Meaghan,
Good question! The agency should not matter as much as the agent. Look for an agent that is strong in your area along. Every company offers an agent something different and it is just about the right fit for an agent. What may work for one may not work for another. I have been with two other large companies and found the right fit with the third. Keller Williams is actually third in the nation right now with over 77,000 agents.
when searching for an agent first look for a personality that fits with yours. Ask questions such as what is your production for the past year, how many homes have you closed in this town in the past 12 months, and do you know this specific neighborhood.
Marketing has changed as noted before. Look for an agent with a strong internet marketing plan. This will help your home to be advertised around the world and not just locally.

Meaghan,

The only thing I could add to what Fred posted (a TU from me), is a link to my blog. It has some info in it that might be of some benefit in the agent interview process. Good luck.

http://www.trulia.com/blog/rockinblu/2008/12/i_ve_got_my_fin…

Meaghan,

Fred nailed it head on. I worked at Century21 before making the transition to a Regional Company for exactly the reasons he specified. To recap; Technology has levied the playing field and secondly, is your listing agent going to stick with you, or hand it off to an assistant after you sign the listing agreement. Every agent has access to a far reaching marketing plan, not every agent gets personally involved in your transition.

Best of luck,

Don

Meaghan

I think you have answered your own question - there are go-to real estate company sites. Find the best agent you can and get your home sold.

Dennis Toomey
RE/MAX TERRITORY
Cell (847) 338-0180
Fax (847) 956-2844
E-mail: dtoomey@remax.net
Web site: http://www.HouseByZip.com

Hi, Meaghan

You said, "I ask because I am concerned about a far-reaching marketing plan of my home".

The Internet changed everything. So did the Digital Camera and the Video Camera. So did the Blackberry and the iPhone and Text Messaging and Twittering and FaceBooking.

Technology has leveled the playing field.

Thanks to Trulia, Realtor.com, Zillow, Cyberhomes, Yahoo Real Estate, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Google Base, and on and on, the one-person smaller agency now has the same Far-Reaching Marketing Power that the Big National Companies have.

Century 21 and Coldwell Banker (owned by the same parent company, Realogy) recently eliminated national Print Advertising (some franchises and some agents still go with the Homes Magazines and the Newspaper Classifieds; I am referring to the Corporate Office). Coldwell Banker (giving them a shameless plug) just set up a YouTube Channel. THEY know that the Internet is where the Buyers are (85% of Buyers are on the Internet).


But the smaller agency, the Local Real Estate Company and One Woman Realty, Inc. can also put your property on YouTube and Odeo. Their Hi-Def Video Cam and their 10 Meg Digicam will take quality images of your property for uploading to Realtor.com and Trulia. Their yard sign has Text Messaging on it, so that the Buyer in his car can instantly see the Price, the Photos, and the Information regarding your house. The "smaller agency" can post and host and blog on any and every Real Estate Website just like the National Franchises. Again, the playing field has been leveled by technology.

One final point - when the Traditional Real Estate Company agent says to you,
"We have all the Buyers", then ask them to please bring those buyers into your house right now, thank you.



BTW, I have worked for Coldwell Banker and for Century 21. My sister is a Keller Williams Agent; my Aunt is a Remax Broker. They are all excellent, reputable companies. But the Local Agent may be more motivated, she or he may be more Tech Savvy, she or he may do a much better job of doing a Far-Reaching Marketing Plan on your house.


Keep interviewing - reputation, experience, technology, and negotiating skills are what matters.

Plus, is the agent going to stay with you, or will they pass it off to an assistant or a "team member" after you sign the Listing Agreement?


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Best wishes to you,
Fred
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I understanding that this must be difficult for your to decide. The agent postion does matter when it comes to which agency He/ She is with. The Agent will reflect the outstanding results of what the agency does. However many agency far out shine the Agency they represent.

In choosing an Agent make sure that their MARKETING PLAN is number one and if the agency assists with name recognition that would be great to start the process of seling your home in this BUYER's market.

Donna Paul -Keller Willaims Realty http://www.longislandrealproperty.com
516 343-0728 http://www.dpaul@kw.com