On the House: Consumer Reports enters fray

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, August, 2008 | by Al Heavens Inquirer Columnist

All real estate firms are alike.

At least that's what Consumer Reports says in an article headlined, "Buying, selling, remodeling: How to protect yourself in today's rocky real estate market" in the September issue.

A survey of 15,000 Consumer Reports readers (yielding 9,100 responses) found few differences among the major real estate companies, either in overall performance or specific measures, such as attracting buyers.

Based on the responses, Consumer Reports did find Re/Max franchises and independent agents were more likely to lower the commission they charged sellers below the traditional 6 percent.

The magazine points out, of course, that the respondents had to ask to have the commission lowered. In the case of Re/Max, 77 percent who asked,...