Learn From What We Preach?
When you have a license that is valid in an entire state, it’s very tempting to work a broad area in order to increase your customer base. However, just as we tell our clients that they should consider location when purchasing a property, maybe we as Real Estate Professionals need to use that same thinking when choosing the area we market ourselves in.
When in Rome, Do What The Romans Do
As probably most of us have encountered, working in an unknown market for the first time can have unexpected challenges. Different showing customs, forms, closing rituals, and even lockbox/MLS systems can make doing your job frustrating at best and at worst a costly to your client. Also these differences can cause tension between the agents/brokers involved which can add to the stress of creating a smooth transaction.
Time IS Money
I know I’m going to be a lot of fire for this but why work a geographic area that is far from you home and office? Time spent in the car is rarely productive (especially since many states have banned texting/emailing while driving) and expensive in terms of gas and wear/tear. Today’s consumer wants availability and can tell when you are juggling having to travel a way to meet them.
Disclaimer
I am not saying that you have to work the area immediately surrounding your home/office. However, if you are planning a large geographic area system should probably be put in place systems to maximize your time management and customer service. Consider a policy where prospects who are interested in areas you are not knowledgeable in be given the asked to be referred to someone in the local area if they are not comfortable with the face that you do not work their target area regularly. IMO things like these are a win win and put our industry in a better light.
