Kate Elim, Lake Anna Real Estate Specialist

Do you really know the market you are attempting to work?  Did you just receive a phone call from someone many miles away wanting to look at property way outside your customary area? 

Are you selling a home to someone that has a house to sell several counties away?  Are you thinking that county happens to be in your mls system so what's the difference if you take the listing?  What the heck it sounds like an easy sale and some quick money so why not.

Earlier this evening I read a very important post by Jennifer Allen on mastering your market.  Jennifer spells out the importance of knowing the market you are or want to work in and how to go about doing that.

It makes you wonder how someone can even think about working way outside their area of expertise when they do not know much if anything about that area.  Knowing what we bring to our clients when we are dealing with them on our home turf should make us also aware of how little advice we can really share with our clients when we are unfamiliar with a particular place.

I often wonder about REALTORS that list properties at Lake Anna that have never even been here.  Yes, that happens.  What are they thinking? 

Others bring buyers from as far away as Maryland, an hour and a half to two hours away.  Yes, I picked up a business card just the other day in a house at Lake Anna from an agent from Bethesday, MD. 

Granted we have a few agents with second homes here.  They know the area and are prepared to answer the many questions that can come up and to provide the information clients may not even know to ask about.  That is very important.

I have had three listings outside of my area.  Twice it was up in Northern Virginia where I used to work.  One was of a home that I had sold to the owners.  The other listing was to a couple that lived in an upscale townhouse community and they were very aware of what their home would sell for and actually discouraged me from doing an open house or to do any advertising because they knew priced right it would sell quickly.  It did and according to the comps we did very well.

Have I had other opportunities?  Yes.  However, the best thing for me to do is the same thing you should be doing when you are not the expert, referring it out to a qualified, knowledgable REALTOR in that area.  That is where Active Rain comes in to play.  You do not have to be a member very long before you realize how many agents from all over the country know their stuff.  You also get a sense of their personalities from their posts.  You know which one will be a good fit for your client.  It's as easy as that.

Lenn Harley is a prime example of a REALTOR understanding how to best serve those that contact her.  If they are within her market area she takes care of them.  If they need real estate assistance elsewhere Lenn refers them to others that know the local area.

Between heeding Jennifer's advice to know our market and Lenn's example to refer when the business is out of our area we will do well.

Please think about whether you are serving your best interests or the best interest of your client.  If you answer that question honestly you will be doing the right thing.

Good luck and happy selling.

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If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.

Contact Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com.  Be sure to check Kate's Web site http://lakeannacountry.com/