Mary Neddy at Realty ONE Group Dockside — What to Know Before You Meet

Who Mary Neddy is and where to find her

Mary Neddy is a real estate agent with Realty ONE Group Dockside, a brokerage based in South Carolina's coastal market. She works with buyers and sellers in the region, focusing on residential properties. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Lowcountry or nearby areas, Dockside's agents—including Neddy—can walk you through the process from listing to closing.

Realty ONE Group is a national franchise with local offices. The Dockside location operates independently within that network, meaning Neddy's services and approach reflect both her own experience and the brokerage's systems. Before meeting with any agent, it helps to understand what they do, what questions to ask, and what to expect from the relationship.

Key Takeaways

• Mary Neddy works as a real estate agent through Realty ONE Group Dockside, a South Carolina brokerage serving residential buyers and sellers.
• Real estate agents earn commission on completed sales, typically split between the buyer's agent and seller's agent, so understanding how that works protects your interests.
• Before meeting with any agent, prepare a list of your priorities—timeline, budget, neighborhood preferences, or property features—so the conversation stays focused.
• Ask any agent about their local market knowledge, how they market properties, and what support they offer during inspections and closing.
• You can interview multiple agents before choosing one; there is no obligation to sign with the first person you meet.

What a real estate agent actually does

A real estate agent's job is to represent either the buyer or the seller in a transaction. On the seller's side, the agent lists the property, markets it, shows it to potential buyers, and negotiates offers. On the buyer's side, the agent searches for properties that match your needs, arranges showings, helps you understand the market, and negotiates on your behalf when you make an offer.

Agents earn money through commission, which is a percentage of the final sale price. That commission is typically split: half goes to the seller's agent and half to the buyer's agent. This structure means the agent's financial interest is in closing the sale, not in getting you the best price or the best deal. Understanding this dynamic helps you stay clear-eyed about what the agent can and cannot do for you.

An agent can explain the local market, show you comparable sales, help you understand inspection reports, and guide you through paperwork. An agent cannot give you legal advice, conduct inspections, or appraise property—those are jobs for lawyers, inspectors, and appraisers. Knowing the difference keeps expectations realistic.

Questions to ask before you work together

When you first talk with Mary Neddy or any agent, come prepared with specific questions about how they work. Ask how long they have been in real estate, how many transactions they closed in the past year, and what neighborhoods they know best. Ask whether they work full-time or part-time, because that affects how quickly they can respond to your calls and showings.

If you are selling, ask how the agent plans to market your home—will it go on the MLS immediately, will they hold an open house, will they use photography or video, and how often will they follow up with other agents? If you are buying, ask how they search for properties, whether they have access to off-market listings, and how they handle multiple offers in a competitive market.

Ask about their experience with the specific type of transaction you need. Selling a waterfront property in Charleston is different from selling a rental investment property in the Midlands. Buying a historic home requires different knowledge than buying new construction. An agent who has done the work you need is worth more than one who has not.

How the buying process works with an agent

If you are buying, the agent's role begins with understanding what you want and what you can afford. Bring a pre-approval letter from a lender so the agent knows your budget is real. Then the agent searches the MLS and other sources for properties that fit your criteria and schedules showings.

When you find a property you want to make an offer on, the agent helps you understand the local market—what similar homes sold for, how long they stayed on the market, and what offer price makes sense. The agent drafts the offer, submits it to the seller's agent, and negotiates back and forth until you reach a deal or walk away. Once an offer is accepted, the agent coordinates with the inspector, the appraiser, and your lender, and keeps you informed as the closing date approaches.

Throughout this process, the agent works for you but is paid by the seller (through the commission split). This means the agent has an incentive to close the deal but not necessarily to get you the lowest price. Protect yourself by doing your own research on comparable sales and by having a lawyer or title company review all documents before you sign.

How the selling process works with an agent

If you are selling, the agent lists your property on the MLS, which is the database that all other agents search. The agent sets the listing price based on comparable sales, the condition of your home, and current market conditions. The agent then markets the property through photos, descriptions, open houses, and direct outreach to other agents.

When offers come in, the agent presents them to you and advises on which to accept, but the decision is yours. If you receive multiple offers, the agent helps you compare them—not just on price but on contingencies, timeline, and buyer strength. Once an offer is accepted, the agent coordinates inspections, appraisals, and closing, and stays in touch with the buyer's agent to keep the deal on track.

Your agent's job is to sell your home, not to protect you from liability or tax consequences. For those concerns, work with a lawyer and an accountant. The agent can tell you what similar homes sold for and what buyers are looking for, but cannot tell you whether selling now makes financial sense for your situation.

Understanding commission and costs

Real estate commission in South Carolina is negotiable, not set by law. Most agents charge between 5 and 6 percent of the sale price, split between the buyer's agent and the seller's agent. That means if your home sells for $300,000 at 6 percent commission, $18,000 goes to commission total—$9,000 to the seller's agent and $9,000 to the buyer's agent. The seller typically pays both commissions out of the proceeds.

Before you list, ask the agent what commission they charge and whether it is negotiable. Some agents offer lower rates for higher-priced homes or for repeat clients. Some brokerages charge flat fees instead of percentages. There is no standard, so ask directly and compare.

Beyond commission, you may pay for inspections, appraisals, title insurance, attorney fees, and closing costs. These vary depending on the sale price, the lender, and the title company. Ask the agent for an estimate of total closing costs so you know what to expect.

Red flags and how to protect yourself

Be cautious if an agent pressures you to list at a price you are uncomfortable with, refuses to show you comparable sales data, or discourages you from getting an inspection. Be cautious if an agent recommends a specific inspector, appraiser, or title company without offering alternatives—that can signal a conflict of interest. Be cautious if an agent does not return your calls or seems more interested in closing a deal than in answering your questions.

Protect yourself by getting everything in writing. Do not rely on verbal promises about repairs, closing dates, or contingencies. Read all documents before you sign, and do not hesitate to ask a lawyer to review them. If you feel rushed or confused, slow down. Real estate transactions are large financial decisions, and you have the right to take time and get advice.

Remember that you can fire an agent if the relationship is not working. If you signed a buyer's agent agreement, you may be locked in for a period of time, but you can still ask to be released. If you listed with an agent and want to switch, check your listing agreement for the terms. Do not stay with an agent who is not serving you well just because you signed a contract.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use a real estate agent to buy or sell?

No. You can buy or sell without an agent, though most people use one because agents have access to the MLS and know the local market. If you sell without an agent, you still typically pay the buyer's agent commission. If you buy without an agent, you save that commission, but you also lose the agent's guidance on price, inspections, and negotiation.

Can I work with multiple agents at the same time?

As a buyer, you can show properties with different agents until you sign a buyer's agent agreement, which locks you in to one agent for a set period. As a seller, you can interview multiple agents before listing, but once you sign a listing agreement, you are committed to that agent and brokerage. Read any agreement carefully before you sign.

What happens if the sale falls through?

If a deal dies because the buyer backs out without a valid reason, the seller keeps the earnest money deposit. If it dies because of an inspection issue, appraisal problem, or financing issue, the earnest money usually goes back to the buyer. The agent does not get paid if the sale does not close, so they have an incentive to keep the deal alive.

How long does it take to sell a home?

That depends on the market, the price, and the condition of the home. In a strong seller's market, homes can sell in days. In a slower market, it can take months. Ask the agent how long comparable homes stayed on the market and what the average is for your neighborhood and price range.

Should I get a home inspection before I list?

Many sellers do a pre-listing inspection so they know what issues exist and can decide whether to disclose them, fix them, or adjust the price. This can prevent surprises during the buyer's inspection and can speed up the sale. Ask your agent whether a pre-listing inspection makes sense for your situation.