Here’s Why:

handling buyers or seller, you need a strong web presence, right?

With well priced listings, I can get buyers, and use my listings as marketing tools for myself and my team (it’s like getting paid twice!)

Buyers are a single transaction, but with sellers, I have the potential for both sides of the commission, and also the possibility of another purchase through the seller and/or a relocation referral.

My photos were lousy, my descriptions were terrible, and my pricing was out of line. I fell flat on my face with that listing, but I never let that happen again. I learned to handle objections better and to talk to my clients in a straight forward way about their home. Although I wouldn’t call myself the king of listings, I’m working to make that a reality over time.

When you first begin, those sellers will be harder to find than buyers as most people pointed out. You having a background in marketing could be beneficial, but you’ll still have to find those sellers and gain their trust. My first listing appointment ever, I lost to another agent. It’s the only one I’ve ever lost. One of the best things I did was call the seller up and ask her outright to grade my performance. What was good, what was bad. Lucky for me, she was willing to give me some great advice. I remember I was nervous during the appointment, but she said I didn’t show it. In my head, I thought I was a sweaty, shaky mess. She gave me a lot to think about – so I would definitely recommend thanking everyone afterward with a phone call and asking them to review you…be upfront with them about being new and wanting to learn. I was shocked at how frank the seller was with me.

I say go for both as much as you can when you start. Find where your skills are and expand them. If you suck at listings, you might not want to pursue them in the long term – I think some people are better suited to either or, you just have to find your place in the real estate world. Somehow, I think you’ll be good at listing.

I would say plan for the future, but if you take listings make sure they are priced to sell and the sellers are realistic. This is sometimes harder to do when you are just starting out… Don’t just take a great listing that is overpriced to help get buyers, hoping the seller will reduce or to get experience. It’s not fair to the new agent or the seller and just gets aggravating.

My quick two cents.

1. You will never last for the duration in this business without a large and salable (priced right) inventory (what business does?)
2. Your personality type determines what you will be geared for. (The So Called “DISC” Test)… I am a Very High “D”, with almost no “I” and middle of the road “S” and “C”…
3. If you are meant to work buyers, you probably will do well on a team setting. You need the leads from somewhere…
4. Everyone on a team helps everyone compensate for some task or ability they are weak at. Once everyone realizes that synergy takes place.

So, in conclusion I think the question is not buyers or sellers… I think it’s more “environment. In the right environment anyone can do anything!.

Okay, so we are still talking buyers, but these buyers will have friends and family to whom to refer you so you can start picking up listings. Eventually, many will want to sell the home you sold them and purchase another, thus garnering you even more listings This business is about building blocks. I don’t know if you know what Lincoln Logs are (I’m showing my age here) but think of building your business one log at a time, and soon you’ll own the entire town!

I’ll suggest what I’ve been preachin’ from the mountain tops since Moses’ grandson died — find a bullet proof, super experienced mentor and become their bitch for a year. Put aside your ego and go all OldSchool on yourself as an apprentice. I’ve done this for several kids over the years, and with a couple exceptions, they’ve gone on to be successful agents. When I mentor someone, it’s what I’ve called ‘Roman Style’ mentoring. If it was baseball, the first morning you’d be hearing me say, “This is a baseball. Now go get me a cuppa coffee, and there better be enough cream in it.” I believe in the ‘was on, wax off’ theory of teaching.

It’s my opinion that becoming a buyer’s agent from the beginning tends to retard the new agent’s development, relatively speaking. I realize it’s only an opinion. Frankly, I listed a FSBO my first day of work when I was 18 years old. Sure miss those days.

Seriously Dan, anyone who can close 5+ sales monthly on their own within a 40 hour a week time budget gets a major tip of the hat from me. That’s astounding to say the least. Anyone who can pull that off has my deepest respect with a capital R. You say in ‘normal’ times you carried 15-20 listings at all times. I think it’s high time you went all Russell Shaw on yourself. There’s no way you can’t do that now and more, due to your insistence on sellers facing the real market. Your props will sell sooner and for more cuz you flat know where the bodies are buried.

Am I making any sense?

Good luck!

I have absolute respect for both BawldGuy and Russell Shaw and know that both of their models work wonderfully, but I always resist the idea that focusing on listings is the ONLY way to go. I sold 63 homes last year to buyers (by myself) and have enough buyer leads to send referrals to other agents. I didn’t work more than 40 hours a week and had time for vacations etc. During normal markets I would carry 15-20 listings at all times, and like I said earlier, I am always ready to list any home that a seller is willing to price correctly. The question is where do you spend your time prospecting for business. Most listing agents who do mega business (outside of REO) spend a tremendous amount of time prospecting. Either they do it or they hire people to do it.

With the movement towards the internet as the first step in finding a home many agents with a strong internet presence talk to literally hundreds of qualified buyers a month. The way they find business is by answering the phone or responding to emails. I know people who are halfway to seven figure income in referrals alone (with buyers).

There are a lot of different ways to make a career in real estate that will fit different personality styles. Working with buyers does not have to be chump change for losers.