I just sold a rental house in the SF Bay area. Commission was 5%.
I chose the agent carefully, and feel the 5% was well worth it.
I could have listed with one of the do-it-yourself agencies, but what I got was:
1. advice on what repairs/upgrades were valuable
2. contractors to work with on repairs/upgrades
3. discount prices on repairs/upgrades
4. supervision of contractors, and better work. (They came back & fixed everything immediately because they knew if I wasn't satisfied, the agent would not use them again)
5. a fast track on getting the work done--very important when the house is vacant and I am paying the mortgage while these guys fix it up.
6. a sales price 4% over what I would have asked on my own.
Essentially, when compared to a bare-bones commissin of 3%, I got a lot of value added and about 2% more money in my pocket.
Good for you. In the Washington, DC area the RE agents would have told you to go to HELL, they will not help, facilitate, arrange, NADA.
They would laugh at you if you wanted a discount to get work done.
I just can't wait for this bubble to burst.