Do any of these worries sound familiar when choosing a real estate company?

• ・This is my first time selling, and I'm not sure which company to turn to.
• ・I asked several companies for an appraisal, and the figures were all over the place, which left me confused.
• ・I've heard that "a big-name company is safe" and "the company with the highest appraisal is the best deal," but is that really true?
• ・I don't understand how brokerage commissions and other costs differ from one company to another.
• ・Inheritance, taxes, and registration also seem to be involved, and I'm worried whether a real estate company alone is enough.

On this page, we lay out—neutrally—the key criteria worth checking when choosing a real estate company, and then honestly separate out what we at SIMCITY can genuinely offer from the things we'd like you to confirm with us when you consult.

Key criteria worth checking when choosing a real estate company

Each company has different strengths and ways of working. It isn't that any particular company is good or bad; by comparing several companies on points like the following, you'll find it easier to choose one that suits you (this is a general guide to choosing, not premised on hiring us).

• ・Whether they can explain the "basis" for the appraisal: whether they can show why the figure is what it is, using things like recent comparable sales nearby.
• ・Whether they explain, in advance, a guide to the brokerage commission and the other costs involved
• ・Whether they report on the sales activity frequently: whether you can see the status of inquiries and viewings after the property goes on the market.
• ・Whether your property is also made widely available to prospective buyers coming through other companies: it's reassuring to check the scope of exposure to make sure so-called "listing hoarding" isn't happening.
• ・Whether the same representative handles your case from start to finish
• ・Whether they can handle both "brokerage" and "direct purchase by the company itself": this widens your options for how to sell.
• ・Whether they can work with specialists in adjacent fields such as inheritance, tax, and registration

*None of these are meant to pin down a single "correct company"; they are viewpoints for checking whether a company fits your property and your wishes.

*Among the criteria above, ways of working such as continuity of your representative, the frequency of reporting, and how widely a property is exposed (whether so-called "listing hoarding" occurs) vary from company to company. Please feel free to check how we actually work when you consult with us.

The core of SIMCITY's thinking——please don't choose based on how "high" the appraisal is

A high appraisal does not mean the property will sell at that price. An appraisal is an "estimate of the price it's likely to sell for (a guide)," and it does not guarantee a sale at that figure. If you choose a company by the size of the number alone, you can end up with repeated price cuts after the property goes on the market. That is exactly why you should check whether they can explain the basis for that appraisal.

At SIMCITY, we hope you'll value being able to verify the basis over the size of the number. Rather than being chosen for the size of a figure, we place importance on building a long relationship through an honest assessment and the commitment to see things through to the end after the property goes on the market.

Another company / us / doing it yourself——an honest line-drawing

At SIMCITY, if we think we're not the right fit for you, we'll say so honestly. For example——

• ・For things like advertising a single studio unit for rent, a company deeply rooted in your local area may be a better fit.
• ・For a very simple sale between relatives where the price is already agreed between the parties, handling it yourself and asking a judicial scrivener only for the registration can sometimes keep costs down.

We also handle both "brokerage" and "direct purchase by our own company." In a direct purchase, our company itself becomes the buyer, so our position differs from brokerage, where we look for a third-party buyer (there can be situations where our interests and yours do not align). A direct purchase suits you when you want to turn the property into cash quickly, but in general, compared with taking the time to sell through brokerage, the price tends to be lower. That is exactly why we explain both the advantages and the cautions of a direct purchase and of brokerage, and then decide together with you. If you're not in a hurry, we first propose selling through brokerage. Even when we recommend a direct purchase, we explain the differences and the reasons properly and never decide on your behalf without your say.

SIMCITY's strengths

• ・We handle both "brokerage" and "direct purchase by our own company." A direct purchase can aim for early conversion to cash, but in general the price tends to be lower than with brokerage (this varies by property and conditions). If you're not in a hurry, we first propose brokerage.
• ・For fields outside real estate such as inheritance, tax, and registration, we work with our retained attorney, retained tax accountant, and partner judicial scriveners, and introduce a specialist as needed (any engagement is a contract between you and that specialist). We do not take any referral fee for making an introduction. Registration is handled by a judicial scrivener, and tax matters by a tax accountant.
• ・We have a track record of helping with sales across a wide range—from Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures, of course, to properties all across the country (please consult us individually about whether we can take on a given case).
• ・Consultations and appraisals are free (*for distant locations that take more than two hours one way, we may, after discussing it with you in advance, ask for actual out-of-pocket costs such as transportation).
• ・In the case of a direct purchase (buyout) by our own company, from the initial consultation to completion of the sale, the rough guide is about two months (this may be longer or shorter depending on the property, your circumstances, and market conditions).

Frequently asked questions

Q. If I go with the company that gives the highest appraisal, will the property sell at that price?

A. Not necessarily. An appraisal is an "estimate of the price it's likely to sell for (a guide)," and it does not guarantee the final sale price. We recommend comparing not just the figure, but also whether they can explain its basis and the sales activity and reporting after the property goes on the market.

Q. Do brokerage commissions differ from company to company?

A. The brokerage commission for a sale has an upper limit set by the Building Lots and Buildings Transaction Business Act (for a sale price over 4 million yen, the amount is "sale price × 3% + 60,000 yen" plus consumption tax). Within this cap, each company's setting may differ, so please check in advance.

Q. Which is better, a large company or a local one?

A. It isn't about which is good or bad; what matters is whether it fits your property and your wishes. Since each company has different areas of expertise, please compare several against the same criteria before choosing. If we think we're not the right fit, we'll tell you so honestly.

Q. Which should I choose, brokerage or a direct purchase?

A. If you want to turn the property into cash quickly, a direct purchase tends to suit you; if you want to take the time to sell, brokerage does. However, since a direct purchase generally tends to fetch a lower price than brokerage, if you're not in a hurry we first propose brokerage. Because we handle both, we listen to your wishes and then honestly explain the differences and the reasons for each.

Why clients choose SIMCITY (just three things, to close)

• ・We can handle both brokerage and direct purchase. So you can choose, to fit your situation, either taking the time to sell or aiming to turn the property into cash quickly (a direct purchase generally tends to fetch a lower price than brokerage).
• ・For inheritance, tax, and registration, we work with partner specialists and take no referral fee. For matters outside real estate too, please first consult us, and we'll introduce a partner specialist as needed (any engagement is a contract between you and that specialist).
• ・We have helped with sales across a wide range—from Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures, of course, to properties all across the country (please consult us individually about whether we can take on a given case).

On top of that, if we think we're not the right fit, we'll tell you so honestly. That is SIMCITY's way of earning a long-lasting relationship.

Please feel free to reach out first

"Which company should I go with in my case?"——the answer changes with each case. First, tell us about your current situation. Whether or not we're the right fit, we'll tell you honestly. We do our best to reply to your inquiry as quickly as we can (timing may vary depending on the content).

Consultations and appraisals are free (*for distant locations that take more than two hours one way, we may, after discussing it with you in advance, ask for actual out-of-pocket costs such as transportation).

▶ Book a free consultation here (out-of-pocket costs may apply for distant locations)

Last updated: August 17, 2026
Supervised by: Representative Director / Licensed Real Estate Broker, Hiroyuki Konuki (Real Estate Brokerage Business, Tokyo Governor License (2) No. 101645)