As an owner-broker I try to stay in touch with the daily tasks of agents. One of the ways to do that is to go on our local association tour of listings which in our area is every Tuesday. It is a great way to see other agents in person, stay in touch , visit, and get to see a variety of properties plus the incentives like good food are enticing to say the least.  There is only one thing that disturbs me, however. It really seems like fewer and fewer agents are going on our tours any more. Are they just too busy?  Do they not see any value in them? Or is this just another result of the Internet?   IE.  They can take the virtual tour.

I still say nothing beats the real deal, besides I can't eat a virtual sandwich. :o)

Want a bite?

www.treythurmond.com

 

 
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24 Comments on Do You Do Caravans/ Realtor Tours?

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

MAR
25
2008
269,988 Points 7 Featured Posts Called Shot Master
Spokane RealtorYeah, I think there is value , but then also I can see it as a waste of time also. Ultimatley if I want to sell a home I will pull it up on the MLS, but the value I see is it keeps you active and thinking of homes. Overall I don't do them just like broker's opens. I can't see a return or track a sale to them. Then best thing is they get agents in so sellers know realtors saw it.
10:15pm • #5
MAR
26
2008
960,561 Points 21 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Most agent I know are very social too and this gives them a chance to mingle!

Your Friend in Charlottesville Virginia!
7:59am • #6
438,013 Points 79 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Okay Trey, your sandwich is making me hungry. Stop it. We sell out by the lake and with a 450 linear mile shoreline there is no such thing as local. A tour would do us no good unless the gas and food fairy visited each and every one of us. I really believe the future is in the net. Later in the rain~Deb
10:00pm • #7
459,700 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Charles ,

Our association has grown by about 20% in one year. I can't keep up with who is who. A friendly tour and a few handshakes is one way to meet a few of them.
10:58pm • #8
459,700 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Deb

Maybe you could do boat tours and cut down on time and not have to drive and you could water ski  from house to house. ;O)

Trey
11:01pm • #9
MAR
27
2008
459,700 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

I must say I was very pleasantly surprised today by receipt of a letter in the mail from an agent who came to a recent tour I held. She actually thanked me for the food and said she looked forward to future business. Wow what a bridge builder. Also in this tour I used a a feed back questionaire which let me know what other pros thought of the property about price etc. Valuable insight .
8:59pm • #10
Outside Blog
If I am dealing with clients seeking a particular area and type of home, I will preview. I think this is a waste of time driving for hours and frequently people get off track. A previous company that I worked for used slide shows and we presented new listngs for about 3 minutes maximum. The company held such a large share of the market it was the only way to do it.  I don't think I need to view a 2.5 million dollar home if I have buyers looking for $300,000 homes. When it comes to time management and real estate, this is without a doubt not only an unwise use of time but also gas and money- time obtaining and working with clients. 
10:37pm • #11
MAR
28
2008
Hey Trey, You & I remember many years ago when our office would go together as a group.   It was more fun then and gave us time to mix with agents in our own office AND in other offices.  Today it's just not the same.  Rush rush rush is the way of real estate, it seems.
9:55am • #12
459,700 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Charles,

You know I have usually discovered that top producers are usually the ones that show up at my personal tours.  And smart agents will get sponsors to provide the food for those tours. Additionally this is no less a form of networking than say volunteering  for non-profits, attending public events, chamber of commerce meetings etc, Any agent who is in a whirlwind all the time and never takes time to stop and look at a sampling of inventory and mingle with other agents in quasi-professional setting is a BURN OUT waiting to happen.  My gosh it is crazy when you have agents just down the street from each other that have no idea who they are, because they don't attend association meetings, don't attend tours, don't get involved with the Realtor community. Giving up one hour or two every few weeks to do these things has made me hundreds of thousands over 30 years. We are not just selling homes, we are working with other Realtors towards common goals, apart of which is income $... the other part is relationships that make $ in the future.
11:51am • #14
I love Brokers open houses.It is so much easier than previewing homes by making appointments, and I get meet other  agents in my area. It is also an easy way to get industry information and find out what people have been up to . That being said I do stay in the area around my home and office due to gas prices and time constraints. I also will always do one in order to get feedback from other agents whose input I value.
9:21pm • #15
MAR
29
2008
808,181 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Yes we have a great system - different areas of the island on different weekdays.  Our Thursday upcountry and north shore areas are sponsored by Fidelity National Title and they do a really great job of organizing things.  A typical caravan is 6-10 listings, and as many as 20 at times.  It's such a good way to network and see the new stuff.  Car pooling is encouraged. 

6:41pm • #16
459,700 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Georgiana,

Living in such a beutiful place as you do it must really be a blessing to get out and show real estate.
8:37pm • #17
APR
04
2008
135,259 Points 3 Featured Posts
In our area it seems that less and less of us are getting out to see Brokers Opens. I try to attend the ones that my office holds to help show support. I myself find it difficult to go out and look at the many over priced listing that are being offered. I agree though that the social aspect of tour is a very good part of the process. For that reason alone I should make more of an effort to go on tour.
11:31pm • #18
APR
05
2008
459,700 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Scott

I think that "show of support" idea is real important!
8:22am • #19
APR
08
2008
563,394 Points 17 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Trey - we have a large market in NE FL, and we have two Realtor's councils that caravan weekly - I try to go for competitive reaons, as well as informative reasons. There will always be a contingent of Realtors who are too busy to go, or have no desire to see new listings - that is their choice. I choose to be as informed as possible.
7:39pm • #20
1,518,989 Points 112 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Trey:  I love to participate in Broker Tours.  They are very helpful in terms of feedback for the homesellers too.
7:44pm • #21
MAY
10
2008

I agree- and thanks for the comment on my Blog. I like going on tours to see what is out there, to get get decorating ideas since I am an ASP, and what the competition is. Also, to just hang with peers and get better acquainted
Cathleen ROdgers
7:57am • #22
MAY
13
2008
459,700 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Cathleen

There are so many pros and cons on this but I still feel they have value.
12:25am • #23
MAY
14
2008

Caravans work for our office. The only problem that we had was agents who only attended when they had a listing on tour. My agents took care of those agents and after one warning if it happened again everyone got lost on the way to their listing! No more problem!
5:17pm • #24

Thanks for sharing this post. lots of comments. Have a great week.
6:01pm • #25

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Trey Thurmond, College Station , Texas Homes

College Station, TX

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Brazosland Classic Realty

Address: 700 University Drive East Suite 108, College Station, Tx, 77840

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