r/AskRealEstateAgents

First time seller here. New York State.

I'm getting ready to start discussions with a few agents to select with whom I'll list my house. I know that I'll learn from each conversation, and be a smarter seller for the knowledge. Some topics to discuss seem clear—recent results, examples of photos & marketing.

I used to work in commission based sales, and understand that there can be a grey line between interview/shopping and taking advantage of wisdom without compensating for it.

My question/concern is wanting to learn as much as possible while still being respectful of other peoples' labor. Can I expect/ask prospective agents to propose prices, pricing/selling strategy, marketing plans? Or does that cross a line into expecting 'free labor/work product' from the agents I end up not working with?

I'm on the recruiting side, not an agent. Trying to get a real read from you all.

Curious how many of you have considered taking on something outside of real estate — either as a full switch or as something to run alongside your business during slower stretches. And if you have, what actually got your attention?

I ask because the skills that make someone good in this industry (reading people fast, building trust on a first call, closing without being pushy, running your own book) travel really well into other relationship-driven, commission-based work. But I don't want to assume what would actually pull you in.

A few honest questions:

1. Have you ever seriously looked at a side role or a pivot? What made you look?
2. What would a role outside real estate have to offer to even get a second glance from you — flexibility, uncapped earning, a team, training, something else?
3. Are there things you'd never give up about real estate that rule certain roles out immediately?
4. What's the quickest way for a recruiter to waste your time?

Appreciate any candor — trying to understand how agents actually think about this before I reach out to anyone.

Selling a lot in a gated community. It's not cleared and there aren't many left (only one other for sale right now). We went to the agent who sold it to us and she sent us a contract to list it. It says their fee is 7% and they may offer 3.5% to the buyer agent (see below). Is this typical? Hard to swallow 10.5%, but if that's standard then I guess that's how it is. Or am I missing something?

https://preview.redd.it/z14bva2vkftg1.png?width=1088&format=png&auto=webp&s=3a405cb2bf7947e8b00454e09db2ef45228240f1