There are pluses and minuses to a large brokerage just as there are to a smaller local brokerage. IN general I do agree with what you have heard from teh other agents that responded- focus on the agent, but make an informed decision. Interview several agnets from both big name agencies adn smaller boutique style agencies. Ask them what they think their particular strenghts and weaknesses are adn ask for a specific marketing plan. In the current market - simply sticking the proerty in the MLS, uploading it to Realtor.com and running some open houses likely won't cut it. Creativity and action are what is calle dor in this market- you need an agent who can roll up his or her metaphorical sleeves adn get the job done. Don't be shy ask good questions- use info that you get from one interview in the followin ginterviews adn if you forget soemthing or find you have more questions- call tha agent candidate.
Good Luck
Carole

Hire the agent, NEVER the agency. An agency is ONLY a name, thats it. All brokerage companies have good agents and horrible ones. Find a local short sale specialist

Hi Leslie,

It is really true what the last agent said, focus on the agent and their marketing options for you. Back in the early 90's and before it was key to use a big company. The reason is, companies use to market for their agents and try to get the phone to ring to bring buyers to the company. That is not the case anymore, today agents market for themselves. With cell phones and email going direct to the agent it is only important what that agent does to market and big companies like Remax and Coldwell Banker dont market for their agents anymore. All agents can get you in the MLS which accounts for over 90% of all sales, but additional marketing is key also. I have a sellers packet I would be glad to drop by your home that lists in detail what I do for my sellers. I am a native to Golden and I am very familiar with the area. If you are interested in seeing what I can do for you and my reduced commission agreement, email me with your address and I can drop it by. It will also provide you with comparables in your area and give you an idea what you could sell your home for in this market.

I hope to hear from you soon!
Kendra Lanterman
Noviscon Realty, LLC - Broker/Owner
(720) 434-6432
KLanterman7905@Yahoo.com

Focus on the agent, the services they provide and their willingness to be completely honest with you about the state of the market.. A big name agency is not what sells a property.

Hi Leslie, I am a Buyers Agent at heart, i.e. I love absolutely love to work with buyers, investors and relocating clients from all over the world, that said (and of course I do list homes for sale for my sellers like we all do)
But A seller's home is what it is, it is where it is and besides some updating, staging, painting and landscaping and pricing and marketing the property well, not much I can "change", for a buyer though, not only can I educate the buyer about various home styles, floor plans, constructions etc. etc. and show them options, and even direct them to neighborhoods or towns they did not even think about, but just because I know that they would potentially find more homes to select from, or the home style and type they are looking for, or in their price range they can find what they need better in a different area etc. And therefore, you are looking for two things or so in your Buyers Agent, if they have the designation ABR, then they are already loving to work with buyers, and that is good, but you want them to have time, be available to you, preview homes on your behalf, potentially prepare 1/2 day or full day home viewing tours (I do, I need to know about 4 - 5 days ahead of time that my buyers will be in town or have time to view homes), You want the agent to listen to your needs, your must haves and your would like to haves but could live without them etc. etc.

In other word, you want to trust the Agent, and you want to commit to the agent, Loyalty between the Buyers and their agent is very important, as it gives the Agent the confidence that at the end if and when you buy, you will buy with this agent, and therefore the agent will put all his energy, expertise, experience and savoir-faire
into providing you with the very BEST of real estate service to Buyers, and yes you want an Agent who has time to reflect, work behind the scenes to explore all your options and not someone with too many clients, that you can never get a hold of him/her.....

So the agency the Agent works for, makes little or no difference when you are a buyer.... The Agent you pick on the other hand can make a huge difference.... It is this Agent, his/her commitment to you the Buyer, his
availability to you and his/her understanding of your needs, his/her communications and negotiation skills that will make searching and then buying a new home a pleasant and enjoyable experience and that agent also will not just write a contract and then be off to the next client.... He or She will stay with you throughout the entire buying process (inspections & other) and will attend all closings, and will still be there after you moved into the property, to let you know from time to time what happens in your neighborhood, homes for sale, values going up or down etc. etc.

Good Luck! Think about working with the right Realtor for YOU, like selecting the right Dentist, Doctor or Attorney for YOU....

Good Luck!
And very happy house hunting to you!
Edith Karoline - YourRealtor4Life!
Working always in the very BEST interest of her clients!
EdithSellsHomes@gmail.com
PS if you ever come across anyone you know who is moving to Chicago or anywhere in Northern Illinois, the North Shore + Please send them my way, I will provide 1st class real estate service to them, I promise......

Hi Leslie,

Great question, and especially applicable in a community like Golden which has such a wide variety of homes for sale and nuances with each community.

In all scenarios I suggest that the home searching process and the contract management is limited by it's weakest link. For example you may find an agent with a large franchise who simply isn't knowledgeable about a specific neighborhood and you may find a niche/neighborhood expert that doesn't have the resources to find you the best fitting home for your goals-- or the power/skill to negotiate well on your behalf.

I encourage you to interview several agents and discuss specific experiences in the areas you are searching, experiment with their search tools, and talk with their past clients to find out what the overall experience was.

A hybrid agent who possesses a passion for his clients needs first, experienced negotiating skills, best-in-class search tools, and deep market knowledge in the areas you are considering is the best option. There is a fine line between finding a top producing agent, with whom you only speak to once and the rest of your time is spent with their "team" and finding a top producing agent who handles all of the interaction with you personally with skill and care in every contact.

I'd love to be one of the agents you interview. I have a slew of satisfied customers in Golden, Evergreen, Conifer etc..., am passionate about Golden and have a wealth of resources to share with you.

To help you get started, take a look at my blog post about Golden (or really, just a recent day in Golden) at http://www.denversrealestatenews.com/denver-luxury-homes-in-…

I look forward to hearing from you.
Bob Maiocco
Broker Associate
Keller Williams
(720)273-4262 direct
follow me on Twitter: BobTheBroker

Brands and logos dont sell Real Estate, people sell Real Estate. I would focus more on the AGENT I was looking to hire. Companies have recruiting techniques and agents sometimes skip around from company to company.
I wouldnt worry about if my sign had a baloon or some other icon on it, I would worry about who is going to answer the phone when somebody calls about my home.

Patrick gave an excellent answer. I just wanted to add, it's not so much about the agency as it is the agent. Most of the big agencies have good policies, but the particular agent you hire may be inexperienced. A lot of agents 'do everything, everywhere'. In other words, they don't know any market particularly well, because they'll take any listing or any buyer, no matter how far the area is from the agent's stomping grounds. Other agents are very specialized. You may be able to find an agent who specializes in Golden real estate, or one who specializes in town houses, or even one who specializes in Golden town houses.

Sometimes they are one in the same. Use the agency that knows the area. Right now real estate is very localized. By that I mean what is happening in one area may not be happening in another. Some areas are seeing little to no decline while a town right next door can see a 10% or more drop.

Also, make sure the agent knows the area and knows what is happening in real estate in general. There is so much going on in RE right now that you need to find an agent that is upto the minute with all that is going on as opposed to someone who does it on the weekends. No all agents are full time agents. They may work for a big name office with a good reputation buy may not see or have knowledge of what is currently happening.