Donating To Charity Through Your Commission Fees

(It is obvious that nobody likes paying their real estate commission fees.)

When you find out exactly how much you owe your agent or broker you will probably begin muttering or at least begin thinking to yourself. “I didn’t need him/her. I could have done this myself.”

First of all, you probably couldn’t have made a successful sale or purchase without the help of an agent. Secondly, wouldn’t you feel better if you knew part of your fee was going to a charitable cause and not just the agent’s bank account?

The article, “Real Estate Commission Helps Good Cause” written by columnist Phoebe Chongchua on November 13, 2006 and published in Realty Times explains how at least one agent is attempting to make a charitable difference with every conducted real estate transaction.

Real estate commission fees total tens of thousands of dollars in each community over the course of the year all over the United States. Now imagine if every real estate agent was like Scott Zelkin.

“I provide them with a link. I show them what they can do and I give them an explanation and I tell them that their money is going to help fund this organization," said Zelkin, a Realtor with @properties in the greater Chicago area.

A portion of every real estate transaction Zelkin closes is given to Charity Guide, a non-profit organization.

Charity Guide is an organization that allows people to make financial contributions to various service projects including animal welfare, environmental protection, health and safety, children’s issues, poverty and homelessness.

Zelkin first began doing this when he was a real estate agent in New Hampshire. Then, he donated part of his commission fees to a local hospice.

“I think it made [clients] feel not only are we paying for the [real estate] service but also a portion of our money is going to go to a good cause. It was almost a way for [clients] to say ‘Hey, we know something good is going to come out of working with Scott, aside from giving us good service and being somebody we will be proud to work with,’” Zelkin said.

“Call it a creative marketing business strategy or altruism -- either way, the end result benefits many while making a lasting impression in consumers' minds.”

Zelkin is currently the only agent working with Charity Guide but the organization is optimistic that others will soon follow suit, especially because of the good deed and rapport it builds.

“Once [an agent] makes a sale, Charity Guide will be following up and sending a letter to the client, thanking [the client] for having done business with [the agent] and letting [the client] know how [his or her] portion of the donation is being used,” said the founder of Charity Guide, Michael Organ.

Charity Guide is a great organization for a broad range of people to donate to because the proceeds can be disbursed among a variety of worthy charities. The individual who deals with Zelkin, or any other agent in the future that works with Charity Guide, will also gain awareness of satisfaction that his or her commission fees are not just going to make the agent’s house bigger but help the homeless or protect the environment.

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