Working With a Douglas Elliman Realtor on Long Island: 2026 Guide

If you're thinking about working with a Douglas Elliman realtor on Long Island, it helps to know what the company is, how its local offices work, and what you'll actually sign. Douglas Elliman is a real estate brokerage that started in Manhattan in 1911, according to the Douglas Elliman investor site. Long Island is one of its core markets.

I'm a licensed salesperson at the Douglas Elliman office in Smithtown, so I get asked about this a lot. This guide covers the company's history, the Smithtown office, the forms New York requires, and the questions I'd ask any agent before hiring them, including me.

What is Douglas Elliman?

Douglas Elliman is a real estate brokerage founded in 1911 by Douglas L. Elliman. It started in a basement store at 421 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, according to Wikipedia's Douglas Elliman entry.

Today the company's headquarters is at 575 Madison Avenue in New York. It's a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker DOUG, according to its investor site. Wikipedia notes it was spun off from Vector Group in December 2021.

The investor site lists the New York metro area as its main market, including New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut, New Jersey, and the Hamptons. It also works in other states, including Florida, California, Texas, and Colorado.

How did Douglas Elliman grow on Long Island?

Long Island has a long history with the company. According to Wikipedia's Dottie Herman entry, Herman and a partner bought Prudential Long Island Realty in 1989. She then purchased Douglas Elliman in 2003.

For years, the company was known as Prudential Douglas Elliman. It dropped "Prudential" from its name in 2012, according to Wikipedia.

Today Elliman has offices across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Each office has its own managers and agents, and agents often focus on the towns close to their office.

Where is the Douglas Elliman Smithtown office?

The Smithtown office is at 200 W Main St, Smithtown, NY 11787. The office phone is 631-543-9400, according to the Elliman Smithtown office page.

Elliman opened this office in July 2019. It's a 3,280 square foot space near the Smithtown train depot, according to Elliman's announcement. The same article lists the areas the office serves:

• Smithtown, St. James, Nissequogue, and Head of Harbor
• Nesconset and Lake Grove
• Kings Park and Fort Salonga
• Commack and Hauppauge

I work from this office and also cover Huntington, Dix Hills, and Hicksville. See the Smithtown neighborhood page for more on the area.

Is every Douglas Elliman agent a REALTOR®?

Not automatically. A real estate license and the REALTOR® title are two different things.

• License. New York State licenses real estate salespersons and brokers through the Department of State. Anyone selling real estate for a fee needs one.
• REALTOR®. This is a membership mark. It means the agent is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and follows its Code of Ethics, according to NAR. NAR was founded in 1908.

You can check any agent's license with the NY Department of State Licensee Search. Type in their name and confirm their license type, status, and brokerage. For more on the difference, read how to choose a Long Island realtor.

What forms will you sign with a Douglas Elliman agent?

Any licensed agent in New York, at any brokerage, will ask you to review a few standard forms. These are the two you'll see first.

1. The New York State Disclosure Form for Buyer and Seller. This form explains who the agent works for. It says clearly at the top that it is not a contract, according to the NY Department of State. It describes these roles:

• Seller's agent. Works for the seller.
• Buyer's agent. Works for the buyer and doesn't represent the seller.
• Broker's agent. Helps a buyer's or seller's agent from another firm.
• Dual agent. Works for both sides, but only with written consent from both. Both sides give up the right to undivided loyalty.
• Dual agent with designated sales agents. Each side gets its own agent inside the same firm, with limits on their duties.

2. A written buyer agreement. Since August 17, 2024, many agents who are NAR members need a written agreement with a buyer before touring a home, according to NAR's consumer guide. The agreement has to spell out the services and exactly how the agent will be paid. NAR also notes that compensation is negotiable and not set by law.

Here's what that actually means for you: read every form, ask what each line means, and don't sign until you understand who your agent works for and how they get paid.

What's the difference between the brokerage and your agent?

In New York, a salesperson works under a licensed broker. Douglas Elliman is the brokerage. Your agent is the person you'll talk to, tour homes with, and call when something comes up.

The brokerage sets up the office, the forms, and the systems agents use. The agent does the day-to-day work with you:

• Pulls homes that match your budget and towns
• Sets up showings and goes with you
• Helps you write and negotiate an offer
• Works with your attorney, lender, inspector, and the other agent until closing

So the brand gives you a starting point. But the agent is who you're really hiring.

How do you choose a Douglas Elliman agent on Long Island?

Ask the same questions you'd ask any agent. These are the ones I'd start with:

1. Which towns do you work most? Long Island taxes, school districts, and permits change by town and even by street.
2. How long have you been licensed? Then confirm it on the Licensee Search.
3. How will we talk, and how often? Text, phone, or email, and how fast you can expect a reply.
4. What do you look for in a house? A good agent looks past paint to the roof, heating, cesspool or sewer, and permits.
5. How are you paid? Get it in writing in the buyer agreement or listing agreement.
6. Do you speak my language? If Spanish is easier for you, ask. See Spanish-speaking realtor on Long Island.

If you're selling, also read what it costs to sell a house on Long Island and how much your Long Island home is worth.

How Kellen helps Long Island buyers and sellers

I'm Kellen Vinco, a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson and Long Island REALTOR® with Douglas Elliman in Smithtown. I've been licensed since 2001, and I bring 25+ years of commercial property management experience to every home I walk through. I hold the ABR® and SRS designations, I'm an A.I. Certified Agent, and I'm a member of the Long Island Board of REALTORS®. I work in English and Spanish.

I focus on Kings Park, Commack, Huntington, Fort Salonga, Dix Hills, Smithtown, Hauppauge, and Hicksville. I work with first-time buyers, relocation buyers, sellers, investors, and ITIN buyers.

If you're buying, start with buying a home in Smithtown and closing costs on Long Island. Then browse homes for sale, read more about me, or book a free consultation. You can also call or text me at 516-263-4569.

Kellen Vinco

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson · Douglas Elliman

Kellen helps Long Island buyers and sellers in English and Spanish, with 25+ years of property management experience behind every home she walks through.

About KellenFree consultation516-263-4569

This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax, mortgage, or financial advice. Market conditions change, so confirm details for a specific property. Equal Housing Opportunity.