Protecting home seller interest - from contract to close
Selling a home in Florida?
“This is the dirty secret that real estate agents don’t want you to know”
According to the National Association of Realtors, selling your home is the largest financial transaction for most Americans.
If you choose a proper real estate agent, you can avoid losing tens of thousands of dollars, wasting time and missing opportunities.
How can you ensure that your interests are being properly represented?
Very few home sellers are aware that in Florida...
9 out of 10 realtors can’t actually protect your interest
Here’s why:
Real estate agents in Florida come in two forms:
It’s Florida’s Dirty Little Secret:
A Transaction Broker does not represent you, they represent the transaction
If a real estate transaction was a baseball game, then the transaction broker would be a referee - they’re neutral and work for both parties (you the seller, and the buyer!). He doesn't care who wins or loses in the deal. He doesn't care whether a potential buyer is offering too much, or whether the seller could score a few more thousand dollars. His priority is to strike a deal, ASAP.
What does using a Transaction Broker mean for a home seller?
Example 1
If the buyer makes an offer below your home’s value, the transaction broker is not required to act in your interest and is not required to advise you that it’s a low offer
Example 2
The transaction broker is also not permitted to disclose if they know the buyer would pay more for your house (for whatever reason) - so you might never find out you could get an extra 20 thousand dollars for your house
Example 1
If the buyer makes an offer below your home’s value, the transaction broker is not required to act in your interest and is not required to advise you that it’s a low offer
Example 2
The transaction broker is also not permitted to disclose if they know the buyer would pay more for your house (for whatever reason) - so you might never find out you could get an extra 20 thousand dollars for your house
Nobody will tell you they’re a transactional broker
What is worse, in 2008, Florida dropped the requirement that agents disclose their transaction broker relationship to the customer.
In other words, if you don’t sign anything that states you’re being represented as a Single Agent, then the assumed relationship is Transaction Brokerage.
How to choose proper representation as a home seller?
Benefits of a single agent
In our baseball metaphor, if a transaction broker is a referee, then a Single Agent would work as the coach of your team - they care about your team winning the game and provide the advice and guidance to ensure you come out on the winning side.
A Single Agent works just like your doctor or legal attorney. They're obliged by law to look out for your best interest, and to protect the interests of only one side of the transaction - you and yours.
Here’s a breakdown of duties of both single agents and transactional brokers according to Chapter 475.278 of the Florida law
Single Agent
Transaction Broker
Dealing honestly and fairly
Dealing honestly and fairly
✅ Loyalty
❌
✅ Confidentiality
✅ Obedience
❌ Limited confidentiality
❌
✅ Full disclosure
❌
Accounting for all funds
Accounting for all funds
Skill, care and diligence
Skill, care and diligence
Presenting all offers in a timely manner unless directed otherwise in writing
Presenting all offers in a timely manner unless directed otherwise in writing
Disclosing all known facts that materially affect the value
Disclosing all known facts that materially affect the value
The 4 benefits you receive with Single Agent that you don’t with a Transaction Broker are:
What does it mean for you?
Example 1: If you get an offer below your home’s value, as a Single Agent my duty is to advise you to reject the offer and say no to the buyer.
Example 2: Contrary to a transaction broker, a Single Agent is required to tell you if the buyer is willing to pay more for your house than it’s worth (for whatever reason)
Example 1: If you get an offer below your home’s value, as a Single Agent my duty is to advise you to reject the offer and say no to the buyer.
Example 2: Contrary to a transaction broker, a Single Agent is required to tell you if the buyer is willing to pay more for your house than it’s worth (for whatever reason)
What's Your Home Worth?
Get a no-obligation broker’s price opinion on the value of your real estate
Discover:
What can we do for you?
Call Us Today (904) 201-2023
Get a real estate agent who’ll stand in your corner
For most Americans, their home is their biggest life investment. As a Single Agent, we’ll help you get the most value possible from selling your house without any stress and delays.
Our process:
We identify any repairs needed and ways to increase the value of your property
We send a professional real estate photographer to your house to take high quality pictures that highlight its best features
We add your property online - your house will get listed on 900 different real estate websites across the country
You’ll get a property prospectus - a brochure for potential buyers including basic info, features and benefits and terms of sales
You’ll get a copy of the contract in advance- To allow you to thoroughly review it
We present offers from buyers and advise whether it’s a good offer
You get constant updates from us on the status of the closing
We recommend trusted contractors (devoid any kick-backs)
We're present the day of closing to make sure everything goes smoothly
My name is Jamie Watts. We started Estate Services of Florida and offer our services to home sellers as a Single Agent. For years, real estate professionals have tried to play both sides of the fence in order to pocket commission from both ends.
We believe it’s highly unfair: if someone hires a real estate professional to represent them, but the “professional” isn't representing the client nor protecting their interest.
That’s why we chose to operate as a Single Agent - you get the protection from us that you can’t get from others. Our responsibility is to represent the seller and protect their interest in the long term.Even though we’re not able to keep the commission from both ends, we feel like it’s the right thing to do - to put people before profit.
Our mission
What's Your Home Worth?
Get a no-obligation broker’s price opinion on the value of your real estate
Discover:
Contact Us
Estate Services of Florida
Jamie D. Watts
CEO of Estate Services of Florida
jamie@estateservicesofflorida.com
720 S. US Hwy. 17, San Mateo Fl. 32187
or fill out the form below and we will get back to you:
Call Us: 904-201-2023
Estate Services of Florida Brokerage LLC CQ1054808
Jamie D. Watts Licensed Real Estate Broker BK3338714
DISCLAIMER
The information contained on our website is for information purposes only, and it should not be construed that we are in anyway providing legal advice. We encourage you to seek the advice of a competent member of the Florida Bar before making any legal decisions or filing anything with the courts. We are here to assist the legal representative and their attorney in liquidating the estate, as such we are not attorneys at law, nor are we able to give you any legal advice.
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