Originally posted on The Sugarloaf Real Estate Blog
Two weeks ago I had a call from a "Down The Hill" agent who I needed my help. The agent asked me if I 
would show a bank owned property that he had listed in Big Bear because he wasn't going to drive all the way up here. First off, I have to question why an agent from "down the hill", in other words, an agent who has no clue about the area or values of homes in the area would want to take the listing!. That would be like me going to Huntington Beach or Beverly Hills and listing a home that I have no basis for taking. Bank owned or not, I'm not doing my client any fovors by taking a listing in an area that I don't know.
I firmly believe that you need to be an expert in the area that you plan to sell real estate. Could I learn Beverly Hills or Huntington Beach and become an expert in those areas? Sure I could, but why would I want too. The market that I serve is a resort market and I stay very busy without going to other areas. There is no reason for me to do this, especially when all I have to do is pick up the phone, call one of you, work out a referral and give you the client. I know this subject is a bit controversial and some of you may disagree with me on it. I would rather ask for a 25% referral fee and get the client with an expert in their area than to tell them that I can and will represent them, only to let them down. There are times where the ego just has to be out aside! The agent that I'm talking about has a listing in an area that he knows nothing about. On top of that, doesn't want to drive to Big Bear and service the listing! Something is wrong with this picture.
I knew the house that the agent had because it had been on the market before and I know the inventory pretty well in that area. Knowing what the bank was going to ask for it, made it a sweet deal. I showed that house to everyone that came up to Big Bear this past two weeks and started writing offers today! Trust me, I'm not complaining, especially as I'll probably get a deal out of it. But how many times have "down the hill" agents listed homes in Big Bear, only to see the listing expire with no results. The market is dropping every month and the longer the house sits on the market, the less it will be worth. Wouldn't it be better for everyone if the "down the hill" agents refereed their listings to a local expert, get them priced correctly, and got them sold? The seller, bank or otherwise would stand one heck of a better chance of selling their property if they did!
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