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What to Know About Working With Karen Sumner at RE/MAX Pro Realty

By Constance Obi · Culture & Recreation Writer

Karen Sumner brings two decades of South Carolina real estate experience to RE/MAX Pro Realty

Karen Sumner is a real estate agent based in South Carolina who works through RE/MAX Pro Realty. She specializes in residential property sales and has built her practice around helping buyers and sellers navigate the local market. Her background includes extensive knowledge of South Carolina neighborhoods, property values, and the mechanics of closing a transaction.

Before choosing an agent, it helps to understand what they actually do, what questions to ask, and how their compensation works. This guide walks through those basics so you can decide whether working with a particular agent makes sense for your situation.

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate agents earn commission only when a sale closes, typically split between the buyer's and seller's agent and paid from the sale proceeds.
  • An agent's job is to list your property, show it to potential buyers, negotiate offers, and coordinate the closing process — not to set price or may provide a sale.
  • You can interview multiple agents before signing a listing agreement, and you should ask about their experience in your specific neighborhood or price range.
  • Buyer's agents work for free from the buyer's perspective because the seller's agent's commission is split between both sides at closing.
  • The listing agreement you sign with an agent typically lasts 90 days and spells out the commission rate, marketing plan, and what happens if you sell the property yourself.

How a real estate agent's role differs from a broker or title company

A real estate agent like Karen Sumner works under a brokerage — in this case, RE/MAX Pro Realty. The brokerage holds the license and handles trust accounts, compliance, and legal oversight. The agent conducts the day-to-day work: listing properties, showing homes, writing offers, and coordinating with inspectors, appraisers, and title companies.

A title company handles the legal paperwork at closing and ensures the property deed transfers cleanly. A broker is the licensed entity that employs agents and is responsible for their conduct. When you work with an agent, you are technically working with the brokerage, though the agent is your main point of contact.

What to ask an agent before you list or buy

If you are selling, ask how long the agent has worked in your neighborhood, what the average days-on-market are for similar homes, and what their marketing plan includes — photos, virtual tours, open houses, online advertising. Ask what commission rate they charge and whether that rate is negotiable. Ask whether they represent both buyers and sellers (called dual agency) and, if so, how they handle conflicts of interest.

If you are buying, ask whether the agent works exclusively with buyers or also lists properties. Ask what neighborhoods they know well and whether they have experience with the price range you are targeting. Ask how they stay informed about new listings and whether they have access to off-market or pocket listings. Ask what happens if you find a home through another source — some buyer's agents require you to sign an exclusive agreement, while others do not.

For any agent, ask for references from past clients and verify their license through the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. You can also ask how many homes they sold in the past year and what percentage of their listings sold versus expired.

How commission works and who pays it

Real estate commission is paid only when a sale closes. The seller typically pays the full commission, which is then split between the seller's agent and the buyer's agent. The standard split varies but often hovers around 5 to 6 percent of the sale price, divided equally or according to what the listing agreement specifies.

If you are a buyer, you do not pay the agent directly. Instead, the seller's agent's commission is split with your agent at closing. This means a buyer's agent costs you nothing out of pocket — the money comes from the seller's proceeds. However, this also means the buyer's agent has a financial incentive to close the sale, regardless of whether it is the right choice for you.

If you sell the home yourself without an agent, you keep the full sale price but lose the buyer's agent's commission split, which may discourage buyer's agents from showing your home to their clients. Some sellers hire a flat-fee listing service instead, which lists the property on the MLS for a fixed fee rather than a percentage.

The listing agreement and what it commits you to

When you decide to sell with an agent, you sign a listing agreement that typically lasts 90 days. This contract spells out the commission rate, the agent's marketing responsibilities, and what happens if you sell the property yourself during the contract period or shortly after it ends.

Most listing agreements include a clause stating that if you sell to someone the agent showed the property to, or if you sell within a certain window after the agreement expires, you still owe the agent commission. This protects the agent's work but can lock you in longer than the contract itself. Before signing, ask the agent to explain these clauses and negotiate any terms that concern you.

You can also ask for a trial period — some agents will agree to a 30-day listing with the option to extend or part ways if the home is not showing well or the agent is not delivering on their marketing plan.

What happens during the buying and selling process

If you are selling, the agent will schedule a comparative market analysis to help set the price, arrange professional photos and any staging, list the property on the MLS and major real estate websites, hold open houses or private showings, present offers to you, and negotiate terms. Once an offer is accepted, the agent coordinates inspections, appraisals, and the title search, and attends the closing.

If you are buying, the agent will search listings matching your criteria, arrange showings, help you understand the neighborhood and comparable sales, write and submit your offer, negotiate counteroffers, and coordinate inspections and appraisals. The agent also explains contingencies — conditions that must be met for the sale to proceed — and walks you through the closing process.

In both cases, the agent is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice. If you have questions about contracts, liens, or property rights, you should consult a real estate attorney. South Carolina does not require a lawyer at closing, but many buyers and sellers hire one anyway.

Finding and vetting a real estate agent in South Carolina

You can search for agents through RE/MAX's website, through the South Carolina Real Estate Commission's license lookup, or through local real estate boards. Ask for referrals from friends, family, or your employer. Interview at least two or three agents before deciding, and do not feel obligated to sign with the first one you meet.

Check whether the agent is a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) — membership requires adherence to a code of ethics and continuing education. Ask whether they have any complaints filed against them through the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. Look at their online reviews on Google, Zillow, or Yelp, but remember that unhappy clients are more likely to leave reviews than satisfied ones.

Pay attention to how the agent communicates. Do they respond to emails and calls promptly? Do they listen to what you want, or do they push you toward what they want to sell? Do they seem knowledgeable about your neighborhood and price range, or are they speaking in generalities? Trust your instinct — you will be working closely with this person for weeks or months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work with multiple agents at the same time?

As a buyer, you can show homes with different agents unless you sign an exclusive buyer's agreement. As a seller, you can only list with one agent at a time, though you can switch agents if the listing agreement allows it or expires. Read any agreement carefully before signing.

What if I find a home on my own and want to buy it without an agent?

You can buy without an agent, but you will be negotiating directly with the seller or their agent. The seller's agent may be less motivated to help you if you do not have representation, since they will not receive a commission split. Many buyers hire an agent even for a single home to level the playing field.

How much does it cost to work with a real estate agent?

As a buyer, it costs you nothing directly — the seller's commission is split with your agent. As a seller, you pay commission only if the home sells, and the rate is negotiable. Commission typically ranges from 4 to 6 percent of the sale price, but you can discuss this with the agent before listing.

What if the home does not sell?

If the listing agreement expires and the home has not sold, you and the agent can relist, adjust the price, change the marketing strategy, or part ways. You do not owe commission if no sale closes. Some agents will relist for free or at a reduced rate if the first listing period did not work out.

Can an agent represent both the buyer and seller in the same transaction?

Yes, this is called dual agency, and it is legal in South Carolina. However, it creates a conflict of interest — the agent benefits from a higher sale price and lower buyer concessions, which may not align with both parties' interests. Ask the agent how they handle this conflict and whether you prefer to work with separate agents instead.