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Buyers

• How do I get cash back for buying a home or other real estate?
  When My Dog Tess represents you as your buyers agent, we will earn a commission from the listing agent when you buy your property. Tess will split the commission she earns with you. It's that simple. (See the rebate calculator on the buyer's page to see how large your rebate could be.)
• Is it legal to give a buyer a cash rebate at closing?
  Yes, it is legal in North Carolina to compensate a principal in a real estate transaction even if they do not have a real estate license. My Dog Tess confirmed this fact with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.
• Can I apply my cash rebate against my closing costs?
  Yes. As long as the disposition of the rebate is shown on the closing statement, you can do whatever you want with the money. Your My Dog Tess agent will ask you if you would like your rebate paid outside of closing, with a check made payable to you, or applied against your closing costs.
• Why haven't other Realtors offered this cash back rebate service?
  Some Realtors do offer this service on a limited basis. However, it's typically offered as a perk for repeat business. No Realtor in North Carolina, that we are aware of, offers this service to every home purchaser. Most Realtors don't offer the service because they simply don't have to it's not an industry practice.

Sellers

• Can My Dog Tess really sell my property?
  In short, yes we can and we can save you money.  My Dog Tess has been in business for over seven years. We were recently ranked 11^th in the Triangle (by the Triangle Business Journal based on closed transactions) for the 2008 year – 11^th out of roughly 1,000 firms. We have completed transactions with every major brokerage in the Triangle.
• If I use My Dog Tess to list my house, what do I pay the Realtor who finds a buyer for my home through the MLS?
  Depending on which county you're in, you pay 2.4% - 3% of the agreed sales price to the buyers agent at closing. This seems high, but $500 to Tess plus 3% of the sales price to the buyers agent beats paying a traditional realtor 6% - 7% to put your home in the MLS. (See the savings calculator on the for sellers page.)
• What if I find my own buyer?
  If you sell your house yourself, with no buyers agents involved, you pay no commissions under our $500 program.

   

  Under our full service program you pay the 1% fee but nothing more.

   

  The majority firms will charge you the buyer agent portion of the commission even if the buyer does not have a real estate agent.  So if you find a buyer on your own, the real estate firm will still charge you a fee.  

   

  My Dog Tess does not charge you when another agent is not involved, and we will still do all the back and forth negotiations with the unrepresented buyer.
• Will agents from the larger firms show my home to their clients?
  Many sellers fear that they will be "black balled" by traditional firms. Our experience and sales statistics show that buyers agents do not discriminate against our sellers - agents are interested in making a living and you're offering a commission that is at or above the market (while still saving money)
  
  In addition, the modern home buying process is largely buyer driven.  Eighty percent of home buyers start their search on the web.  The majority of buyers tell their agents which houses they want to see after previewing them on the internet - regardless of the listing company.
  
  Some agents try to get our clients or potential clients to press the "panic button" by telling them their house will not sell with My Dog Tess.  Don't believe it; if the process didn't work, we'd be out of business - not growing by leaps and bounds.

   

  In January of 2008, we were ranked 16^th in the Triangle by the Triangle Business Journal based on transaction volume – 16^th out of roughly 1,000 firms.  The numbers don’t lie – unprofessional real estate agents do.

• What are the differences between the My Dog Tess Full Service program and listing with other "traditional" firms?
  There are three main differences.  1) We charge less in fees, 2) We do not offer any print advertising, and 3) If an unrepresented buyer wants to purchase your home, you do not pay a buyers agent commission.

   

  Item 1 - Self explanatory – pay off your mortgage, not your realtor.

   

  Item 2 - We will place print ads for you if you wish, at your cost, but we have found it totally unnecessary.

   

  Item 3 – The majority of all firms will charge you the buyer agent portion of the commission even if the buyer does not have a real estate agent.  So if you find a buyer on your own, the real estate firm will still charge you a fee.  My Dog Tess does not charge you when another agent is not involved, and we will still do all the back and forth negotiations with the unrepresented buyer.
• What's included in the $500 flat fee program?
  My Dog Tess will: list your property on the MLS, list your property on Realtor.com and other internet sites, provide a professional yard sign, provide a lock box, provide access to the MLS appointment call center, provide digital photos of your home, provide you with every NCAR Real Estate Form, and provide you with a detailed manual outlining the sales process.
• Where on the internet will my listing appear?
  Through our listing partners your home will be featured on Realtor.com, Google Base, AOL Real Estate, Trulia, Zillow, Yahoo.com, CyberHomes, Myrealty.com, Homegain.com, and numerous others in addition to all the local real estate company websites and the My Dog Tess website.
• Will My Dog Tess hold an "Open House" at my property?

  No, we do not sit in houses with out fingers crossed!  It is a dirty industry secret that open houses are designed to generate business for the agent on duty – selling the home is secondary. In addition, there are safety and liability concerns with open houses.

   

  We will however, schedule an open house for you in the MLS and on Realtor.com if you would like to hold an open house.
• Will my listing have multiple pictures and a virtual tour?
  All of our listings receive multiple photos at no charge.  Virtual tours can be purchased through us at cost - typically around $150.  However, 99% of the homes we have sold have not used a virtual tour.