Special offer

As An Orange County Listing Agent.....Others Can Do The Work For Me

By
Real Estate Agent with Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 BRE# 01494165

 

 

 

I love working with buyers...truly I do. They are so excited and happy when the hard work pays off and they find that perfect home. But.....listings are also part of my business plan.

I know that over the past few years it's become a trend to specialize in either buyers or sellers. If that works, great. But this is an ever changing market place and we have not seen what's coming down the pike.

To me....it always seem to be a moving market. Sometimes the buyers are driving and sometimes the sellers are driving...but always moving. The key to keeping a successful business afloat is to adjust to the market. So early on I realized that meant I needed to become adept at the different types of markets.

I've heard that we can't be experts at everything. Really?

As a buyer's agent it's critical that I have the ability to think like a listing agent and seller. Otherwise how could I possibly anticipate the responses and actions they might take....and mitigate issues which could harm my client. Vice verse when representing a seller. I also hear about agents who refuse to be involved with short sales.....well, they are here to stay, at least for awhile. I even wonder if they will be around for much longer....the lenders have had to create departments to handle short sales, so perhaps they anticipate a much longer recovery for home values?

Regardless....the one thing we can always count on is change (who was it that said that?). And I try and learn new things as I go, so that I can use the knowledge in my business. Staying in one nitch is not my goal.

Today? I'm just hanging out on my deck...watching lightening storms over the desert and rain off my roof. Checking messages, I am now expecting some offers from some short sale listings I have....the buyers' agents are doing the work, and I'm relaxing. Nice business model for a "Labor" Day.

Comments(12)

Rob Magnotta
Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Irvine REALTOR - Huntington Beach, CA
Huntington Beach & Newport Beach Coastal Specialist

Hi Karen, sounds like fun (the watching rain part). Nice blog, hope all is well!

Sep 05, 2011 07:21 AM
Barb Van Stensel
Chicago, IL

I could actually see you sitting there watching the rain and just totally relaxing.  It is a great way to do business on "Labor" Day.

Sep 05, 2011 07:23 AM
Stacey Smith
Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA
Your Orange County Beach Cities Realtor

Karen.. I am truly a buyer's agent at heart to.. I love working with buyers.. But in this market we have to be flexible and do it all.. I love how you said even as a buyer's agent we have to think like a listing agent and a seller in order to come up with the best strategy to get our buyers into the home.. The best way to think like a listing agent is to be a listing agent as well.. Great post!

Sep 05, 2011 07:25 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Karen,  We've had some tremendous storms here lately and watching them roll in off the Gulf of Mexico is amazing.  Relax - you've earned it !

Sep 05, 2011 07:33 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Karen- Sounds like you have a great day planned for yourself.  I agree.. why not do both.  Give yourself the option especially in the market we've had. 

Sep 05, 2011 08:34 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Karen, the nature of the business and at least in our area the lack of qualified buyers necessitate the ability to do it all, and hopefully do it well. I do like working with buyers and have done well with taking first time buyers through their purchases. Today I handled a couple of calls for showings on my listings, and relaxed the rest of the day.

Sep 05, 2011 10:08 AM
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Karen: Yes, this is the time to relax when you are waiting for the short sale offers to come in. Because when they do, you will be very busy, and for a long time. And you are right, even though you tell yourself you don't want to get involved in short sales, if a client wants to (buy or sell) one, you can't turn him down.  I got into it, kicking and screaming, but that is the reality now.

Sep 05, 2011 11:47 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Rob: It's beautiful up here....all is well, you too? I hope?

Barb: It is the best way!!

Stacey: That's so true...we really do need to master both sides to do either properly

Bill: They are beautiful to watch, as long as they don't turn destructive.

Kathy: The job is about diligence, it's not rocket science

Ed: sounds like you had my day...and I love buyers, but when things change, you need to change with them

Hella: I stumbled into them, but they do close, so why not be the one to take care of them?

Sep 05, 2011 12:18 PM
Pam Miller
Realty Associates - Conroe, TX
Broker Associate - Water Crest on Lake Conroe

Karen - I love working with buyers, but I'm also going to keep listing. 

Sep 05, 2011 12:41 PM
Linda Graves Arnold
Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO - Chesterfield, MO
St. Louis Real Estate Pro - 314-422-2762 - Referr

Hi Karen, You nailed it.  It is the nature of our business for types of business to ebb and flow.  We tend to continue to have steady improvement each year by flexing our business when the economy and the market dictate.

Sep 05, 2011 02:22 PM
Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations

Hi Karen,

Sounds like my kind of day. I too did little other than to sit in my breezeway on the back deck watching the monsoon clouds move in. Yesterday was a different story. Tomorrow will be back in action.

Sep 05, 2011 06:24 PM
Charlie Ragonesi
AllMountainRealty.com - Big Canoe, GA
Homes - Big Canoe, Jasper, North Georgia Pros

Hey Karen fun post. I remember a seminar when I was first starting where the presenter sain you can handle 40 listings but maybe on ly 2 buyers in a week. It is so true. Enjoy your deck !!

Sep 06, 2011 02:03 AM