Or should we say, No More Listings!?
Servicing listings takes time and energy. Margaret Rome has for a long time had a waiting list for listings. Now we have a waiting list, too. There are only so many listings that you can properly service. One alternative is to add more staff - we don't want to do that. So, the only alternative is to have a waiting list - when one listing sells, then we can add another.
For several months we've had criteria - a listing must be in a restricted geographic area, it must be priced right, and it must fit into the price bracket we specialize in. Now, we have to be even more restrictive: even if it meets all the criteria, we have to sell one before we can add another.
If you can't wait for us, we understand. If you want us, then you need to wait until we have time to properly service your listing.
What a way to capitalize on obtaining more listings.. the take-away close.. hmm
Sharon,
Did you ever think we would see this day? Interesting post.
Sharon
You will have to let us know how this idea works out. You are right, it is not necessarily about the volume of listings, it is about servicing the ones you have effectively and efficiently. Good for you!
I like the way that you said what you needed to say. Good Post. There are listings that I do not take, the seller does not want to hear, "I do not have the time right now."
Sharon.. congrats on your sucess. I wanna be like you when i grow up!
-nick
Great idea, but I think I would also add a criteria - personality of seller. lol
When agents take on more listings than they can service. They won't be able to, and subequently will give all of us a bad name.
Hello Sharon, I am honored to be in your blog. And yes I still have a waiting list for sellers. And it really works.
Just think of calling the world renown medical specialist , only to hear: "sorry no new patients"...this makes a few people go out of their way to get seen. Early morning, late night..etc. These people will work within the doctor's schedule. We can "train" our clients
Toby - hope you'll make it. It's not great to be in this position, though.
Lori - that's a different perspective.
Kay - we can certainly understand and sympathize with the seller who can't wait. Nonetheless, we can only really serve so many clients. It isn't fair to our current clients if we take on more when we really can't handle them.\
Joan - no one wants to be just a number.
Laura - absolutely! Bring them on!
Cyndee - Thanks! We have some selling, so are replacing them quickly.
Diane - after so many years with 5 or 6 listings, No I didn't imagine this.
Patricia - it just happens We certainly don't plan it.
Beth - that's right. Who could have imaginede?
Joe - it really isn't a "tactic" - it's just how it is.
Lisa - I can appreciate that. I've always wanted to have both buyers and sellers. Not only is it a balance, but it gives you good insight of both sides.
William - we've been in both positions. The only certain thing about our business is that the pendulum will swing and we'll be on the other side.
Sally - you'd do the same. Looking forward to meeting you in January!
Doug - we hope so, too. Yes, a few are moving, fortunately.
Bob and Caroline - thanks! It's only prosperous when they sell!
Gary - glad to be of help!
Linda - I always admired Margaret for that. Never thought I'd be there, but here I am.
Midori - you know this so well! Better to be good for a limited number than lousy for a great number.
Allison - good observation. If we don't perform, we'll lose all the benefit of the referralls.
Sherry - hiring the first assistant is easy. When you're overwhelmed - hire quickly, but hire well. Since the market is cyclical, I'm always concerned about hiring when you're on high.
Bryant - Congratulations! The best you can do is to SELL your listings!
Phylena - there are four of us on the team. For us, 24 is the max.
Missy - some do, some don't. For those who don't, we probably couldn't satisfy them anyway.
Judi - you're right. Some of them can't believe that we would say "No".
Nick - the ideal is to never grow up!
Kelly - the market changes all the time. You may be there before you know it.
Mike - yes, you're right. We do that, too.
Armando - they not only give us a bad name, they're defeating themselves as well.
Margaret - you're always honored! You're my role model!
Mike - yes, you're right. We do that, too.
Armando - they not only give us a bad name, they're defeating themselves as well.
Margaret - you're always honored! You're my role model!
Mike - yes, you're right. We do that, too.
Armando - they not only give us a bad name, they're defeating themselves as well.
Margaret - you're always honored! You're my role model!
Mike - yes, you're right. We do that, too.
Armando - they not only give us a bad name, they're defeating themselves as well.
Margaret - you're always honored! You're my role model!
Mike - yes, you're right. We do that, too.
Armando - they not only give us a bad name, they're defeating themselves as well.
Margaret - you're always honored! You're my role model!
Sharon, for that comment you definitely get a chocolate star to go with your well deserved featured post.
Congratulations!!
Thanks, Margaret - I can enjoy that chocolate star without it putting on pounds.
Katerina - great idea. I've already been doing that, and it works.
An enviable position to be in, Sharon. And good for you to not take on more than you can handle effectively.
Jeff
Wonderful food for thought, Sharon.
I've always wondered how one of the top producers in our board could handle 100+ listings with only one assistant. Then one day, a seller came to me. Said he had stopped by her office and she didn't know his name! He immediately pulled his listing. We took it and had it sold in three weeks. (a quick sale for our area!) We never once forgot his name!
Jeff - I can't take so many listings that I have no time to blog! Seriously, properly servicing our clients is so important to us. That needs to be a priority above taking new listings. We've put two listings under contract this week, and closed two, and those need to take precedence over new listings.
Debbie - it's not a numbers game. You have to care, you have to relate - AND properly market their listings.