Think of discount chains and what comes to mind? Wal-Mart? K-Mart?

A new real estate agency in Ironton promises to merge the discount sales concept to real estate sales.

Assist 2 Sell opened its office at the Ironton City Center Dec. 5. Principal broker Randy Memmer, who also owns the Assist 2 Sell office in Ashland, Ky., said since then, interest in the new entity has been encouraging.

“We do all the things as regular real estate agencies except we charge a flat fee, so people can save thousands and thousands of dollars in money other real estate agents charge in commissions,” Memmer said. “We’re becoming extremely popular with buyers and sellers.”

Homeowners who use Assist 2 Sell to market their houses are charged $2,995, for houses priced at $200,000 or less. Traditionally, real estate firms assess homeowners a certain percentage, usually 6 or 7 percent, of the selling price of the house when the property is sold. Memmer said the flat fee includes signage and marketing, showing properties to prospective buyers and preparing all the necessary paperwork associated with selling a parcel of real estate.

Assist 2 Sell also charges less for use of the multiple listing service (MLS). Those customers who select MLS over the flat fee service pay only four percent of the price of their house.

“When people first call us, they are usually thinking that there must be a catch,” Memmer said. “They are sure we can’t possibly sell their home for $2,995. They call thinking they’ll be able to eliminate us as a choice because this must be some kind of gimmick. They are surprised when they find out we do what other real estate agents do. The big difference is, we charge less.”

Assist 2 Sell is a national chain that started in Reno, Nev,. in 1987. Since then, the discount real estate sales chain has blossomed into 600 franchise offices in 44 states and Canada. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.