How Are Realtors Dealing With Gas Prices??

I am really utilizing the AUTOMATIC EMAIL FUNCTION for ALL of my buyer clients to limit what they want to see and then trying to schedule ALL of the homes on the same day.  I also encourage them to drive around the different areas prior to going out if possible so they can further define what areas that they would like to be in.

I have not changed my habits. Granted, I'm one of those busier agents you mentioned, but before the current market, I had rules.  The biggest rule was that no one got in my car unless they were fully approved for a loan, not just pre-qualified.  They either had to talk with one of my lenders, or I had to talk with theirs.  The second rule is I have the buyers drive by the list of 20+ properties to check out neighborhoods and drive-times to their offices before we narrow the list down to serious properties to view.  Why should I play choufuer to view houses that are outside of their driving radius.  The only one who can figure that out is the actual buyer, and I'm not part of that decision... lots of gas saved.

I always just think of gas as just another expense.  In order to stay in business you have to spend.  

I make sure the buyers are serious.  I use to take buyers out who were on the fence and not pre-approved just to get them to trust me.  Those days are long gone but I know it will make me a better business person because of it.

Joseph,  It looks like gasoline is going to be a hot topic in the Rain for some time to come.  I am thinking about a scooter myself.

Besides learning how to operate my car more effeciantly I have narrowed down my home tours to only those that I may have a serious buyer for.

Make sure your buyers are serious enough to take the time to drive them around!

It's terrible...I used to go out and market myself and now...I plan my day around the serious buyer's and make sure that I end up close to my marketing area's...I'm busy, only from marketing,,,I still don't want to waste money on gasoline. Good post...

Does anyone have any sympathy for Real Estate agents, the market is about bottomed out, everyone is looking, but not everyone is qualified, geeze, between gas prices and the market...dig me a ditch...not too deep though...I feel a turn coming...hanging in there.

Once gas hit the $4.00 mark, I started consolidating trips and really scrutinizing my schedule to eliminate extra trips to the office. I really like Donna's idea of the buyers driving by properties to get a feel for neighborhoods and commute times. Combined with a buyer agency agreement, that's a smart business strategy moving forward.

I really haven't changed too much. I do try to make sure that I have serious buyers before I spend the day driving around. Other than that- it is something I need for buisness... so I just make it work.

Joseph~ I know I am scheduling my trips more carefully and sometimes not driving at all unless absolutely necessary and making sure buyers are serious and not "just looking".