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How Much Does It Cost to Hire the Conejo Valley Guy?

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How Compensation Works

I’m Michael Rice, the Realtor behind Conejo Valley Guy. 

If you’re meeting with Realtors, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is:

“How much do you charge?”

It’s a fair question that deserves a straight answer, but doesn’t always seem to get one

Every transaction is different, commissions are negotiable, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Rather than leaving you to guess, I’d rather explain exactly how my compensation works and what you can expect if we decide to work together.

The Quick Answer

BUYING A HOME

2.5%

 In most cases, the seller offers compensation that covers all or most of this amount. 

SELLING A HOME

2.5%

 My standard compensation for representing you. Buyer agent compensation is separate. 

Now that you know the numbers, I’ll explain how it all works below.

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If You're Buying

My standard buyer representation compensation is 2.5%.

How it’s covered varies from property to property. In most cases, the seller offers compensation that covers all or most of it. At our initial consultation, I’ll explain exactly how it applies so there are no surprises.

So what can you expect when we work together? I break the buying process down into three clear steps:

  1. Initial Consultation – Usually over Zoom, we’ll discuss your goals, timeline, budget, and which Conejo Valley towns and neighborhoods might be the best fit before planning your Area Tour.
  2. Area Tour – If you’re new to the Conejo Valley, we’ll explore the communities that best match your needs before narrowing the home search.
  3. Offers to Closing – Once you’ve found the right home, I’ll guide you through negotiations, inspections, financing, escrow, and closing.

If you’d like to learn more about how I work with buyers, you can explore:

3 Steps to Buying Your Home

More About Buying Your Home

If you’d like to dig a little deeper, these guides may be helpful:

If You're Selling

My standard seller representation compensation is 2.5%.

You’ll also decide whether to offer compensation to the buyer’s agent. Sellers aren’t required to offer buyer agent compensation, but I generally recommend it because it helps attract the largest pool of qualified buyers.

In most cases, I recommend offering 2.5% to the buyer’s agent, bringing the total compensation to 5%. Every home and situation is different, so we’ll discuss the strategy that makes the most sense before your home goes on the market.

If you’d like to understand how buyer agent compensation works and what’s changed, I’ve written a more detailed guide explaining the new rules:

The New Rules for Agent Compensation

When it’s time to sell, here’s how we’ll work through the process:

  1. Prepare Your Home – We’ll determine what needs to be done before your home goes on the market, including repairs, improvements, photography, and marketing.
  2. Price & Launch – We’ll develop a pricing and rollout strategy based on your home, your goals, and the current market.
  3. Offers to Closing – I’ll help you evaluate offers, negotiate terms, and guide you through inspections, appraisal, escrow, and closing.

If you’d like a closer look at how I work with sellers, you can explore:

3 Steps to Selling Your Home page

More About Selling Your Home

If you’d like a deeper look at how I approach selling a home, these guides go into more detail:

A Quick Note About Compensation

One common misconception is that the entire commission goes directly to the Realtor.

It doesn’t.

Compensation is shared between the brokerage and the agent and also helps cover the costs of providing the services involved in the transaction.

My Approach to Real Estate

Every Realtor runs their business a little differently.

I’ve always believed people make better decisions when they understand their options.

That’s why I’ve spent years creating guides on Conejo Valley neighborhoods, schools, pricing strategies, market updates, and the buying and selling process. The more you understand before making a decision, the better.

Whether we end up working together or not, my goal is the same: to give you the information you need to make the decision that’s right for you.

Agent Compensation FAQs

Yes. Real estate compensation is negotiable. The percentages on this page are my standard compensation, but every situation is different and we’ll discuss everything upfront before deciding to work together.

In most cases, no. Most sellers I encounter offer compensation that covers all or most of my 2.5%. If there’s a difference, I’ll explain it before you write an offer so you know exactly what to expect.

No. Sellers aren’t required to offer buyer agent compensation. In most cases, though, I recommend offering 2.5% because I believe it helps put your home in front of the largest possible pool of qualified buyers.

In most cases, yes. My standard compensation is 2.5%, and I typically recommend offering 2.5% to the buyer’s agent. Every situation is different, though, and we’ll discuss the best approach for your home before it goes on the market.

Compensation is typically paid through escrow when the transaction closes. For sellers, I generally cover the upfront costs of marketing your home and am compensated when the sale successfully closes.

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CONEJO VALLEY GUY

I’ve been a Realtor for more than 25 years, all of them here in the Conejo Valley.

I created ConejoValleyGuy.com to share what I’ve learned about the towns, neighborhoods, schools, and real estate market here, and to help buyers and sellers make sense of their options.

Contact Michael

ARE WE A GOOD FIT?

I’m not a high-pressure salesperson, and I won’t promise you something just to earn your business. My approach is to give you the information, local perspective, and guidance you need to make a good decision, then give you the space to make it.

That sometimes means telling you I don’t think you should buy a particular home, or that something you’re considering doing before you sell probably isn’t worth the money.

If that’s what you’re looking for in a Realtor, we’ll probably work well together.

Let’s Talk Through Your Options

What My Clients Say

Check out More Reviews

“More than five stars. Michael was the best. I was a complete novice and he was calm, quick to explain everything, funny, and so knowledgeable! He always had my back and made the negotiations so easy.”

Sharon Morley

“We were impressed with Michael’s area knowledge, honesty and professionalism. There were 12 homes for sale on my street. With Michael’s help we were the only ones that sold with multiple offers and with the highest price for our floor plan. He came to every viewing and handled the negotiations strategically.”

Pegah & Ramin Raven

“In 1 week Michael helped sell my home—over asking. Relocating out of CA, I knew I could trust him to look out for my best interests. After multiple offers, Michael explained the pros of each, and potential risks. His openness and honesty guided successful negotiations. From our first meeting, to closing escrow, and after, Michael answered every question and stayed responsive.”

Heather Ryan