Do you know how to choose the right real estate agent? There are a variety of different agencies available. Two of the most well-known are Coldwell Banker and Keller Williams. Discover how they compare and what you can expect working with these major brands.
When you're getting ready to sell your home, the real estate agent you have matters. You need someone experienced in your market and understands how to market a property. Yes, almost everyone uses the internet, but you don't want to throw your home listing online and hope for the best.
The best realtors use a combination of traditional, online, and in-person marketing to find the right buyer for your home. Different brokers have different approaches to this.
How do Coldwell Banker and Keller Williams compare? There are great agents in both agencies. Let's look at the details of each brokerage.
Deciding between Coldwell Banker and Keller Williams?
Learn about each brokerage and how you can save with Clever.
Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker is the oldest residential real estate franchise system in the U.S. It was founded in 1906 and currently has 3,000 offices throughout the world. The company has won a variety of awards recognizing its customer service and the high-quality experience they provide.
Due to their experience, agents with Coldwell Banker have seen and handled almost any home sale situation. They'll have tips for marketing, open houses, staging, high-value repairs, and much more. When you choose an experienced agent, you know you're in good hands.
Marketing Your Home
Coldwell Banker has a national advertising campaign that encourages buyers to look for homes listed with the agency. This is advertising you don't pay for, it raises the profile of your listing for free.
Each agent will also put your property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), so it's visible to buyer's agents around the country. Thousands of agents around the country will know that your home is for sale and be able to let the buyers they work with know.
You'll get a highly visible For Sale sign on your property, along with scheduled open houses and solid internet marketing. The Coldwell Banker Agent will list your property on all the major property portals, so no one will miss it.
Handling Offers and Closing
Once you get offers on your home, your Coldwell Banker agent will help you negotiate, handle the inspection and other details, and walk you through closing.
You don't want to get caught off-guard by a contingency or a legal requirement. Having an experienced agent on your side means they'll cover all your bases.
When you choose Coldwell Banker, you are choosing an established brand with many highly rated experienced agents. If you work with a Coldwell Banker agent directly, they will charge a 6% commission rate, which is standard for listing agents.
Keller Williams
Keller Williams was established by existing real estate agents who felt that the brokerage and agency process could be improved. It was founded in 1983 in Austin, TX. They're doing something right because the company is the largest real estate franchise by agent count and sales volume in the U.S.
This brokerage has over 1,000 offices around the country, and they are currently focusing their attention on building technology into their real estate platform. One of the biggest advantages of working with Keller Williams is that they invest in agent education. An experienced KW agent has had excellent training from day one.
How KW Markets Your Home
The first step with Keller Williams is a consultation. They discuss your needs and help you price your home strategically. You'll be competitive with the current market and price trends in your area. From there, they will recommend improvements and staging tips that will help your home sell much more quickly.
They optimize your home's internet presences using search engine optimization (SEO) strategies and will include a lot of professional photos. Keller Williams agents use email, direct mail, and viewings to help find the perfect buyer.
They provide you with updates at least weekly giving you the details of the marketing efforts and progress toward selling your home.
Negotiating Offers and Moving Through Closing
Keller Williams agents are experienced negotiators and will help you work with the offers you receive. You'll have a complete contract and they will answer any questions you have. They'll help with you legal issues and you can rest easy knowing that your deal is moving forward.
Keller Williams has excellent agents and was rated one of the 10 happiest companies to work for in 2018. You know if they keep their agents happy, the agents will provide you with a first-class sales experience.
Keller Williams agents charge between 5-7% for a listing commission, but they may negotiate. Each agent is responsible for their own fee structure.
Finding the Right Experienced Real Estate Agent
It can be challenging to determine what agency you want to work with, especially when listing commissions can be so significant. Fortunately, you have another option.
When you work with a Clever Partner Agent, you have access to the same experienced agents from agencies like Coldwell Banker and Keller Williams that you would have otherwise. The difference? You pay far less for listing commissions.
Imagine having the same full-service experience you expect from a major brand, but at a fraction of the price? When you work with a Clever partner agent, you pay a low, pre-negotiated listing fee of 1.5% — about half the typical realtor commission.
Clever allows you to have the best of both worlds. You get an experienced, highly rated agent from a major brand while keeping more of your profit in your own pocket.
Contact us for more information today!
