George

Quillan wrote "What I really can't understand is what the problem is with French commissions." For  a start they are typically too high and they don't relate to the value of the service provided. According to the FNAIM website, agency fees are not regulated (unlike notaire fees). Fees can be negotiated but are still usually many times higher than in other countries (I speak having bought and sold houses in 5 countries).  It's doublethink to imagine that high fees (often up to 10%) can be extracted from a transaction without distorting the deal for both buyers and sellers. Both end up feeling some impact. High fees with great service might be justifiable but usually the service is nothing special.  The staff (not the proprietors) in many estate agencies in France are without training. If you ask them for full property details they look at you blankly. Anyone who has dealt with a realtor in Canada or the US will confirm the contrast (and their fees are often about half). I think the introduction of a formal MLS (multiple listing system) might be a positive step for agents and buyers. It's a proven system for encouraging widespread co-operation between agents with fee splitting. Of course fees splitting already goes on but only on ad hoc basis. At present agents mainly seem to play a sort of numbers game. Get 500 enquiries, hope to convert 1% to actual sales This is no good for anyone. Or maybe agents need to offer lower fees in exchange for sole agency so that they can be more focused on their stock without being pre-occupied with being ripped off. There's always room for improvement. Quillan thinks that people who do not share his understanding are "thick." It's a pity when someone feels the need to take this tone. Could it be that he feels the weakness of his case. Makes me think of the Moody Blues lyrics "it riles them to believe that you perceive the web they weave and keep on thinking free."