[gemorc]

This subject came up at a dinner party last night, and I didn't know the answer. It seems a neighbor of of one of the guests has reportedly received a bill for $500.00, from the Villages Reality, for advertising.

My question is to homeowners who have used the Villages Reality, is this a common practice? In all my years, I have never heard of such a practice.

[SUNNYMARYANN]

My house has been advertised in the local paper since Sept. 08 and I know for a fact that the realtor absorbs the fee for the ad. I have never heard of anyone being billed for advertising. That is the Realtors responsibility. If your friend signed nothing relating to agreement to pay for advertising I dont see how he/she can be held liable for that bill. My daughter is our Realtor and I am going to ask her about it this morning.

[BobKat1]

My understanding is that advertising fees are normally covered by the commission charged by the realtor/agency. Unless some special arrangements were negotiated prior to the listing. It doesn't seem too likely that TV Realty would get too involved in creative commission agreements. I could be wrong though.

[SUNNYMARYANN]

I asked my realtor daughter about this and she told me that there are occassions when an advertising fee is indeed part of the contract. It is usually in the case of a very highly priced house like over a million dollars. And that advertising is usually in those slick magazines with the pretty pictures. Check to see if there is an advertising fee clause in what ever was signed.

[l2ridehd]

If you read the Villages listing agreement, they have a section in there that if you remove the home from the market before the end of the agreement terms, they can assess a charge for advertising and open houses. Because they allow you to cancel the listing agreement at any time, they use this to hold you to the term of the listing. There has been times when someone lists their home, they get an acceptable offer from someone going to the seller directly, so this is used to recover their cost. If you list the home with them for the entire term of the contract, those costs can not be applied.

[trumbull]

Can somebody tell what percent commision The Villages charges on resales.

[graciegirl]

Excellent information 12ridehd! I too am wondering how much the commission charged for resale.