Case Studies

Buyer Client: A. Johansen, Attorney, Washington, DC

"I engaged SmithAdams to help me purchase a home…I was very pleased with the quality and timeliness of the services I received…I highly recommend SmithAdams."
- A. Johansen

Challenge: The Johansens were ready to buy their next home.  They selected and researched their desired neighborhood and watched for new listings.  Eventually they saw a listing that caught their attention. They introduced themselves to the owners and toured the property. They decided to make an offer.

To coordinate the offer, Mr. Johansen considered working with the Seller’s agent, but that choice represented a conflict of interest. He was uncomfortable with the idea of giving a 3% commission to a buyer’s agent. Besides, he’d already done the heavy lifting. He needed an alternative.

Solution: Through a colleague, Mr. Johansen learned of the SmithAdams fee-for-service real estate model.

The Johansens engaged SmithAdams to draft and submit an offer to the sellers on their behalf. They didn’t foresee the need for further assistance.  But SmithAdams' fee for service model gave them the flexibility to request further assistance as they saw fit.

When unforeseen circumstances arose, the Johansens asked SmithAdams to manage issues identified during the inspection, draft a Seller Post-Occupancy Agreement, and process the final disclosure documentation and financial exceptions.

Results: The Johansens benefited from SmithAdams’ in-depth industry knowledge and experience.  They were grateful for the opportunity to add-on professional services tailored to their needs.  After the sale closed and fees were paid, the Johansens received a commission rebate of approximately 2% of the purchase price.

Seller Case Study: Dan Kerzner, Technology VP, Washington DC Metro Area

“I would definitely recommend SmithAdams to anyone who wants to proactively manage the fees incurred in their real estate transactions. The fee-for-service model works with other professions, so why not real estate? With SmithAdams, I get great service from a professional team for reasonable hourly rates — SmithAdams was a great fit for me to sell my property.”
– Dan Kerzner

Challenge: Dan was not comfortable with the possibility of any conflict of interest with a real estate advisor. As a DIY seller, he planned to manage the process himself as a for-sale-by-owner. He knew for certain that he wanted to sell the property at some point. If he didn’t sell it himself, he assumed he would have to pay a commission to someone.

Solution:  Dan chose SmithAdams. His reasons were two-fold. He could avoid the potential conflict of interest with a fee-for-service model. And he liked that SmithAdams allowed him to choose the specific services a la carte.

Originally, Dan planned to use a flat-fee MLS listing service. Instead, SmithAdams crafted compelling MLS, Zillow, and Trulia listings and answered questions from buyer agents. SmithAdams also represented his interests during negotiations, helping him work through some sticky issues with the other party.

Results: Dan got the best of all worlds – cost-control with the benefits of a full-service brokerage —on an a la carte basis. SmithAdams allowed Dan to manage the work and the fees. In the end, his fees totaled less than 1% of the final sale price, far less than the 3% he would have paid to a traditional agent.


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Market Data

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Savings from Buying with Us

Property Price

Commission Model
Commission %:
Agent Earns
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SmithAdams Model
Clear View ($50)
Precise Price ($200)
Expert Offer ($1000)
Negotiation Saver ($1600)
Other billable hours:
SmithAdams Fees:
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Total Savings:
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