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What is your real estate specialty?

In most states if you have a real estate license, you really are not limited from the type of sales that you can do! One license does it all for property management, land sales, lots, residential real estate, commercial real estate, business brokerage etc! When I first got into real estate I looked at everything, showed homes, land, rentals, commercial, but never really did a whole bunch of anything! Jack of all trades master of none! Ellen and I found we became much more productive by referring our other areas that we could probably do, but that we could not do it well enough! We chose to work strictly in residential real estate. We handle residential real estate, re-sales, new homes, list, sell, and relocation. Our Atlanta real estate site has the same focus - www.AtlantaBestHomes.Com. Even though your can search for commercial etc...we refer out all the rest! I think everyone benefits when we strive to be experts in one field. Besides we are doing a great business by actually getting referral income by giving this business to real estate experts in their respective field in our market. It allwed us to be more focused and productive.

Common sense and our Realtor Code of ethics support this notion. What are your thoughts? What are your areas of specialty?

Jim Crawford - www.AtlantaBestHomes.Com

RE/MAX Greater Atlanta 770-238-0122 Direct

Or 888-992-5546 Toll Free Office

Atlanta Real Estate & Atlanta Homes for Sale

Posted by Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO on 02/09/2007 08:26 AM

Comments (24)

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Originally posted at: Atlanta Real Estate | Atlanta Housing News for Real Estate: What is your real estate specialty?

24 Comments on What is your real estate specialty?

FEB

2007

Residential Real Estate is also my specialty. I wholeheartedly agree with your statements. For me, even rentals are distracting, when working with buyers and sellers. I deal in land, new homes and re-sales. Referring business out is much better than letting those customers go to the next real estate company. They will find what they are looking for whether it is with you or the next agent! If you are a buyer's agent or representing the seller, take care of their needs and do what you do best! That is how I keep focused in my real estate business.

I do residential resale homes and condos.

Commercial transactions I have a very good commercial REALTOR bud in the office I refer them to.

I think is just makes a lot of sense! Best of all, it gives us credibility. That it is not all about the dollar! It is about doing the right thing. It has worked out well enough for us in Atlanta that we eveen set up a local network for residential in areas too far away for us to service correctly. I can never understand how anyone can serve a listing if it over 50 miles away in a congested urban enviornment!

Jim Crawford - http://www.atlantabesthomes.com/

Specialization is one of the things that we request members in our network to inform us on so that we may be able to properly refer our clients. Should they need someone for a certain need or service our stance is to provide them a resource method. While some make the statement that specialization leads to extinction, a proper network can supply both quality and convenience.

I think that is a very smart idea. I think it is human nature to say we can do it all! We can, but the quality of what we do will not reach the benchmark. What is the old saying, "If youcan't do something right...don't do it at all!" Thanks for sharing! BTW..nice website.

We can't serve all geographic areas and we can't be good at all types of real estate. We're far better, as well as more sane, by limiting our transactions to places we know well and that we can service well.

Hey Sharon,

I agree. There is a lot of sanity in knowing our limitations of time, location, and the niches we choose to work. That is why I choose not to work investors in my market. I always tell them if I find a deal as good as teh one you are looking for... I tell them, "I won't call you!" When They ask "Why not?" I tell them, "I'll buy it myself!"

Jim Crawford - http://www.atlantabesthomes.com/

MAR

2007

I agree! From a commercial only view, I would not touch a residential transaction with a 1000' pole. I have an excellent go to person at another company that can handle that lead for me.

One can specialize within the group. No condos, or investments only. Many of your respondents seem to also agree. I bet they have seen much stronger client relationships and greater referrals. I have told many a client that I could not help them with that specific need. 9 times out of 10 these clients come back to me for assitence with other projects because they know I am there to help find a solution, not just get a transaction.

James thanks for sharing. Recently real estate changed totally. The public is now viewing real estate as a job without skill. Part of thei is deep discount, part is a prostitution of this profession by those that want a quick dollar etc. On TV, anyone can do this. It is our job not to give into this way of thinking. We have solutions for your needs!

I am with the rest of the crowd on this one...I handle only residential transactions, 2 family or smaller. In fact, I don't even list condo's they have different rules here. Referrals are the only way to go.

Residential... For now anyways.. Until I get more wet and will be comfortable on commercial.

Jim--Good points being made. I stick with what I know best...Residential. For me it is best to stay focused.

Jim,

Good post. A topic that is not talked about all that often. How can we purport to be representing clients to the best of our abilities if we are not in fact knowledgeable about that which we hope to sell.

Hi Jim,

I'd like to say I am a Baby-Boomer Specialist in Central Kentucky. Generally residential but some BB's are into investment properties and horse farms. My skills are constantly spilling over into something different everyday. I grew up on a horse farm, my Dad owned investment properties and we had a business. Being a baby-Boomer myself makes me lean toward others that are in the same age span. Life is good here in the Horse Capitol of the World!

Thanks all for the comments. I do believe we all have our talents, and we have to acknowledge that some of us have more than others. I am in the middle class! LOL! I know my limits, and that is also a strength. It is like the great doctor, sometimes he can refer you out to a specialist who will better serve you.

Residential real estate has always been my favorite. I worked the Branson area for about a year, but residential is a more stable income. Commercial is a whole other market. I refer it to the pros.

I prefer residential. Less investors, shorter time to make a commission, easy to do! I noticed you are from Springfield MO, my good friend Richard Mendenhall is from Columbia MO.

I do residential, condo, and land. Will refer commercial out but would like to do at least one with a person that does commercial. I love learning. I want to experience at least once.

MAR

2007

Jim -Nice subject! If I lived in a larger town I would only do residential. However, I work a fairly large geographic area. I would like to think I have a unique situation here with all the small towns being on little islands (or they might as well be, since there are no roads to them!). Most of what I do is residential though. I've listed fishing lodges, bars, restaurants and now I have a motel listed. Like I said though, it is a unique market. One of the towns I go to only has 14 people living there in the winter!

We do condos, homes, listing, and buyers agents. Small business, land, lots, farms, we refer out. Sometimes we even refer out very high end luxury homes. To me it is easier. It frees us up to do what we do best. Some months we can take advantage of very decent referral checks. Making money while we let others do what they do best.

Debbie, I envy you. Sometimes I miss that small town feel. I used to spend my summers in eastern Canada. It sounds very similar the type of market you describe. I think in that type of market I would do a little of everything as long as it is open to outsiders. Sometimes in smaller communities it is hard to fit in. I also have a Brooklyn New York accent that is hard to shake! LOL!

Jim - I sure wish we would have met when you went to our convention! Maybe next time. I think you were up here the year our team won the state championship for football.

Specialties in my opinion are a must. We have to be good at what we do and when we are jumping all over the place we will not be good but at best average in the field. Like a football team there ar different positions and rarely do you have a player that can play on the line and run the ball they have two completely different body structures and abilities. I agree decide what you are going to do and then do it with all you got!

Jim

In Ocala Florida we have a ton of vacant new homes owned by out of area investors. Many are motivated to sell at a very good price thus eliminating the whole game of getting them to price it right.

I'm also very interested in helping northern baby boomer move here. Ocala Florida has the 2nd lowest median home price in the state.

Debbie - Thanks for all the comments! I was in Alaska in 2002 I believe. Way too long ago.

Dan I agree about specialties, that is where we offer the best service.

Joe Ocala Florida seems like a good choice!

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