Suzanne Akins with RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals in Chattanooga: A Residential Agent Focused on the North Shore and East Brainerd Markets

Suzanne Akins is a residential real estate agent operating under RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals, one of Chattanooga's largest independent brokerages, with particular expertise in North Shore and East Brainerd neighborhoods. She works on commission tied to sales price, meaning her fee comes only when a transaction closes, and she represents either buyers or sellers depending on the engagement.

What This Agent Actually Is

RE/MAX franchises operate on a 100-percent commission split model, uncommon among traditional brokerages; agents typically pay a desk fee and keep a larger percentage of commission rather than splitting it with the brokerage. Akins operates within this structure while serving the Chattanooga market. As a residential agent, she handles primary residence sales and purchases, not investment properties or commercial real estate. Her geographic focus on North Shore (the riverfront neighborhood along the Tennessee River, north of downtown) and East Brainerd (the suburban area east of I-75 near the Brainerd area) means she has direct knowledge of school zones, recent comps, and neighborhood specifics in those pockets rather than across all of Hamilton County.

How Agents Are Paid and What That Means for Buyers and Sellers

Real estate agents in Tennessee earn commission only at closing, calculated as a percentage of the final sale price and split between the listing agent and buyer's agent. A typical arrangement is 5 to 6 percent total, with each side receiving 2.5 to 3 percent. The seller pays both commissions from proceeds. Buyers pay nothing directly to their agent; the seller's closing costs cover the buyer's agent commission. This structure creates an incentive alignment issue: an agent benefits from a higher sale price, but a buyer's agent also benefits if the deal closes quickly at any price within range. When interviewing an agent, ask whether they list properties (representing sellers), represent buyers, or do both. Akins works with both buyer and seller clients, which means she can represent you in either capacity but cannot represent both sides of the same transaction.

Comparing RE/MAX Agents to Other Chattanooga Residential Options

Chattanooga's real estate market includes agents at traditional full-service brokerages (Realty Executives, Crye-Leike, Benchmark Realty), discount or flat-fee models (Redfin lists homes for a flat fee rather than commission), and individual agents affiliated with national franchises like Coldwell Banker or Keller Williams. Full-service brokerages typically offer back-office support, training, and marketing resources; agents pay a higher split to the brokerage but may receive more support. RE/MAX agents, including Akins, pay lower desk fees but keep more commission per transaction and operate with more independence. This model suits experienced agents who generate their own leads and manage their own marketing. Discount models charge flat fees (often $1,500 to $3,000 for listing) and appeal to sellers comfortable with limited hand-holding. Akins's RE/MAX affiliation means you get an agent working on commission incentive (closing is essential to her) without the full-service brokerage overhead; the tradeoff is less corporate structure behind her than you might find at a larger office.

Services and Pricing

Akins provides buyer representation, seller representation, and market analysis. Pricing is commission-based and nonnegotiable at the agent level; you negotiate commission directly with the brokerage or at the listing agreement stage. A typical buyer representation is informal and unwritten; a seller listing agreement specifies commission percentage, list price, marketing plan, and duration (usually 90 days). In Chattanooga, list prices for North Shore range from $400,000 to $900,000 depending on condition and view; East Brainerd homes typically range from $300,000 to $650,000. Akins does not charge upfront consultation fees. Her services include property valuation, market analysis, photography and listing marketing, negotiation, and transaction coordination through closing.

Who This Agent Suits and Who It Does Not

Akins suits sellers in North Shore or East Brainerd who want an agent working on commission (incentive to close) and who are comfortable with less corporate support structure than a large brokerage offers. She suits buyers seeking a focused agent in those neighborhoods who can speak to local inventory and comparable sales. She does not suit sellers unwilling to pay commission, buyers seeking a discount model, or anyone requiring litigation support (real estate agents cannot provide legal advice; you need an attorney for contracts and disputes). She also does not suit investors or commercial buyers; her residential focus means commercial or multi-unit deals fall outside her scope.

What the First Engagement Involves

If you are a buyer, an initial consultation involves a conversation about your target neighborhoods, budget, timeline, and whether you are preapproved for financing. Akins will show you listings on the MLS, schedule showings, write an offer, and handle negotiation and due diligence. If you are a seller, the first step is a home valuation visit; she will tour your property, review recent comps in North Shore or East Brainerd, and propose a list price. You then sign a listing agreement authorizing her to market your home on the MLS and through RE/MAX's marketing channels.

Hours, Contact, and Logistics

Akins operates on RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals' schedule, which includes standard business hours Monday through Friday and weekend showings by appointment. RE/MAX Chattanooga maintains an office with desk space for agents, though most client meetings happen at the property or virtually. Contact her directly through RE/MAX or via her individual brokerage contact to discuss buyer or seller representation.

A residential agent's value in Chattanooga centers on market knowledge and negotiation. Akins's specialization in North Shore and East Brainerd means she can speak to inventory depth, school zone boundaries, and recent sales in those neighborhoods more credibly than a generalist, a tangible advantage when timing an offer or pricing a listing.