Hourly Consulting | Real Estate Articles & Blog

Category Archives: Hourly Consulting

Cohousing: Sharing life with neighbors

By Don Dunning | October 1, 2014

“When I am with a group of human beings committed to hanging in there through both the agony and the joy of community, I have a dim sense that I am participating in a phenomenon for which there is only one word…’glory.’ ”
– M. Scott Peck

California is the U.S. focal point for cohousing, a social experiment that originated in Denmark in the late 1960s and was imported to America in the 1990s. A group of like-minded folks participate in a planned community that will meet their needs.

Berkeley seller applauds hourly real estate consulting

By Don Dunning | April 13, 2012

Last week, a woman who had just closed escrow on her Berkeley home posted the following online: “As I was selling directly to my tenants and we had already negotiated the price, I needed someone to handle paperwork and explain the process to me.” She knew that, typically, real estate agents charge a percentage of the purchase price for their services. In her situation, this did not make financial sense and she called me to help her on an hourly basis.

Over the years, I have written about why this arrangement is logical in specific instances. I have also commented about how slow the real estate industry has been to fill this obvious need to help buyers and sellers in a more cost-effective way. That continues to be true.

Hourly real estate consultants: Still hard to find

By Don Dunning | June 24, 2011

In some situations, buyers and sellers are much better off working with a real estate professional on an hourly, consulting basis rather than with a commission agreement. As an East Bay buyer or seller, however, finding a licensee prepared to work per hour, with the experience and knowledge you need, might not be easy.

Paying your real estate agent by-the-hour – will it work?

By Don Dunning | August 3, 2009

Although I have been doing hourly real estate consulting for nearly half of my 30 years in the business, there are not many fee-based real estate consultants out there. Many may say they do by-the-hour consultation, but few really understand what that means. Recently, a couple interested in purchasing a Northern California home listed in […]

Hourly consulting: Great idea whose time has yet to come

By Don Dunning | January 12, 2009

Real estate by-the-hour, as I have discussed in previous articles, is a tremendous approach in certain situations. Recently, I received a thank you note from a client saying how well hourly consulting worked for her. I helped with her purchase of a For Sale By Owner, East Bay property. I am pleased that my advice, including how to negotiate with the seller, worked out so well for her.

The email reminded me that this service is so needed, yet exists in a vacuum that is unlikely to soon be filled. Consulting by-the-hour continues to be held back by a number of factors.

East Bay Real Estate Consulting

By Don Dunning | December 15, 2008

As an hourly real estate consultant, I have helped people in the East Bay. In one recent case, the client was a senior citizen who had a number of questions relating to her property. She was neither buying nor selling, but required information for planning purposes. Several days ago, I helped another individual with a […]

Hourly Real Estate Consulting: It Makes Sense and Saves Money, But Few Agents Do It

By Don Dunning | April 22, 2008

Why pay a large real estate commission when all you require is someone to do the paperwork? For example, if you own a rental house, want to sell it, and you and your tenant have agreed on a price, do you really want a broker to charge you one or two per cent (often more) […]

Consulting Helps Couple Avoid “Money Pit”

By Don Dunning | April 29, 2007

After losing out in multiple offers on two houses, “Sam” and “Barb,” a local couple, heard about a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). The sellers refused to pay a real estate commission and their Realtor told these buyers they would have to go it alone. Apparently, the agent did not know about Buyer-Broker agreements.

Sam and Barb considered hiring an attorney to draft the contract. Before doing so, however, Sam’s co-worker, one of my past clients, referred them to me for my by-the-hour, consulting help. As it turned out, for a nominal amount, Sam and Barb avoided spending a premium for a home that offered little more than a laundry list of problems.

Consulting Saves Buyer’s Bacon

By Don Dunning | January 22, 2005

We all learn from our mistakes, but how much are you willing to pay for the lesson? Recently, a buyer was referred to me after he had an accepted contract on a local property. That phone call saved the buyer from a blunder that could have cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Consultant or Agent?

By Don Dunning | November 13, 1997

The real estate industry has been slow to offer the public an acceptable alternative to traditional agency relationships and sizable fees. Fortunately, there is another option, “consulting”, a misunderstood term, even among licensed real estate practitioners.