Now that the real estate market in the Capital Region, like in most of the country, has slowed, agents may need to get creative in their efforts to connect buyers with sellers.
Darren James of Darren James & Associates brokered by eXp Realty says his group stayed busy through the fourth quarter of 2022, but says there could be a shakeout in the industry as less experienced agents struggle.
“A lot of people think this job is easy,” he says.
In this market, you can’t just put up a sign and expect a sale, he says. While some businesses cut back on advertising in a slow market, James says he doubles down.
Calling your database and following up with past clients becomes more important. James also recommends posting videos to social media.
Wyatt Graves with Kaizen Home Sales & Services says his team has been working as hard as ever, just not with as many sales to show for it. He says giving consumers options will be key in 2023.
“Our job has shifted to be more of a critical thinker,” he says. “We have to get creative.”
Graves says his firm can broker deals in which the purchase is subject to the existing mortgage rate, rather than the higher rates available now. The firm offers a “fix and list” option for sellers who need to move quickly and aren’t able to prepare the home for sale.
The National Association of Realtors has shared real estate speaker, trainer and author Monica Reynolds’ best practices for setting goals and a script for reaching out to past clients; you can read the post here.
