Considering an unpopular option

Are sales any better for the discounted or big name companies?

Yes, the sales ARE better for some of the bigger offices, and the "discount offices" are attracting a lot of listings. We are so well known for rentals that a lot of people think that is all we do (in spite of signs, ads, web page, etc.)

Sales as in they are selling better then you or more sales because they have more listings? What I meant was --- Are homes selling faster and for more money that are listed with the big name companies? Lower DOM and higher List to Sales Ratios then your listings? What are the discount companies doing? Do they actually sell homes with a lower DOM and Higher List to Sales Ratio then a full service company? With 40 years of combined experience, you should know what the behind the scenes numbers are. Before making a decision on going to a discount status just because the big name companies and discount companies are getting more listings you need to know what the actual "Performance" Numbers are. Personally, looking at it as a consumer, I could really care less who sells the most real estate... I want the most money in the Least amount of time for my property. If my house sits on the market for twice as long as the avg. DOM for the area and my sales price is 10% lower then what I listed it for, listing it with the biggest company or saving that percent or two on the commission did a lot of good.. As far as advertising budgets go.... it really matters who advertises smarter... not more. More often then not, the business plan for discount companies is to attract buyers. Are you ready for the amount of time needed to work with buyers when you are managing so many rental homes?

The offices I mentioned don't sell any BETTER, as in, faster or for more money. We're the best agents we know, frankly, and we do a good job. We're considering the discount campaign simply to attract more listings. We don't want huge numbers, we can pick and choose, and our 20 yr old son is licensed and will be available this summer to help.

Hmm... seems like you just found a better way to advertise. Just from my experience, the savviest real estate investors don't want the biggest or the cheapest, they want the best. For example.... the reason you caught my attention is because of the experience in rental management. I work for several savvy investors and we look nationwide for great real estate investments and we could really care less who has the property listed. If I was you, I would focus on posting a blog on what 10% down with a 24% tax bracket would do for me on a Before Tax Cash Flow. Secondly, nationwide investors want somebody on the ground with experience to take care of that investment. VERY FEW residential real estate agents can do this yet residential real estate is one of the best ways a normal investor can gain wealth. I have yet to meet a discount real estate agent that can properly do this..... otherwise they would not be a discount agent. As for the big brokerages.... their advertising is pretty generic such as We Sell the Most Real Estate.. blah, blah, blah... which means nothing to the clients you want..... and I know because I was with two of the biggest residential brokerage franchises before starting our own company. You've shared your experience, but you have not told anybody why they should buy in Payson and how you can help them. By the way.... why would you want more listings in a buyers market? It's a great time to buy.... find the savvy buyers.

Thank you for the advice, I DO hear what you are saying. AND we Do work with several investors who buy and sell property here with some frequency.

Hello Payson Agent, as in any industry there are people who are over paid. If you truly know the market as well as you say you do, then likely you have much more to offer your clients then the discounters. Usually the discounters only operate on one thing, discount. Not quality, not service, not performance, just discount. Do you want to be known as one of the cheapest, or one of the best? ether way you can make money and grow your business. One path gets you motivated sellers who put their faith in you for your skill and are willing to pay for those skills. The other path gets you less motivated sellers who only called you because of the discount, and many times will seek to beat you down even further on the commission, or seek to have you give concessions to hold deals together when things come up from home inspections and so forth. By making the decision as to how you proceed you decide what kind of people you will gain as clients. Best of luck to you. James Boyer

Nice add on James, Great clients look for a fair deal. Bad clients tend to look for cheap deals. From our experience, our most educated clients seeked us out because we sold homes for the most money in the shortest amount of time.... not because we sold the most real estate at the cheapest price.

How can you claim "We are the best agents we know, frankly, and we do a good job" if "sales ARE better for some of the bigger offices" I thought the best Realtors were the ones who sold their clients homes the quickest. It is what the sellers pay us to do is it not? I recommend you advertise yourself as an expert in a niche market!