Builders Work To Mend Fences With Agents

Home builders are spending big bucks and dishing out heaping helpings of hospitality to real estate agents that they spurned during last years housing boom.

Large commissions and incentives are back as homebuilders try to get help moving their inventory. Last year, during the boom, many homebuilders cut commissions, started paying a flat fee, or eliminated agent commissions all together. Yet some agents are still steering clear of new subdivisions unless clients ask to see the homes.

Homebuilder events are on the rise in an attempt by builders to repair the relationship with Realtors.

"It's not a good feeling to feel like you are expendable," said Brett Barry of Realty Executives. "We don't get a lot of respect anyway, and the builder community, at that time, didn't show us any respect. They said, 'We really don't need you'. Maybe the builders don't feel they are in a crisis, but right now they need every buyer they can get." More...

Boo home builders... It's not like we are asking for these HUGE bonuses and commissions now. What would be nice is if all home builders would set the commission they are willing to pay and then leave it alone. Why offer double commission now and in some cases none at all when the market was white hot. It makes no sense to me at all.

I wrote an article about this very topic last year knowing full and well that they would come crawling back to us.

Well, it looks like I need to add a search feature to this blog. I can not for the life of me find the post where I talk about Trend Homes and how they stuck it to me partially through the process with one of my buyers.

Anyone else have an experience to share or a comment about this topic? Please feel free to leave it by clicking on the comments button below this post.

Sincerely,

Matt Pellerin