I love working as a REALTOR®, but if I could do so, I would exclusively work with Buyers. When you are the listing broker I feel disappointed right along with the Owner when their property isn't being shown or if negative feedback is received. Sellers want to be reassured, and sometimes you cannot honestly give them good news. I guess it boils down to I feel that have a little more control over the situation when working with a buyer. A buyer expects you to be knowledgeable about different areas, search for them in the guidelines they provide and work for them in hopefully successfully negotiating a contract. When you take a listing there is the matter of competitively pricing a property in this market! If your Seller bought at the upswing, giving them a candid suggestion for an asking price may not be at all what they hoped for or need. Unfortunately mortgage balance does not relate to current market values.
It's probably harder to work with sellers - but if you can do so, they often make a more reliable business model.
I know agents who work exclusively as buyer agents so it's possible. I do both but like you am heavily weighted to buyers. My experience is that a transaction happens much quicker with a buyer than a seller.
Sally, we only work with Sellers that have reasonable expectations from the beginning. If they do not then it is better for us to move on and not spend our resources on an uphill battle.
Some are good at both but then I know there are agents that prefer to work with Sellers then there are those that perfer to work with buyers. It all boils down to focusing on the job you feel you can be best at and give the best service.
Kudos to you for know what you are more comfortable with!
I agree with Corey...you just have to know what you are comfortable with and where your strengths lie. I made a decision last year to only work with sellers, but at the same time I teamed up with a partner who works exclusively as a buyer's agent. We both get to do what we love and what we are good at and it has made a world of difference in both of our businesses.
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