Questions about selling with Commission by Design?

Commission by Design is the tiered listing program from Ashley Howie and the Howie Gets It Sold team for Southern California home sellers. Instead of one fixed rate, you choose the level of service and the listing commission that goes with it: Virtual at 1%, Hybrid at 2% or Concierge at 2.5%. Every plan is full-service MLS representation by a licensed agent, from pricing through closing. Compare the plans

The listing commission is 1%, 2% or 2.5% of the sale price, depending on the plan you choose. On an $800,000 sale that's $8,000 with Virtual, $16,000 with Hybrid or $20,000 with Concierge, compared with $24,000 at a typical 3% listing commission. Nothing is due upfront. The commission is paid at closing, and only if your home sells.

Virtual includes a pricing strategy built from recent local sales, professional HDR photography, an MLS listing syndicated to the major home-search sites, online showing scheduling, offer review and negotiation, and escrow management through closing. Consultations and meetings happen by phone and video. The only in-person visit is lockbox setup. See the 1% plan

Hybrid includes everything in Virtual, plus a dedicated showing agent for buyers who don't have their own agent, an in-person walkthrough with your agent, an open house, and drone and 3D tour media.

Concierge includes everything in Hybrid, plus Zillow Showcase, vendor coordination, and trust and probate coordination for estate, trust and inherited-home sales.

Virtual fits sellers who are comfortable working by phone and video, including many out-of-state owners. Hybrid fits sellers who want in-person showings, an open house and premium media. Concierge fits sellers who want hands-on coordination, such as estates, trusts and homes that need vendors before they hit the market. We can walk you through the options on a free call.

Yes. The Virtual plan is not a flat-fee MLS entry or a do-it-yourself listing. A licensed Howie Gets It Sold agent represents you from pricing to closing, including negotiation and escrow. The only difference is that meetings happen by phone and video instead of in person.

No. There are no upfront costs, no cancellation fees and no hidden charges. The listing commission is paid at closing, and only if the home sells.

Buyer's agent compensation is separate from your listing commission. Whether to offer it, and how much, is your decision and is negotiable. Real estate commissions are not set by law.

No. Every plan includes professional photography, full MLS exposure and the same pool of buyers as a traditional listing. The lower rate comes from lower overhead and from choosing only the services you need, not from cutting the marketing that brings in offers.

Every listing includes professional photography through Benson Photography. The team has worked with photographer AJ since 2020. Hybrid and Concierge listings also get drone and 3D tour media, and Concierge adds Zillow Showcase. Every listing goes on the MLS with syndication to the major real estate portals, so strong visuals and broad exposure bring in competitive offers.

Pricing starts with a comparative market analysis of recent nearby sales, competing listings and the home's condition. The goal is a price that buyers and appraisers will both support: overpricing can cause a home to fail appraisal after an offer is accepted, which stalls or kills the deal.

Price is one factor. Offers are also weighed on financing strength (cash or loan, and the quality of the pre-approval), contingencies, the proposed closing timeline and the buyer's agent's track record. A slightly lower offer with stronger financing and fewer contingencies sometimes beats a higher offer that is more likely to fall through.

Request a free quote on the website or call (626) 824-6988. You'll get a pricing strategy and an estimate of your net proceeds under each plan, with no obligation. Get your free quote

Everything can start remotely. You share photos or a video of the property, your agent builds a pricing strategy and comparable-sales report, the listing paperwork is signed by e-signature, and professional photography is scheduled. Many sellers start planning months before they are ready to list.

Timelines vary, but most homes go under contract within the first few weeks of listing when they are priced and marketed correctly.

It's free to list: no upfront fees and no cancellation fee. If a home doesn't sell, the listing expires after 3 months with no penalty, and you can relist as-is or adjust pricing and strategy first.

Homes can be sold as-is, which is common with probate, trust and inherited properties. Pricing then accounts for needed work, and disclosures describe the property's condition honestly. If you want to make updates first, your agent will tell you which improvements are likely to pay off and which aren't worth the cost.

Yes. Questions come up at all hours, and you get regular updates throughout the sale.

Yes. Probate, trust and estate sales are a core specialty, including working with executors, trustees and multiple heirs and handling court or trust requirements. The Concierge plan adds dedicated trust and probate coordination.

All heirs, or the trustee or executor acting for them, generally need to agree on pricing and terms. Group calls and group texts keep everyone on the same page, and naming one heir as the main point of contact makes the process smoother.

Vendor coordination is included in the Concierge plan. On every plan, access to the property can be arranged so heirs or their own hired help can get work done, which is especially useful for out-of-state heirs who can't be there in person.

Probate and trust sales can involve court confirmation, several heirs who need to agree, and a property that needs cleanout or repairs before listing. The team has handled these sales many times and coordinates each step.

Yes, this is a specialty. Listing agreements, disclosures and closing documents are signed electronically, and showings, inspections and repairs are coordinated locally without you having to travel. The Virtual 1% plan was built for sellers who can't be there in person.

Ashley Howie is a licensed California real estate agent (DRE #01949367) with Homequest Real Estate (DRE #01812614). She leads the Howie Gets It Sold team and created the Commission by Design listing program, and has more than 11 years of experience and 230+ closed transactions.

Los Angeles County, the San Gabriel Valley, Orange County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County. San Diego County is not currently served.

Yes. The team has 70+ five-star reviews across Zillow, Google and Trulia. You can read them on Zillow and on the client reviews page of this site. See Zillow reviews · Client reviews page