It seems like a very simple question doesn't it? In 40 years I am convinced people are still confused about it. A Real Estate Salesperson gets paid when a consumer writes a contract that gets accepted and actually closes. Your real estate agent does not get paid for doing a market analysis for you. They do not get paid for showing you properties you don't buy and they don't get paid if you don't close on a property. My feeling is; as a Realtor, we advertise, show properties, help people make good decisions and do everythiing without being reimbursed for our time and expenses unless we have a closing. Statisically speaking, we work with 9 out of 10 buyers who don't buy and only get paid for 1. We have not raised our fees in the last 42 years. We take all the risk... knowing that if we do a good job and make your dreams come true, we might get paid.! Are we crazy, no other occupation does all that without compensation. Maybe we are, or maybe we are the most generous souls on the planet. You decide. In my next blog, I will share with you some of the things we do that make your life so much easier and save you so much money! Terri