Which Would You Rather Be and Why - A Seller Agent or a Buyer Agent?

a sellers agent. Hours spent 8.  A buyers agent hours spent 80....same money. Which is better?

Just give me all the dang listings!

In this market, some of each. Keeps you on your toes.

I am more of a Buyer's agent. Of course I will take whatever comes my way but I would much rather look at homes with a pre-approved Buyer than listen to a Seller complain their over priced home won't sell and why should they have to remove their dogs for showings.

Hi, David:  Alabama law still allows dual agency representation, but it's illegal here in Florida.  In choosing which to be, it's a bit like a courtroom question- would you rather be a prosecutor or defense attorney?  Or irresistable force vs. immovable object?

In today's world, I'd most likely try to go with being a buyers' agent.  Sellers all but expect their initial price won't be their ultimate one- so 1/2 the battle of your buyers' agent life has already been won.

Listings are far from the "pots of gold" they once were.

Hi David - I enjoy representing both buyers and sellers for different reasons. 

I don't think it is true (at least not for me) that a listing agent spends less time working on a transaction.  I hold many open houses and spend a lot of time promoting at office meetings, other broker offices, Realtor Association meetings, and putting my listings on caravans, in addition to preparing and distributing marketing materials.  I also
attend all inspections and repair work.  Before all of that is done I walk through and give my sellers a list of things to do to be showing ready, do lots of research to determine the proper price range, and take photos.

For buyers, I interview them to comes as close as possible to learning what they need, what they want, and the areas in which they are interested.  Then I do in depth searches, research neighborhoods and comps, check property history and assessor info for all homes I'll be showing, and prepare packages for the buyers on each before the showings.  I ask my buyers to maintain a file for their maybes and one for their nos, so we can discuss them and I can refine the search or maybe expand it.

Both are time consuming and both can be expensive, but as a professional, I consider those costs as investments, with my commissions the returns.

I am more of a buyer's agent--I like working with buyers helping them find the right home. This is sometimes a challenge- and I am okay with that. I am now working with a client that fits the buyer for a listing I will be getting shortly. Maybe I make too much of this - I really like the rewards of selling my listings, but it is a fine line to walk between your seller and buyer.

I like to be a Sellers Agent!  I dont care for touting buyers around for days on end in my vehicle.  I'll take a crabby Seller anyday and let the 4000 buyers agents in my board do the touting around and sell my listing... while I am spending time with my family!   I also work with buyers, not by choice.  Get the listing and the Buyers will come!  In this market, I must work both to earn a living.

David - in our area most work with both ..... and some of us work in more than residential