I just wanted to clear the air about a few things regarding The Burkhardt Group and how we do business. We are not simply a discount broker, we are not Foxtons or a company that just sends out mailers or e-blasts to find clients. We are in effect a full service traditional real estate brokerage that offer our clients a menu of services based on individual needs. We are not trying to re-invent the wheel, just trying to make it more efficient. The number one way we achieve this is through our broker centric business model. Our brokers are compensated in such a way that they can shape the commission/business plan to fit your needs and add a known quantity to your transaction.
From my point of view the agents broker is the 1000 pound gorilla in the room, why? Because they receive a large portion of the commission, while adding little value to the actual transaction. There was a time that the "agency" may have played a more vital role, but through the advent of technology, information is readily available to those who seek it out. Many times just by logging onto your computer and accessing an Internet connection. Real Estate is of course about sales and with that comes the annoying noise of salespeople. But other than very slick "galleries" or offices and beautifully designed websites that aggregate very general information regarding process, the real estate business has not changed much in a 100 years....especially in Manhattan.
Technology should make our lives more productive through greater efficiency and the savings should be passed onto the consumer. Then via this more efficient flow of information the real estate broker (in this case) and the consumer will both benefit. The broker can get more transactions completed with less effort, as well as attract more business through this efficient cost effective platform. The consumer is a winner all the way around through an efficient model to conduct his/her real estate transaction at a significant cost savings. Let's remember that real estate is simply about bringing two parties together and agreeing on price to complete the transaction, that is it in a nutshell. Efficient, intelligent agents will facilitate this, so of course it serves your best interest to hire an honest, intelligent (no snarkyness!) agent to help you complete your transaction. We all have the same access to information regardless of whether we work from a 10,000 square foot office or from our netbook at a Starbucks.
Buyer brokers look in the same places for listings as where listing brokers advertise their properties for sale or lease. Glossy magazines, catchy billboards or sleek offices serve nothing more than to reel in your business and drive up the cost of doing business. Buyers primarily look in the Sunday New York Times or StreetEasy when searching for a home, including overseas buyers.
To get back on point here we are more than a "discount broker", we are new model utilizing current technology to make real estate transactions more efficient as well as friendly. A broker sort of "bragged" that her services did not come cheap, she was worth the premium commission. I don't work for free either, actually I have earned more money this year than I have in many past years in much better markets. I still keep just what a broker at a large firm does, I am not personally earning less, actually it is helping me earn more as I am getting more referrals and business in general. But as stated above, since our brokers work on a 95% commission split they can add tangible value to all of your transactions. We also offer you a variety of options based on the amount of assistance you require. We are happy to meet with you to discuss all your options and what you can expect to achieve from each one.
So as you can see we are more than a "discount broker". We are here to offer you an alternative to one price firms and we are also here to offer real estate professionals an alternative business platform to work within as well.
So shop around and talk with at least three brokers and see what they have to offer you, which situation suits your needs as a seller or buyer best. Good Luck!
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