The Things Realtors Do to Get the Deal Done

Real estate looks glamorous on TV—gliding through beautiful homes, popping champagne at closing—but in reality, most deals are built on persistence, problem-solving, and strategic sacrifices you’d never see on a reality show.

Behind the scenes, agents often go above and beyond to make a transaction work.

This can mean:

• Adjusting Commissions – If lowering our fee is what it takes to bridge a gap or strengthen an offer, we’ll do it.

• Covering Small Costs – From footing the bill for minor repairs to replacing missing safety items, we keep the deal moving forward.

• Creative Negotiating – Finding solutions that aren’t in the contract template—rent-backs, closing cost credits, flexible timelines—that keep both sides happy.

• Leveraging Relationships – Getting top inspectors, lenders, and contractors to prioritize our clients when time is tight.

• Managing Emotions – Staying level-headed when tensions spike, guiding clients through the emotional rollercoaster of buying and selling.

A Real Example

Just recently, I worked with a client who was buying their next home while also selling their current one. On their purchase, my commission should have been around $45,000—but to make their offer more attractive to the seller in a competitive market, I reduced it all the way down to $15,000. Why? Because I had just represented them on the sale of their home, and I wanted to give them every possible advantage to win the property they truly wanted.

This move made their offer stand out without increasing their out-of-pocket cost—and it helped them beat out other buyers. The sellers saw we were committed, flexible, and serious, and that made all the difference.

The truth is, the “extras” a good agent brings to the table often happen quietly, without any spotlight. But those quiet moves—whether it’s adjusting fees, making calls at odd hours, or absorbing small costs—can be the difference between getting the keys and starting the search all over again.