Questions
Things people ask us.
Short answers. If yours is not here, call and ask; it may end up on this page.
Working with us
Are you a franchise?
No. Lewis Real Estate is the trade name of Scott T. Lewis, a licensed Connecticut broker. There is no national brand above the office. Scott supervises every agent and reviews every file himself.
Who will I actually be working with?
The agent you choose. Every agent here publishes a direct phone number and email. The broker is in the office and available when a file needs him.
What towns do you cover?
All of Connecticut. The office is in West Hartford, and the agents work statewide: Hartford County, the shoreline, the Valley, the northeast and the northwest corners. If you are looking anywhere in the state, call.
Do you handle rentals and commercial property?
Yes. Renters get a statewide search and a lease walk-through; owners get a unit priced, marketed, screened and leased under a compliant Connecticut lease. On the commercial side we handle office, retail, small industrial and small investment property for tenants, landlords, sellers and buyers. Larger or specialized assets we refer, and we say so up front.
Buying
Do I have to sign something before you show me homes?
Yes. Connecticut requires a written buyer representation agreement before an agent can show you property as your representative. We walk through it line by line, including how we are paid, before you sign. It is a short document and you keep a copy.
How are you paid when I buy?
Buyer agent compensation is set in your representation agreement. In many sales the seller offers to cover some or all of it, and we negotiate for that on your behalf. Either way, you will know the number before you make an offer.
Do I need a pre-approval first?
Before the first showing, yes. Sellers in this market will not take an offer seriously without one, and it tells you what you can comfortably spend. If you do not have a lender, we can introduce you to a few we have closed with; the choice stays yours.
Why does Connecticut use attorneys at closing?
Connecticut is an attorney-closing state. Your attorney reviews the contract, runs the title search and conducts the closing. We work alongside them throughout. Budget for it; it is money well spent.
Selling
How do you decide on a list price?
From closed sales on streets like yours, adjusted for condition and timing, and reviewed by the broker before you ever see it. We would rather lose a listing than win it with a number we cannot defend.
What does it cost to sell with you?
Commission is agreed in the listing agreement and depends on the property and the plan. We will put the full number in writing before you sign anything, along with what it buys: photography, marketing, showings, negotiation and the broker's review of every document.
Should I fix things before listing?
Some things, not everything. We walk the house with you and tell you what buyers will notice, what will come up at inspection, and what is not worth the money. Then we help you line up the people to do it.
Who holds the deposit?
That is set in the contract and your attorney will confirm it. We make sure every file records who holds the deposit and where.
Lewis Real Estate
Talk to a broker, not a call center.
One office, one supervising broker, and agents who answer their own phones. Tell us what you are trying to do and we will tell you how we would approach it.