The difference between an Individual Agent vs. Team

 

A team is typically formed when an individual agent has more business than they can handle.  Forming a team can ensure attention to detail that the individual agent has become know for continues and the best service is still offered.  It also allows for more services to be offered, maintained and a client is fully taken care of.

Whether you choose and individual agent or a team to market your home, know what each has to offer.  There is a common misconception that with a team, you can get lost and never speak to the lead agent.  Each team is different and set up to handle the buying and selling processes as they feel best.   Some teams are set up for certain agents on the team to specialize in just buying or just selling.  Then there are agent teams that each agent specializes in both processes.   There can be coordinators behind the scenes that enter information into the computer, set up closings, attend closing, etc.  You will need to ask the team you are choosing to work with how they are set up.  You may also ask the agent you choose that you only work with them, if that is what you prefer.   When choosing my team, a buyer or seller will typically work with the agent they choose or are placed with an agent on that team, assigned by the team leader.  For example, my team has three full time agents.  One is a full time licensed assistant to the team.   We each work with our own clients, however our full time, licensed assistant will run paperwork and pull stats and maintain the websites.  We pull our resources together to give our clients the best service we can offer. 

You will typically not pay more for services when working with a team verses an individual agent.  You may just have the advantage of having more services offered.  One of the benefits of having a team is when your agent is tied up with either business or family, or out of town, backup is always available.  Therefore scheduling is much easier and accessible.  A team will work together to pull the best of each team member to ensure the team gives a client their all.

Specializing in both buying and selling can give an agent an advantage over the agent choosing just one.   When working with buyers, an agent can identify questions and focuses that most buyers are looking for.  This in turn helps when listing a home on the selling side.  An agent can know how better to guide their seller with focuses on features home buyers feel most important.  It is beneficial to specialize in both to better serve clients.  It basically allows you to see both sides to give each client the best of both worlds. 

Whether choosing to work with a team or an individual agent, ask what they have to offer.  Choose the service that is best suited for your needs as either a buyer or a seller.  Attention to detail varies from agent to agent, no matter what company they hold their license under.  Real estate agents are independent contractors.  When they hold their licenses under a brokerage firm, they are still like many different companies just sharing a common corporate name and roof.