The Lazy Agent - By RE Columnist, Robert Bruss
I'm sure there is a good explanation for this.
But it 'looks' like they are just plain lazy.
But it 'looks' like they are just plain lazy.
Robert Bruss, Real Estate columnist for The Charlotte Observer, recently had a reader send in a question asking for Robert's opinion about their realtor. The question was about the Realtor that said they don't do open houses because they don't work. The Realtor told the seller that they have been in Real Estate for 20 years and they said that other marketing tools such as ads also are worthless and that just the MLS and several websites with the right price is the best marketing you can do.
Robert said that you are talking to a "lazy Realtor" and he was surprised he has survived for 20 years in Real Estate with such a bad attitude. He suggested that the seller interview 2 or 3 Realtors who sell homes in the vicinity to compare their presentations. If the agent will not hold an open house, he won't sell your listing or any others by meeting prospective buyers. If he thinks that the MLS and a few websites are enough then he isn't working in your best interest.
How do you feel about Robert's assessment of the Realtor? Do you agree or disagree?
It really doesn't matter what you think, it is what others think that really counts. Jim Droz, who is now on the speaking tour that claims to have gotten every listing he went after throughout his career except 4 out of well over 1500 figured this concept out a long time ago. Sellers want to know that you are going to actively go after buyers for their home. Jim even tells his sellers that if they sign up with him, he'll personally knock on 15 doors in the neighborhood as soon as they sign up with him before he goes home that day. He knows the right hot buttons to push and because of his initiative and success, people sought him out for their listings.
Open houses are a great way to show your initiative and if you will take the time to promote them the week before by knocking on doors in the neighborhood, you are going to get to talk to many referral sources that are going to see your initiative and when they are ready to list, you are going to be the one that they call!
In my opinion, open houses give you a reason to talk to neighbors and that is the key. Think about it this way. If a house goes up for sale in your neighborhood and if the realtor personally came by to tell you about it before the sign went up telling you about it and about the open house coming up, would you be impressed? And, if you knew of a couple looking for such a nice house in their neighborhood, wouldn't you tell them about it?
Just say, "I am going to have an open house next Sunday from 2-5 PM with light refreshments and a door prize and I would love for you to come over. Or, if you would like to see it at another time, just give me a call. Oh, and by the way, do you know of anyone that might by looking for a nice home like this that I need to call?"
Sam Thompson, PHH Mortgage Advisor - Helping you GROW your business!
www.activerain.com./luckydog1 - SC
www.activerain.com/luckydog2 - NC
http://samthompson.phhmortgage.com/
Great Pinehurst Links:
Pinehurst Real Estate - http://www.pinehurstrealestatenc.com/
Pinehurst Luxury Homes - http://www.pinehurstluxuryhomesnc.com/
North Carolina Horse Farms - http://www.southernpineshorsefarmsnc.com/
Fort Bragg Real Estate - http://www.fortbragghomesnc.com/
