The principles of potential real estate buyers are the same at all times - they do not like to pay intermediaries...
The crisis also contributes to savings: citizens do not have extra money, and, moreover, with the growing popularity of electronic services, agency clients prefer to do a lot on their own, solving some problems for specialists. Adapting to the situation, real estate agencies offer citizens discounts and reduce the cost of their services.
It is up to the buyer to decide whether to use the services of a realtor, entrust him with the entire transaction, or take on part of the work himself. If a consumer wants to find professionals in their field, it is important to find a good specialist and agree on everything in advance. Realtors understand that today no one spends money just like that.
Realtor commission: lower and upper limits
How much do real estate agency services cost today? The prices announced by different experts differ significantly and amount to 2-6% of the transaction amount. The percentage cost depends on the agency’s practice, the complexity of the service, the market situation and agreements with a specific client.
Experts provide slightly different data. According to Konstantin Manchenko, general director of the Teremok real estate agency (Pushkino city), the commission ranges from 2% to 5%. According to the director of the secondary market department at INCOM-Real Estate, Mikhail Kulikov, from 4% to 6%. Moreover, Kulikov clarifies that for difficult transactions (for example, if it was necessary to resettle capricious residents of a communal apartment), the payment may increase. Or decrease to 3 percent - if the realtor only sells vacant real estate.
But in the current situation, realtors are not angry. According to the managing partner of Metrium Group, Maria Litinetskaya, on average a realtor receives 2% of the contract amount. If the property is expensive, the amount is reduced to 1-1.5%, and for housing in the mass segment the commission is 2-2.5%. Thus, with the advent of the crisis and tougher competition among real estate agencies, realtors began to receive less for their services. Maria Litinetskaya concludes that if in 2013-2014 the broker was paid about 3%, today it is one and a half to two times less.
Some companies use a tariff payment system. According to Elena Mishchenko, acting Head of the city real estate department of the North-Eastern branch, if the transaction amount for an apartment does not exceed 6 million rubles, the realtor receives 150 thousand rubles, if the value of the property is more than 6 million - 2.5% of its value. When concluding alternative transactions (when one object is simultaneously sold and another is immediately purchased), clients are given discounts on purchases in the amount of 100 thousand rubles for each selected object.
According to the observations of Nikita Orlov, General Director of LIANA, Moscow, partner of the Megapolis-Service Kyrgyz Republic, in the capital, when concluding a simple transaction, a realtor receives 150-200 thousand rubles, a complex one, which is associated with an alternative, - 250-350 thousand rubles. In the Moscow region, the commission is smaller: according to the expert, in some cities of the region it is equal to 50-100 thousand rubles.
Private realtors who work in the Moscow region receive about 90-120 thousand rubles for a simple transaction and 180-200 thousand for an alternative one.
Who pays - the seller or the buyer?
The one who most needs the services of a realtor pays in the real estate market. Konstantin Manchenko recalls that in the early 2000s, when the market was booming, buyers paid for the services of realtors, since they, more than sellers, needed the help of specialists: then apartments were actively sold, and it was necessary to quickly “grab” a suitable option. Today the situation is exactly the opposite, which is why, as a rule, realtors are paid by sellers.
In an alternative transaction, the client acts as both a seller and a buyer, therefore, naturally, he rewards the realtor.
How much to pay an agency when renting an apartment
- try to gain access to the organization’s database and independently find a suitable option, and then contact the property owner;
- come to view the apartment with an agent and arrange a meeting with the owner of the property later, and then directly conclude the deal;
- send a dummy for inspection, and subsequently contact the property owner yourself.
- Check the credentials of the person acting as a realtor. Here it is worth asking to show real estate documents, and if the agent acts on behalf of the organization, a power of attorney to conduct such transactions.
- Read the contract carefully. There is no need to rush and sign it right away; it is better to ask for a copy for review and study it in a calm environment.
What do we pay for on the secondary market?
Now let's take a closer look at what services we pay for. In fact, a realtor has many responsibilities, and they are specified in the agreement that the client enters into with the real estate agency. As the chairman of the board of the group, Oksana Vrazhnova, clarifies, these include assessing the state of the market, analyzing the price situation in the desired area, and selecting options. The realtor helps the client obtain a mortgage, organizes viewings of properties, and the company’s lawyers check the documents and the legal cleanliness of the apartment. The realtor negotiates with the client and ensures the transfer of money for the property (including prepayment), prepares a draft contract for the purchase and sale of housing. He is also involved in signing and submitting a purchase and sale agreement for state registration, organizing the transfer of real estate to his client under a transfer and acceptance certificate, and so on.
In the case of selling a home, a realtor evaluates the market, conducts an advertising campaign, conducts showings, and negotiates the terms of purchase of real estate; on behalf of the client, accepts advance payment, collects documents, prepares an agreement, ensures the transfer of money, organizes the signing of an agreement, submits documents for state registration and controls the transfer of the apartment to the buyer.
Commission to a realtor when renting and renting out an apartment - what is it and who pays it
The amount of the commission may also depend on the type of transaction being made. The selection of housing can be carried out by one agency or together with a partner. If two agencies work for you at once, then you need to pay them 100% of the monthly rent . They will divide this amount among themselves.
Please tell me, I myself found two two-room apartments on the Internet for rent for 5,500 rubles each, the ad was posted by a realtor, the commission was 3,000 rubles. I have a question: do I pay one time for both apartments or 3,000 rubles for each. And what services should a realtor provide me with this money? Thank you…
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New buildings market: commission is lower than on the secondary market
When purchasing a primary home, you will need the services of a realtor in any case, since you cannot buy an apartment from construction workers. Therefore, developers either create their own real estate sales division or negotiate with a real estate agency. Nikita Orlov says that when selling new buildings in Moscow, a standard scheme applies, when the realtor’s services are paid for by the developer, and not the client. When selling a business class lot, the realtor’s remuneration is 1%, for the mass segment (economy and comfort classes) – 2-3%. When selling apartments in new buildings located in the Moscow region, the commission can reach up to 5%.
For its part, the buyer pays for transaction support and property registration services. As Maria Litinetskaya says, the commission in this case is 1-1.5% (usually 1%) of the transaction amount. According to Marina Piatrovich, head of the secondary housing sales department, the remuneration ranges from 70 to 150 thousand rubles.
Maria Litinetskaya explains that each project has its own rules for paying for realtor services: somewhere in 1% the amount for booking an apartment may be included, which is then included in its price, somewhere the amount of payment for transaction support is fixed, regardless of its amounts.
According to Oksana Vrazhnova, as a rule, buyers of primary apartments believe that a realtor is an intermediary whose services involve additional costs. However, this is not true: the cost of living space for realtors and developers is the same. Some buyers think that it is easier to negotiate a discount with the developer and increase its size, but this is also a misconception. The discount from the developer applies to both real estate agency clients and construction company clients. Sometimes a broker has a larger discount - due to the commission he receives from the developer.
The press service spoke in detail about the services of realtors, which are paid by the buyer of a new building. Often, a personal manager works with the client, who helps him choose a suitable option, a convenient payment method, and, if necessary, apply for a mortgage; he will advise the bank with the most favorable conditions. At the initial stage, the main thing is to conclude a reservation agreement, which guarantees that the apartment will not be sold to another person.
Next, the buyer and the developer sign an equity participation agreement (DPA). The manager organizes the conclusion of an agreement, prepares documents to register the child-only subsidiary in Rosreestr, checks documents for shortcomings and discrepancies, and represents the interests of the buyer in Rosreestr. Finally, the client receives a registered contract.
When the house is put into operation, the realtor helps in registering ownership. He acts on behalf of the buyer on the basis of a power of attorney certified by a notary and an agreement concluded with the client.
How to properly pay a commission
Be sure to require documentary evidence of payment of the commission when renting. In the case of cooperation with intermediaries, their responsibilities include checking the rights to rent out housing: who is the owner, the authenticity of powers of attorney. The commission is paid immediately after the conclusion of the apartment rental agreement, unless otherwise specified in the agreement with the agency.
It is confirmed in any way: a check indicating the details or a receipt with passport data. If you have paid the commission, and the owner for some reason refuses to rent out or does not own the living space, you will not be able to return the money for rent without confirmation.
Commissions on the rental market have also decreased
A downward trend in prices is also observed in the rental market: the cost of rent, the amount of the deposit and commissions have decreased.
Nikita Orlov says that the passing percentage on the Moscow rental market today does not exceed 50%. There are also advertisements that indicate a commission of 100%, but the expert is confident that given the current economic situation, clients will not pay such an amount. Security deposits (collateral) in most cases have also been reduced to 50% of the monthly payment. In the Moscow region, rent has fallen in price, therefore, realtor commissions have also decreased, and here they may not take a deposit at all.
According to Konstantina Marchenko, who works in the town of Pushkino near Moscow, tenants used to pay commissions, but today, due to the large volume of supply and increased competition, it is landlords. Sometimes the landlord and tenant pay equally for the realtor's services. According to Elena Tanaeva, today the realtor’s commission is still paid by the tenant.
In the capital, as a rule, the realtor's services are still paid for by the tenant. According to Nikita Orlov, the landlord takes on such expenses if housing is expensive and the monthly rent is 60-100 thousand rubles or more.
If the realtor’s client is a tenant, the specialist looks for a suitable apartment - evaluates options, contacts the owners to find out the conditions, organizes viewings, and prepares a rental agreement. The realtor helps the landlord find a tenant, places advertisements and warns of possible risks - an unexpected move, subletting of an apartment by tenants, use of real estate for other purposes. All these points are specified in the contract.
Oksana Polyakova, deputy director of the apartment rental department at INCOM-Real Estate, adds that the agency cooperates with clients and after the transaction is concluded, apartment owners are provided with a “Guarantee”. According to the terms of the agreement, the agency helps resolve disputes and supports clients throughout the entire rental period. provides such services free of charge, since it is interested in constantly updating its database. “Warranty obligations” are relevant for tenant clients and are included in the range of services provided at a standard payment.
Private realtors in the rental market ask about the same for their services. However, do not forget that private traders may subsequently demand a larger amount from the client than was initially agreed upon.
The problem of eviction of tenants
It is difficult to terminate a tenancy agreement early; this possibility must be foreseen in advance or dealt with in court. The pitfall is that even after the end of the tenancy agreement, tenants have the right to remain in the apartment legally for a similar period.
The legislation of the Russian Federation provides for the automatic extension of a long-term lease agreement for the same period. But on condition - when the landlord does not warn the tenants 90 days before the end of the lease about their reluctance to rent out housing over the next 12 months.
If the owner of the apartment tells the tenants that he no longer plans to rent out the apartment, and after a short time moves in new tenants, then the previous tenants can sue, and they have a great chance of having their claim satisfied.
Why Internet services do not replace a realtor
Why is a professional realtor valued and why is he not completely replaced by online services? According to Mikhail Kulikov, director of the secondary market department at INCOM-Real Estate, a realtor can create complex chains of sellers and buyers in alternative transactions, of which about 80-90% of the total are currently concluded.
One of the people in the chain may suddenly throw out the trick and even abandon the deal on the eve of the agreed date. Kulikov emphasizes that a realtor must also be a good psychologist who is able to reassure such participants in the transaction and find a way out of almost any situation. The expert adds that online databases are still not able to cope with the human factor and are unlikely to ever be able to.
A separate issue is checking the legal purity of secondary real estate. As experts say, no one will give an ironclad guarantee that there will be no troubles with the apartment in the future. However, by using the services of the legal service of a real estate agency, the buyer will significantly reduce the risks. Marina Piatrovich says that the owner can hide important facts about the apartment: for example, that people are still registered in the living space or there are nuances with title documents, issues related to inheritance of real estate, debts for utilities and others.
In addition, a realtor knows how to bargain and can save the client money, notes Piatrovich. The intermediary's services may be less than the negotiated discount.
According to Oksana Vrazhnova, everything said above is typical for the real estate purchase and sale market - the Internet is used more actively in the rental market. Tenants often find an apartment without the help of a realtor - through friends, using social networks. But this applies to housing in the mass segment. When it comes to renting more expensive lots, employers and owners still prefer to use the services of real estate agencies.
Commission for renting and renting an apartment
- try to gain access to the organization’s database and independently find a suitable option, and then contact the property owner;
- come to view the apartment with an agent and arrange a meeting with the owner of the property later, and then directly conclude the deal;
- send a dummy for inspection, and subsequently contact the property owner yourself.
Having learned how much money they have to give to the agency, tenants often refuse their services. If a person does not want to draw up an agreement and pay a commission to a realtor, he can try to find an apartment to rent on his own. This will save money, but will force you to face a number of difficulties. Today there are a number of ways to use agency services without paying for them.
