Whether someone is looking for an agent to represent them, or someone to refer a client to, they want to know what areas the agent covers. Often in ads or directories, the agent will specify cities that they cover. Sometimes those cities are so large that the agent really only covers a portion of that. Wouldn't you like to know that in advance?
Sometimes directories do provide a coverage map. My question is: Do you cover as large an area representing sellers as you do representing buyers? We don't.
It's one thing to know areas well enough to represent buyers - knowing the amenities, the trends, the competition. Buyers often want to look at a lot of different areas of a city/area before deciding where to live. When representing sellers, it's not only a case of knowing the neighborhood, it's the time involved in showing it, in checking on the flyer supply on the sign post, in making sure the lawn is moved, the doors are locked and the lights turned off after showings, etc. In most cases, that requires a certain proximity to your office or your home.
Nestor and Katerina - of course it depends on the price, type of property, time, etc. Most times, as you say, we'll refer it out.
Lloyd - that makes sense. Servicing a listing is very Hands On.