Know your neighborhood, or expand your territory?

There are a lot of agents in this slow market that are filling up their tanks with gas and driving all over Georgia with their prospects praying that they will sell something. What they are also praying for is that they wont get lost or slammed with a neighborhood question that they can not answer; for example schools, garbage pick up, nearest grocery store, neighborhood clubs and so on. These are the questions I would ask if I were moving into a new neighborhood. How many agents shoot out the standard reply of "I'll get back to you on that"? I know I have personally said the same thing when I wandered out of the Big Canoe real estate nest. Some agents comment on how I can survive in just one subdivision but the answer is not very complex. I HAVE an answer for every question. I KNOW my product, and I'm willing to save the gas and wait for a prospect that I can take on an educated tour. I joke about being Julie the Cuise Director, but I am providing a valuable service to my prospects and clients. I'm not wasting my time or theirs by pretending to know everything. Heck, I'm happy if I get both shoes on the right feet before I get out the door, but if I get a call on the road regarding a home that may not be my listing I can tell them 9 times out of 10 close to anything they need to know about it. It is my job to know ALL the Big Canoe real estate. I work with agents that represent the developer so that I can be on top of the newest plans, and I check the new listings like clockwork. In times like these it's best to work smart, KNOW what you are selling! Save the gas and do a referral. You could be drinking a hot cup of coffee and reading the paper while another agent is working for you 2 hours away! Think about it!!

Thanks for reading,

~Karin
http://ibamountainhomes.com
Life in Big Canoe, Real Estate in North Georgia