By Lisa Christopher

From travel to transportation, there’s no doubt that the tides are changing. From Uber, Airbnb, Kijiji, and Amazon, to travel sites such as Expedia and Kayak, you’ll notice that these groundbreaking companies all have at least two things in common; they are disrupting large industries through technological innovation and they are providing consumers with a more convenient and cost effective alternative to the traditional model.

Why has the real estate industry in Canada not undergone the same disruption? Real estate transactions have remained relatively unchanged since the 1900s, with an agent acting as the middle man to represent both the buyer and seller. Traditionally, an agent then handles most aspects of the sale and collects a commission cheque at the end based on a percentage of the sale price. This model seemed fair when the price of a house was substantially less. However, the average price of a house in Canada (as of August 17, 2016) has risen to over $500,000. This makes the average real estate commission (based on a five per cent model) come in at around $25,000.

And so begs the question – is there enough value provided by a traditional agent to justify tens of thousands of dollars out of your pocket when you sell your property? Many people say the value just isn’t there anymore, with savvy buyers and sellers looking for alternative solutions to this traditional framework.

Nothing can improve without change. Do you think the taxi industry would have evolved to become cheaper and easier without a disruptor like Uber? Or would the hotel industry be turned upside down without Airbnb? In those industries, the status quo had previously prevented improvement. The same is true for Canadian real estate. The status quo’s tight grip has maintained the current system of high commissions and prevented innovative services from entering the market for far too long.

Why wouldn’t the gatekeepers of a multi-billion dollar industry want to maintain such a prosperous system? However, this prosperity has come at the expense of the consumer. Real estate commission services may in fact be one of the most expensive “purchases” someone makes in their lifetime, after their home and their vehicle.

Shouldn’t there be an alternative?

We are PropertyGuys.com. Our system was conceived because our founders believed (way back in 1998) that people should be able to sell their house without using an agent or paying high commissions. The company has evolved over the years to provide a full service approach that’s similar to that of an agent (at a fraction of the cost), but also takes away all of the hassles often associated with selling on your own.

It has been our belief from the start that consumers deserve a better way to buy and sell their property and it shouldn’t cost you a fortune or expertise to do so. The PropertyGuys.com system connects sellers with the true real estate experts in their fields such as real estate lawyers and appraisers – who are often replaced by an agent at great expense. However, most people know that expert advice from an unbiased, third party expert is irreplaceable.

The traditional real estate industry might say things about us that bend the truth. However, that is bred from fear and a lack of understanding. We understand that change can be scary, especially with so much commission to lose. We invite anyone to chat over coffee about what our system is (and what it isn’t). The truth is that we simply want to provide buyers and sellers with an easy, sensible and, more economical way to sell their home. Our focus is on the homeowners whose hard earned money is on the line; money that they could otherwise spend on their next down payment, new appliances or even a vacation!

When it comes down to it, we believe that you work hard for your money, and you should get the most out of it. That is why we do what we do. We want to be the catalyst that moves the real estate industry forward and gives buyers and sellers the freedom to successfully sell their property at a fraction of the cost. Just like our fellow disruptors who have changed the way we watch TV, get around town, and book vacations – it’s not only what people want, it’s also what they deserve.

– Lisa Christopher is co-owner of Property Guys East Kootenay and Crowsnest Pass (PropertyGuys.com.)

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