There are many choices to be made when choosing a Realtor to help with a sale or purchase of a home, and one of the things to be considered is the importance of a full-time agent vs. a part-time agent.
There are many very nice, intelligent, well-meaning, part-time agents out there who are just getting into real estate and not quite ready to give up their “real” jobs yet…but it is best to only consider full-time agents when interviewing Realtors.
A part time agent might argue that they have completed the same education as a full-time agent, and they have access to all of the same tools and inventory as a full-time agent. That is true, but that is not where the difference comes in.
Part-time agent
1. Knowledge of the Market
It goes without saying that the more time someone can devote to something the more knowledgeable they will be about it. A Part-time agent is not able to devote sufficient time to the market to know it inside and out. Knowing what inventory is available, prices, and trends takes time that a part-time agent can’t invest.
2. Fragmented availability
A part-time agent is part-time because half of their time is devoted to other obligations. It may be that they are working another full-time job and are only available on nights, weekends or other slotted times. Or it may be that they are a parent, who can only work when their spouse is at home to take care of the children. Breaking into real estate isn’t easy so it’s understandable that a person may not want to quit their main source of income right off, but that doesn’t mean that you can adjust your schedule for a part-time agent.
With a part-time agent there will almost certainly be delays in return calls, and appointments. In real estate a few hours can make the difference between getting an offer in on a home or answering calls to get buyers through a listing.
3. Lack of experience
It stands to reason that a part-time Realtor is going to sell less homes than a full-time Realtor. Due to this, they simply are not going to gain the same amount of experience in any number of areas of the real estate industry. Experience is much more than what is learned in real estate licensing school. There are unique and potentially costly situations that come up in every real estate transaction. A part-time agent may not possess the knowledge, through experience to know how to handle them. From everything on how to structure a successful offer, to recommending lenders or the inspection and repair negotiation process, a part-time agent is likely to be at a disadvantage due to lack of experience.
Full-Time Agent
1. Ready to Run!
A full-time Realtor is devoted to real estate. They are ensconced in it day in and day out, morning to night, all hours. This doesn’t mean a good Realtor doesn’t take time to regroup and recharge, but they are ready to work and know that time makes a huge difference in helping their clients. A full-time Realtor’s entire income depends on their success in the industry, so they aren’t falling back on a paycheck from elsewhere. There’s a saying if you want something done, ask a busy person. That’s true of a full-time Realtor, they are already in the real estate mindset, so they can easily jump into whatever the next call or need may be because they are already concentrating on real estate. Only full-time agents work with PropertyUP.
2. A well-rounded Network
Part of the benefit of being a full-time agent is being in the know when it comes to helping their clients in every part of the transaction. They are acquainted with the local lenders, inspectors, contractors, handymen, title agencies, plumbers, painters, electricians, photographers, etc. etc. A full-time agent is a great resource in these regards. In addition a full-time agent most likely has some support staff to help them round out the transaction, so you have not just the agent, but their staff as well. At Property Up there are 2 staff members for every agent.
3. History with other clients and a database
Part of being a full-time agent, is having experience, and with experience comes a list of satisfied clients and a database. How is this helpful to a current client? Through a database a full-time agent keeps in touch with former clients, and when putting a home on the market they may already know exactly the right buyer just because of keeping in touch with their database. They may also know someone who has just the perfect home for a new buyer and can match them up before the home even comes on the market. PropertyUp agents have broad databases of past clients.
4. Experience
This is perhaps the most important aspect of being a full-time agent. A full-time agent is always going to sell more homes than someone dabbling in real estate part-time. With every transaction comes more education through experience, things you can’t learn in a classroom. Because they’ve experienced it before, they will be ready when a situation comes up in another transaction. Knowing how to write a successful offer, negotiate, and save their client’s time and money is the real worth of a full-time agent. At PropertyUp we are prepared to write a digital offer, to keep clients informed, and be available for both buyers and sellers with technology to help make every transaction smooth.
You want to be sure that the agent you choose is going to be there for you when you need them and know how to handle whatever comes up. You can trust the PropertyUp Realtors to fit the bill and instill the confidence you are looking for in a Realtor. Property Up agents close an average of 35 homes per year compared to an average of 5-7 homes per year (according to MRED broker analytical data.)
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