Lamont Sturdivant at Century 21 Prime South in Chattanooga: Buyer and Seller Agent in East Brainerd
Lamont Sturdivant is a real estate agent at Century 21 Prime South, operating in Chattanooga's East Brainerd area, where he represents both buyers and sellers in residential transactions across Hamilton County. Century 21 Prime South is a franchise affiliate of the national Century 21 network, operating locally with a team structure rather than as a single-agent operation. Sturdivant's practice sits within a competitive Chattanooga market where buyer representation is free to purchasers (the listing agent's commission is split with the buyer's agent), making the choice of agent a decision about market knowledge, negotiating skill, and local network rather than out-of-pocket cost.
How agent compensation works and what it means for you
Real estate agents in Tennessee earn commission only when a sale closes, typically split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent, with each receiving between 2.5 and 3 percent of the final sale price (though this varies by agreement). If you are a buyer, you pay nothing directly; the seller's proceeds fund both agents' compensation. If you are a seller, you negotiate the total commission split at listing, usually between 5 and 6 percent combined. Century 21 Prime South agents, like most brokerages, take a portion of the commission earned, with the specific split dependent on agent production, experience, and any desk fees or training costs the office charges. This structure means Sturdivant has financial incentive to close deals quickly but is also bound by fiduciary duty to represent your interests fairly.
What to expect when working with a buyer's agent versus a listing agent
If you are buying a home in Chattanooga, a buyer's agent like Sturdivant provides market analysis, identifies properties matching your criteria, arranges showings, helps you understand offer strategy in a given neighborhood (for instance, whether multiple-offer situations are common in East Brainerd or North Shore), and negotiates on your behalf at no cost to you. A listing agent represents the seller and has no duty to you; they will present any offer to their client and may provide market feedback designed to pressure you into a higher bid. The buyer's agent is your advocate and should help you avoid overpaying relative to recent comparable sales and fair market value in your target area. Listing agents in Chattanooga sometimes work with traditional full-service brokerages like Redfin, BHHS Wallace & Wallace, or independent teams; Century 21 Prime South competes primarily on local market depth and speed of service rather than on lower-commission models.
How to evaluate an agent before listing or buying with them
When considering whether to work with Sturdivant or another Century 21 Prime South agent, confirm that they hold an active Tennessee real estate license (verify through the Tennessee Real Estate Commission website), ask how many transactions they closed in the past twelve months, request recent comparable sales data for the neighborhoods where you are buying or selling, and evaluate their communication style. An agent should respond within 24 hours, provide written market analysis rather than relying on verbal assurances, and disclose any conflict of interest (for example, if the same brokerage represents both buyer and seller, a commission split may incentivize speed over your best outcome). Ask about their familiarity with specific neighborhoods; agents who specialize in East Brainerd, North Shore, or downtown Chattanooga will navigate local school district lines, future commercial development, and flood-zone issues more accurately than generalists. Request references from past clients willing to discuss the agent's accuracy on pricing, responsiveness to inspection issues, and behavior during negotiation.
Century 21 Prime South compared to other Chattanooga brokerages
Century 21 is a franchise system, meaning Prime South is independently owned but operates under national marketing and training standards. Competing full-service brokerages in Chattanooga include BHHS Wallace & Wallace (an independent local firm with deeper roots in the market), Redfin (a tech-forward company that bundles agent services with tools and lower listing-side commission), and numerous independent agents affiliated with RE/MAX or eXp Realty. BHHS Wallace & Wallace tends to have older agents with longer tenure in Chattanooga neighborhoods; Redfin appeals to sellers who want reduced commission and tech integration but may limit buyer-side services in slower markets. Century 21 Prime South sits in the middle: nationally recognized name recognition and training, local office management, and flexibility in commission negotiation. If you prioritize a large brokerage with online tools, Redfin may suit you better; if you want deep local knowledge from a single agent who has worked the same zip code for 15 years, an independent or BHHS agent may be preferable.
Hours, contact, and next steps
Century 21 Prime South's office hours and availability should be confirmed directly with the brokerage or Sturdivant's contact information, as evening and weekend showings are standard for agents in Chattanooga and formal office hours may not reflect actual availability. Request a consultation to discuss your timeline, target neighborhoods, and budget; a qualified agent will spend 30 to 60 minutes on an initial conversation before committing resources to a transaction.
Sturdivant's value lies in providing Chattanooga-specific market data and local negotiating skill, eliminating the flat-fee or reduced-commission model that works only if you are comfortable navigating comps and inspection contingencies yourself.
