How a Valparaiso Home Seller Paid a 0% Buyer Agent Commission Fee

Here is a story of how we helped a Valparaiso home seller get exactly what he wanted by understanding how  to create  demand for his property and taking advantage of the consumer choices available to homebuyers leading to our seller saving thousands of dollars in commission fees.

Our Client

Jason was a homeowner preparing to sell a home in Valparaiso. Jason worked and toiled on improving a home he previously had lived in, still owned, but no longer needed. He wanted it to sell quickly and wanted to maximize the amount of money he would walk away with.

What Was in the Way

The obstacles for Jason included selling during a high interest rate environment and bloated real estate commission fees from listing agents and buyers seeking to have their buyer’s agent compensated. See, this home was likely to be bought by a first-time homebuyer—this group is notorious for demanding large closing cost credits and higher buyer agent commission fees all to be paid for by the Seller.

The Quadwalls Real Estate Team Gets the Call

One day, Jason called us at the Quadwalls Real Estate Team. He was referred to us by a past client who we had helped sell a similar home in Valparaiso. His file was assigned to Valparaiso real estate agents Jules Keener and Chuck Vander Stelt.

Jules and Chuck spoke with Jason about what he needed to do to get the property all finished up, and they encouraged him to move quickly to still capture peak activity in the marketplace. Then one day, Jules and Chuck we’re told by Jason, “Come see me. It’s ready.” And off they went.

Executing on the Mission

The property was in excellent condition. Everything that should have been done was done—spotlessly clean, the pool was crystal clear, not a weed in site growing through the sidewalks or driveway, nothing askew. Chuck and Jules were thrilled. Armed with their tools Jules and Chuck got to work.

Together, they helped Jason understand the listing paperwork and complete the Seller disclosure. Jules gathered more information about the property and clips for social media posts. Chuck took the still frame photos, captured a video tour, and made a floor plan. That was on Monday.

On Tuesday, the home was on the market. Everything was done—photos edited, videos uploaded, social media campaigns started, sign in the yard. The property received hundreds of views online and showings started to stream in. Jules and Chuck scheduled an open house, too. And that open house, that right there was the magic which saved Jason thousands of dollars in costs.

Not even 10 minutes into the open houses a large Ford pickup truck pulled. It was black with some rust. A guy sweating a little, of about 55 years old got out of the truck with his late 20 something son. Both of their names were Rich.

They came in, they explored the home for a while. Eventually Rich Sr. got brave and told Chuck he really liked the home. He made is classic joke, “Well, it just so happens to be for sale.” Rich replied, “Okay. How do I buy it?”

The first question for Rich was whether he wanted us to act as his limited agent or to go non-agent. Rich understood the recent changes to buyer agency and commission fees. He wanted to go non-agent. Chuck said, “No problem.”

And that right there is how Jules and Chuck saved Jason, our client who hired us, $5,000 to $7,000 in commission fees. The Quadwalls Real Estate Team leads by letting direct inquiries—people who contact the listing agent directly—know they can purchase the home in a non-agent capacity. This saves our home seller clients money.

Our agents stood in that kitchen during the open house and wrote an offer. It was presented to our client Jason. And, that deal closed.

The Results

Jules and Chuck got the home on the market in one day. They had an accepted offer in four days. The seller paid a 0% buyer agent commission fee. The offer included zero dollars in closing costs credits. The offer we got the seller included zero obligation to make any repairs, so he did not spend any money at the inspection stage. The sale closed 35 days after it was listed.

Jules and Chuck drove enough traffic to this home that the buyer, Rich, while he could have written any offer, he knew that he had to write a darn good offer in order to get the home.

And the kicker, the listing commission fee was only 1.60%. Yeah, the Quadwalls Real Estate Team does all of that, and we do it at that low of a cost.

What the Quadwalls Real Estate Team Stands For

We stand for keeping more of what is yours in your pockets. And we are successful at doing that.

The Quadwalls Real Estate Team is here to help Valparaiso home sellers and sellers through the Northwest Indiana region save money and make better decisions when selling their homes. Since 2017 we have helped hundreds of people do this. Every day our agents like Jules Keener and Chuck Vander Stelt are waking up wanting to hear from you. Contact us so you can be next!