Ascend Realty Group, LLC

Ascend Realty Group has been working Boston real estate since 2008 — 18 years by the Better Business Bureau's count, incorporated as an LLC that April, with seven employees and Michael Verani listed as partner. The BBB grades it A+ and shows no complaints against it, though the firm has not taken BBB accreditation. One thing needs checking before you sign a listing agreement: the Massachusetts registry carries the company's real estate broker licence, 8139-RE-LC, as expired. A brokerage licence can lapse administratively and be brought back, but a lapsed one is still lapsed, and it is the first question to put to them. No client has written about working with the firm, so the A+ grade and the 18-year run are what there is to go on. If you're considering them for a sale or a purchase, ask for the current licence status in writing and for two or three clients who closed with them in the past year.