COOPERATION, NOT

Cooperation, Not Competition, Creates Mutual Success for Agents

When people get along during a business transaction, everyone comes out happier. And in a service industry like real estate, agents have the power deliver that happiness. By working cooperatively, sharing advice and helping each other help clients, agents not only enhance their own reputations, but that of real estate in general. “Bring everyone together”

Matt Kobelski, with Credentials Real Estate Group in Massachusetts, points out that providing good service involves more people than the party you’re representing. “I’m not afraid to bring together all the parties in a deal and say, ‘OK, let’s figure out a solution that works best

Teaming up with an agent from a different brokerage on a transaction is not as uncommon or complicated as it might seem

for everyone,” he explains. “My goal is to avoid being adversarial.” Real estate, he believes, should always be a field in which each person can win. “It’s about working toward a mutual goal, shaking hands, and walking away happy that a seller sold, a buyer bought and everyone got what they wanted.”

But Is it that simple? Most agents have experienced the ways conflicting personalities and tension during a transaction can heat up even the most cordial relations. In reality, however, it’s more productive to let down your guard and work with others as a team than it is to allow stress and competition to preside. South Florida REALTOR® and broker associate, Risë V. Siegrist, for instance, has zero interest in competing with other agents. “It’s more important to be professional and associate with competent, caring people,” she says. By serving others with a cooperative spirit, experienced agents like Risë set an excellent example for emerging real estate stars. Risë hopes to be a model for the next generation of agents, training people who may one day become part of her team.

Risë’s position on cooperation inspires more reasons for nurturing relationships with other agents. Over the decades, many agents change brokerages several times. Who knows if that agent across the table will one day work at the same brokerage you do? Perhaps you’ll even have an opportunity to partner on an exciting, future transaction. Good relations keep doors open to endless possibilities.

Co-listing cooperation

Teaming up with an agent from a different brokerage on a transaction is not as uncommon or complicated as it might seem. In fact, some agents cleverly capitalize on their collective attributes, rather than competing against one another. South Carolina REALTOR® Kimberly Pannit is a perfect example of the universal benefits of co-listings. Although she has always been an independent agent, Kimberly works hard to form professional alliances that give her business the feel of a cooperative network across brokerages.

This cooperative approach may be nontraditional, but it benefits clients in unique ways. By working closely with agents at other brokerages, she shows how agents can improve client service while helping one another.

Kimberly’s cooperative approach began in her own neighborhood, where an agent friend from a different brokerage also lives. “Several years ago, I approached her because both of us were friends with our neighbors. I asked, ‘Why don’t we give our neighbors superior service and

co-list together? We both love our area and are passionate about our jobs, the location and schools.’” She also didn’t want to make their mutual friends choose between them when they could work together. “I said, ‘Let’s give them amazing service together!’” With their brokers’ permission, two weeks later the agents co-listed their first home and put extra energy into ensuring uninterrupted client service.

Networking and “Co-opertition”

When the ultimate goal is to match a client with the perfect home or create optimal terms of sale for a listings, networking with other agents can facilitate that ideal buyer-seller match. Nashville REALTOR® and broker/owner Lisa Land embraced every opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the real estate industry and to her local market, even before building her own team. “Agents would frequently ask me for help or advice,” she says, noting that she shares, rather than guarding, the methods she uses to get through difficult or confusing transactions. “I was fortunate to have great mentors when I started in real estate, so I’m always willing to offer help, even to agents outside of The Luxe Collective.”

Meanwhile, on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Janet Leigh Scott describes the climate between agents as relaxed and professional. “While the real estate market is highly competitive, we’re truly a ‘co-opertition’ market; agents work together and a have greater sense of community than you might experience in off-island brokerages,” Janet says. “If I have buyer coming into town, I’ll reach out to agents I’ve done transactions with to ask if they have anything coming up that might not be on the market yet.”

Even in hot, competitive L.A. real estate, independent agents such as Andrej Nagy of The Agency RE knows the importance of receiving and providing professional mentorship. “My relationships with clients are extremely important,” he says. “But my relationships with agents on the other side of a deal are also important.” For REALTORS® like him, working smoothly with other agents is a privilege. Doing so builds rewarding relationships while ensuring win-win transactions for everyone at the closing table.

TYLER THOMPSON

Top Agent Tyler Thompson works as a solo agent at Mary Terry and Associates and services clients throughout the Central Oklahoma area.

With a desire to help people and a passion for homes Tyler Thompson decided to become a real estate agent. He has been in the business for the past 14 years, and prides himself on giving clients an elite level of service. He currently works as a solo agent at Mary Terry and Associates and services clients throughout the Central Oklahoma area. Tyler has been able to build a business that is largely made up of repeat and referral clients, which he credits to his communication, client-oriented approach, as well as getting them their ideal results every time. “I think the people I work with truly appreciate the fact that I get things done fast and I deliver great results,” he says. Despite

making it all look effortless, Tyler puts in hard work and juggles multiple listings at once—a staggering 35 at the moment—to achieve the best outcome for his clients. He handles a broad range of properties such as residential, new construction, commercial,

and foreclosures, with current listing prices ranging from $20,000 to over $1,000,000. And above all else, he believes in educating his clients throughout the entire transaction process. “I don’t sugarcoat anything or make promises I can’t keep. I present my

Tyler handles a broad range of properties such as residential, new construction, commercial, and foreclosures, with current listing prices ranging from $20,000 to over $1,000,000.

clients with the facts so that they can make an informed decision on their own without feeling pressured,” he says.

Keeping up with clients long past the end of the transaction is an important part of Tyler’s approach to client service. He ensures that the people he’s worked with know they can always reach out to him, and that their relationship doesn’t end when they sign on the dotted line. Besides calling and texting he also likes to utilize social media in order to stay in contact. And he uses his large social media sphere for marketing his listings as well.

For Tyler, playing a vital role in helping to shape the future of his clients is what makes his job, and all the hard work he puts into it, worthwhile. “I love helping people.

Whether it’s helping an investor find a great property, or helping someone sell a house. But it’s especially joyful being able to work with first time homebuyers. Having the ability to walk them through the process and then finally hand them the keys to their first home is really special,” he says.

Outside of work Tyler believes it’s important to find time to be involved in the community. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be anything big, I’m just big on random acts of kindness every day,” he says. He’s also involved with the local animal shelter, as well as an organization that helps to feed those in need. And when he’s not working or volunteering, he loves to be surrounded by family and friends, and spend his time outdoors, hiking and enjoying nature.

In the future Tyler wants to keep growing and expanding his business. Despite all the complications posed by COVID-19 that have hindered the real estate market,

he managed to hit record numbers, which has invigorated him to keep working hard and continue hitting his business goals. His advice to younger agents is to stay focused on work, find a good mentor, and always give back when possible. “What

I recommend for any agent is to find a worthy mentor to watch and learn from and build a solid business foundation. And remember to give back along your way to success. We cannot help everyone, but we can help someone.”

To learn more about Tyler Thompson please call (580) 272–3595, email tyler@tylercthompson.com, visit www.zillow.com/profile/Tyler-C-Thompson

Mary Terry & Associates is proud to congratulate TYLER THOMPSON

on being featured for the State of Oklahoma in Top Agent Magazine!