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Colorado Springs, Colorado, as told by one native who still lives here.

All About Real Estate Agents in Colorado Springs, CO

9/5/2019

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real estate agents in colorado springs co
Which agent is best?
If you're looking for real estate agents in Colorado Springs, CO, here you'll find a breakdown of the different firms/agencies, and the pros and cons of each.

As a disclaimer, I am a RE/MAX Real Estate Group agent, which of course means I'm going to be biased toward myself and the company I work at. However, I have worked with many Colorado Springs REALTORS®, and because of that experience, I know how different agencies operate, and how each might have their own benefits.

I hope this knowledge helps you make a decision about what kind of real estate agents in Colorado Springs you are looking for!

A small note before we review:

All of these real estate franchises are independently owned and operated. That means that they all do their businesses their own way. Additionally, there are individual teams and individual agents who work underneath that franchise. They will all run their businesses slightly differently also.

What that means is that you could talk to two agents or teams from the same office, who may offer a different commission percentage, or may have a fee/hourly-based business instead. You'll definitely have different agent personalities. One person may rub you the wrong way, simply based on a different personality.

What's most important is that you trust and connect well with the agent of your choice.

Keller Williams

Keller Williams sign Colorado Springs
Sign for the Keller Williams north office in Colorado Springs.
Keller Williams was founded in 1983. There are two KW franchises in the Springs, with 920 agents between them. They are a well known company, and they are the second real estate franchise that comes to mind, behind RE/MAX.

I have worked with KW three times, each with a different agent. One of these transactions was pretty awful, with the listing agent and the office not returning any of my calls, not getting things done in a timely manner. The other two times were fine and I had no issues with the transactions.

The downfall of comparing real estate agents by company is that every agent is responsible for their own transactions, and their own conduct. What franchise they hang their license at is less important to you, as you are relying upon that agent's business, conduct, and representation of you.

So I can't say for sure that every agent at Keller Williams, or any other franchise, is competent. I rely on competency as it happens, but so far I have had more positive than negative experiences with the company as a whole.

Coldwell Banker

Coldwell Banker in Colorado Springs
Coldwell Banker's North Office in Colorado Springs.
Coldwell has two offices in the Springs, with 79 agents between them. I have worked with a Coldwell Banker agent once, and it was overall a pleasant experience. The buyer agent on the other side was hard to get a hold of sometimes, but other than that it was a smooth transaction. My one experience with this company, though anecdotal, assured me that I would have few problems working with that agent again.

Century 21

Century 21 north office Colorado Springs
Century 21's north office. They actually share the same building with the north Keller Williams office.
Century 21 was founded in 1971. It has two offices in the city, with just over 100 agents. I have not done a deal with Century 21 yet, so I have no personal opinion of this company.

Pink Realty

pink realty colorado springs
Pink Realty's newer office headquarters in Colorado Springs.
Pink (founded in 2009) is owned by Monica Breckenridge, who is a top agent in Colorado. The main difference with this company is that it's pink! Pink everything, pink flyers, pink building, pink cards, all of it. It's definitely memorable!

There are at least 50 agents that work with Pink. I'm not sure of the actual number because their site is currently buggy on agent searching.

I have worked with Pink twice, and both times it has gone well. My first ever house I sold I sold to a Pink agent. Though I was flustered with my first transaction, looking back, the deal went pretty smoothly. That Pink agent later joined my RE/MAX office as a new RE/MAX agent a couple years later.

RE/MAX Colorado Springs Agents

remax real estate group northgate oracle colorado springs
RE/MAX Real Estate Group office in Northgate, Colorado Springs.
RE/MAX was founded in 1973. It has the benefit of being the highest selling real estate agency in the world, largest presence of TV ads, and the most visited real estate franchise website. RE/MAX agents on average do more business than other real estate franchises, and it's the most recognized name in real estate. There are 579 RE/MAX Colorado Springs agents.

There are 8 different RE/MAX franchises in Colorado Springs. Each office is independently owned and operated, so each will have their own separate policies and nuances.

remax real estate group rockrimmon colorado springs co
The Rockrimmon office of RE/MAX Real Estate Group, in Colorado Springs.
I work at the RE/MAX Real Estate Group franchise, which has two locations, one in Rockrimmon, and the other in Northgate Colorado Springs. RE/MAX Real Estate Group was founded in 1994, and I got my license in 2015, started at RE/MAX Real Estate Group, and have been there ever since. My office has won The Gazette's Best of the Springs every year from 2015-2019, as well as a few other awards. I myself have won a couple small office awards, but I very much appreciated the recognition!

awards for remax real estate group
A few wall awards for RE/MAX Real Estate Group.
We have almost 200 agents between both offices, so it's a rather large, successful franchise, and I believe it is the largest RE/MAX franchise in the city.
kevin james bond remax real estate group office rockrimmon
My office at RE/MAX Real Estate Group.
I have worked with an agent from my office twice! Different teams, but they were very easy deals to do simply because, as I learned twice, our agents hold themselves to high standards, being easily available, returning calls promptly, and making sure all legal documents are correct and complete. You'd be amazed how often a random agent does not do this.

I've also worked with three other RE/MAX Colorado Springs agents from three other RE/MAX franchises, with no problems. RE/MAX is just more popular with buyers and sellers in Colorado Springs.

Other Agencies

There are actually countless other agencies in Colorado Springs. Many of them I'm sure are just fine. Google reviews help if the agent is socially plugged in, as do asking family/friends. Your own intuition is also helpful. How does that agent seem to you when you talk to him/her?

As a reference, other real estate companies I have worked with include The Platinum Group Realtors, Sellstate Alliance Realty (they tried to recruit me, of course because I'm the bomb :P), Turner Associates LLC, RE/MAX Millennium, RE/MAX Properties, Antioch Realty, Solid Rock Realty, Galvan & Gardner Real Estate Group Inc, RE/MAX Properties, Inc. (this listing agent also joined my office shortly after I did this transaction with her), and Metro Real Estate Group.

All of these agencies had competent agents that I worked with, and I would have no problems recommending their services to someone, at least as far as I interacted with them. Obviously I don't know how they were with their actual client.

Which real estate agent should I choose?

which real estate agent should i choose hot air balloons
Pretend these are all different real estate offices.
Ultimately, what matters is that you choose a real estate agent who you feel is trustworthy, who will not compromise their representation of you for money, someone who knows how to write a contract correctly (you'd be surprised that some agents don't!), who keeps up with the yearly changes to contracts, and of course, an agent who you connect well with.

Some agents are more social butterflies and have a natural charm. Some are quieter, and they process internally before speaking. Some are better negotiators. Some are more technical, with construction/new build experience and know-how, and some are just plain kinder and helpful.

How many years the agent has been in business can be helpful info also, though an agent with a good team lead can be just as effective. Number of total deals done in their career could also be useful. For an agent who has never done a deal or has only done one or two, you should talk to their team lead or managing broker to see if they will have a co-agent with more experience who will also assist.

How much each agent charges for a commission is an issue also, but keep in mind that it is not free; it does cost money to buy or sell your house. There is no standard commission rate, though I would agree there is a average one. Considering the high yearly costs every real estate agent has in running a self-employed business (that's what it is), I understand why there's an average.

Each agent is free to choose how they want to be paid, and how much. For sellers, I would argue that unless you are being quoted 7% or more by your listing agent, in order to pay both agents, then you're not being shafted by your agent. They're just trying to make a profit in order to stay in business. But that's just my opinion of course.

A lot of real estate agents in Colorado Springs CO actually make less than minimum wage, and that's in part to there being so much competition in the industry. That makes this a losing proposition as a primary career for a lot of agents. Still, we do have that idea that real estate agents are loaded, right? Can you imagine how many more people would be getting their real estate license if that were the case?

Commission off the price of the house, at closing, is a weird way to make a living, and it's not set in stone as a form of payment, but it's the way most buyers and sellers feel comfortable paying their real estate agent.

So do keep that in mind when price shopping agents. If you want cheapest, by all means, you can find it. You know that quality and cost are not always connected, and you might get a great agent for a steal of a deal. I feel about this the way I feel about buying a car: I'm all for cheaper, but am I still getting value? Do I trust this cheaper dealership just as much? Do I find value in the bigger name and service? That's up to you!

And as far as any bad real estate agents in Colorado Springs, it's really rare that I hear of an agent who actively swindled his clients or did something unethical, but, like with any business, it can happen. I think as long as you do your homework on an agent and their franchise, and see them in person, you can get a good feel for if they are shady or on the up and up.

If you are thinking of buying a home or selling your house in Colorado Springs, click on the highlighted links in this sentence to read more about those topics. I wish you well in finding the best real estate agent for you!

RE/MAX Real Estate Group is located at 215 W Rockrimmon Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.


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I'm Kevin James Bond, native to Colorado and author of this site, which exists to educate anyone who wants to hear a local's thoughts and experiences with Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. I am also a  Colorado Springs real estate agent. You can learn more about my real estate services at Kevin James Bond,  RE/MAX Real Estate Group.

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