Mike Browning

Tag: writing

  • You Get What You Pay For – And I’m Worth It

    You Get What You Pay For – And I’m Worth It

    Discount rates could get you discount results

    When someone talks to me about listing their land, one of the first questions is:


    “What’s your commission rate?”


    Fair question.

    The next one is usually:


    “Can you give me a discount?”


    The answer? No.

    Here’s why:

    Running this business isn’t cheap. Licensing, marketing platforms, land-specific advertising, professional photography, and more — it all adds up.

    More importantly, every hour I spend working on a discounted listing is time I’m not spending on full-rate clients. I take on a limited number of listings so I can give each piece of land the time and attention it deserves.

    But the real reason is simple:


    I’m worth it.

    Sure, you could find someone who charges less. But they’ll almost certainly bring less experience, fewer resources, and a weaker network. And when it comes to land, those things make a big difference.

    And remember:


    You don’t pay anything upfront. My commission comes out of the proceeds when your land sells. If I don’t get results, I don’t get paid.

    So ask yourself:

    Would you rather save a little on commission and risk leaving money on the table?


    Or pay a full rate at closing and have someone who knows land, works hard to get you top dollar, and negotiates the best deal for you?

    If you walk away from the title company with more in your pocket, wasn’t it worth it?

    I think so.

    No, I’m not cheap.


    But I’m absolutely worth it.

    Got a lot you might want to sell?
    Get a FREE, no obligation report on what it could sell for today.
    Get Your Lot Valuation

    Own land instead?
    Get a report for that here:
    Get Your Land Value

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  • They’re Not Buying — They’re Betting

    They’re Not Buying — They’re Betting

    Don’t get hustled. Get the facts first.

    In the letters I send out (you’ve probably seen a few), I often point out how most unsolicited offers you get to buy your land are disappointing. A recent client sent me a couple of letters she’d received — perfect examples of what I’m talking about.

    One didn’t mention money at all. Just a vague line:
    “I’ve got someone wanting to buy another lot, are you interested in selling?”

    I reached out to the guy, but I can almost guarantee that if he replies, the offer will be well below what’s reasonable. Maybe good for a laugh, but not much more.

    The other letter actually named a price — and it wasn’t too far off the mark.

    But (there’s always a but)…

    The rest of the terms were weak:

    • Just $500 in earnest money
    • A 180-day closing timeline
    • Fully assignable contract

    That’s not a serious buyer — that’s a flipper running a low-risk bet. Here’s how their model works:

    They tie up your property for 6 months at a low (but not unreasonable) price, hoping to flip the contract to someone else for a profit. If they find a buyer, great — they make $10K to $20K. If not, they might come back to you last minute and say, “We’re still interested, but need to lower the price.” You can agree or walk — either way, they only risked $500.

    From their side, it’s a smart little hustle.
    From your side, it’s a waste of time.

    So if you get one of these letters and want a second opinion, just scan and send it to me. No charge — I’ll tell you if it’s worth your time or not.

    Got a lot you might want to sell?
    Get a FREE, no obligation report on what it could sell for today.
    Get Your Lot Valuation

    Own land instead?
    Get a report for that here:
    Get Your Land Value

    Just a glutton for punishment?
    Sign up now to get more articles like this in your email.
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