Susan Janney at Long & Foster: Selling Homes in Baltimore's Established Neighborhoods

Susan Janney is a residential real estate agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, one of the largest independent brokerages operating in the Mid-Atlantic, based in the Baltimore area. She specializes in listing and selling single-family homes and townhouses, particularly in established Baltimore neighborhoods where inventory moves slowly and pricing strategy determines success.

What a Real Estate Agent Does and How Janney Fits In

A real estate agent earns commission on completed sales, typically 5.5 to 6 percent of the sale price, split between listing and buyer's agents. The listing agent (who works for the seller) prices the home, stages it for showings, markets it to other agents and the public, and negotiates offers. The buyer's agent (who works for the buyer) shows homes, advises on market conditions, and negotiates on behalf of their client. Both are paid only when a transaction closes. Janney operates as a listing agent, meaning she represents sellers in Baltimore and takes on the responsibility of moving homes in a market where days on market and price negotiations vary sharply by neighborhood and condition.

How to Evaluate a Real Estate Agent

When choosing whether to list with Janney or another agent, focus on three measurable factors: days on market (DOM) in your specific neighborhood, listing price accuracy relative to sale price, and the agent's transaction volume in your area. An agent who sells fifteen homes per year in Federal Hill may perform better there than one selling fifty homes across the entire region. Ask any prospective listing agent for the average DOM, average sale price as a percentage of list price, and the number of homes they sold in your specific neighborhood in the past two years. This comparison matters more than general reputation or company size.

Comparing Long & Foster Agents to Other Baltimore Brokerages

Long & Foster is a full-service brokerage with multiple Baltimore-area offices and a website showing thousands of listings. Its size means access to institutional resources: marketing tools, training, lead-generation systems. Smaller independent brokerages or boutique firms (such as those with three to five agents) may offer more direct, hands-on service and neighborhood expertise but less institutional reach. National franchises like Keller Williams or Coldwell Banker operate in Baltimore too, with similar cost structures but different company cultures and technology platforms. The brokerage you choose matters less than the individual agent's track record in your neighborhood; a mediocre agent at a large firm still underperforms a strong agent at a smaller one.

Services and Commission Structure

Listing agents typically offer home valuation, photography, staging consultation, online listing placement (including the MLS, Zillow, Realtor.com), open house scheduling, and negotiation support. Commission rates in Baltimore are negotiable, not fixed, though 5.5 to 6 percent is standard for a split between listing and buyer's agents. If an agent offers a below-market rate (4 or 4.5 percent), ask what is not included: some reduced-commission brokerages provide fewer showings or less marketing. Janney, as a Long & Foster agent, has access to the company's marketing infrastructure, which includes professional photography, yard signs, email campaigns, and broker network promotion.

Who Should List with an Agent vs. Selling Yourself

Selling your own home (FSBO, or "for sale by owner") means you keep 5 to 6 percent in commission but handle pricing, showings, inspections, appraisals, and negotiation yourself. FSBO works in Baltimore's seller's markets (rare) and for homes in move-in condition in neighborhoods with high demand. Most Baltimore homes require agent expertise in pricing: overpricing in a slow market means months of dead time; underpricing leaves money on the table. If you live in Canton, Fells Point, or Harbor East, where multiple offers happen quickly, an agent's value is primarily marketing speed and professional presentation. If you live in Hampden, Woodstock, or Locust Point, where buyer pools are smaller and homes take sixty to ninety days to sell, an agent's neighborhood knowledge and negotiating skill are essential.

First Steps When Listing

Contact Janney or another agent for a comparative market analysis (CMA), which shows what similar homes in your neighborhood have sold for in the past three to six months. This takes thirty minutes and is free. If you move forward, the agent will schedule a more detailed listing appointment, discuss marketing strategy and timeline, and prepare a listing agreement (contract between you and the agent). The listing agreement specifies the commission rate, duration (typically ninety to 120 days), and any special terms. Do not sign until you have compared terms with at least one other agent.

Hours, Contact, and Next Steps

Long & Foster offices in Baltimore operate standard business hours, typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though agents handle client calls and showings outside these hours. Verify Janney's current contact information and availability through the Long & Foster website or by calling the Baltimore office directly. Request a CMA before committing; use it to compare pricing strategies across agents and to understand your home's realistic market position.