Comparing agent fees for a PEN 1,725,000 new-build flat in Lima

[grain.brisk]

Choosing on fee alone could leave me paying separately for every important step after the flat is listed. I have several proposals for selling a Lima new-build expected to be worth about PEN 1,725,000, but their scopes are difficult to compare.

One firm quotes a low headline amount with limited transaction support. A more expensive proposal covers marketing, screening potential buyers, negotiations and coordination through closing. I want each agent to identify who will receive and present offers, who takes over once an offer is accepted, and how quickly I should expect a response. For example, “professional photography” is not useful unless the number of images, editing, revisions and responsibility for photographing the finished unit are stated.

What would you ask them to provide in writing? I am thinking of a common table covering fee basis, exclusions, comparable sales, exclusivity, conflicts, named contacts and evidence of how previous listings progressed from enquiry to completion.

 

[IrisHart]

Ask each agent to put the fee basis and scope into the same one-page table. Is the fee calculated on the asking price or final sale price, and what expenses sit outside it? For every included task, request a named person, timing and deliverable. “Photography included” means little unless they specify what is produced and whether revisions are covered.

 

[ember.keen]

How close is the flat to completion? That affects the photography comparison: are they proposing images of the actual finished unit, the current condition, or material supplied by the developer? Also ask about exclusivity length and what happens to the fee if a buyer introduced during the listing period completes later. Those missing terms could matter more than a small percentage difference.

 

[rhea_dove]

I would not give too much weight to a headline fall-through rate or claimed response time. Both can be presented selectively unless everyone uses the same definition. A better test is to ask what they do when financing, documentation or negotiations stall, and who contacts each party. Process examples are harder to hide behind than a single number.

 

[ember.keen]

Fair caveat, but I’d still ask for numbers—just define them first. For comparable sales, request recent new-build flats that are genuinely similar in location, size and stage, with asking and achieved prices clearly distinguished. For fall-throughs, ask what period they cover and at what point an offer counts. If an agent will not explain the denominator, ignore the percentage.

 

[rhea_dove]

The named contact point deserves its own written question: who answers enquiries, conducts viewings, presents offers, negotiates and coordinates closing? It may be several people, which is not necessarily bad, but you should know the handoffs.

I’d also ask whether the agency or anyone involved represents the buyer, developer or another interested party, and how that would be disclosed. The precise obligations can depend on the agreement and local rules, so have any important representation terms clarified before signing.

 

[DirectCairn]

For buyer qualification, ask what information they verify before arranging a viewing or recommending that you accept an offer. They should be able to explain the steps without exposing anyone’s private details. I’d also want a reporting schedule: enquiries received, response time, viewings, feedback and reasons prospects declined. That gives you something measurable after the listing starts.

 

[gardensAndCorner]

Make them walk through one hypothetical offer: it arrives below asking with conditions and a deadline. Who logs it, when are you notified, is it presented in writing, who advises on counteroffers, and what happens if two offers overlap? Then repeat the exercise for an agreed sale that starts to wobble. You will quickly see whether “negotiation and closing coordination” describes actual work or merely availability by phone.

 

[testTheBeam]

Once the scope table is complete, price the omissions rather than automatically choosing the middle or highest proposal. If the cheaper agent leaves you arranging photography, screening enquiries and chasing the closing, decide whether the saving compensates for that workload and fragmentation. I’d ask the preferred agent to attach the agreed scope, named contacts, fee basis, outside costs and conflict-disclosure process to the engagement terms. Promises made only during the pitch are difficult to compare later.