Another RE/MAX Advantage: "The Partnership" program
Through the National Association of Real Estate Consultants we have achieved the Consumer-Certified Real Estate Consultant Designation. Originally, it was intended to help us better serve our international, corporate and other "project" type clients, but we quickly found another consumer group that has greatly benefited: Buyers and Sellers in a "For Sale By Owner" transaction.

Across the country technically savvy consumers have felt frustrated without options to the "All or nothing" relationship with real estate agents. The internet, dot.coms, and discount agencies have created a stronger voice with a certain segment of the market who want a little assistance without the full service price tag.

Research shows that both buyers and sellers would engage the assistance of a real estate agent with their transaction if they could only pay for what they need. Also called " unbundled", "a la carte", and "fee for service", it's similar to being able to order and pay for only the meat and vegetables that you would eat, instead of having to pay for the appetizer, full course meal, and desert, most of which you would not eat.

It is not a slick shop and save discount program, but a professional breakdown of the 200 tasks that enables an assessment what the consumer needs and allows the consumer to have more control over what fees they need, or want to pay for.

Consumers still receive professional, quality service delivered with honesty and integrity with a full understanding of what services are included for certain fees, and more importantly, what services are not included. Other services can be added as needed upon reassessment.

The most common areas sellers and buyers ask for help are:

• Assessing the property (sellers may need advice for staging, repairs, and curb appeal)
• Property information (pricing, disclosures, public record research, etc.)
• Marketing (MLS, target marketing, websites, open house, etc.)
• Assessing the buyer (qualify, monitoring banking process, showing feed back, etc.)
• Drafting, strategizing and negotiating contracts
• Troubleshooting sales and coordinating transactions to closing (follow-up appraisers, inspectors, tests, etc, review options with problems, review HUD statement, closing, and exit check list.)

Some people, having found their buyer or unlisted home, need help with just a couple of areas, while others need a little more help. For more information about this program please contact the "Partnership" division at RE/MAX Advantage Realty Group.