I run across this a lot.  I am NOT a super lister, listing every house I can for sale.  I just want to make sure that you know that up front.  In fact, I don’t list every house I can.  I turn down listings.  And what I am about the say is going to make some agents unhappy…

Listing too many properties means that they can’t get the right attention…

I know of a few agents here in the Atlanta area that have HUNDREDS of listings.  Granted, they are teams, but still, I know of individual agents with dozens of listings.  In fact, the common saying in real estate has always been “List to live“.  And by that, the speaker is saying that the best way to insure success for the agent is to list a lot of property.

But there is a big problem with that…  It is great for the agent, but for the seller it isn’t so great.

I have had the coaches that told me that in order to be successful I need to pound to get listings every day.  I need to take every listing I can get.  if it is over-priced, still take it, but try to beat down the seller for reductions.  Until they reduce, don’t spend money or time marketing their listings.  I have been to the seminars where the speaker told us that we should limit the ability of the sellers to contact us.  Only call them back on Tuesdays between 3:00 and 3:07… and if there are too many calls, put them off a week.  I have stood up in a class and asked about better ways to market the listing… and been told “the MLS is the best way to market the listing, concentrate on marketing yourself.”

But I think that loses the reason I went into real estate… and the reason I stay.  I like helping people.  I like helping people buy that wonderful home they have been dreaming of, and I like helping people sell their home so that they can move into the next stage of their lives.

Self-promoting and ignoring the NEEDS of the people that hire me are NOT what I signed up for.

I only want to list a house… or maybe two… a week.

That is it.  That is the most I can handle.  Sure, I could ratchet that up and list a property a day… maybe two, but then I would have to farm out total responsibility for things like the single property blogs, virtual tours, interactive floor plans and everything else.  And I wouldn’t be able to make sure that everything is done right.  All I would have time to do would be to get the listing agreements signed and get the house in the MLS… and that is fine for a lot of agents.  But it isn’t for me.

I look up listings here in Lilburn (as well as a few other selct areas and types of properties) to see how well they are being promoted.  I see homes listed for sale with NO PICTURES, much less a virtual tour.  And I’m not just talking about foreclosures, I am talking about $500,000 houses that aren’t distressed sales.

And I actually LIKE working with buyers…

Many of the “big time” agents won’t work with buyers.  They hire agents to handle the buyers… they are referred to as “time suckers” by the various gurus out there.  And there is some truth… buyers take time.  But, as an agent, it is a great way to keep in touch with the market.  I know where my buyers are looking for properties.  I know what kind of properties and features are hot.  I know what kind of marketing pulls them in…  And I know it first hand.

The bottom line is that while the mega-agents might seem attractive, they may not be able to devote the kind of resources YOU need to get your home sold.  And it isn’t likely that you will work with them… you might not even meet them.  And for buyers, finding an agents that is in the community is a great way to get an edge.

from LilburnDwellings.com

Don’t hesitate to shoot Lane a message if you have any questions, or need any help. And check out the new links for FREE Property Searching, FREE Comparative Market Analysis and FREE Market Reports. They are near the top of the page…