Company offers service that claims to save home buyers, sellers thousands

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- If you're thinking of putting your home on the market, it no secret you'll have to pay a Realtor commission fee if the house sells. But what if you could do some of the work yourself to save thousands?

Traditionally when selling your house, a commission percentage goes to both the selling agent and buyer's agent. But one local company is looking to change all that by helping to keep more money in the pockets of homeowners. But is there a catch?

When Jared and Laura Couvillon put their house on the market, they were looking to keep as much equity as possible.

"We ended up saving just over $11,000," he said.

The Couvillons say all they had to do was a little work themselves to earn that savings.

"We created some marketing flyers. That's about it. And we kind of facilitated the scheduling with Realtors that wanted to come see the house. Bring their clients to come see the house," Laura Couvillon said.

Bobby Bryant with I Buy Realty says his company is looking to change the game of real estate by offering a range of packages that assist both buyers and sellers.

"We will give you a portion of our commission, to help lower your closing costs," Bryant said.

How much you save, depends on the effort you put into the deal.

"Does it cost money to sell a house? Yes. But by us partnering with sellers and sharing that cost, we're actually able to lower the commission," he said.

Bryant says to save money on the back end, you need to put up an investment up front. One option requires the homeowner to pay a flat fee of $995. With that comes a marketing package, and the ability to list your home on MLS until it sells.

HAR Chair Chaille Ralph says there's always been different business models in the community that offer different levels of service. She says it's important for consumers to do their homework before hiring a Realtor.

"I think it's just key that you ask the right questions, gather the right information, and choose the Realtor that 's best for your particular situation," Ralph said.

So if you're currently looking for a Realtor, and don't mind paying for the up-front costs, this could be something to consider.