Why should I hire an agent?

Whether selling, buying or renting, securing an agent to represent your best interests makes you more competitive in this crowded market. We can save you time, money, and a whole lot of aggravation, using our extensive experience to help you avoid common pitfalls and put you in the best position to meet your needs.

As a seller, why should I hire an agent?

Even in this empowered era for sellers, nearly 70% of all for-sale-by-owner sellers eventually hire a broker to sell their home according to the National Association of Realtors. And with good reason.

• It’s a Lot of Work…
  Managing your career, your life, and your sanity is hard enough. Staging, photographing, advertising, scheduling viewings, organizing open houses, and everything else that’s needed to sell a home is a full-time job in and of itself. Most importantly, we have the experience to help you bypass common pitfalls and keep your deal on track. We work with you to develop the best marketing strategy, linking you to vetted professionals for all of your real estate needs. We protect your interests and advocate for you throughout the sales process, from start to finish. Over the past 20 years, we’ve built strong relationships with buyer’s agents throughout Brownstone Brooklyn and Manhattan, and we put those relationships to work for you by generating maximum exposure and the best possible price for your home. We’ve guided even the most challenging deals to quick, successful closings.
• It’s an Emotional Process.
  Buying and selling property is personal—nothing less than hopes, dreams, and memories are changing hands. It’s hugely beneficial to have the experienced counsel of a neutral messenger who understands the worth of your home in today’s market and can advise you on what it takes to close the deal.
• You Might Not Save Any Money in the Long Run.
  We totally get it—you want the most money you can possibly net from the sale of your home. But the 3-6% you think you’re saving by selling on your own could disappear in an instant if negotiations go in the wrong direction, as they do all too commonly. In addition, if you’re not using a broker, the other party in the transaction may take advantage of that fact and use it as negotiating leverage. Any excuse to knock an extra 3-6% off of a purchase price will be exploited, especially if the other party is using a broker. Not to mention—you’re stuck doing all the work. More often than not, our fee is built into the sales price we generate, and then some.

As a buyer, what can an agent do for me?

• Securing a buyer’s agent to represent your best interests can make you a more competitive buyer in a crowded market.
• More often than not, a buyer represented by a knowledgeable agent will be the one who closes the deal.
• Maybe most importantly— there’s no cost to you.

Your buyer’s agent can access any available listings, offer insight into properties of interest, present your offer in the best light, and advocate for your needs throughout the entire purchase process. Over the past 20 years, we’ve built strong relationships with listing agents throughout Brownstone Brooklyn and Manhattan, and we put those relationships to work for both buyers and sellers who work with us. We’ll link you to closely vetted professionals for all of your real estate needs and guide even the most challenging deals to a closing. Our agents have all lived in New York for years—let us introduce you to everything we love about the city’s neighborhoods.

As a renter, why use an agent?

Securing an agent to represent your best interests in one of the most competitive rental markets in the world makes you a more competitive renter, hands down. We know what you’re thinking—why use an agent when I can find a place on craigslist just as easily? But working with an agent can actually save you time, money, and give you access to places you’d otherwise never see. Plus, we all know that you’re more likely to end up in a glorified dungeon or shy a kidney if you’re just relying on craigslist.

Our agents, on the other hand, will definitely never steal your kidneys or any other vital organs. What’s more, we have experience with buildings and landlords we’ve worked with exclusively for the past 20 years—landlords, not slumlords. Good, decent people looking for as much in their renters. And as members of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), we also have access to a vast pool of quality rental listings via the REBNY Listing Service.

Once we start working together, we’ll streamline your search based on criteria you share with us, contacting you right away with news of any homes that meet your needs, scheduling viewings on your behalf, and negotiating terms whenever possible (i.e. rental price, start date, length of lease, etc.). We help you prepare all the required paperwork for the landlord and walk you through the lease-signing process step by step, with an eye towards your long-term interests as a renter.

The market in New York moves quickly—a property available today will probably be gone tomorrow. If you’re new to the area, unfamiliar with neighborhoods, or renting from afar, a knowledgeable agent may be exactly what you need as you search for a home. Let us be your feet on the pavement.

Check out our agent bios and contact an agent you’d like to work with today.