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Vail Daily column: What is a Realtor ‘team’?

Joan Harned
Ask a Realtor
Joan Harned

Dear Joan,

I have recently been interviewing Realtors to list my home in the resort and I have a question for you. The term “team” has come up and I am not sure how that works or if it is an advantage for me as a seller. Can you please enlighten me? Thank​ you.​

Dear ​S​oon-to-be Seller,



That is a good question as the word “team” is used often these days, ​with many varied meanings. The concept of a team working for you can be an excellent choice, if it is a true, hard working, successful team. The benefits can be numerous​ because it is difficult for one agent to be and do everything — not impossible, but challenging. A strong team can list your property, order professional pictures, accompany the photographer, write ad copy and create online brochures, place your property on hundreds of domestic and international websites and notify everyone in their databases that may be interested in your property ​in about 24 to 48 hours (once the pictures are done). In the meantime, the team may be showing the property and bringing buyers that inquired about their other listings, to preview yours as well. Now this is possible for an individual agent to do, and is done. You might like the special attention of one single agent, and there can be synergy from one listing to the next in the buzz around a busy team.

Another definition of a team is an individual agent who has the backing of his or her whole office. Some offices have a culture of cooperation and mutual assistance that allows the individual agent to have the support they need in busy times. The culture of the office can be very supportive and helpful and can make it possible for the individual agent to perform at a much higher level. I am always surprised when I get a call from another company asking if we could accompany their buyers to see our listing because they are out of town. Since we are working for our sellers, we do not turn down the showing, of course. However, I always wonder why no one in their own office would offer to help them out and show their clients when they are gone. Simply saying you have a team does not necessarily mean you have an effective cooperative group with skills in all departments to cover all of your needs.

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Often Realtors make the mistake of teaming up with someone they like who has very similar in characteristics. In the grand scheme of things, you pick a team that has many different skills so that they complement each other which allows your team to provide full service in every area. Hopefully, this information will give you some questions to ask in your interviews. We have some great teams and great individual Realtors in this valley, so I am sure you will find the right one.

Joan Harned is an owner and broker for Keller Williams Mountain Properties and heads up Team Black Bear, her own real estate team. Harned has been selling real estate in Eagle County for 27 years, is a past chairman of the Vail Board of Realtors, past Realtor of the Year, past director on the Great Outdoors Colorado Board and a member of the Luxury and Land Institutes. Contact Harned with your real estate questions at Joan@TeamBlackBear.com, 970-337-7777 and http://www.SkiAnd TeeHomes.com.


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