Lisa Feleppa at RE/MAX Executive: What to Know Before You Call
Who Lisa Feleppa is and what she does
Lisa Feleppa is a real estate agent with RE/MAX Executive, one of South Carolina's largest independent real estate brokerages. She works with buyers and sellers in the state's residential market, handling transactions that range from first-time home purchases to investment properties and relocations. Like other agents at RE/MAX Executive, she operates as an independent contractor under the brokerage's license and brand.
RE/MAX Executive is based in South Carolina and maintains multiple offices across the state. Agents at the firm work on commission—they earn a percentage of the sale price when a transaction closes—which means their income depends on completed deals, not on hourly pay or salary. This structure shapes how they spend their time and what services they typically offer.
Key Takeaways
- Lisa Feleppa works as an independent contractor under RE/MAX Executive's license, so she is not a direct employee of the brokerage.
- Real estate agents earn commission on completed sales, not hourly wages, so their incentives align with closing deals rather than showing properties indefinitely.
- Before contacting any agent, you should understand what services are standard (market analysis, showing homes, negotiating offers) and what costs you may encounter (inspection fees, appraisal costs, title work).
- RE/MAX Executive's reputation and resources matter, but the individual agent's local knowledge, responsiveness, and track record are what affect your experience most directly.
What a real estate agent typically does in a transaction
If you are buying, an agent's main tasks are to show you available properties that match your criteria, explain the local market and neighborhood conditions, help you understand what a property is worth, and negotiate your offer with the seller's agent. They also coordinate inspections, appraisals, and the closing process, though they do not perform these services themselves—inspectors, appraisers, and title companies do that work.
If you are selling, an agent prices your home based on comparable sales in your area, lists it on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) so other agents can see it, markets it to potential buyers, shows it to interested parties, and negotiates offers on your behalf. They do not handle the inspection or appraisal—the buyer's lender requires those—but they coordinate timing and explain what the results mean for your sale.
In both cases, the agent's commission comes from the sale price and is split between the buyer's agent and the seller's agent. If you are buying, your agent's commission is typically paid by the seller's proceeds, not by you directly. If you are selling, you pay both commissions from your sale proceeds before you receive your net amount.
How to evaluate an agent before you contact them
Start by checking whether the agent is licensed. South Carolina's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) maintains a public database of active real estate licenses. You can search by name to confirm that Lisa Feleppa holds a current license and to see whether any disciplinary actions are on record.
Next, look at their local market knowledge. An agent who has worked in your specific neighborhood or county for several years will know school districts, property tax trends, flood zones, and which streets have the most traffic. They can tell you why one block sells faster than another and what buyers in that area typically want. Ask them directly: "How long have you worked in this neighborhood?" and "What do you know about the schools and property taxes here?"
Check their online presence and recent sales. Most agents have websites or social media pages showing listings they have worked on. Look at the photos, descriptions, and how quickly homes sold. If you can find sales records through your county assessor's website, you can see what prices homes actually closed at, which tells you more than asking prices.
Questions to ask before hiring an agent
If you are buying, ask: "What is your process for showing homes?" "How often will you send me new listings?" "Will you help me understand my financing options?" and "What happens if I want to make an offer?" You want to know whether they will be responsive and whether they understand your budget and timeline.
If you are selling, ask: "How do you price homes?" "What is your marketing plan?" "How many homes have you sold in this neighborhood in the past year?" and "What is your commission rate?" The commission rate is negotiable—it is not set by law or by RE/MAX—so you can discuss it directly. Ask whether they charge any additional fees for photography, staging advice, or other services.
For both buyers and sellers, ask: "What is your communication style?" Some agents check in weekly; others respond only when you contact them. Ask how they prefer to communicate—phone, text, email—and what their typical response time is. Real estate moves fast, and slow communication can cost you money.
What costs you will encounter beyond commission
If you are buying, you will pay for a home inspection (typically $300 to $500), an appraisal (typically $400 to $600), and title insurance and closing costs (which vary widely but often total 2 to 5 percent of the purchase price). Your lender requires the inspection and appraisal; the title company handles title insurance and closing. Your agent does not charge you for these services, but they coordinate the timing.
If you are selling, you pay the real estate commission (which you negotiate with your agent), and you may pay for a pre-sale inspection or repairs if you want to address issues before listing. You do not pay the buyer's inspection or appraisal costs—the buyer does. At closing, you may owe prorated property taxes, homeowners association fees, or utility bills, depending on your sale date and local custom.
Neither buyers nor sellers should pay the agent's commission upfront. Commission is paid at closing from the sale proceeds. If an agent asks you for money before closing, that is a red flag.
How RE/MAX Executive's structure affects your experience
RE/MAX is a franchise system, meaning individual brokerages like RE/MAX Executive operate under the RE/MAX brand but are independently owned and managed. This means Lisa Feleppa's broker—the person who holds the brokerage license—sets policies, handles compliance, and oversees agents' conduct. The broker is responsible for making sure all agents follow South Carolina real estate law and ethical standards.
RE/MAX agents typically pay higher desk fees or monthly charges to their brokerage than agents at other firms, but they keep a larger share of their commission. This can mean they are more motivated to close deals and less likely to be subsidized by the brokerage if business is slow. It also means the brokerage may offer fewer in-house support services than larger, salaried-agent firms.
The RE/MAX brand itself carries some weight in the market—it is well-known and has been around for decades—but your actual experience depends far more on the individual agent's skill, knowledge, and responsiveness than on the brokerage name.
Red flags and what to watch for
Avoid any agent who pressures you to sign a contract before you have asked your questions or who discourages you from getting a home inspection. Avoid anyone who guarantees a sale price or promises to sell your home in a specific timeframe—real estate markets change, and no one can may provide outcomes.
Be cautious if an agent steers you toward a specific lender, inspector, or title company without offering alternatives. They may have a financial relationship with those vendors that benefits them more than you. You have the right to choose your own service providers.
If an agent is hard to reach, does not return calls within a day, or seems more interested in talking about themselves than listening to your needs, that is a sign they may not prioritize your transaction once it gets complicated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if Lisa Feleppa is still licensed?
Visit the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website and search the real estate license database by name. You can see her current license status, any disciplinary history, and her brokerage affiliation. If the license is inactive or expired, she cannot legally represent you in a transaction.
Can I negotiate the real estate commission?
Yes. Commission rates are not set by law or by RE/MAX; they are negotiated between you and your agent. Different agents charge different rates, and you can discuss this directly. However, remember that a lower commission does not may provide better service, and a higher commission does not may provide worse service—it depends on the individual agent's skill and effort.
What if I want to work with Lisa Feleppa but I am not sure about her experience in my area?
Ask her directly how long she has worked in your neighborhood, how many homes she has sold there in the past year, and whether she can provide references from past clients. You can also check your county assessor's website to see sales records and confirm her recent transactions. A good agent will be transparent about their experience and happy to provide proof.
Do I have to use the agent's recommended inspector or title company?
No. You have the right to choose your own inspector, appraiser, title company, and lender. Your agent can recommend vendors they have worked with before, but you are not required to use them. If an agent insists you use their preferred vendors or makes it difficult to use others, that is a sign to reconsider working with them.
What happens if I sign a buyer's agent agreement and then change my mind?
Buyer's agent agreements are contracts that bind you to work with one agent for a set period (often 30 to 90 days). Read the agreement carefully before signing, and ask about the cancellation terms. Some agreements allow you to cancel with written notice; others lock you in. Do not sign anything you do not understand, and ask your agent to explain the cancellation clause before you commit.