+ Who is rhinorealty?
We are a fully licensed residential real estate brokerage that has been offering flat fee or discount commissions
to Alberta residents for over a decade. Our REALTORS® operate within the MLS® System no different than traditional agents.
+ How do you differ from a
traditional real estate
brokerage?
There are two main differences, flexibility of services and commission rates. Our range of service encompasses
everything from For Sale By Owner (FSBO) to our complete Flat Fee Full Service Program. And, in all cases,
we offer significant savings to home owners when compared to the commonly quoted traditional fees. We believe
strongly in consumer choice and a competitive marketplace, real estate services and rates should not be an exception.
+ Can a traditional agent sell my
house faster or for more money?
The amount of time your home is on the market has absolutely zero to do with which agent, or brokerage, your
home is listed with. Factors that affect your days on market include, but are not limited to; type of market
(sellers or buyers), your asking price, competing properties, and buyer’s agent commission. Your sale price is
predominately determined by the market conditions, and to a lesser extent your agents (traditional or otherwise)
negotiating skills.
+ How much are traditional real
estate fees?
Although rates can vary, a common commission in Alberta is 7% on the first $100,000 plus 3% on the balance of
the sale price of your home, plus GST. Each agent, the listing agent and the buyer's agent, normally takes half of
that amount, 3.5% on the first $100,000 plus 1.5% on the balance.
+ How much does rhinorealty
charge?
Our real estate fees vary depending on which of our service plans you choose. Please visit our Seller's section in
both our For Sale By Owner (FSBO) and Flat Fee Full Service areas of this website for complete details on all of our
service options and their associated costs.
+ Do you charge any upfront fees?
Our Flat Fee Full Service Program is available with a “pay only on closing” option, or “pay in advance” options.
Paying in advance can reduce your listing cost up to $1500. Our For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Package requires payment
in advance of listing.
+ How can you charge less?
We believe that our fees represent fair compensation for the amount of work we do. The real question is why do
old-style traditional REALTORS® charge so much? Their fees have little or no correlation to the amount of work
involved in selling a home, ours do.
+ Does your fee include the buyer's
agent commission?
No, the fees you see listed on this website for both our Flat Fee Full Service Program and our For Sale By Owner (FSBO)
Package are for the listing side of the commission only.
+ Are your listings on the MLS®
System and REALTOR.ca?
Yes, all our Flat Fee Full Service listingsand our For Sale By Owner (FSBO) listings are on the MLS® System and REALTOR.ca
+ How much do I have to pay a
cooperating buyer's agent?
There is information under the Seller’s tab of either the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) or Flat Fee Full Service sections of this
website that discusses this question in detail. Additionally, we’re happy to explain it to you on the phone or during
our free no obligation in-home REALTOR® visit.
+ Will buyer's agents show my
house for less than what is
"normal"?
The answer is yes, however, remember that the amount of cooperation you receive from REALTORS® will depend,
in part, on the amount of buyer's agent commission you offer. Also, remember that many REALTORS® may be left
with no other option than to show your home. Their client may be insisting on seeing the property, and rather than
losing the client and earning nothing, they will show your home.
+ Have you ever sold with less than
the "normal" buyer's agent
commission?
Yes, we do it all the time. In fact, the majority of our listings sell with less than the commonly offered 3.5% on the
first $100,000 plus 1.5% on balance of sale price buyer’s agent commission. The point here is that you will not save
on the buyer's agent side of the commission unless you try. Unfortunately most traditional REALTORS® will not allow
you to reduce the buyer's agent commission.
+ Why doesn't everyone sell with a
discount or flat fee real estate
company?
Good question, they should. There is no reason to pay 7% on the first $100,000 plus 3% on the balance of sale price
to sell your house. Really, there isn't.
+ Are there any other costs I need
to consider?
Not from us, however, depending on the property you're selling, you may be responsible for a real property report (RPR),
condominium documents and/or municipal permits. Additionally, you will have legal fees and any applicable mortgage
payout penalties.
+ Your program looks great for
home sellers, but what if I am
buying?
We were the first real estate brokerage in Alberta to offer a brokerage-wide CashBack Reward Program for our buying clients.
To date, we have rebated hundreds of thousands of dollars to home buyers that have chosen rhinorealty to represent them in
their home purchase. To our knowledge, not a single traditional brokerage in Alberta offers such a program.