How Many Is Too Many?

15 - 20 is about right for me, of course 2 or 3 need to be closing each month and you need to add a similar amount!

I as a single agent, only handle a maximum of 15 listings and refer the rest.  That way I can choose which ones to have and market.  an unreasonable seller/price, no thanks.  I will let someone else go through that agony but Iwill try and get a referral out of it.  Buyers, I like to keep those at a maximum of 5 that want to buy now and I can handle another 100 that might buy(5 a day).  The rest I refer out for a referral fee. That way, I can give my buyers the service they deserve.

Fifteen seems to be the magic number for listings not including those under contract. I keep a waiting list of sellers and you have just given me a blog idea.

Congratulations on your featured post.

Margaret

Great that you are also interviewing the seller; no point in listing a home that will never sell.  I think having more listings is a little easier than having many buyers since you have to schedule time to meet with them all.  Short sale listings can be very consuming also.  I guess it just depends on the type of listing!

Hmmmm....the time factor is one of the main reasons why I would prefer to handle listings. I'm glad that you asked the question so thatI can have a clearer goal in mind when I actually have more listings than what I do right now...

Great question and one that's been on my mind for some time.  Thank you for collecting all the comments.  At least I have an idea how other people feel about the volume in their business.  

Dear Lorrie -

Well - having read ALL the comments - I can see you have a clear response - "You decide."

Seriously though, the cluster of decisions seems to be at approxiametely 15 Listings.  Going to read Margaret Rome's blog now.

Have a happy day -
Lynn 

Good question. 

My answer is 1000. Just keep hiring assistants to help serve them properly. =)

I carry somewhere between 35-45 personal listings the past year, and some on the outside have questioned my service, but not my clients. They don't know that we have a prolific back office spearheaded by my wife and company co owner handling everything...inquries, showings, troubleshooting, you name it. Once you get close to 20 listings you have to have help. 

Do you have an assistant? One who is licenssed and can help you out with yoru clients?

I think it is going to vary from individual to individual.  We all have our own limitations.  It depends on how much service you give too.

I haven't hit my limit yet, but I just came from Margaret Rome's post and she has a wonderful business model that addresses your question.

I have also often wondered about this for the same reason. Thanks for writing this post. I found this post from Margaret Rome's post about 15 listings. Very good topic.

We usually have between 15-25 but our "goal" is to carry 30 at any given time.  We don't have an assistant, but we work together.  Most of those are short sales.  My husband does the negotiating and I work with buyers.  I usually work with 3-5 "active" buyers at one time and then have a bunch "in the pipeline" that I follow up on but aren't actively out looking at houses quite yet.  I do think it definitely depends on each person, and also systems that are set up.  We used to only be able to handle 20 until we implimented some additional thinks and felt we could handle about 10 more.  That's where we are for now...

Great post, Lorrie! You were a wonderful inspiration for Margaret's blog, and I THANK YOU FOR THAT! Cassie Davis, DFW Texas Homes For Sale

How long are your listings averaging on the market?  How many closings do you have a year?  What is the income you are projecting on your Business Plan?  Your BP should help calculate the number of listings based on your closing ratio.   

You may not need the 'big team', but having a virtual assistant can help for the repeatable tasks that don't require a physical presence in the office.  There are many virtual assistants here in the Rain, you should look them up!

If you're turning down business, you're doing something wrong.  You need to either start a team, or get a part time assistant to delegate menial tasks to.  This is the hardest part about growing a successful business...delegation, outsourcing, and prioritization.  If you don't make a concerted effort to figure out a growth plan, you will not get very far.  You may be very popular with your clients, and be a GREAT agent, but who just doesn't make very much money.