# Choose a hotel broker without buying a brochure

Harbor by Signalry · hotel job `choose-broker`
https://harbor.signalry.ai/jobs/choose-broker

How and who for the hotel job—verified when attested. Advice unless labeled verified. This brief is a worksheet, not an appraisal and not a quote.

## The job

When I sell or buy a hotel, I want a desk that matches the comparable set — not a compliment that cannot name a public tape.

**Outcome the catalog names:** A hired desk with a written comparable set, a buyer or seller map, a conflict sentence, and a fee you can explain.

**Desk:** owner
**Urgency on the catalog:** This deal
**Typical budget band (catalog, not a quote):** Success fee 1–3% is common — read the engagement
**Typical timeline (catalog, not a promise):** 2–4 weeks to hire; the sale is longer

## Scoped brief

Match the desk to the species of hotel. A trophy and a Hampton do not share a banker. Ask for public comps, conflicts, and what they will not put in the CIM.

1. **Name the comparable set first.** Segment, keys, region, affiliation. If a broker cannot show how they would score comps — including which tapes have public prices — they are selling atmosphere.
2. **Ask the conflict sentence.** Who else do they represent on this asset or this buyer? Dual agency is not illegal in every room. Undisclosed dual agency is how you pay twice.
3. **Read the engagement as a contract.** Tail, protection list, co-broker, marketing spend, and whether they can be the buyer. A handshake is not a hire.
4. **Score a desk that cannot cite a tape, not 'they knew the market'.** A compliment is not a comparable set. Harbor will not invent the consideration.

## When not to buy

Do not hire a book that cannot name a public tape. A compliment is not a comparable set. Harbor will not invent the consideration.

## Provider shortlist

- [Sable Underwriting Desk](https://harbor.signalry.ai/providers/sable-desk) — people · Boutique acquisition underwriting. Catalog score 8.9 (post-job shape, not a verification).
- [Ashcroft Asset Advisors](https://harbor.signalry.ai/providers/ashcroft) — people · Owner asset management. Catalog score 8.8 (post-job shape, not a verification).
- [Desk Signal](https://harbor.signalry.ai/providers/desk-signal) — software · Review recovery & front-desk alerts. Catalog score 8.2 (post-job shape, not a verification).

## Success the brief names

- Written comparable set with public versus unknown prices labeled.
- Conflict sentence in the engagement.
- A fee and tail you can explain to an IC.

## Pitfalls

- Hiring the nicest book.
- A desk that also has the buy-side on the same asset.
- A CIM that a night audit will embarrass.

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Stable id: `choose-broker`
Source: Harbor by Signalry · https://harbor.signalry.ai
Verified Outcome is not insurance. Do not treat a catalog score as attested proof.