1 + 1 = 3?
Or, 1 + 1 = Minus 2?
Is co-listing “two Realtors for the price of one?”
Or is it effectively no Realtors, for full price?
It depends on the circumstances, of course.
Ideally, however, the Seller benefits from Realtors whose skills and market knowledge are complementary, and who communicate seamlessly with one another and with the Seller.
Examples include listings where one of the Realtors has specific geographic expertise; specializes in short sales or foreclosures; focuses on a particular market segment, e.g., upper bracket homes; or where the two Realtors are already an established team.
Two Heads > One
At the opposite extreme, co-listing is not such a great idea when the two Realtors step on each other’s toes, or where one is the de facto agent, and the other is AWOL.
In general, the prognosis for co-listing is better when the idea comes from the agent(s), not the Seller (for example, the Seller knew both Realtors, and didn’t want to offend either one).
P.S.: Logistically, co-listing can also be more challenging for the Realtors, who have to apportion duties, expenses, etc.
And while in theory, the co-listing agents can work for two different brokers, practically, that adds a level of complexity.
