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No Sales in 2008? Are You Getting Desperate? Episode #3 of "Video Agent Guy"

By
Real Estate Agent with Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage GREC #208281

Summary of Episode #3 of Video Agent Guy video blog.

Half of one company's agents in Atlanta in 2008 had zero closings!  Zip, zero nada!

Many well known companies had their average agent sell only 3 or 5 homes in 2008.

If I were shopping for an agent, I would want to know this information for two reasons.

1.  With so few closings, are the agents getting enough first hand experience of what's happening out in the market place?  Are they out there showing homes and making offers? Or are they getting their pulse of the market from the newspapers and radio?

2.  Are they getting desperate to make a transaction work no matter what in order to get food on the table?  It's tough but I don't like to work with desperate people. 

My company, RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, had their agents on average close 14 transactions last year.  That was the best in Atlanta.

My partner and I closed 29 transactions in 2008.  That's down from about 50 but we can't complain.  We had a few really big ones in there which makes up for the smaller numbers.

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About the Author:  Tim Maitski has been a full time Realtor since 1999. He has sold several hundreds of homes in areas around metro Atlanta.  Tim started with RE/MAX Greater Atlanta and is now with Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage.

 

Along with blogging on ActiveRain, he provides one of the best real estate websites in Atlanta at www.HomeAtlanta.com .

 

His proprietary  "Maitski Line Reports" chart out the absorption rates over the past 14 years in 37 different market areas.  Know when it's a good time to buy or a good time to sell.    

 

His online Property Tax Calculator allows you to compare property taxes in many counties and cities around the Atlanta area.  He provides the Atlanta MLS Power Search Tool that allows searches of homes using over 35 specific criteria.

 

Over the years, Tim has optimized his business so that he now can offer a huge 50% commission rebate to his buyers.  The more experience one gets, the easier the job becomes.

 

Tim also has a "Five Days to Sold" System that uses an intensive marketing blitz to create a showing frenzy that creates urgency and offers.

 

Tim is always looking to LinkIn with anyone who is interested in building their social network.

 

View Tim Maitski ●Atlanta Realtor●'s profile on LinkedIn

Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Tim - all of our sales were down last year. Those agents here that didn't sell anything all got "jobs". Good bye. I do think the less activity does affect how you do things. We just kept the attitude that it's business as usual.

Jan 16, 2009 11:53 PM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Tim, although 2008 was generally perceived as "slow", I had a very good year.  I didn't have a record-breaking number of closed transactions but my dollar sales volume was way up and 80% of my deals were cash! I think that's a very good trade!

Jan 17, 2009 12:21 AM
Robert J. Russell
Robert J Russell Companies - Dallas, TX
IRES, ICREA, REBS, GMA, LAS, LUTCF

Great Information - Keep up the good posting !!    http://www.robertjrussell.com

Jan 17, 2009 12:24 AM
Julie Anne
Keller Williams - Deer Park, IL
Real Estate Team

Tim,

In our area 22% of the agents left the business in 2008 and our sales are down a little over 30%.  As far as I can see it we have more on there way out.  It is a shift in your thinking like the book by Gary Keller (I highly recommend it for all agents that want to survive/succeed in this market and all).  Either get with the program of going after what business is out there or get out.  Expired and cancelled listings are in abundance right now, we are getting higher commissions and lowering their prices drastically.  Not all listings are selling but we can help many of them.  There are buyers out there, we just have to look and find them before other agents do and give them great service.  There is less business but there are less agents now and not all of them are working as hard as they could.

Julie Anne

Barrington Illinois Real Estate

www.homesbyjulieanne.com

Julie@homesbyjulieanne.com

847-620-5815 

Jan 17, 2009 12:36 AM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Congratulations, Tim.  You'll have to send me business cards as I often meet with FSBO's throughout Atlanta.

Kathy

Jan 17, 2009 07:51 AM
Tracy Santrock
Santrock Realty Group Inc. , - Cary, NC
Raleigh - Cary Broker

I had over 30 in a down market last year so don't forget us up here in NC and you keep up the good work!

Jan 18, 2009 10:56 AM