How a real estate team and a solo agent work

Kaitlin Lovern describes her team as small enough that a file stays on her desk, with more than one person contributing to the service. A team brings people together under a shared name. Depending on its setup, your main contact may handle strategy and negotiations while other team members help with showings, marketing, paperwork or scheduling. Roles are not identical from team to team. Ask who has responsibility for your specific transaction and how information moves between the people involved.

On Kaitlin’s team, Renee began her real estate career in 2002 and contributes to market analysis and contracts. Emily has more than 10 years of experience and handles open houses. Kim coordinates paperwork, listing preparation and contract-to-close timelines, while Melissa works on marketing and property presentation. Those roles give a Frisco seller a picture of the people involved in the sale.

A solo agent generally organizes the work around an individual agent. You may speak with that agent throughout the process, although a solo agent can also work with a broker, transaction coordinator, photographer or other service providers. Ask what the agent handles personally and what happens when that person is unavailable.

The label alone does not tell you whether you will receive thoughtful advice or prompt answers. Look at the plan for your home, the people you will meet and the commitments they are prepared to make. A real estate team name is used by license holders under a broker; it is not a separate brokerage (Texas Real Estate Commission, 2026, source). See the Texas Real Estate Commission guidance on team names, checked November 1, 2026.

Which arrangement fits your needs?

Kaitlin Lovern sees a move as a relationship as well as a set of tasks. Start with the kind of access and support that will help you make decisions comfortably.

For a seller, the practical test starts with the listing plan. Who will discuss pricing with you, coordinate preparation, review the presentation and explain offers? If another person handles the details after an offer is accepted, find out when you will meet them and how the agent will remain involved. A named point of contact can make the handoff feel more predictable.

For a buyer, consider how you like to tour and make decisions. If you have a narrow window to visit Frisco, ask who can accompany you, who will learn your priorities and how feedback gets back to the person advising you. If you prefer to see every property with the same agent, say so. Discuss what happens if that person has a scheduling conflict.

If you are selling and buying around the same time, ask how each side of your move will be coordinated. You may want a shared timeline, an explanation of possible scheduling conflicts and a clear contact for each decision. For a Frisco buyer, property taxes and insurance belong in the monthly budget alongside the mortgage payment. Kaitlin encourages buyers to work with a lender on that full picture. Relocators may also need time to compare lot sizes and property taxes with what they are used to. Call 214.429.4907 to discuss how the people supporting your move would coordinate.

Questions to ask before hiring any agent

Kaitlin Lovern encourages buyers and sellers to get clear on the people behind the plan. Use the same questions with each agent or team you interview. Ask for specific answers tied to your situation, then consider whether the working relationship feels clear and comfortable.

• Who answers calls and messages? Ask for your main contact, the best way to reach them and what response expectations you can agree on. Find out who covers urgent questions when that person is unavailable.
• Who attends showings and inspections? Buyers can ask whether the same person will tour with them. Sellers can ask how access and feedback are managed. Both can ask who will be present for an inspection and how findings will be communicated.
• Who handles contracts and deadlines? Ask who explains the paperwork, who tracks dates and who is responsible for keeping you informed. Confirm whom you should contact if a question or proposed change arises.

• How many clients does each person carry? Ask about the current workload of the people who would actually serve you, including the lead contact and anyone providing coverage. Follow up by asking how that workload affects availability.
• How will you communicate with me? Discuss whether you prefer calls, texts or email, how often you want updates and who will share important developments. Make sure the people working on your transaction understand your preference.
• What happens if my needs change? Ask how the agent adjusts the plan if your search broadens, your schedule changes or your sale and purchase timelines no longer line up.
• What is included in the fee? Ask about the compensation, services included, any separate charges and the circumstances in which payment is due. Review the written agreement before signing.

Listen for a direct answer rather than a promise that everything will be handled. You should be able to name the person to call and understand how decisions reach you. Our guide to choosing a Realtor offers more questions for the interview. Start with the five people on Kaitlin’s team and ask which roles would touch your move.

Compare fees and agreements carefully

Ask each prospective representative to explain the compensation and services in writing. The TREC residential resale contract, effective July 1, 2026, states that brokerage compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable (Texas Real Estate Commission, 2026, source). (TREC, 2026, source). Compare the proposed services and terms instead of assuming a team or a solo agent uses a particular rate.

For buyers, the TREC explanation of buyer agreements, dated January 7, 2026, says a written agreement is required before a license holder shows residential property, or presents an offer if none is shown (Texas Real Estate Commission, 2026, source). The agreement addresses services, its end date, whether it is exclusive, representation and compensation (TREC, 2026, source). Read it closely and ask how to raise concerns or end the relationship under its terms.

For sellers, ask who signs the listing agreement, what the marketing plan includes and how any proposed compensation is addressed. For either side, a conversation about the fee is also a conversation about the work: know what you are buying, who is doing it and which services may be separate. Call 214.429.4907 to discuss the proposed services and agreement.

How Kaitlin Lovern’s team is organized

Kaitlin Lovern leads a team of five: Kaitlin, Renee, Emily, Kim and Melissa. Their roles cover market analysis, contracts, open houses, transaction coordination and marketing. Kaitlin describes the model as keeping the file on her desk while drawing on the team’s different skills.

Those descriptions introduce the team, but they do not replace a conversation about your particular home or search. Ask Kaitlin who would be involved, how the team would communicate and what she would handle personally. You can read more about Kaitlin Lovern’s work in Frisco and the team’s approach to buying and selling in North Dallas.

Before choosing any representative, you can use TREC’s license holder search to check a license and sponsoring broker (Texas Real Estate Commission, 2026, source). Then ask the people you interview to explain the role each person will play in your move. Ask how Renee and Emily’s roles apply to your plans.

Frequently asked questions

Kaitlin Lovern invites buyers and sellers to talk through the details of the working relationship. Call 214.429.4907 with questions about your move.