Hiring a real estate agent is essential when buying or selling a home, but finding an agent who meets both your needs and personality can be daunting. Luckily, many online services exist which match you up with local realtors so that choosing one through these programs saves both time and money.
When selling a home in Ramsey, the ideal time and method will depend on market conditions; however, most people start searching for agents several months in advance of their intended listing date to give enough time for key renovations to be done and market their properties effectively. Furthermore, working with an agent early can help make wise financial decisions and help prevent costly errors during this process.
Some real estate websites provide an online database of licensed brokers and certified real estate agents who meet the minimum qualifications to join the ELP program, are members of the National Association of Realtors, which means adhering to its code of ethics, as well as attending Dave Ramsey training courses to understand his financial principles.
Though these real estate agents have been prescreened by ELP program, they may not necessarily meet your specific needs. These agents often charge higher referral fees than others and thus make negotiating for lower commission difficult for clients. Furthermore, due to limited selection on these websites it may limit your search for an ideal agent.
In 2010, eXp Realty purchased Ramsey Solutions, the company which operates his ELP program without first seeking Dave Ramsey’s consent as it created an unnecessary conflict of interest and led to longstanding controversy between both parties involved.
The ELP program is costly for consumers and brokers alike, without significantly improving realtor quality in the field. Its hidden kickback fee of 30 percent of gross commissions paid by colluding realtors within its network then passed along as increased real estate commissions when purchasing or selling homes; while Lampo Group LLC (dba Ramsey Solutions) uses “shell brokerages” to collect such fees from real estate agents who subscribe.
Ramsey Trusted will not save you any money, contrary to claims made by its promoters. You’ll still end up paying a realtor commission of 2.5-3% regardless of which real estate agent you select using its service, significantly higher than other agent-matching websites with similar services which hold their partner agents to high performance standards. Because of this we advise avoiding ELP programs altogether in favor of alternative agent matching websites such as Clever Real Estate or Ideal Agent that charge significantly less in commission while offering access to more qualified real estate agents for working with.