How can U-Sell U-Save charge such low fees for its services?
Traditional 6%* real estate brokers spend large amounts of money and the majority of their time trying to find new clients. They create and manage expensive advertising campaigns using newspaper ads, radio and television commercials and mailings. They also spend large amounts of time making phone calls (“Cold Calling”), and networking at social gatherings and other similar activities. On the other hand, the majority of our business comes from three sources: (1) new clients attracted by our very low flat fee; (2) prior satisfied clients and; (3) new clients referred to us by our satisfied clients. We don’t need to spend a lot of time or advertising dollars looking for new clients. Instead, we let our excellent service and very low flat fee “sell themselves”. Simply put, we can afford to make less per home sale because our expenses are lower and we have more time to sell a larger number of homes (volume). We then pass this savings onto you.

Are there any up-front fees or hidden charges?
No. We don’t get paid until you do at the close of escrow.

What if my home doesn’t sell?
You pay nothing. You only pay if we sell your home.

Does U-Sell U-Save negotiate the terms of sale?
Yes.

Offers from buyers’ agents
U-Sell U-Save will be the point of contact for all offers received from buyers’ agents. We will give you a copy, review the specifics of the offer, recommend a negotiation strategy, and then proceed with negotiating maximum price and contract terms most favorable for you.

Offers from buyers without an agent
If the buyer has no agent and is unable to prepare a written offer (he doesn’t know how), U-Sell U-Save will prepare the offer for him. After the buyer and seller reach preliminary agreement on the purchase price (With our Comparative Market Analysis, we help you set the price), U-Sell U- Save meets with both the buyer and seller, negotiates all other terms with the buyer, and then prepares a written purchase agreement for buyer and seller signature acceptance.

Once an offer is negotiated and signed, do you simply go away?
No. We stay with you through the close of escrow. U-Sell U-Save will prepare all required disclosure documents, review and advise you regarding all inspections, process all contract contingencies, monitor the purchase agreement to ensure that both you and the buyer are in compliance with the contract terms, and manage the escrow process. Remember, we don’t get paid until you do. Thus, we have an interest in making certain that everything is proceeding correctly and remains on track so that escrow closes.

How do “traditional” real estate commissions work?
Traditional real estate brokers charge a 6% commission based on the sales price of your home. 3% goes to the agent who you select to list your home (called the “seller's agent”) and 3% goes to the buyer's agent. You, as the seller, pay both agents.

If a buyer has no agent, the seller’s agent typically represents both the buyer and seller and collects the entire 6% commission. The property is usually advertised on the Multiple Listing Service (“MLS”) to inform real estate agents that the seller is willing to pay a 3% commission to other licensed agents. See Seller Programs to see how U-Sell U-Save commissions work.

If I list my home on the MLS do I have to offer buyers’ agents a 3% commission?
A seller can offer buyers’ agents any commission amount, it’s entirely up to you. The traditional real estate commission to buyers’ agents is 3%. Because you are competing with other home sellers in your area we generally recommend that you also offer a 3% commission to buyers' agents as a lower commission will discourage them from showing your home. Remember, you are still saving thousands of dollars by having U-Sell U-Save as the seller’s agent (FLAT FEE of $4,950 v. Traditional 3%). See Seller Programs for details.

In the last few years some areas have seen a reduction in commissions to 2½% as the new standard for buyers’ agents. It’s important that you don’t offer any more than necessary to successfully sell your home. However, on the other hand, it is just as important that you don’t offer too little and thereby limit marketplace exposure of your home. We will evaluate your specific area to determine what other sellers are typically offering buyers’ agents and advise you of the best approach for you.

What is the MLS and how does it work?
(U-Sell U-Save’s FULL SERVICE OPTION lists your home on the MLS [See Seller Programs for details])
The Multiple Listing Service (“MLS”) is a cooperative data base used by licensed real estate agents to advertise properties for sale to other agents. Only licensed agents, not the general public, can list properties for sale on the MLS or on the major websites (i.e.; MLSListings.com, Realtor.com, Home.com, etc.) owned and controlled by the real estate industry (i.e.; California Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, etc.). Listing a home on the MLS gives it more marketplace exposure as over twenty thousand (20,000) agents use the MLS, many of them with clients looking to buy a home. To get this increased marketplace exposure the home seller must agree to pay a 3% commission to one of these real estate agents if their client buys the seller’s home.

A home listed for sale on the MLS must include, within the MLS listing, home details such as list price, number of bedrooms, baths, etc. One very important detail which must be included in the MLS listing is the commission amount (traditionally 3%) the seller is offering to buyers’ agents. This must (it’s a mandatory MLS rule) be included in the MLS listing up-front so that buyers’ agents know what the seller is willing to pay before showing the property to their clients. Realize, that if you offer a lower commission to buyers’ agents than other sellers in your area that you will likely be at a competitive disadvantage with your home being shown less frequently to prospective buyers.

U-Sell U-Save’s FULL SERVICE OPTION lists your home on the MLS (See Seller Programs for details). However, listing on the MLS and offering a 3% commission to the buyer’s agent plus a FLAT FEE of $4,950 to U-Sell U-Save (the seller’s agent), is much less than the traditional 6% commission.

You do not need to hold open house on weekends, since agents are showing your home (lockbox optional). However, you may still want to hold open house to increase your chances of finding a buyer without an agent. If the buyer has no agent you do not pay the 3% commission. Instead, we will assist the buyer through the entire transaction at no added charge, passing all the additional savings onto you.

What if I don’t put my home on the MLS, how does it work?
(U-Sell U-Save’s FOR SALE BY OWNER OPTION sells your home without listing on the MLS [See Seller Programs for details])
A property not listed on the MLS is not advertised to other agents and, unlike being listed on the MLS, buyers’ agents won’t know if the seller is willing to pay a commission if they bring a buyer. In fact, the property can be sold directly to the buyer without paying any commission to the buyer’s agent. Buyers’ agents realize this fact and will generally avoid showing a home not listed on the MLS. Some may contact the seller, without their client present, and attempt to get the seller’s prior agreement to pay a commission of a predetermined amount before they show the property to their client. Buyers’ agents do not want to risk showing their client the home and then receive either no commission or a negotiated commission significantly below the traditional 3%.

By not listing on the MLS and not offering a 3% commission, agents will not show your home. Instead, you can find the buyer yourself by holding open house on weekends. Since the buyer does not have a paid agent to represent him, he will need help throughout the transaction. U-Sell U-Save, under our FOR SALE BY OWNER OPTION, will assist both buyer and seller through the entire transaction for one low FLAT FEE of $4,950 instead of the typical 6% commission. See Seller Programs for details.

Who Hosts Open Houses?
Because no one, including real estate agents, knows your home’s positive attributes better than you, it is best if you hold open house. By doing so, you have complete control over scheduling when they are held. We provide you with all the tools necessary to hold open house including instructions, open house signs, directional arrows, flyers, and all the rest. We are always available to answer any questions that you or prospective buyers may have.

What areas do you serve?
U-Sell U-Save Real estate provides discount flat fee  for sale  by owner and discount flat fee full service programs to Santa Clara County (aka Silicon Valley) including: San Jose (which includes: Almaden Valley, Blossom Valley, Cambrian, Evergreen, Santa Teresa, Rose Garden, Willow Glen), Cambpell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin, Milipitas, Palo Alto.

We also serve: Santa Cruz County, San Mateo County (which includes: San Mateo and Redwood City) Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Monterey County, and San Benito County.

How do I get started?
Just call or email us to schedule a listing appointment at your home. We will bring a Comparative Market Analysis to help you determine the market value of your home. We will also discuss the steps necessary to prepare your home for the market, how to conduct open houses, review how the U-Sell U-Save selling process works, and complete the necessary paperwork (Listing Agreement). At the conclusion of our meeting you will be fully prepared and can immediately begin the home selling process.

* Sales commissions may vary based on individual brokerage practices, local custom, and market conditions.