Key facts
- Lorraine Schwarz sold her condo in Westminster, Colorado, in October 2025 using the AI platform Ridley.
- She saved approximately $16,000 by avoiding traditional real estate agent commissions.
- Schwarz paid about $5,000 for Ridley's service, staging, and photos.
- The condo received a full-price offer of $425,000 on the same day it was listed.
- Schwarz used her knowledge as HOA president and local sales data to price the property.
Lorraine Schwarz, a retiree, successfully sold her two-bedroom condo in Westminster, Colorado, in October 2025 by utilizing Ridley, an AI-powered online platform, instead of a traditional real estate agent. Schwarz, who has extensive experience buying and selling properties, was motivated to avoid high commission fees, which she felt had not decreased significantly despite technological advancements in other industries.
Schwarz leveraged her knowledge of the local market, including recent sales within her 64-unit condo complex where she served as HOA president, to confidently price her property. She also used ChatGPT to assist in writing the listing description. Ridley's platform facilitated the listing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), ensuring broad visibility on sites like Zillow and Redfin.
The strategy proved effective, as the condo went live on a Wednesday morning and attracted a full-price offer of $425,000 that same night. Schwarz reported paying approximately $5,000 in total for Ridley's services, staging, and photography. This contrasts sharply with the estimated $21,250 she would have paid in commissions under the traditional agent model. While Schwarz opted for an agent through Ridley for intermediary communication, she reflected that she might have managed without that additional service.
Schwarz acknowledged that while she felt comfortable handling the sale herself, first-time homebuyers or those less familiar with the process might still prefer the guidance of a traditional real estate agent.