Shannon Smith at Crye Leike in Chattanooga: Agent Specializing in Residential Sales
Shannon Smith works as a real estate agent for Crye Leike Real Estate Services, one of the largest independent brokerages operating in Chattanooga, handling residential sales across the city's neighborhoods and surrounding areas.
What Crye Leike agents actually do
Real estate agents earn commission, typically 5 to 6 percent of the final sale price split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent. That split means each side usually receives 2.5 to 3 percent. When you hire Smith to buy a home, her commission comes from the seller's proceeds at closing, so you pay nothing directly; when you list with her, you and Smith agree on her commission before listing. Smith's role as a buyer's agent involves showing properties, explaining market conditions, drafting offers, and negotiating terms. As a listing agent, she prices the property, markets it, shows it to potential buyers and their agents, and manages the sale from offer through closing.
Services and pricing structure
Crye Leike operates on the standard commission model. Smith typically earns 2.5 to 3 percent if representing a buyer and 2.5 to 3 percent if listing your home, though these figures vary by transaction and are negotiable. As a buyer's agent, she accesses the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which shows all homes listed by Crye Leike competitors like RE/MAX, Keller Williams, and independents. This access is the same across all agents, so competition between agents centers on local market knowledge, pricing strategy, and negotiation skill rather than access to listings. If you list with Smith, Crye Leike coordinates showings, handles open houses, and advertises on Realtor.com and Zillow, where most Chattanooga buyers start their search.
How Crye Leike compares locally
Crye Leike is Chattanooga's largest independent brokerage, operating since 1977 and maintaining multiple offices across the region. It competes directly with RE/MAX and Keller Williams, which have larger national footprints but are not local to the extent Crye Leike is. RE/MAX tends to attract agents with higher transaction volumes; Keller Williams emphasizes team-based models and in-house training. Crye Leike sits between these, offering local roots and a traditional agent structure. For sellers, the choice often hinges on the individual agent's track record in your neighborhood rather than the brokerage name. For buyers, the difference is negligible; all agents access the same MLS data and show the same homes. The real decision is whether an agent understands your target neighborhood's inventory, price trends, and timing.
Who should work with Smith and who should not
Smith suits buyers and sellers who value continuity with one agent and prefer a brokerage embedded in Chattanooga's market. If you are relocating to Chattanooga and want someone who knows school zones, commute patterns, and neighborhood character, an agent like Smith with years of local experience provides that context. If you are selling in a neighborhood where Smith has closed multiple recent sales, she can speak to recent comparable sales and buyer demand with concrete data.
Smith may not be the right fit if you want a large team handling every detail of your transaction or if you prefer a brokerage with national brand recognition. Buyers and sellers working with discount brokerages that charge flat fees or reduced commissions will find Crye Leike's traditional structure more expensive, though discount brokerages typically offer less service.
Starting a transaction with Smith
Initial contact usually happens by phone, email, or through Crye Leike's website. For buyers, the first conversation covers your budget, neighborhoods of interest, and timeline. Smith will explain preapproval requirements and the offer process, then schedule home showings. For sellers, the first meeting typically involves a comparative market analysis (CMA), where Smith presents recent sales of similar homes in your area, current inventory, and her suggested listing price. You are under no obligation to list after this meeting.
Hours, location, and logistics
Crye Leike maintains offices in multiple Chattanooga locations; Smith's office affiliation and direct contact information are available on Crye Leike's website and on the MLS. Real estate transactions close with a title company, not at the brokerage, so you will not spend time at an office unless you choose to meet there. Showings happen on buyers' schedules, often evenings and weekends. Listing appointments typically occur during business hours but are flexible.
Smith's value in Chattanooga's market depends on her specific sales history in your area and her pricing discipline during an uncertain market. Chattanooga has seen steady appreciation, especially in North Shore and East Brainerd, but neighborhoods vary widely in inventory and buyer demand, making local expertise genuinely useful.
