subject: Real Estate Consultant Houston [print this page] Real Estate Consultant Houston Real Estate Consultant Houston
Real estate consultants are similar to realtors, except their services have hourly compensation instead of a single paycheck when the sale goes through. Consultants only get paid for services rendered, which allows sellers and frequent purchasers to complete some of the work themselves. For the consultant, this also makes guaranteed compensation for all work that has been completed.
One of the benefits of setting yourself up as a consultant instead of a realtor is that you never work for free, even if the sale never goes through. Since you sell your services by the hour, any touring, paperwork, and CMAs are all accounted for. Also, consultants, unlike realtors, will be able to set their practice up for non-traditional realtor venues, such as property tax evaluation for disputes and values for properties that are "For Sale By the Owner".
Frequent buyers will be more likely to hire a consultant, since hourly pay can be far cheaper then closing costs and fees of a normal realtor. Consultants are best used by regular buyers and real estate investors who see many different properties in a short period of time. Many consultants can save investors a great deal of time and money by selling bundled properties for one price, reducing paperwork and closing fees. Also, since the consultant has no invested, unpaid time in the outcome of the sale, it is less of a sales position, and therefore less pressure to buy and sell a property. Real estate consultants are also going to be able tell frequent buyers about group discounts, buyouts, and other market trends that could save them a lot of money in the long run.
Sellers also like to use consultants, especially if they plan to do most of the work themselves. It gives sellers the option to sell their property with the help of a realtor without the potentially large realtors fees. Since they get to pick and choose what the consultants will help with, they can still get professional results and listings, like video tours, online listings, and even staging, but sell them property themselves.
Realtors give away much of their time and resources for free, never getting paid for the sales that fall through, the buyers who want to tour hundreds of houses, and the endless amounts of paperwork. A consultant is much more likely to give little or nothing away every hour they work. Much like attorneys, consultants feel they should be paid for each service, and that each of their services should be sold separately, to make sure each hour spent with each client has a good return.
Since you will be paid for each service, you will also know that your client is serious about the sale, and will not waste your time with long hours of uncompensated work. The buyers and sellers share in the risk of the sale, and therefore will be more upfront with wants, needs, and potential problems, and know that they will still get professional results.
