Frequently-Asked Questions.

Q: How can you guys make a profit at 4% when everybody else charges up to 7%?
A: There are three reasons, really. First of all, the commissions from our listings aren't split so many ways. At our competitors, your listing is taken by a salesperson who must split commissions and/or pay desk or other fees to a broker to maintain licensure. At MWRealty, on the other hand, your listing is taken directly by the broker, so no in-house split is necessary.

Second, we don't have a network of offices and hundreds of agents to maintain. So our overhead is lower, and your commission doesn't have to pay the rent on our fancy offices.

Finally, Delaware Shore home prices have skyrocketed over the past few years. When the going price of a home is $1 million or more, we feel 2% (half of the 4% we charge) is quite adequate compensation for us. At prices over $1 million, the other 2% is quite adequate compensation for the buyer's broker as well.

Remember, the services that actually sell homes are:

• A well-written MLS listing.
• A memorable brochure.
• A Web page that helps buyers remember your home.
• Classified ads.
• Availability for showing.

Q: Will I ever have to pay more than 4%?
A: That’s your choice, and it depends on how you want to treat other brokers who may bring a buyer to you and us. Ordinarily, we’d split our commission with such a broker, so they’d get 2% of the sale. Legally, brokers are required to show home shoppers all homes that fit their requirements, regardless of the commission. However, most of those brokers are used to collecting 2.5% to 3% on a sale of another broker’s listing. So, if you want to provide them with an extra incentive, we’ll offer them a 2.5% commission, and you’ll pay a total of 4.5%—if, and only if, they bring you the buyer. If we bring you the buyer, you’ll still pay 4%. We’ll explain this option to you in detail at the time you list.

Q: Will my home be listed on MLS?
A: Absolutely. Unlike most Sussex County listings, your listing will appear in the national MLS, and will also be entered in both the Sussex County Association of Realtors and the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors local search engines. Every broker on the Delaware Shore, every broker in Metropolitan Washington, and anyone accessing the many Realtor® sponsored databases nationwide will therefore know your home is for sale.

Q: One of the big brokers has offered to cut their commission for me. Why shouldn’t I go with them?
A: If a broker has hundreds, or even thousands of listings at 7%, and a few, like yours, at 4%, which ones do you think they’re going to try harder to sell?