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Do you list or show?

By Jeffrey Dolfinger

Real Estate Agent with 24/7 Realty Inc.

January 05, 2008 02:14 PM

Me, I mostly list, I would rather spend the money on adertising the product than driving around all day. It just seems that alot of buyers do not want to buy right now. I think they are window shopping more or less.

I will show a propertry if a buyer will hire me as their agent and provide a pre-qual or proof of funds if cash. I refuse to show anything to anyone that will not get a pre-qual, its has turned out just to be a waste of time in the past.

If I had my way I would only ever list! What's you preference?

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Wayne Miller

San Diego, CA

I enjoy working as listing agent more, I truly enjoy exercising my creativity in marketing a home.

Jan 05, 2008 02:35 PM

Carolyn Gjerde-Tu-Davis

Lyon Real Estate - Davis, CA

Ca Real Estate

Neither buyers or sellers are very easy right now. Buyers are taking there time making decisions, but there are some that are motivated right now. If an area has a lot of bank owned properties and short sales, it is difficult for a typically motivated seller to compete. I think right now I prefer buyers, as long as they are motivated.

Jan 05, 2008 02:41 PM

Diana Lopez de Castro

Miami Realty Services, Inc. - Miami, FL

I Agree, I much rather list than work with buyers right now. I guess if I run into a REAL buyer it would be easy to find them and negotiate a good deal in the current market, but I would really be very carefull. Its happened to me a few times, I show a few properties and then they fall off the face of the earth or they have to put it on hold because of personal problems. But they have no problem with calling me everytime they want info on a house (although they are not buying now) I just tell them to let me know when they are ready and if the property is still available I will get them all the information. I rather spend my time marketing listings.

Jan 05, 2008 03:03 PM

Rosemary Brooks

BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA

The Mother & Daughter Realty Team

I have to agree with Carolyn, both are hard right now. I like both. I like the listing end, marketing and doing my presentations. I like the buyers too but right now, its more disappointing than fun. I have a buyer right now that I have shown him over 20 homes and yet no preference list. His range is a bit low and therefore the REOs and some short sales are the only products that he can afford. The REOs are a mess and he is having a problem visualizing his family in the home, in the hood and therefore, we just keep looking. He has his own spreadsheet that we are working.

I like real estate so I have learned to take it like it comes and just try to be ready for whatever.

Jan 05, 2008 03:07 PM

Melanie Ross

Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA

Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate, 707-319-2828

Ummmm, let's see today I love to list (4 new really nice REOs with my partner), last Friday when I showed ranch property priced up to 1.5M I loved being a buyers agent. It is day to day with me!! What ever will make some money and I use my time wisely so I can take great care of my clients!!

Jan 05, 2008 03:20 PM

Jason Bhattacharya

ARDENT PROPERTIES - Chesterfield, VA

List.
Buyers take more time and more energy. Given a choice-- I'd easily take sellers. Especially my corporate sellers-- they don't harass me day to day to ask why their property isn't selling.

-Jason

Jan 05, 2008 03:35 PM

Jeffrey Dolfinger

24/7 Realty Inc. - Poughkeepsie, NY

NRBA Member

Jason- I hear that!

Melanie- I can understand that also, a;lthough million dollar listings are not common in my upstate NY town.

Rosemary- If they buyer likes the REO but it is dirty take the chance and have it cleaned. Your investment may sell the home

Diana- Good for you, I'm finding sellers covering up every little problem because it is a buyers market.

Wayne- with you all the way.

Carolyn- what you said is my market exactly!

Jan 05, 2008 03:43 PM

Rosemary Brooks

BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA

The Mother & Daughter Realty Team

E Jeffrey - not just dirty are we finding. I mean leaking, mold or close to it, cracks in the wall, not easy stuff like a simple cleaning. This week we ran into people sleeping in the home. It was raining around here, so I guess the homeless just broke in and make themselves a warmer place than being outside. This was not only disappointing, it is kind of scary to walk into a house where you have surprised guests!

Jan 05, 2008 04:11 PM

Patsy Turner

Keller Williams Realty Lanier Partners - Gainesville, GA

Hall County GA Real Estate

Jeffrey,
Listings are important to our success. They are sales waiting for a Buyer which you and co-op agents work together to match up. Listings draw in potential Buyers, as Wayne says, through our creative marketing and give us the opportunity to work all contacts towards a sale.

Carolyn, rates are looking good for the start of 2008 and hopefully Buyers will start taking interest in the great home choices available on the market. If they wait too long, the best property buys will be gone. We have to educate our Sellers up front of the competition and explain in a Buyers Market pricing and condition of the home are key to a successful turn around.

Our GA contracts have changed this year to include "financing" and all inspections be completed within a specified time (Due Diligence). Finally, we're catching on to qualify Buyers before showing property and writing the contract. This also protects Sellers from those dreaded last minute contract terminations due to lack of Buyer financing. Jeffrey I agree, let's know our budget before we go shopping!

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WISHING YOU A SUCCESSFUL 2008!
Patsy Turner, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Lanier Partners

Jan 05, 2008 04:35 PM

Joseph Ellman

Realty Executives- Williams-Sykes Realty - Poughkeepsie, NY

Jeff - Listing is my preference, but if I have a qualified buyer, I am happy to work with them, as well.

Jan 05, 2008 07:43 PM

Laurie Mindnich

Centennial, CO

E, in this market it seems that buyers are offering the paycheck, but without focusing on listings, it's my feeling that the backbone of longevity will be absent- at least, until the buyers sell. Listings provide opportunity, IMO.

Jan 05, 2008 11:00 PM

Stephen Meadows

Coldwell Banker - San Antonio, TX

Brand Ambassador

I prefer listing REOs. That way you get to handle the listing side and deal moslty with a computer or an unemotional asset manager. Most of the time, REO is all about the numbers. Asset managers don't care who's grandfather built the house or who's height is marked on the doorpost. It's money that matters. I love it!!!

Jan 05, 2008 11:13 PM

John and Lisa Marker

RE/MAX Dream Properties - Northville, MI

Jeff,

I have always been 75/25 listings sold vs buyer sales. Even in our challenging market in Metro Detroit, a great listing that is well priced is getting a lot of activity and will sell in a reasonable period of time. Most of the buyers in our market will seek out the REO properties first because they know friends that have gotten excellent deals on REO properties recently. Most of our regular sellers are having to do short sales.

Jan 06, 2008 02:10 PM

John and Lisa Marker

RE/MAX Dream Properties - Northville, MI

Steve,

I like your comment on the lack of emotion involved with Asset managers and REO properties. Dealing with REO's teaches us to be extremely efficient in the whole process as well. Since the Asset Managers use e-mail almost exclusively, a broker can do a lot more transactions in a shorter period of time. They will also adjust prices regularly as long as you have given them a good reason to do so.

Jan 06, 2008 02:15 PM

Vangie Williams

The Evans Group DMV - Serving Virginia - Fredericksburg, VA

Real Estate with Personality

Jeff,

I am definately a Listing Agent. I work with buyers on a case by case basis. I have driven anyone around in at least 2 years.

Jan 09, 2008 03:13 PM

Rich Kruse

Gryphon USA, Ltd. - Columbus, OH

List. I will work with a buyer on my commercial listings if they are unrepresented. If anyone wants to see "other things" I refer them to one of the other guys who work for me. They also get all of the buyer leads on residential listings.

Jan 11, 2008 11:28 PM

Barb Hutchinson, Fruitland Idaho - Payette County homes and real estate

Silverhawk Realty - Payette, ID

www.BarbHutchinsonHomes.com

I prefer listing, but in the market in this area there is a high inventory of listings just sittng there and the only people making any money are the ones who have the buyers. So I am targeting the first time home buyer market (they don't have a home to sell in order to buy) for listings, and then my advertising is picking up some first time home buyers, so I am getting the best of both worlds. I think in this market, flexibility is the key.

Jan 13, 2008 08:11 AM