From time immemorial, there has been a phrase "list to last" in the real estate industry.
And I am not disagreeing with that, because I prefer to get listings which I then market and sell. If the listing is priced right and is in decent shape, chances are it will sell. In a sellers market like we have now where inventory is low vs demand, it sells even faster.
When you get a listing, you sign it up for a period of time, giving the listing agent a time frame during which to sell the property. That does put pressure on the agent to get it done; however, it is almost a guaranteed pay day if you choose your listings well and it's not overpriced.
So being a listing agent working with sellers is a no brainer.
Why in the world, then, would agents help buyers? And here are some of the reasons.
1. There just aren't enough listings to go around. Listing agents have the market pretty much sewn up. This is their specialty, and sellers like to go with those who have a bunch of other listings for some reason.
2. Buyers often work with agents that they have never met before, and contact them out of the blue having come across them on the Internet.
3. And then there are buyers agents who specialize in only taking on buyers; they do not do listings. Why is that, you ask? Well, it's much harder than it looks to market a property. And often there are up front costs involved such as hiring a photographer, do the marketing, sometimes advertising. With buyers you mainly have the costs of gasoline because you go visit a lot of homes.
4. Often new agents start out as buyers agents because they just don't have the "sphere" yet from which to get referrals or outright listings.
5. But buyers can be tricky, not necessarily loyal to their agents, and change their minds about just about anything. Their financing might not be in place, and a lot of other things can go wrong.
Does this all sound simplistic? Probably.
One thing is for sure, whether you choose to be a listing agent or a buyers agent, there is a lot of hard work involved.
What type of client do I prefer?
Frankly, I work with either side equally well. When I have a listing, I do everything possible to put its best foot forward in the photographs that go on the MLS (multiple listing service). Depending on the property, there is a wide variety of marketing that can be done for a speedy sale. I also like to stay in touch with my seller frequently, letting them know what is happening all along the way.
When I am helping a buyer, it's fun to go out and look for that perfect home for them. There is nothing more satisfying than to find one they fall in love with!
Buying or selling a home? Please call me and let's discuss how I can help you.
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