Showing posts with label Finder's Fee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finder's Fee. Show all posts

Friday, March 11, 2011

#RealEstate - Boston Real Estate - An Explanation of Finder's Fees

Real Estate Agent Fees Explained 
An Explanation of No Fee, Half Fee and Full Fee Apartments


moneyIn your housing search, especially if you are looking on Craigslist for an apartment, you may see apartments listed under Full Fee, No Fee and Half Fee titles. You may wonder :what is the difference between these places? There is a difference and it is important to know what this difference is.

What is a Finder's Fee?


For the service of locating an apartment and leasing it to you, a real estate agent charges a finder's fee equivalent to one month's rent. In exchange for this fee, the real estate agent should first consult with you regarding your housing choices. That is, lead you someway through a discussion about the Principle Factors: Size, Location and Price that govern your housing search and ask many questions that narrows the list of solutions to the most likeliest. And then properly secure the property for you.

If you are not sure of which Principle Factors you are willing to compromise on, you can ask your agent to help you explore all sets of options. For instance, you  may think you you want to live in the Back Bay or Harvard Square no matter what, but once you see what your money gets you there, you may find yourself willing to compromise on location. You'll likely make this compromise after you see what your money gets you in Allston or Brighton or Somerville or Medford.

Helping you discover what is actually good in the market is the trademark of a good real estate agent. In a sense he becomes your Jiminy Cricket. A voice that stands outside of your own voice but one that serves to help you make good decisions.

All real estate agents charge a finder's fee equivalent to one month's rent--the good ones give you more value of service than they charge in fee. Be advised that 99% of the property on the market for rent is rented through a real estate agent, less than 1% of the property available can you get without any agent of any kind being involved.