09/23/2026
🏡 WHAT DOES A REALTOR® REALLY DO FOR THEIR COMMISSION?
It’s a fair question, and consumers deserve a real answer.
Selling a home involves much more than putting a sign in the yard and uploading photos to the MLS. A REALTOR® researches the market, develops a pricing strategy, prepares and markets the property, coordinates showings, follows up with agents, gathers feedback, reviews and negotiates offers, monitors contract deadlines, and works through inspections, appraisals, financing issues and settlement.
And something many people don’t realize: real estate agents generally aren’t paid upfront. We may work for weeks or months marketing a home, conducting open houses, negotiating contracts and managing a transaction. Our compensation normally comes when the transaction successfully reaches settlement.
Commission isn’t simply take-home pay, either. Agents have brokerage and business expenses, marketing, technology, MLS and association fees, licensing, insurance, taxes and more.
Most importantly, you’re paying for experience, negotiation, problem-solving and representation.
Commission is negotiable, so don’t just ask, “What do you charge?”
Ask, “What are you going to do to earn it?”
A good REALTOR® should be able to answer that.
~Tina Marie
REALTOR® | eXp Realty