There is a trend in Myrtle Beach that isn't getting much attention yet. More local Realtors are getting brokers licenses and starting there own companies. Consumers don't really understand how real estate companies work. We are not employed by them, we are independent contractors. We pay for all the advertising and no one pays us to show houses or to sit in open houses. The real estate companies do not list the homes, nor do they sell them. The agents who have gone out on their own just have more paperwork and have to pay more for E&O insurance. They still do the same job that they did before.
I still hear consumers say things like XYZ company sold the house down the street. They don't understand how it works. It could be that the for sale sign had the XYZ logo on it but the home was listed by a Realtor, an independent contractor, and there is a huge chance that it was an agent from another company that sold the home, but that selling agent and company logo will never appear on the sign.
The real estate companies that have the most signs out there are the companies that have the most agents. It works that way because it is the agents who sell real estate. The companies with the biggest market share are also the companies with the most agents. Real estate companies increase their sales and market share by bringing on more agents.
Seniors seem to be the most brand conscious. They often choose a real estate company when they should be choosing the best agent. One of the best ways to find a great agent if you don't have one already is to ask family, friends and co-workers for a recommendation. Chances are if they were happy with the agent you will be to.
It really doesn't matter which company an agent is with. It is the agent that works directly on the sale of the home or with the buyers. It really does matter which agent you choose.