Q. Why does Quorum charge so little?

A. Because even though it's less money to us for each listing, we'll still make the same amount as before by doing a larger number.  So you save money in the process and we both come out ahead.  There's nothing wrong with that, is there?  And if you think about it, $499 is really not that much to spend.  We spend that much on TVs, small appliances, games for the kids... and even a 3 week ad in the newspaper could cost you up to $450.

Q. What telephone number will be on my MLS listing?

A. Most MLSs allow your phone number to be shown.  Some do not.  We will discuss this as we sign the paperwork.

Q. Will other realtors with buyers boycott my listing because I am saving so much money?

A. Not likely.  Agents want to find a home for their buyers as quickly as possible... as long as they get paid a competitive commission for bringing the buyer.  It is extremely rare that an agent would refuse to show a home that pays them a competitive commission and meets their buyers needs.  There may be a very small number of agents in some areas that violate the Code of Ethics and Federal law prohibiting a boycott, but it is extremely rare.  In general, an MLS listing does not tell them how much you are paying to list your home... only what you are offering to pay the agent who brings the buyer. Therefore the agent won't know how much you are saving.  In fact, making disparaging comments about discount brokers or attempting to boycott their services is dealt with very severely by the legal system in Wisconsin.

Q. Are there any additional fees?

A. All fees are listed on the web page where the order button appears.  Shipping costs are included and there are no additional charges.  There are no other charges to you for the sale of your home.  Please call us if you have any questions about this.

Q. Is there any situation where I would have to pay the selling agent commission if my home sale does not successfully close?

A. The commission is only paid if the buyer actually purchases the property and the closing is successful.  In the unlikely scenario that your buyer is unable to complete the transaction, you do not owe the buyers agent a commission.  Assuming that you don't break the purchase agreement that you previously agreed to in writing, you only pay a commission upon the successful closing of the sale of your home.

Q. How does the photo(s) get attached to my listing?

A. You have a choice of taking your own photo and submitting it to us, or an MLS-employed photographer can take the photo (in some outlying areas, the MLS photographer is not an option).  We recommend that you email us a picture of your home because we can upload it to the listing faster, and you get to pick a photo you like.  The MLS-employed photographer will take a quick photo from the street and automatically upload it to your listing, generally in the first week of the the listing.

When selecting your photo(s), keep in mind that having a current photo is important, especially in seasonal areas.  Most websites that display your home information to the general public, so viewers will assume that the photo was taken when the home was listed.  So, if you are located in northern Wisconsin and you list in January with a beautiful spring photo, some viewers will assume that your home has been for sale since the last spring.

Q. How many people actually use the internet to find the house they'll end up buying?

A. Surveys show that as many as 81% of buyers in 2005 searched for a home to purchase through the internet (NAR, 2005 data).

Q. It's not like I'm going to make more money by listing on the MLS, right?

A. The median home price for sellers who used an agent in 2005 was 16% higher than a home sold directly by an owner (NAR, 2005 data). 

Q. What about using open houses or newspaper ads to help sell my property?

A. Realtor.com® was the most popular resource, used by 54% of buyers, followed by multiple listing service (MLS) web sites.  All other methods of advertising accounted for 15% or less of property sales in 2005 (NAR, 2005 data).  Remember you are free to conduct your own open houses and to pay for your own newpaper ads.  That's the beauty of this type of listing.  It combines the best of FSBO and MLS selling.

Q. What other information came out of this data concerning property sales in 2005?

A. The typical buyer walked through nine properties, searched eight weeks to buy a home, and moved 12 miles from their previous residence.

A typical seller placed their home on the market for four weeks, lived in it for six years, moved 15 miles to their new residence, and previously owned three homes, including the one just sold.

The most important factors in choosing a location to purchase a home are neighborhood quality, cited by 68%, close to a job or school, 43%, close to family or friends, 36%, the school district itself, 23%, and seven other categories were each under 20%.

Q. Will my listing look the same as other listings?

A. Yes, your listing will be identical to the listings of competing real estate companies.  It will show a photo and all the same listing information.