When choosing a Brokerage to aid you during your home buying or selling process, you may have a tough time deciding between an independent or a big box firm. While some would argue that the franchises have a larger network and strong brand-recognition, we feel the benefits of an independent brokerage outweigh those of a franchise. Here is why hiring an independent brokerage like Heritage Realty is your better option:
Local Authority
Real Estate is local. We have established ourselves in our community of Waterdown and surrounding areas and have made partnerships and bonds within the community. Our brand recognition has grown within these cities and we have become a trusted brokerage throughout. Our local area expertise is what results in quicker, profitable sales for our clients. Big box brokerages cannot offer the same ties and relationships as an independent brokerage within a community.
Flexibility
Independent brokerages are more flexible when it comes to working with you. At Heritage Realty, we work with you on a personal level to ensure you are buying the right home for you. Our service is personalized to tailor towards your needs, while franchises tend to follow a set structure with no room for input or flexibility.
Niche Markets
A famous person once said, “I don’t know the key to success, but I do know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” A major advantage that independent brokerages have over franchises is that we can carve out a niche market. This means that you can easily find an agent that specializes in selling properties of your type. For example, some of these niche markets can include: luxury homes, vacation or rental homes, farm property, etc. The list goes on and on. Big box firms are known for selling all types of property to anyone. Sometimes it is smarter to hire an independent brokerage that specializes in your niche to ensure you get what you want.
Costs
Franchise brokers are required to pay a franchise fee on each transaction to the corporate office. These big fees can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Independent brokers don’t have that financial burden, which means they can use the money they save from not paying large fees to invest in things that will better serve their business and clients locally.
The competition between large franchises and independent brokerages will always exist. What you need to do is narrow down exactly what you are looking for and find out which one would work best for you.
