Frequently Asked Questions

Cortiam is essentially a real estate matchmaking service. We match property sellers and buyers with real estate agents.

Sellers, you set your commission rate and contract terms and share a few details about your property. If an agent likes what they see, they accept or counter your terms. And if you like what they’ve sent, it’s a match! You preserve your privacy, save money, and avoid having to negotiate real estate agent fees.

Buyers, you simply create your ideal agent wishlist by completing a multiple choice survey of sought-after credentials and attributes. You’re in the driver’s seat. If you find a real estate agent profile you like, you reach out directly. No unsolicited messages – what a relief! (If you know, you know!)

Sellers and buyers pay nothing. Agents pay a monthly fee for the privilege of engaging with potential clients, but there’s no fee for property owners or property seekers looking for the perfect agent through Cortiam.

Signing up for Cortiam is easy – just enter some basic information and then answer a few multiple-choice questions to get the matchmaking started. Sellers, you’ll set your terms and post your property. Buyers, you’ll create your ideal agent wishlist. That’s it!

We know both numbers can be a bit daunting for sellers to set, especially if you’re new to real estate or it’s been a while since you’ve been in the market. The average commission for real estate agents on a sale is 6%, and the average contract term is 3 to 6 months – but that doesn’t mean those are the numbers for you.

Check out our Setting Your Terms page for best practices, and a commission rate calculator.

You’ll only list minimal details about your property, including:

• Residential vs Commercial
• Property Type
• Land Size
• Building Size
• Build Year
• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Address

Note that your address won’t be visible to any agents unless you agree to work together.

Yes, you can post one property or several. If they’re similar, you might choose to work with one agent. If they’re different – say one commercial and one residential property – you might choose to work with two different agents who specialize in that type of property. Owning property in different states may require you to work with different agents, too.

Each property is uniquely listed so you can match the right asset to the right agent.

No – an agent will only know the address of the property you’re selling after they’ve won your confidence and you’ve agreed to work together.

Buyers complete a general wishlist that provides high-level details of the ideal property and agent. Multiple choice fields include:

• Location
• Property Type
• Specialty Property Type
• Agent Years of Experience
• Brokerage Preference
• Agent Attributes

Choosing to add more detail serves as a filter to help identify your ideal real estate agent match.

No – there are no “listings” on Cortiam. The properties on Cortiam are visible only to real estate agents for the purposes of matching sellers and agents.

Agents communicate with sellers and buyers through the Cortiam portal. Only after you agree to work together will they gain access to your contact information.

For sellers, there are two steps to matching with an agent. The first step is agreement of terms. An agent will either agree to your set commission rate and contract terms, or counter. If your expectations align and you like their profile, it’s a match!

Buyers complete a survey that serves to identify a list of prospective agents. Choosing to respond to additional survey questions will further filter your results. The more you share, the faster you’ll find your perfect match!

If you have few or no messages, you may want to tweak your commission rate and/or contract terms, or refine your agent wishlist.

Agents are, rightfully, strategic when adding to their portfolio. They want a successful outcome for all parties. If they don’t see the right matrix in terms of seller expectations, they may counter terms or keep on scrolling.

Fair question – there are a lot of imposters out there. As part of the real estate agent sign up process, they are required to submit their real estate license number and status. Before they can engage as a platform user, we verify their license to make sure they’re a legitimate real estate agent. Of course, once you have an agent’s name and affiliation, you can conduct your own due diligence.

You can withdraw your property or wishlist at any time if you decide not to pursue an agent match through Cortiam. You are not legally obligated by Cortiam to work with anyone.

However, if you’ve engaged an agent and have taken the conversation offline already, changing your mind may come with a penalty. It depends on whether you’ve signed a formal contract with the agent or not. This is in keeping with the regular rules of the real estate game – which is another reason why finding your agent through Cortiam is awesome! With Cortiam, you can test the waters before you sign on the dotted line.

Unless you’ve already agreed to work together, an agent can withdraw their interest in your property or wishlist at any time. An agent is only legally bound to work with you after you sign a formal contract issued by them on behalf of their brokerage.

Of course! At Cortiam, your way is the right way. We know you’re likely to use our platform as well as “the old fashioned way” of finding an agent, such as through word of mouth or via online research. (A word to the wise, though, be mindful about sharing your contact information while researching online – you may be signing yourself up for a lot of robocalls and spam.)