CROMWELL - Real estate broker Deborah Hagel of Hagel & Associates in Cromwell is a true believer in working as a team, both with her agents and with buyers and sellers, to find each client their perfect fit.

       â€�"At the end of the day it is about helping the customer make the right decision,” said Hagel. â€�"It’s not about commissions and it’s not about numbers.”

       Hagel, who started at another local real estate company 25 years ago, opened Hagel & Associates 21 years ago with Office Manager Mary Harrington. Since then, the ever-growing business has allowed approximately 20 agents to join the team, which serves Middlesex and Hartford counties. The realtors also network with 3,500 other agents in the area.

       â€�"Every one of my agents are caring, smart and organized--and that’s huge in this business,” she said. â€�"An office is only as good as its agents and I am surrounded by some of the best ones in the business.”

       A high percentage of repeat clients and referrals speaks to the personalized attention and results the agents provide. Agents meet face-to-face with clients to address their needs and concerns.

       â€�"My agents all care about their clients and they care about each other,” Hagel said.

      

       For sellers, they provide a market evaluation of the home, then see the home and edit the evaluation accordingly. Homes are professionally photographed and listed on MLS and directly on the company website, www.HagelRealty.com .

       â€�"Online marketing is huge. Ninety percent of buyers these days first go to the Internet,” Hagel said.

       Listings appear in more than 100 search engines and are accessible to a network of realtors that â€�"for sale by owner” listings simply don’t reach, Hagel said.

       For buyers, the same rings true. Hagel & Associates agents have access to a wide range of listings and can narrow down the field based on clients’ preferences.

       Though it’s commonly thought that spring is the time to put a home on the market, now is a great time to get ahead of the competition, Hagel said.

       â€�"Usually sellers will get a little more foot traffic because there aren’t as many other homes on the market,” she said.

       The team at Hagel & Associates includes Bhupal Babajiyavar, Jack Burns, Jeff Coleman, Yvonne Eisner, Gary Garofalo, Michael Howley, Bernadetta Kreciglowa, Pat Malatesta, John Milardo, Lenny Orlacchio, Teresa Pytlik, Lizz Riley, Shirley Salafia, Susan Simeone, Jacklyn Tobin, Ryan Vincenti, Cindy Wolak, Cheryl Zalewski, Penny Damiata, Mary Harrington and Hagel.

       The office, located at 425 Main St., Cromwell, can be reached at 860-635-8801. Additional information, current listings and individual agents’ contact information can be found at www.HagelRealty.com .