Lane Realty, where it's not about volume, but quality.
In looking through the Showcase of Land and Homes... A publication for my local MLS, I noted two ads that I wish to address. Of course I won't be pointing fingers and naming names.
The first ad from Brokerage XYZ (30 agents) says "We're # 1" because look at our numbers, we sold the most houses.
The second ad from Brokerage ABC ( 39 agents) says ""We're # 2 and we are closing the gap" We sold only X houses less than Brokerage XYZ last year and we are only Y # of home sales behind them this year" Soon we will be # 1.
Now if you were car shopping volume might be important. The more inventory a car dealer moves, the less profit he can afford to take per sale and still make money. 
But when it comes to real estate is that the case? Do you want the agency that has the highest volume? Does it mean they do a better job?
For $40 you can buy about 1000 paper plates
For $40 you can buy about 4 stoneware plates
For $40 you can buy 1 fine China Plate
Are 1000 paper plates better than 4 stoneware plates or 1 fine china plate?
My opinion is more does not necessarily mean better.At Lane Realty we don't focus on volume and numbers. We focus on our clients. If you call us, we answer the phone. If you call our office at 8:00 p.m. an agent answers the phone. If the agent you wish to reach doesn't happen to be in you don't get transferred to voice mail. We take a message and get the message delivered to the agent. As soon as the agent is available they will return your phone call.
One of my agents: Nancy Ewing worked last evening. She didn't start showing property until 6:30 p.m. when her clients had the time to look. They didn't have an appointment, but they called her cell phone and she went out in a downpour of rain and showed them the properties they were interested in seeing.
Do I use the statistics of numbers on my MLS system? You bet I do. Do I compare my agency to other agencies? No I do not. So why do I look at them? I look to see that if we are growing. I compare my own companies numbers from 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 for the same time period.
The real estate industry is about selling homes. I don't argue that point. If you list homes, people hire you to find them a buyer. But at the same time it is a service industry. My last listing came from a seller who was frustrated because he did not have good communication with their former listing agent. Phone calls were not answered, not returned and they didn't get any advice about what do to increase potential to sell. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out you have to give your sellers information. And so much information is right at our fingertips. Doesn't your website show you how many times a listing has been viewed, clicked on, emailed... do you pass on that information? Sellers just want communication. And that my friend is a simple thing to do. 
At Lane Realty you are not one among a thousand paper plates. You are a piece of fine China. We treat our clients like family. When you list with us or buy through us our service does not stop with the contract and does not stop with the closing. We are still available to you. I've had a seller call me years after a closing to get a copy of the HUD they have misplaced. I've had a buyer call me years after a purchase to ask who is the best person to fix their A/C unit. I tell my buyers... I come with the house. This goes for the agents who work for me also.
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