This as-told-to essay draws from a discussion with Lorraine Schwarz, 70, a retiree who sold her two-bedroom condo in Westminster, Colorado, during October 2025 via Ridley, an AI-powered online platform, instead of a conventional agent. The account has been adjusted for length and clarity.

I have purchased and sold properties multiple times over the years.

My initial real estate acquisition was a co-op in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I later sold it and acquired then sold two homes in Westchester, New York. Afterward I relocated to Madison, Wisconsin, where I updated a house before selling it, moved to Colorado to construct a residence, and eventually settled into a condo.

Across all these transactions I disliked covering real estate commissions.

I believe I possess a solid grasp of real estate valuation from my experiences with purchases and sales plus familiarity with comparable listings. Therefore the process did not intimidate me.

I have owned my condo in Westminster, Colorado, for roughly seven or eight years.

I acquired it following a divorce and it was never intended as a lasting residence. I located a new development where I could construct a home ideally suited for aging in place since everything is on a single level.

An article appeared regarding Ridley and its founder Mike Chambers along with his background in Boulder. Ridley functions as an AI-powered platform enabling homeowners to sell properties without standard real estate commissions.

Upon reading it I immediately thought this approach was innovative and aligned precisely with my long-held views. I became an advocate for Ridley prior to deciding to sell my condo.

When the moment arrived to sell my condo I required a service capable of listing it on the MLS the database utilized by real estate agents for property marketing. I understood that placement on the MLS would ensure visibility on sites such as Zillow and Redfin which I expected would handle much of the buyer attraction.

The real estate sector has not fully embraced technological advances

My background is in finance where transaction expenses have decreased substantially.

It appears to me that real estate remains one of the largest transactions individuals undertake where technology and market competition have not reduced commissions to the extent I believe they should.

The internet has transformed the home search process. It has simplified browsing and viewing properties significantly. There is no longer a need to depend on an agent for transportation throughout the day simply to inspect a listing.

One can review numerous homes online refine selections and decide which properties merit an in-person visit.

Many individuals like myself have sufficient experience with these steps to manage the process independently.

I did not require additional assistance to sell my home though others may still benefit from it

I recognized the importance of exposing my property to the widest possible audience. Regarding pricing I already felt highly confident about the value of my unit.

My role as HOA president in a 64-unit complex provided an advantage since I was aware of every recent sale and its price along with current listings which informed my pricing decision.

Ridley's suggested price aligned closely with my own assessment. At that point I was already committed to purchasing a newly constructed home so I avoided any aggressive pricing strategy to prevent delays of two to three months.

I priced the unit to attract immediate interest and Ridley confirmed my approach.

The listing went live on a Wednesday morning with the first visitors arriving that same day and I received a full-price offer of $425,000 by evening.

Ridley guides users through all necessary details to create a listing. Certain technical terms required clarification from a Ridley agent regarding MLS requirements though I handled nearly all aspects myself. I also utilized ChatGPT to assist with drafting the listing description.

Under a traditional buyer-and-seller agent arrangement with a 5 percent commission my fees would have totaled $21,250.

Through Ridley my overall expenses reached approximately $5,000 covering the AI service staging photography and related costs. [Editor's note: Schwarz paid $2,999 for Ridley's pro plan which now costs $3,999.]

Users may opt for additional agent support if desired and I chose that option.

It proved beneficial to avoid direct communication with buyers since the agent served as an intermediary. In hindsight I likely could have managed without that support as well.

This does not imply that first-time buyers should avoid agents since many lack familiarity with the process and prefer guidance.

My daughter and son-in-law recently purchased a home with agent assistance. They were new to the experience and chose not to seek my input.

The investment sector offers multiple choices. Until recently the real estate field provided few alternatives and required agent involvement.

Given current technology and the number of experienced buyers and sellers it makes sense that many feel capable of handling transactions themselves.