When I first got my real estate license, the company I worked for used to say that each agent should have a "farm" area, walk it frequently, ask for listings in their farm and know everything about the community and the people who live there. They even suggested that being on the HOA Board or involved in community events was not only a good idea, but one that you absolutely should do.
And so I did. For years.
While my business was growing by leaps and bounds outside my community, I was wondering why it wasn't doing the same inside my community...only after some serious soul searching, did I come to the following conclusions:
- Not all Sellers like having their agent live in the neighborhood as they might be afraid that the Agent could know too much "stuff" about them, their kids or that pesky water leak they had last summer...
- Not all Agents earn the respect of their neighbors (AKA future Sellers). If you want a Seller to take you seriously, I would suggest that you are out of your pajamas BEFORE noon. If not...stay in the house or at least pretend like you've been up all night working when you come out to get the newpaper at lunchtime!
- Not all Sellers appreciate knowing that their Agent can and will share with prospective Buyers what they know about the neighborhood, the HOA, the train schedule, the barking dogs, etc. If their Agent lives in the neighborhood, they are sure to know more than Sally Q at XYZ Realty, right?
- Not all Agents like running for cover every time they pull into the driveway...hoping that just because it's 9pm on a Friday night and they haven't shown their neighbor's house that week, that they won't get egged getting out of the car.
- Sellers and Agents alike might enjoy knowing that their "personal" time is private and that they won't have to worry about a knock at their door at some odd hour for some odd request.
- By being involved on the HOA Board, a community Committee or participating in social events like progressive dinners, Bunko, Poker Night, etc...the Agent and the Seller are bound to have some personal interaction...and it might not always leave a positive impression.
I could be totally wrong, and I am sure there are MANY success stories out there related to agents farming where they live. If you have one, I'd love to hear it...I'd be especially interested in knowing how you communicate to your neighbor clients when you are "off the clock."
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