, satisfactory brokerages and that it is important to do your homework on the real estate agent and assess what they have done, and are willing to do for you.

This brings us back to Residencity. We are a small team that values service above everything. We do a pre-inspection, staging, high quality photos and video as those are the things that are going to make your house stand out beyond the others. Call us at 604.288.9166 or email us for a consultation to see what we can do for you.

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1 of the solutions to getting your home sold (and you don’t even need to do anything)


Imagine blow drying your hair in your new home and having the circuit breaker trip: you’re in the dark and you have no idea where the breaker box is, and often it’s tucked away in a dark corner in the basement. Everything you buy nowadays comes with an instruction manual- the drawer set from Ikea, the blender from The Bay and even the second hand car comes with a manual in the glove box. Buying a new home, probably the most expensive thing you will ever own, does not come with a manual.

Whenever someone buys a house, they should always receive a specification sheet. Residencity will provide you with both a specification sheet and a manual. The manual will provide details such as location of breaker boxes, water shut off, instructions for sprinklers. The specification sheet will contain details of the appliances and materials used in the house.

We believe that it is essential to have a specification sheet when selling a home and to find a realtor who will make you one when listing your home. Not only does it contain important notes for the new homeowner, but it can also be used as a marketing piece. Additionally, a manual should be provided upon closing with the rest of the details. The more information you present, the more familiarized potential buyers are with the property, the more likely they are to take interest and present you with an offer.

Specification lists and home manuals are a standard here at Residencity, unlike other real estate brokerages and teams where they are not required and it is up to the realtor if they want to prepare one for their client. As a result, we prepare one for every property that lists with us no matter the price of the home. Call us at 604.288.9166 or email us for a consultation to see what our agents can do to get your property sold.

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