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There's Nothing Wrong With Taking A listing 1 hour Away From Your Office....

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Compass 0524642

Not too long ago I took a listing in the Dickinson area, just over an hour from where I live. SHAME on me. How dare I try to service a client so far away. I also had the property leased to my own client in less than 30 days. No biggie.

The perspective tenant called off the sign and before I met him I had him fill out an application for the property. He didn't have an agent, so I was happy to help. I simply gave him the routing number and account number to our bank account and he was able to deposit the application fee within minutes of my listing. The bank was less than 5 minutes away. 

Once approval was obtained I emailed all the documents to my client (tenant and Landlord)  where he & she digitally signed all the necessary paperwork for the home.

The day the lease commenced I drove to my listing and handed the tenant (my client) the keys to his new lease property. I left with my sign and lockbox. Everyone was happy. Had there been another agent involved the process would have worked almost exactly the same way. The only difference is the agent would have deposited the 1st months rent and deposit into our account on behalf of her client.

Working a listing in an hour way isn't always a bad idea, so long as you can service everyone fairly and with the same level of service as if they were ten minutes down the road.

I was able to do this because of technology, common sense and quick access to online credit reports. Our MLS provides instantaneous data that any REALTOR®/HAR Member can utilize to help their client Our MLS coverage is seen below...

 

mls coverage

Posted by
Greg Nino
Realtor
RE/MAX Compass 
Direct & Text 7 days a wk: 832-298-8555 
 
 
Realtor since 2004
Mediator & Arbitrator for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Member of the Professional Standards Committee for the TX Assoc. of Realtors
Arbitrator for the Comptroller's office for the State of TX for Arbitration of Property Tax Values

 Member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Platinum Club

 

The information contained in this blog is believed to be reliable and while every effort is made to assure that the information is as accurate as possible, the author of this blog, and its comments disclaim any implied warranty or representation about it's accuracy, completeness or appropriateness for any particular purpose. All information is copywritten and the property of Greg Nino.  

Comments(14)

Melissa McKinney
Everything Pines Partners Fayetteville - Fayetteville, NC
Realtor, www.LivingFayetteville.com

Gregg~I agree! Sounds like everyone involved was happy with the service! I have sold many homes that are an hour or so away from my office, but that doesnt mean I can not or will not service that area!

Feb 21, 2012 12:16 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Greg, Most of our listings are probably less than a 30 minute drive.  That's as much a reflection of good infrastructure as anything.  If we know the neighborhood and the data is available, then we're comfortable.  We're probably willing to go a bit further for listings than for buyers.

Feb 21, 2012 12:30 AM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

That's a huge service area! Hope your Geo Metro is in good working order!

Feb 21, 2012 12:54 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

I guess that's why we're licensed by state and not county. Pairing up with another agent farther away would work, too. Or just refer it out and hopefully get a commission on that.

Feb 21, 2012 02:30 AM
Heather Russo
Keller Williams Realty - Kerrville - Kerrville, TX
SRES , REALTOR, Kerrville, Texas Homes for Sale

I've always thought this way... but agents need to pick and choose the listings... if the seller/landloard doesn't have a realistic price set, there is just a lot of time wasting ahead of you!

Feb 21, 2012 05:11 AM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I would not service a rental that far away but I would service a listing.  My condition for working a listing that far away is that it be in a market where properties sell fairly quickly and the home would have to be priced to sell or easily accessible so I don't have to be there for every showing.  As you say, if I can give the same level of service as I would a local listing, I'll drive.

Feb 21, 2012 06:29 AM
Dee Nofziger
|Key Realty | Maumee Toledo Real Estate Blog - Toledo, OH
Maumee Real Estate, Toledo Homes, Key Realty

I can see this scenario happening more and more inthe near future. With business technology available to the masses, it's extremely easy to give the same level of service ( or close to it) from further away than we were previously accustomed.

Feb 21, 2012 06:45 AM
Rich Cederberg
eXp Realty - Albuquerque, NM
eXp Realty Agent Albuquerque

It is great that you were able to sufficiently assist this client.  Often times buyers want to see homes and ask questions better answered by an agent who specializes in that area but you are proof that it can be handled in a professional manner.  Great job Greg!

Feb 21, 2012 07:31 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Make sure you drive according to the speed limit in Dickinson. Cops are always there around exit 19 th on I-45. Guss how I know....;-)

Feb 21, 2012 08:56 AM
Marilyn Boudreaux
Marilyn Boudreaux, Century 21 Bono Realty - Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles LA Century 21 Realtor

WOW you can check credit in your MLS??  That is high tech and I was just getting excited about our MLS upgrade in April where we will be able to share listings in the Houston market

Feb 21, 2012 12:36 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

I don't service rental properties more than 30 minutes away @ my speed.  I have properties in 4 different counties; however, I do not service properties in the FAR side of my county because of the distance for myself and service people.

My owner clients never sign the lease - I am the authorized landlord in my management - I sign everything!

 

Feb 21, 2012 06:46 PM
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I totally agree with you on this one. I have rental properties one hour away from office. Phoenix is a big city.

Feb 22, 2012 03:22 AM
Mark Delgado
houses for rent, Solano County & Glen Cove - Benicia, CA
Benicia and Vallejo, Property Management, rental h

We also stick with rentals closer to our area. Like Wallace, we, not the owner, sign the lease as property managers. Proximity allows us to provide better maintenance services with known vendors. 

Feb 22, 2012 01:17 PM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

Good job!

Feb 26, 2012 03:44 AM