Which Kind of Real Estate Agent is Better?

Hmmm - my current listing count is 43 - with 4 pending and 39 active.  23 are lots in a single subdivision - so I am actually managing 21 sellers right now.  That may seem like a lot for a solo practitioner, but like the others I have good systems in place.

One advantage to my sellers is that I often have the opportunity to suggest their property to a buyer who contacts me about another listing - the crossover marketing advantage is huge!

"Do you have time for me" is a good question, but a better one is "what can you do for me".  Thats what really matters in the end - unless you're looking more for a relationship than a result.

You are so right - answer the phone and communicate reguarly.

Elizabeth,

I think it very much boils down to the systems you have in place and how you incorporate those tools to work in your business, so as an agent, you don't have to reinvent the wheel on each listing.

They say --- if you really want something done, ask a busy person to do it.

Give an important job to a busy person if you want to get it done.

Definitely answering the phone is the right agent!!!

We all started with none.  

Great post! I loved how you ended it. I plan to tweet/fb this out today!

I find having a large number of listings (59) and marketing them well attracts potential buyers. I find I usually work about 60 hours a week. In this market answering the phone makes a big difference.

There are a number of agents who have a license who are not really spending much time working. I attended a class recently where some statistics were given that I found interesting. This was based on the Tucson MLS sales figures. What I was told was that 10% of the agents were doing 80% of the transactions. In the past it was about 20% of the agents who were doing about 80% of the business.

Jacqueline Drake CRS

Well said! If you can prove that you are available to him by answering his phone calls and questions, then that is proof enough you can handle it.

I am in the middle.  I do not like working with employees and prefer to handle A to Z, which I know is a limiting factor.  It does not make me a worse agent.  It does mean I answer my own phone and deal with problems directly.

Answering the phone is a must but so is answering your emails and texts. How ever the clients are contacting you...it is imperative that you respond. If you are toooo busy for your own clients...you are too busy to take on new ones.

I have a maximum I work with and I keep a waiting a list.

Margaret

So true about systems! I've spent a fair bit of time working on my systems- they keep me focused and remind me to do things. Without them my sellers would be feeling ignored and neglected. Now I have more time to talk to my clients and I love it!

I think Erica (#59) hit the nail on the head. I suspect one of the other prospective agents she spoke to set her up to ask you that question. If she has any sense, she will make the right choice (that would be you, of course!)

You'll lose a lot of business if you don't have a quick response time. And every year the amount of time you have to respond to an inquiry of any kind gets less and less.

Wow! I think the fact that you have so many listings and can be a top producer is a very big sign that you are an amazing agent. That proves you know what youare doing and can get it done. I'd be more scared to work with the other agent (even if they answer their phone) if they have no proven track record to match yours.

Elizabeth, if you want something done, ask a busy person. You are the perfect person to handle this man's listing.

I always prefer being busy, but you're right, there is a good way and a bad way to be busy. I'm always try to stay as efficient as possible!

I love the fine print of your disclaimer, with the house possibly blowing up, vanishing etc!  I wonder: how often do people even read the fine lines anymore?

The agent who is better is the one who does the best job for his client regardless of how many listings he or she has.