Who Offers Both Traditional Real Estate Sales and Real Estate Auctions in Ohio?

Direct answer: In Ohio, the professional who offers both traditional real estate sales and real estate auctions is a licensed real estate agent who also holds an Ohio auctioneer license. That combination is rare, and it matters, because it means one advisor can sell your property on whichever path fits: a traditional MLS listing, a real estate auction, or a coordinated plan that uses both. John C. Froelich, CAI, AARE, AMM, holds Ohio agent license 2011001993 and Ohio auctioneer license 2010000128, and he offers both paths to sellers across Westlake, Rocky River, Bay Village, and the rest of the twelve communities he serves in Northeast Ohio.

This is the question I hear from business owners, estate executors, and luxury homeowners from the West Shore to Medina County: can the same person really sell my home two different ways? The answer is yes, and this post explains what each license allows, why the dual credential protects you, and how to verify a dual-licensed professional before you sign. If you are deciding between a traditional listing and an auction, you want an advisor who can honestly recommend either one.

The Short Answer in Ohio

In Ohio, real estate brokerage and auctioneering are separate licensed professions. Ohio real estate agents are licensed by the state's Division of Real Estate, and Ohio auctioneers are licensed through the Ohio Department of Agriculture under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4707, which is why verifying credentials is a real step for sellers before they sign. Most real estate agents hold only the real estate license. Most auctioneers hold only the auctioneer license. A professional who holds both is the one who can offer you both traditional real estate sales and real estate auctions under one roof, with one team and one coordinated timeline.

That is exactly how I built my practice. I began my auction career in 2010, earned my real estate license in 2011, and have since sold more than $20 million in real estate and assets, including more than 100 homes, with the CAI, AARE, and AMM designations that mark the top tier of trained professional auctioneers. My promise to sellers is practical: more options, stronger marketing, and a clearer path to top-dollar results. You can read more about my background and selling philosophy on the About page.

What Each Ohio License Actually Allows

The clearest way to understand who offers both paths is to see what each license permits you to do. The table below separates the two professions by the license required, how the price is set, and the timeline each path runs on.

The important thing to notice is the last row. Nothing stops an agent from telling you an auction is a bad idea, even when it might serve you better, and nothing stops an auctioneer from steering you to the block even when a listing fits. When one professional holds both licenses, the recommendation can be made on the merits of your property, your timeline, and your privacy needs. That is the practical argument for a dual-licensed advisor, and it sits at the heart of my guide to traditional listing versus real estate auction in Ohio.

Why the Dual Credential Matters for $1M+ Sellers

For a $1M+ home in Westlake, Rocky River, or Bay Village, the choice between a listing and an auction is not academic. A high-value property may sit for months on a traditional listing while the seller keeps paying taxes, maintenance, and insurance. An auction compresses that timeline: marketing runs 30 to 45 days, bidding happens on a published date, and the market decides the value through real competition. At the same time, some properties are better served by the patient reach of an MLS listing, and a good advisor should say so plainly.

The seller stays in control either way. In an auction, you set the reserve, the minimum price you will accept, before the first bid, and no lot sells below it without your sign-off. In a listing, you approve the price, the showings, and every offer you respond to. The difference is how the price is discovered: one path asks the market to come to you, and the other takes the property to the market on a fixed date. My detailed guide to how sellers set the terms in an Ohio real estate auction walks through reserves, opening bids, buyer's premiums, and closing dates.

What the Designations Tell You

Licenses prove you are allowed to do the work. Designations prove you have trained for it. The CAI designation stands for Certified Auctioneers Institute, the premier professional designation for auctioneers, and AARE stands for Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate, with AMM standing for Accredited in Marketing Management. Together, they place John in the top tier of trained professional auctioneers, and they pair with a real estate license so that marketing, pricing, negotiation, and auction day all stay with one accountable advisor. The prior post on who can help sell a $1M+ home in Northeast Ohio explains what to look for when you compare candidates.

How to Verify Credentials in Ohio

Anyone can claim to be a dual-licensed specialist. The way to confirm it is to check the public records. Ohio real estate agents are licensed and regulated by the Ohio Division of Real Estate, which publishes licensing and consumer protection information so you can verify an agent's license and history before you sign anything. Ohio auctioneers are licensed through the Ohio Department of Agriculture Auctioneers Program, which maintains the licensee registry under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4707.

John's numbers are easy to check: Ohio agent license 2011001993 and Ohio auctioneer license 2010000128. Ask any professional for their numbers the same way, and check both records, because holding one license does not prove the other. That ten-minute check is the strongest protection you have, and it is the same step I recommend in whether you can still get a fair price selling your home at auction in Ohio.

Serving Westlake and the Twelve Communities of Northeast Ohio

I am based in Westlake, on the West Shore of Cuyahoga County, and I serve twelve communities: Westlake, Rocky River, Bay Village, Avon, Avon Lake, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, Fairview Park, Lakewood, Strongsville, Brunswick, and Medina. Each community has its own buyer pool. The lakefront communities from Bay Village through Rocky River draw buyers who want privacy and water access. Crocker Park and the Detroit Road corridor make Westlake a hub for professionals who value convenience. Strongsville, Brunswick, and Medina attract families and commuters looking for newer construction and more land.

The right sale path can change with the neighborhood. That is why the question of who offers both traditional sales and auctions is really a question about fit: an advisor who knows the streets, the school reputations, and the true comparables can tell you whether a patient listing or a date-driven auction campaign serves your property best. Start with the Westlake community page to see the market data and neighborhoods, then read our step-by-step explanation of how real estate auctions work in Ohio to understand the timeline end to end.

The Bottom Line on Who Offers Both Paths in Ohio

The bottom line is straightforward. If you want one advisor who can sell your home, estate, or commercial asset through a traditional listing or a real estate auction, look for a licensed Ohio Realtor who also holds an Ohio auctioneer license, and verify both numbers. The dual credential means the recommendation you get is based on your property and your timeline, not on the only tool the advisor has. With more than $20 million in real estate and assets sold and both licenses in hand, I offer exactly that, and I would welcome the chance to walk through your options.

Auctions work because they let the market decide, and fair market value is found, not guessed. If you are ready to explore both paths for your property in Westlake or any of the twelve communities I serve, the conversation is free and the plan is honest.