Thread: Does having a Big / Famuous Realtor Company Help?

Originally Posted by tvischer

I don't think it matters what company you use. It all comes down to the agent. But you have to remember the more the Agent spend the more they will want to recover when they close. Where I work at Neptuneblu, here in Virginia. We only charge 1 percent for regular commission. That gives the seller a huge discount at closing. But you have to remember, right now is a buyers market...that has a lot to do with everything.

Here's a quote from my agent after one of month of listing my house.

"As I said yesterday I have done everything as far as marketing your home that we do for all our listings. I truly think a price reduction is our next step. As you know there is a lot of homes on the market and funding is a major issue for buyers right now. Buyers are finally being forced to bring money to the table as 100% loans (except VA) are almost non-existent. Which means buyers have to come up with 5-10% downpayments. Which in turn the average buyer is now looking for lower priced homes which are easier to get in. Also since sales prices have dropped we are seeing more appraisals come in lower the the accepted offer prices which sellers are having to bend even more."

Thoughts? Excerpt from email from the agent listing my house who works for a large realty company.

I agree. The size of the company alone doesn't make any difference. And a franchise name doesn't really help either, though it can depend a bit on the local market. (In our market all the top companies have dropped the franchise).

What your agent does for you is the biggest thing, but don't completely forget the company. The agent won't be able to help you as well if the company doesn't have a web presence, isn't a member of the local MLS, doesn't have a broker that supports his/her agents, etc. And, your contract is typically with the office/broker, not the agent (at least in Ohio). So when there is a problem or something happens to the agent (leaves for another office, etc.) you can be stuck if the broker won't provide the service you want.

-Tim

Assuming the agents were the same (experience, effort, ability, etc...) then the larger company will have more resources to get it done. That being said, the individual efforts of the agent and ability to market effectively will make the difference.

Originally Posted by gjtrafl

then the larger company will have more resources to get it done.

Maybe. In some of the biggest companies near me, agents are very independent with little help of the company (the other agents and broker) and provides fewer tools for their agents (They depend on volume to succeed, not individual sales). Some of the small companies have far more tools, advertizing methods, etc. as well as a team (and broker who knows every listing, etc.) to help. Not true of all companies, but size seems only to indicate 'number of agents' and doesn't correlate with success, at least locally.

But at the end of the day you do need an agent you can trust and has the ability and willingness to get the job done.

-Tim