Is it still true you have to "List to Last"?

Is it still true you have to “List to Last”?

In 1991 I found myself in the position of a single mom with a son in middle school and needed to make a living. I hadn’t taught school in years and I needed to put my big girl panties on and get a job! I started selling advertising for a Real Estate company and watched with interest at the agents in the office. It didn’t take long for me to realize I could be a Realtor and a good one! I took a few courses (my college credits transferred over which helped) and I passed my Real Estate exam.

Many colleagues acted as mentors reminding me I owned a business and needed to treat it like one if I was going to be successful. I enrolled in a Floyd Wickman course which we lovingly referred to as “sweat hogs.” It was a course that changed my outlook and helped me formulate by business plan which I follow today (although it is constantly being tweaked)!

There was a phrase that I learned “You have to list to last.” I know there are many agents prefer to work with buyers. It’s a business decision and that’s what so wonderful about Real Estate..do what suits you and make it happen. Whatever your decision you must commit and market like you mean it!

I enjoy working with both buyers and sellers. In order to advise my sellers on current buyer attitudes and mindset then I need to be working with buyers to understand their needs and concerns. Keeping a check on the pulse of the market trends enables me to provide the best advice to both buyers and sellers.

My business is weighted heavier to the listing side than buyers (70 – 30%) and I intentionally created my business model in this fashion. Why? I believe if you can maintain a good steady inventory of homes in your stable you can control the market place…whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market. My reputation for presenting well priced and maintained homes is important to me. I go the extra mile with staging and professional photography. I’ve learned quality consumers want to work with reputable and quality agents.

My advice to a new agent is to list your strengths and weakness…make a business plan and if you prefer to list homes than keep top of mind “you need to list to last”!

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