Are Real Estate Agents Really Interested In Making Money?
July 20, 2008
That is not meant to be an inflammatory statement whatsoever. It’s a direct question. I don’t want to presume anything but in reading so much of what is on real estate agent focused blogs, one has to wonder if that is really the case.
Many of our readers know that we operate a real estate investment company. We would not be in the real estate investing business if were not to generate revenue and retain substantial profits therefrom. Our business is real estate investing, our radio show is a marketing and advertising platform associated therewith.
When we look at a deal it has a very antiseptic feel. We operate under a very simple premise. Do the numbers make sense. There are very little if any other variables to consider. If a deal appears profitable to us, then more than likely we will greenlight it and look to engage the transaction and work a very profitable deal from acquisition to disposal. There is no reason at all, not a single reason to be involved in a transaction that is not profitable.
However, from the perspective of most agents, it appears that earning a profit (commission) is a crapshoot at best. We have heard from many agents who tell us that nearly 8 out of 10 listings in the current state of the real estate market go unsold. Top agents seem to only be successful in earning a profit only 40% of the time. Your results may vary, but nonetheless, we have been told that the expectation of earning a profit on every transaction is absurd? Wow..really? Great business model you have there…not!
So the question that I pose in the title of this article is aptly stated. Why would anyone want to be involved in a business wherein on average, they can only be expected to earn an income that is just above the poverty level in the first few years and not all that great beyond?
Of course there are exceptions and there are some mega agents out there like Craig Proctor and others who do over 300-500 sides per year, but those agents are seriously few and far between.
Well one reason some agents stay in the business is that with the proper training, and the right direction there is a chance that they can indeed reach a level of success like the mega producer’s in the industry.
Yeah right…and I want to be like Mike too! Here’s the deal. No matter how hard I train, no matter who my coaches are, I simply don’t have the skills to be a Michael Jordan. That would be quite harmful to my ego if it weren’t for the fact that there aren’t many people walking the planet that will ever be as good as Michael Jordan.
There are many online communities in the online real estate world. Some are very good at what they do. However one of the common denominators that I find lacking in many of the sites that I go to is the direct focus and attention to earning a profit. While I am absolutely sure that there are many real estate agents that want to know how to blog and effectively utilize SEO strategies, and while I am also sure that there are many agents in the Country that want to learn how to knock on doors and be shown how to use Twitter and Facebook, I am equally sure that most agents, real estate investors and even some consumers, want to know how to make money in real estate.
I have to admit, some of our focus was misdirected and we got caught up in the whole RE.net real estate blogosphere water cooler chatter, but beginning today, we’re going right back to our main focus of showing you, our valued reader, how you can profit in today’s real estate market.
Of course we’ll continue to cover news and current events in real estate but our focus here on Real Estate Radio USA is not going to be about what font to use, or what PHP code to write, or how to use Twitter or Facebook. We are going to be all about making money.
We’re talking hard-core in your face wealth building strategies for anyone who wants to profit in today’s real estate market. We have come to learn that our audience is not the current fold of real estate bloggers. We have researched and realized that our main core audience is comprised of agents, real estate investors and individuals who want to make money in real estate and are prepared to take the steps necessary to do so.
We have assembled, and will continue to assemble, a panel of real estate investing and general business experts that you will not find on any other real estate blog or website..anywhere. We don’t want to discuss the posts of others nor are we going to be interested in their commentary. If you come here or listen to our show it’s going to be about making money.
I can already here some now. “All they care about is making money”, “They don’t understand it’s about relationships”, and my favorite..”they’re not agents so they don’t understand”. Well, they’re right! We aren’t agents and we are unashamedly interested in earning a profit in our chosen profession. If I wanted to be a charity I would have formed a non-profit organization.
The problem some will have is that it seems we came to a rather abrupt decision when in fact that is not the case at all. We did not make this decision. Our readers and listeners, through many emails and calls, have told us to stop the inane blog coverage, get away from the “Dear Abbyish” mentality and give them the information, tools and strategies to make money in the real estate business. So we’ve listened.
We’ve added some of the best business and real estate investment minds in the Country to post articles and be wealth building contributors here and to be guests on our show to tell you how to make money.
All of the tips, strategies and methodology behind what you will hear is completely legal, absolutely ethical and assuredly proven to make you money. If you wan to know how to survive and prosper in this business, listen and read as much as you can on Real Estate Radio USA. If you want the inside scoop on the real estate blogosphere, then you’ll have to go elsewhere.
There are over 1 million real estate agents and I truly feel that there aren’t more than a couple hundred serious real estate bloggers. That means there are a ton of real estate agents in the business who simply want to know how to make money and the quest for the “great post” just doesn’t make it for them.
We’ll do our best to show you how to profit in today’s real estate market. Whether you’re an agent, investor, or consumer, we welcome the opportunity to assist you in your profit making endeavors.
I welcome you to enjoy, participate and contribute to the revolution.
This is the first time I have seen anyone take a critical view like this except for my stuff. I am glad to see I am not the only curmudgeon of the web:-)
My frustration as a Coach is the lack of focus that the web has spawned as like you said agents chace the next big thing. Tactically chasing each next ap like twitter and Facebook, with out any strategy. That next thing is called Web 2.0 right now and every body that has something to sell is selling it under the 2.0 veil.
Everyonce in a while someone has the smarts to ask me about my own rankings. Thinking that perhaps that might be a good idea since I also sell SEO.But you wouldbe amazed how many call and never ask.Well shouldn’t we all question smarts of using twitter before spending all day log Tweeting?
Tactics are posting endlessly in Craiglist without a back upplanwhen Craig starts charging.
Tactics are infact a backup plan when google goes away? Ooops!
I dont think that willhappenbut seriously what wouldyou do?Is it just one pillar or your whole business? Well in that case you would no business.
These web activitites have to fit within a larger picture.
<>Somehow a misleading virus has spread that the webmakes it so all you have to do is rub digital elbows and the money will come. And it does for some. But you should always compare that agains the cost of doing it oldschool and door kocking or cold calling.
<>So you need to get 10 listings to get 2 sales?If you want to 2 sales then get 10 listings. There some advice.Increase your volume of prospects, which will give you more appointments, which will give you more listings, which will give you more sales.
Tim..it is a very simple formula…if the object is to actually make some money.
I wonder aloud if the prospect of no sales, no money and no direction has fueled a majority of the blogosphere.
I want to focus on and mesh with people who want to get paid !
Are Real Estate Agents Really Interested In Making Money? | Real Estate Radio USA…
That is not meant to be an inflammatory statement whatsoever. It’s a direct question. I don’t want to presume anything but in reading so much of what is on real estate agent focused blogs, one has to wonder if that is really the case….
Finally some one said it! It seems that many in the RE blogosphere are talking to the wrong audeince, blogging for other industry professional and not consumers. That is one reason why I do not participate to heavily in social networks these days.