Cutting Costs: How Cheap Is Too Cheap?

By
Real Estate Agent with Labrum Real Estate

out of business With home sales in most areas of the country declining many companies and Real Estate Agents are cutting costs to make ends meet and keeping an eye on the bottom line is imperative to the survival of any business but where do we draw the line on cutting expenses?

 Saturday I arrived at my office as usual at 7:30 and since it was the first time in quite a while I didn't have any clients coming in to look at homes it was the perfect time to catch up on paperwork and that was exactly what I was doing when the phone rings at 8:15. The gentleman on the line, Rich, asked me if we have an agent in our office and he began to describe the person and ended his statement by saying this agent showed me property 10 days ago but he didn't give me a card and I don't remember his name.

 After explaining to Rich we didn't have anyone fitting his description in our office he tells me he saw our ad in the newspaper with bank owned properties (REO) and could I show he and his daughter, Tara, houses today as she needed to buy a home ASAP as she was paying too much in income taxes being a renter.

Two hours later Tara and Rich are in my office speaking with a lender on the phone who gave us the price range to stay within and with the information given to me by Tara describing the type of home she wants it's off to Menifee,Ca. to look at 5 REO properties that fit her needs. Tara fell in love with one of the homes and made a full price offer after seeing the sales comparables for the area and her offer will be presented to the bank on Monday and the poor girl probably will lose sleep waiting for an answer as she is so excited.

 Cutting costs can become necessary in any business but the only thing cheaper than a few business cards is a persons own face and it appears some folks put themselves Out Of Business!!!

Comments (23)

Jesse & Kathy Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates, REALTORS® - Fairbanks, AK
Retired

If you're so far gone you have to cut business cards to save money, then that poor fellow has some serious problems.  I would guess he probably just didn't have one handy - isn't that a cardinal sin for an agent?  Not keeping in touch was his big sin.  Too bad for him... good for you!  Go sell 'em a house!

May 18, 2008 10:24 AM
Kim Sellers
Lake Arrowhead, CA Coldwell Banker - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Lake Arrowhead Realtor - BRE#01412099 - Lake Arrow

No card!!! Holy cow, what is the other agent thinking.  You still have to spend money to make money.

May 18, 2008 10:28 AM
David Saks
(retired) - Memphis, TN

What abut the trusty old refrigerator magnet, too, by golly? Don't leave that fabulous marketing tool out of the equation.

May 18, 2008 10:42 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

TODD, I left that statement about not following up out just to see how long it would take for someone to catch that fatal mistake of the other agent. Didn't take long and you jumped all over it, says a whole lot about your professionalism.

May 18, 2008 10:46 AM
Barbara Carter
C21 Alliance Realty Group - New Paltz, NY
Serving Your Real Estate Needs in the Hudson Valle

Well Cameron, the other agents forgetfulness or whatever you want to call it worked to your benefit- Congratulations

May 18, 2008 10:47 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

SHAUN, Never leave home/office without em.

MICHAEL, The cost of gas is hurting us all. Go take a look at JESSE CLIFTON's post today.

Kim, Save all you can but you still have to spend some.

DAVID, I have never used those things but I sure have drawn a lot of mustaches on them when I hold an open house.

May 18, 2008 10:52 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

JESSE, All of your statements are right on the money as usual and knowing you I'll bet you would hand a stack of your cards to anyone who gets within arms length.

May 18, 2008 10:58 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

BARBARA, Thank You. We all must remember we are IN the business of Real Estate.

May 18, 2008 11:00 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

Hey JESSE, I kinda got long winded on your post about oil prices because of a few comments. Sorry Man.

Loved the post!!!!

May 18, 2008 11:04 AM
Melody Botting
Broker Associate PenFed Realty - San Antonio, TX
You Deserve The Best

I better get some more ordered TODAY!!!!!

May 19, 2008 02:00 AM
Mike Norvell Sr
Morris Williams Realty - Leesburg, FL
Norvell Consulting Group

I love the comment on the refrig magnet...I can say that 90% of all the homes I listed or sold had another Realtors magnet on the refridg door

May 19, 2008 02:11 AM
Becky Respess
Broker/Associate Century 21 Judge Fite Co - Cedar Hill, TX
ABR, CRB, CRS

Great post Cameron! How can we forget to give our card to a client? Magnets have always worked. I guess this is one of the back to the basics people "business cards".

May 19, 2008 02:51 AM
Debbie Summers
Charles Rutenberg Realty - New Smyrna Beach, FL

Wow, someone who can buy now and they didn't stay on top of them... You're right, they are putting themselves out of business.

May 19, 2008 07:21 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Cameron,

Nothing is cheaper than business cards, and I give them to ALL parties when I'm showing property. That way if one loses one, the other will still have it!

May 19, 2008 08:03 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

 

Congratulations.

Your post has been selected as a featured post in the Group Whacked!!!

May 19, 2008 08:07 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

MEL, Something tells me you probably order them in bulk like I do.

MIKE, I get bored at open houses and that always gives me a laugh.

BECKY, Some of the best things are cheap.

DEBBIE, Following up with people is a must.

RICHARD, Tara and Rich left my office with 5 cards each. I could afford giving away 10 cards after a day like that.

Thanks for the feature.

May 19, 2008 09:53 AM
Melody Botting
Broker Associate PenFed Realty - San Antonio, TX
You Deserve The Best

I give them out a lot!!!  Everyone in the nearest three towns has one or maybe more.

May 19, 2008 01:53 PM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Cameron, when it gets tough, it's even more important to provide the tools and services to stand out in the crowd. I have to assume you gave them your business card? :-)

Congrats!

May 19, 2008 05:37 PM
April Hayden-Munson
Brookfield, WI
Brookfield Wisconsin Real Estate

Great job - Saturday mornin' - my office is usually a ghost town.  It's a great time to pick up new clients!

I have noticed that poor follow - up is usually due to being disorganized.  If the agent didn't have business cards with him - he must really have an organizational nightmare.  He probably lost the customers name and number...

Glad you got the sale!

May 20, 2008 12:00 AM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

MEL, That doesn't suprise me. Keep on given them out and soon you may be a Star.

DUANE, The basic things always work.

APRIL, Follow up is a must and to lose a buyers number: Shameful.

May 20, 2008 03:23 AM

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