Whether it's PR, Marketing, Legal or Real Estate, when you see the words Associates, Group or Team proceeding an individual’s name, they have most likely stratified their business to include dedicated client support positions. Any business taking this naming approach is doing so for one of two reasons:

They want their business to look/feel larger than one person in a room with a computer.

Their business is growing and they need to add bodies to handle the extra work.

Typical associates, group and team positions include: buyers agents, marketing and transaction support, etc..

If you're about to hire a "team," Ask: 

• Who will be handling the day-to-day management of the listing?
• Who will answer the phone when someone calls from an ad or sign?
• Who will work on the marketing materials?
• Who's going to negotiate your deal? (you'd be surprised)
• Who will manage the transaction once an offer has been accepted?

 Who will host the brokers open house?

• Who will host the weekend open house?*
• If you're a buyer, who will show you properties?

*Open houses are the wildcard depending on how many concurrent listings an agents has and where the property is located. When you're hiring a Realtor, don't you expect to work with the person you've hired? 

If your agent is too busy to handle your listing or purchase, STOP! Find a Realtor who will successfully and professionally dedicate a reasonable portion of their daily resources to your specific needs and requests. 

Last updated on January 20, 2012 by Blake Roberts