What do YOU do all day?

101 Things YOUR Realtor does…

1. Buyer consults
2. Buyer searches (MLS)
3. Shows Homes and other properties (drive, drive, drive!)
4. Contacts with lenders/ pre-approval
5. Phone calls to buyers regarding properties
6. Writing offers
7. Presenting offers
8. Writing addendums
9. Arranging for inspections
10. Attending inspections
11. Reviewing inspections with buyer
12. Writing addendums for inspections
13. Walks through prior to purchasing
14. Reviewing HUD statements prior to closing
15. Ordering Title
16. Reviewing preliminary title reports
17. Counseling buyers through the process, fielding questions and concerns.
18. Ongoing contact with other realtor (listing agent)
19. Checking in with closing agent
20. Checking on loan documents and time sensitive loan information
21. Handling negotiations
22. Keeping written records of the transaction
23. Cold calling
24. Marketing yourself
25. Photography of properties
26. Creating Virtual Tours
27. Market Analysis of properties
28. Pre-listing interviews
29. Listing consultations/presentations
30. Reviewing records (county, taxes, comparables
31. Previewing properties
32. Market research
33. Listing paperwork and input to systems
34. Ordering Signs
35. Marketing property
36. E-mailing, faxing
37. Market preparation advice
38. Installing lockboxes
39. Staging consults
40. Counseling sellers through the process and paperwork
41. Continual market evaluations of listings
42. Regular contact with buyers and sellers
43. Updating Mailing lists
44. Thank you gifts
45. Flyer designs and oversight
46. Delivering/restocking flyers
47. Online marketing
48. Continuing education classes, conferences.
49. Legal counsel as needed
50. Office meetings
51. Agent council
52. Motivational meetings
53. Office organization
54. Price adjustments
55. Brokers Opens
56. Open Houses
57. Print marketing materials
58. Developing business plans
59. Budgeting
60. Vendor interactions
61. Farming (mailing’s to designated areas)
62. Community Involvement and volunteering
63. Attending closings
64. Creative brainstorming for new marketing ideas
65. Writing adds
66. Placing adds weekly
67. Technical training and expenditures
68. Web site updating
69. Uploading listings to internet sites
70. Lunch’s and Dinners with clients
71. Review CCR’S
72. Public relations
73. Continual e-mail and voice mail returns
74. Calling agents for feedback on your listings
75. Safety preparation and plans
76. Handling rescissions
77. Client Appreciation events
78. Car maintenance
79. Ordering materials
80. Meeting with builders
81. Viewing developments
82. Handling referrals
83. Checking on vacant properties
84. Updating data base
85. Attending non clock hour classes
86. TV adds
87. Market Forums
88. Learning new forms
89. Read real estate related materials
90. Statistics
91. Calling on For Sale By Owners, Expireds
92. Keeping in touch with former clients
93. Meeting with broker
94. Being mentored/accountability
95. Daily review of MLS/Hotlist
96. Updating clients
97. Oversight of remodel projects (Flips)
98. Blogging, SOCIAL MEDIA
99. Community Events
100. Covering for out of town associates
101. Listening

Not to mention putting out fires, dealing with frustrations...the list is VERY LONG!

Should Listing agents come out of the Closet?

I am taking a risk by writing this blog post.

I bet you are wondering what in tar-nation is she going to say...

Well I hope you don't see this as unprofessional, or whining.

My intention is to educate the public.

You see...the majority...they think we list their house for free.

I am considering outlining my marketing budget at my listing presentations.

I think they need to know not only the great service we provide- but that is is very expensive for us, and WE ONLY GET PAID (and reimbursed ) if their home sells.

This leads me to a declaration. I hereby swear to you and the MLS universe that I WILL NO LONGER TAKE OVER-PRICED LISTINGS. I have made this promise before, but I am actually fully dedicated to keeping it this time. The just cost me way too much!!!

I think people deserve to know - in detail- that we are investing huge amounts of time and MONEY in marketing THEIR HOME. I think it would help elevate the respect that the public has for Realtor's and real estate agents.

I am going to go first. I am coming out of the closet and it feels weird, but here goes...

I spend close to 1,200$ a month to be a Realtor- and for (mainly) marketing homes. I make choices to do things such as ENHANCED Realtor.com, virtual tours, great website, all kinds of extra's. I can't believe I am doing this. I feel like I am standing in the grocery line naked! (bad visual)...

But WHY NOT? I think the average person needs to understand that we are in business for ourselves, self employed - in most cases certainly no benefits. We work all kinds of hours to accomodate other people's schedules, and yet for some reason the general opinion of us is quite low.

The skills to be a good agent are VAST and the job description has over 100 things that we do to service our clients- both buyer's and sellers.

We are highly skilled professionals with a huge out-go in a very risky marketplace.

One thing that GREATLY effects whether or not we re-coup our investment on behalf of sellers are the decisions that the sellers make, such as condition, presentation, PRICING, and more. These are decisions that need to be carefully discussed in a market where most homes are not selling.

Maybe you think it is tacky that I have come forward with this topic. I hope not. I hope you understand that people have every right to sell their home by owner, and if they choose to hire a real estate brokerage- I think they would actually think HIGHER of us if they knew how much we put into what we do- both behind the scenes and by paying our portions of marketing and the long list of expenses we have to BE PROFESSIONAL Realtor's.

I am so proud of what I do. I am grateful for the many things my broker provides me as well- and I am happy to give them the commision split because they do a great job providing me with a beautiful office, staff, equiptment, training, and so much more.

I do think the general public would benefit from understanding better how our industry works.

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