Hacker News Reader

> It’s really hard work, with low barriers to entry, and significant upfront costs.

So then pay by the hour.

Does this just incentivize them to spend a lot of time without actually selling the house? While I think 3% is outrageous, it at least incentivizes selling it quickly (even if it doesn't incentivize getting the best price).

They should be paid by the hour with an additional commission based on the sale price.

The industry should also be completely transparent as to how quickly each agent sells houses and how much their houses sell for.

As a client, you should do your own comparison shopping, do your due diligence, and get recommendations. Then go with the ones who've been recommended by people you trust and who have a track record of selling homes quickly and for the most money compared to other agents, or buying homes quickly for less money than other agents.

Agents should also be allowed to charge however much they want. The agents who buy/sell quickly and manage to get great prices will naturally be able to sustain charging more than those who can't.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com