Should I list my Staten Island Home with a large real estate firm?

That’s a question that many sellers face.  Let’s take a look at how things work behind the curtain and try to answer these questions as well…

What does a large real estate firm do, that a small boutique firm can’t?

Will a buyer come from that large real estate firm?

Will my home get more showings if I list with a large real estate firm?

I was a top producing agent for the largest brokerage firm in Staten Island for several years.  When the time came for me to open my own office, I did so with the specific goal of  being a small, boutique office.

Why?

A listing agent is only as good as the agent’s knowledge and skills.  The logo on the sign or business card does not necessarily mean a home will sell or not.  The sale lies with employing the best agent for the job.  Each listing agent, whether it’s a large or small brokerage firm….doesn’t matter, operates as independent contractors or small business owners, under the umbrella of that broker.  Each of them puts forth their own effort in driving their self-employment.  Again, it lies in the work ethics of the agent, not the sign or logo it carries.

As long as the property shows up on MLS, it’s free for all.  The listing brokerage agrees to co-broke (share commission).  Any buyer’s agent who has a buyer that meets your property description will most likely show your house.  After all, the buyer’s agent is there to make a sale.  He/she won’t NOT show your home because it was NOT listed by his/her brokerage firm.  We can’t do that.  As REALTORS, we adhere to a strict code of ethics.

A single listing agent can be just as powerful in networking as one in a larger firm.  Again, the power depends on the individual.  Since all real estate agents are independent contractors anyway, they may not necessarily choose to come to the office.  At least not all 200 who are associated with the agency come into the office everyday.  Some choose to work out of their home.  Some want the synergy that comes with working around others and are much more productive at the office.  In the large office I worked in, typically 10% of all agents came in to the office several times a week, or about 20 agents out of 200.

My buyer’s don't care about the business name I’m associated with, just as long as they feel they have been treated fairly and their interests were taken into consideration.  They care about how I can bring value to the transaction.

The way buyers operate has changed since the Internet became the dominant home search tool.  In the past, the buyers showed up at the agent’s office and the agent displayed a list of homes they would see that day.  Today, the buyers show up telling the agent the list of homes they want to see.

The real estate market and the processes behind buying and selling a home have changed dramatically in the last decade.  It has always been an individual sport, but with the Internet it has become a level playing field for both large and small real estate companies.

It’s not the company but the individual.  Do your homework, be comfortable, and hire the right agent.