What makes a top producer?
Stop and think for a few minutes about who the top producers are in your market?
Ok, now think about what they doing that has allowed them to continue to consistently produce in a down market, when everyday REALTORS are throwing in the towel.
Every day I scan the MLS to see, what has sold, what is active, and what went under contract (I assume that is something most agents do every day.)
Over and over again the same names pop up as the listing agent with the home that sold or the actual buying agent that sold the home.
Teams
Except for one agent in my area, all the top producers have teams. Now it may be a two person, husband and wife team or a well oiled team with a team leader, several assistants, a listing coordinator or a closing coordinator. But, they all have HELP.
In my area, the names that keep popping up are on Teams. I believe it is virtually impossible to be a top producer without help. Well, you could do it alone but if you do how is that effecting time with your family? Realistically how many transactions can you juggle and give good service?
Running a Business
The second thing I notice about those top producers is the fact that they treat their business like a business. Real Estate to them is not just selling a house, but something they brand, allocate resources for, grow and manage. Not only are they thinking of ways to grow their business but they also thinking of the future and how to sell it down the road.
I remember being told by a entrepreneur friend of mine years ago, “all businesses are built to be sold.”
Far to many REALTORS, think of Real Estate as a job they do and someday when they retire then all the hard work of creating and nurturing relationships they have built is gone. (I’m outta here)
Focused and Positive
One other observation I have observed with top producers is they are focused and positive. I never see them “hanging out at the office”, or attending broker opens, or really for that matter, serving much at all on their local boards. Oh there are a few, but really very few.
Finally, I don’t see many top producers in my market on Twitter, Facebook, Empire Avenue or other social media sites during the day. I don’t see them at every conference known to man around the country.
What I do see is they work everyday, on their business and in their business.
How ‘bout you?
Think of the top REALTORS in your market, what characteristics do you see?
Flickr Photo Credit
Ines
March 2, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Hey Vicki – I think you are now qualified to be a coach- maybe you can charge to kick people’s a$$!! 😉
Faina Sechzer
March 3, 2008 at 6:47 am
Vicki- this is the best (for sure, most entertaining) “what you get for your money” I have read about the RE coaching. Don’t give away the kick a…for free -that’s priceless:)
Vicki Moore
March 3, 2008 at 2:37 pm
LOL. A** kicking is priceless!
Steve
March 19, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Great post about Ferry…something I recently came across about him…very interesting (second part of this post..)
Rhymes With Ferry
By: Russell Shaw, NoHassleListing.com, Post Archive, RSS Feed
Posted: Wednesday, March 19th, 2008, 9:29 pm MST
Category: General, Marketing, Realty Reality
A couple of things. First, the largest real estate company in Arizona (based on number of agents) is now Homesmart. Homesmart was already pretty damn big but on Tuesday it was finalized – they bought Dan Schwartz Realty. Dan Schwartz Realty was, itself, was already one of the top 3 companies in the state for number of agents. So was Homesmart. It is my understanding that – at least for now – both companies will continue to operate with their current names.
A Little Bird Told Me
And now for the “big” news. I’ve just received a report that Mike Ferry’s coaching business is falling off. Big time. I have long considered him a predator, so I am happy to hear this. His company has had a pattern of high pressuring agents (who attend his free seminars) to sign up for coaching. Coaching is pretty much all he really sells – his events being a giant sales pitch for getting coached by his organization. For those who don’t follow the Mike Ferry coaching advice or who find it unworkable they are in for an additional shock, besides not having all that additional income they were sure to get. If they attempt to cancel their relationship they discover – as they have signed a contract – their account will be turned over to a collection agency.
It now happens that the state of California (EDD) recently ruled that all the coaches (I think he has averaged about 60 coaches at any given time since 1999) he has been paying as independent contractors are legally employees. Mike appealed and lost. Prediction: a big fine will soon be levied by California and I’m guessing the IRS will soon do the same. Also, from the very same little bird: a lawsuit from ex-coaches will soon be filed and made public to recover any money not recovered via the taxing agencies. My prediction: he will be out of money before any of them can collect anything.
Mike, once you see this you can have one of your attorneys send me a nice threatening letter. Here is my contact information.
tomferry
June 30, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Vicki … I would welcome you to test out our coaching program so you can add it to your list!
Tom