Question 1

Is SimpleShowing a real estate brokerage?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SimpleShowing is a full-service brokerage, licensed
                    in Georgia, Florida and Texas. When you work with us to
                    buy or sell a home, we serve as your real estate agent
                    and assist you during every step of the process, just
                    like a traditional agent would — but without the
                    expensive traditional agent fees.

Question 2

How is SimpleShowing different?

Accepted Answer

We believe that the prevailing approach of traditional real estate brokers is expensive and outdated. Consumers now have access to more data than every before and can easily search listings online to help find homes they want to see. At SimpleShowing, we believe savvy home buyers should be rewarded for the time and energy they spend looking for their next home — that’s why give them back up to half of the Buyer’s Agent commission at closing.

For Sellers: Technology has made it significantly less expensive for agents to sell a home today than in years past. Meanwhile, as home prices have risen, the amount of money traditional agents make on each transaction has increased as well. We believe this system is broken and unfair. That’s why we charge sellers a low, flat listing fee. They still get the same degree of service and expertise as a traditional agent, but for a fraction of the cost. Thank you, technology!

With our experienced agents, dedicated customer service team, state of the art technology and fast-growing list of clients, SimpleShowing is changing the way buyers and sellers use real estate services.

Question 3

Which cities and states do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We are licensed in Florida, Georgia and Texas. We have agents in the following markets: Miami, FL; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA; Orlando, FL; Tampa, FL; Savannah, GA; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Fort Worth, TX

Question 4

Isn't using an agent free to me as a buyer?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly. When a seller lists their home, they specify what they’ll pay their Listing Agent to sell their home and what they’ll pay a Buyer’s Agent (typically 3% to each agent, 6% in total.) If the buyer doesn’t have an agent, generally the Listing Agent receives both commissions. While the seller actually pays the commission, it’s with money they receive from the buyer. In essence, you as the buyer are really the one paying this commission. So why not get some of your money back with the SimpleShowing Buyer’s Refund?

Question 5

How do you give back so much money?

Accepted Answer

The short answer is by letting savvy buyers like you do the shopping. Our model is not designed to support buyers that are at the earliest stage of their home search or buyers who want to tour dozens of properties per week for several months. Rather, we support buyers who already have a good sense of their target zip code, price point and purchase timeframe. By working primarily with these buyers, we are able to deliver unparalleled value, guidance and expertise. Because our buyers are sharing more of the work themselves during the search process, we’re able to refund up to half of our commission towards your closing costs.

Question 6

How does the refund work?

Accepted Answer

The seller typically pays us 2.5% - 3% of the home purchase price for representing you as your "Buyer's Agent". Instead of keeping it all, we give you up to half of our net commission in the form of a physical check or a closing credit. This typically results in 1.25% to 1.5% of the purchase price or about $5,000 on average! Please note: The refund is subject to a minimum net commission of $4,000 to SimpleShowing and may decrease on a tiered basis after the first five showings. It also may be subject to lender approval and could be restricted with certain loan products. Talk with your mortgage professional about your anticipated Buyer Refund. See Terms and Conditions for complete details about our Buyer Refund.

Question 7

When/how should I get started with SimpleShowing as a home buyer?

Accepted Answer

Feel free to call, text or email us any time about a specific property. We can get answers or details you weren't able to find in the listing. The best time to start touring homes with SimpleShowing is about 6-8 weeks before you plan to make an offer. Many of the buyers we work with are already actively looking for properties on their own via open houses or by contacting listing agents directly. If you already have a home (or couple of homes) that you want to see, give us a call or schedule a showing online or through our mobile app. We’ll line up a single showing or a full day of showings for you. And remember, our Buyer Refund means you’ll get back up to half of the buyer’s agent commission at closing — $6,000 on average.

Question 8

Besides the property showing, what other type of help do you provide buyers?

Accepted Answer

Our expert agents and staff provide assistance throughout the entire buying process — from identifying possible properties to writing the offer, and from contract negotiations all the way through closing. We can answer any questions regarding a specific property, neighborhood or zip code, provide a list of comparable homes, contact a listing agent on your behalf and give you advice on a property before you make an offer. When you’re ready, we’ll help you write a compelling offer, then we’ll help negotiate and respond to any counter-offers or contingencies. We can also help line up property inspections and suggest lenders, insurance companies and real estate attorneys as needed from our network of service providers. In short, we do everything a traditional agent does — except keep all the commission for ourselves.

Question 9

Who meets me at the property for the home tour?

Accepted Answer

You can book a showing on our website or mobile app and one of our licensed agents will meet you at the home. The specific agent will be based on the geographic area of the property you want to see, as well as the date and time you select.

Question 10

How do you handle inspections, appraisals and the pre-closing process?

Accepted Answer

We coordinate the buyer’s side of the closing process in partnership with the listing agent, closing agent and loan officer. We help our buyers with disclosures, inspections, requests for repair and loan approvals — anything and everything that arises during the closing process.

Question 11

How do I schedule a home showing?

Accepted Answer

You can schedule home showings however is most convenient for you: via our website, mobile app or by calling us or contacting one of our agents directly. As long as you use SimpleShowing as your Buyer Agent, you’ll be eligible for our Buyer Refund.

Question 12

How will I get my closing cost credit?

Accepted Answer

It will either be applied to your closing costs or issued as a check at the time of closing. If applied as a closing credit, you will be see the refund as a line item on the closing statement and pay less out of pocket for your home. This means that the refund reduces the total amount of cash that you're required to bring to closing. The refund is handled with directly with the closing attorney, title coordinator, and/or the escrow and loan officer. The refund is separate from the purchase contract and does not affect the seller in any way. Lender approval may be required. We suggested talking with your lender about your anticipated Buyer Refund.

Question 13

Will I have a licensed Realtor representing me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our clients receive complete, end-to-end management from a licensed, experienced agent. We’ll analyze comparable home sales data to help you determine the optimal list price, arrange a professional photographer, and develop a comprehensive plan to market your home through the MLS and dozens of other websites and channels. We’ll also work with you and interested buyers to coordinate showings, negotiate offers, and do everything needed to get you through the closing process — just like a traditional agent would — but for a fraction of the cost!

Question 14

Do I still pay the Buyer's Agent commission?

Accepted Answer

To incentivize other agents to bring their buyers to see your home (and in order to be listed in the MLS), you need to offer a commission to the cooperating "Buyer's Agent.” Typically, the Buyer's Agent is offered 3%, but in some metro areas with higher home prices, 2.5% may be more common. By offering the standard 3% commission, you can avoid lost traffic to your home and expect a faster home sale for a higher price.

Question 15

How do you market my listing?

Accepted Answer

We market homes across multiple channels to reach the greatest number of buyers and buyer agents. We list your home in the MLS and dozens of national websites, including Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Homes.com and others. This ensures the highest visibility among potential buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 92% of homebuyers search for their home online. In addition, we market homes through social channels, including Facebook ads and a dedicated landing page for each listing, which helps drive more home buyers to view your property. Lastly, we place a yard sign for each of our clients. In terms of attributed traffic sources, these methods combined account for over 99% of all home sales in the US.

Question 16

Is SimpleShowing similar to For Sale By Owner?

Accepted Answer

No. Our approach is the exact same level of service you'd receive from a big, national brokerage. We provide advice, guidance and contract assistance that goes well beyond what you'd receive with a For Sale By Owner service. We include pre-listing consultation, pricing analysis, ongoing support, coordination of home showings and feedback from buyers.

Question 17

Does an agent from SimpleShowing meet prospective buyers at my property?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we will meet prospective buyers at the property if they do not have an agent or if their agent is unable to attend. We also include a Supra iBox (the Realtor preferred electronic box) and text alerts to let you know when a home showing has been requested. Because some buyers attempt to book last minute showings, the electronic lockbox is a valuable feature.

Question 18

What don't I get when using SimpleShowing?

Accepted Answer

Our customers sacrifice nothing when compared to a larger, national brokerage. That being said, there are a couple of silly things we generally do not provide, such as printed flyers for showings or balloons for open houses - both common practices among old-school agents. Other than these items, SimpleShowing does everything you would expect from a full service brokerage.

Question 19

When do I pay the listing fee?

Accepted Answer

Our listing fee is paid at the time of your closing and is deducted from the profit on the sale of your home. This is the exact process that occurs when you list and sell through a national brokerage, except a fraction of the cost.

Question 20

How do you ensure that I price my home appropriately?

Accepted Answer

We provide you with a home value report prior to listing your property. This report will give you an estimate of your home’s value in the current market based on publicly available data for recent home sales. You decide if upgrades, special features or finishes merit a price above or below the estimated value we provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SimpleShowing a real estate brokerage?

How is SimpleShowing different?

Which cities and states do you serve?