As one of the first realtors in the East Bay to offer full real estate services at a discount I am amused by all of the actions my real estate colleagues have taken to demean my services. In my 15 years in real estate I have faced agents who would boycott my listings, steal my flyers , one agent went to the trouble of taking my for sale sign. Local offices held meetings and developed strategies on how to deal with “ DISCOU (. Assist to Sell& Help U Sell have come and gone) I am still out there offering a tremendous amount of quality service for less. Why did I discount? Why not follow everybody else and charge the normal exorbitant rates. I did it for two reasons: 1 – I wanted to build an independent business not beholden to the rules and procedures of a large company and 2 – I believed that it was the right thing to do. When I looked to sell my house in Fresno , I began to interview agents. I met with agents from the traditional companies and heard the same story over and over. None of the agents stood out from the rest, nor could they come up with an argument against reducing their fees. Having grown upon the streets of Coney Island ( Brooklyn, Nyc); I was nobody’s fool. I inquired about an agent who offered real estate fees for less. He explained how everything worked in the real estate world ( the MLS,Brokers tours,etc). My wife and I decided to use him. We moved to the Bay area ( Livermore) and entrusted our house to him. The market was very slow and it took a little time for my home to sell. But it did. In the mean time my wife and I combed the East Bay cities looking at homes. We followed signs, looked at ads and began to understand the environment. We found a house we liked in Pleasanton and I called up our Fresno agent and asked him how much money would he give us back if we allowed him to represent us in the sale. Afterwards he and I discussed going into business together and all of sudden I was a real estate agent. To make it very clear I provide a tremendous amount of service for my reduced fees. A client receives the care, concern and knowledge that I bring to the business. I also learned that it is better to be direct with clients and let them know what you think of their ideas, rather then mince your words and yes them to death. I like to earn a good living, BUT NOT AT MY CLIENT’S EXPENSE I FOUND IT IS EASIER TO FUNCTION WHEN YOUBELIEVE IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING. To this day it amazes at what other agents get away with and how people fall for it. I regularly have agents and appraisers calling me for advice, contractors, handy men and marketing ideas. I give that info freely even though many of the people are my competitors. These days in a trying market , where people are losing their homes I can offer help and some money back.