What you need to know
At the same selling price, Don’s 2% combined commission can leave thousands more than the 7%/3% comparison. Compare pricing, marketing, communication and negotiation alongside the fee.
Start with the combined fee.
Don’s fee is 2% combined commission: 1% for the listing brokerage and 1% for the buyer’s brokerage, plus GST. That includes pricing advice, professional photography, MLS® exposure, showing coordination and negotiation through the sale.
For a useful comparison, ask every agent for the total commission payable under the proposed agreement. Include the buyer-brokerage allocation and GST. That prevents a listing-side percentage from being mistaken for the whole cost.
Compare the dollars at your selling price.
| Sale price | 7%/3% example | Don’s 2% | You keep more |
|---|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | $16,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 |
| $500,000 | $19,000 | $10,000 | $9,000 |
| $700,000 | $25,000 | $14,000 | $11,000 |
| $900,000 | $31,000 | $18,000 | $13,000 |
| $1,200,000 | $40,000 | $24,000 | $16,000 |
On a $1.2 million sale, 2% is $24,000 before GST. The 7%/3% example is $40,000, a $16,000 difference. Including GST, the difference is $16,800. The sale price is held constant in this calculation.
7%/3% is a comparison structure, not a rate every Realtor charges. Compare the actual proposals you receive and have any variations explained in writing.
Use a service checklist alongside the numbers.
- Price: compare relevant sold homes, competing listings and your property’s condition.
- Prepare: prioritize the changes buyers will notice and plan professional photography.
- Launch: publish accurate MLS® details and present the home clearly online.
- Respond: coordinate showings, discuss feedback and adjust the plan when needed.
- Negotiate: review price, deposit, conditions, inclusions and possession together.
- Close: keep track of condition deadlines and coordinate next steps with your lawyer.
Ask who performs each task, when you will receive updates and how the plan changes if the home is not getting the expected response. Don’s offer includes the core listing work, with direct discussion of your property and timing.
Evaluate the pricing and negotiation approach.
Ask each agent to show the comparable sales behind the recommended price and the active listings buyers will compare. Discuss the differences rather than accepting the highest suggested number without support.
For negotiation, ask how the agent assesses conditions, possession and competing offers. You want clear advice when a decision is required, not only a persuasive presentation before signing.
Check the experience you will actually receive.
Don has sold more than 650 Calgary-area homes using this business model and has worked in Calgary real estate since 2013. His experience helps you put the price, preparation and negotiation decisions together.
Don was recognized as 2% Realty’s #1 Realtor in Canada for the full year 2022. He also earned #1 quarterly rankings within 2% Realty in select quarters from 2022–2026. That brokerage recognition sits alongside the daily work of pricing, preparing and negotiating Calgary homes.
Review client reviews, ask about relevant sales and discuss your own property. The best comparison is a concrete selling plan with the service and fee visible together.