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SURVIVE this Market-list baby, list!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with RE/MAX Southern Realty, Southern Resort

What is the difference between agents who are selling, having their best year, closing 20-30 deals per month and other agents who have not even closed 2 this year? Listings. Have you ever heard the phrase "If you dont list, you don't last?" This is more true now than ever.

How to Survive this Market! Set some goals and stick to them.  Learn somthing new one hour of every day you work. Technology in real estate has doubled in the past year. Agents that jumped on board the Gold Rush train got little to no training.  Those gents did not even learn the basics of how to return phone calls or how to turn leads into client's.  NAR is predicting another 30% fall out of Realtors(r) this year.  This will be a good thing for the rest of us that take our job seriously.  The number of transactions per agent are so diluted that Brokers will start dropping next.  Agents don't plan to fail, they just fail to plan.

Write your Business Plan!  Do you know that only 10% of real estate agents have a written business plan? In today's market, you have to know how many transactions it will take to accomplish your income goal.  Work that number backwards to come up your prospecting plan. Example $100,000 gross income divided by your average commision and that will give you the number of transctions that you have to reach. How many contacts will that take. It takes a average of 25 contacts to find 1 client. Start prospecting 3-4 hours everyday.

Training!  Take classes; knowledge in this market is power. RE/MAX has on-line training that you can down load 24/7 365. It's an incredible tool. Boards, Banks, and Attorneys are all giving classes.  National Conventions are also a great place to hear accomplished speakers.  I will admit that in my 20 years as a Realtor(r) that this year has been overwhelming with all this short sales, forclosures, social networking and just learning how to blog.

Listing tools!  First you need to have a dynamic listing presentation.  Thik of it as your resume and you are appling for a job.  Show them your experience, your company, community involvement, qualifications and designations.  Your marketing plan should include your website and positioning.  If 85% of all buyers are looking online, then you have to show the sellers where you will market there home.  Here are a few to start with; Realtor.Com, RE/MAX.com, Trulia, and Zillow.  They are all free. I also include a 25 questions to ask when interviewing a Realtor(r) and aslo my 25 answers.  This can knock out your competition. My finale page is 4-6 testomonals from my past clients.

Work the Numbers!  First, your sphere of influence, include at least 100 on your A list.  These are people that you know will refer you.  Build your Business Partner Book of that you refer to.  Join social networking groups like Linkedin, facebook, and RisMedia.  Start working expireds and FSBO agasin.  You have to plant a lot of seeds to reap a new harvest. List baby, List!

RICHARD WOODS
Keller Williams Legacy Group Realty - Green, OH

Listing is important, no doubt. However it seems for those who do not take listing seriously, they should stay out of it. What do I mean?

 

If they are not going to do good and accurate research of a home, then don't list it. You will do more harm than good by listing a property at higher than market value. You will also cause the market to get one more over priced listing that just doesn't sell.

 

Second, some agents are better at researching for buyers and working that end. If it is your area of desire, then stay with it. Don't list just to list because if your heart is not in listening to a crying seller because they have to sell and haven't, or you are not an expert in marketing on the internet and other media means, or you can't carry the associated costs with properly marketing a home, you are better not.

 

I feel that a good balance is important if you have the desire to list and sell. But I totally agree, you have to have listings to excel in this profession. I am glad I learned that and have been open to new ideas to obtain and ultimately sell some of those listings. It brings great satisfaction in knowing that you properly priced, staged and marketed a home so that another agent could bring their buyer to you.

Richard Woods

Green, Ohio

Oct 07, 2008 10:02 AM
Woody Stahl
Remax Commercial Investment Realty - Manhattan Beach, CA

Well said! Thanks for the motivation..Keep it coming.

Oct 07, 2008 10:14 AM
Robin Scott
Robin Scott, REALTORĀ® - Austin, TX
Broker, REALTORĀ® - Austin Texas

I agree that you ust list, list, list. The buyers will follow. I try to stay balanced and without lisitngs it's hard to find the buyers.

Oct 07, 2008 10:23 AM
Yvette Lopez-Robinson
The Real Estate Power Houses - El Paso, TX

Thanks for that optimistic viewpoint. In this market it's hard to stay positive especially when you're slowly sinking :)

Oct 07, 2008 10:49 AM
Anonymous
Leo Kingston

True, listing is the key. When you say that it takes 25 contacts to result in 1 client I assume you mean cold-calling, right? Using a good lead-generation system will cut that ratio 'way down for you, as it has for my licensees.

Oct 08, 2008 04:02 AM
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