McClelland Minute - September 20, 2009

On the Road Again…

No matter what time of year it is, or what type of market we are in, there always seems to be a Realtor from our Group on the road.  It is not uncommon for individual team members to rack up several thousand kilometers in a typical work week; with a good part of our travel occurring after supper, or on weekends.

The Lloydminster region is experiencing a slow, but steady return to a more balanced market, with an increase in the number of qualified and motivated buyers that we accompany to all corners of the service area in search of the perfect property.  With good, quality, and affordable housing available in both the City and surrounding rural communities, buyers often have an excellent selection to consider before making a decision. 

Last weekend, one team member showed 16 properties in four different communities and was rewarded with two successful offers on properties situated over 200 kilometers apart.  This weekend the same agent was away from home again, this time catching a break with 14 showings all situated in one community.  However, this concentration of activity was offset by a trip down to Atton’s Lake, east of Cut Knife, to meet a client from out of area to review and sign an accepted contract. In between the two weekends, there was an additional 20 showings for a total of 50 properties represented in a 6,000 square mile area by just this one Realtor!

From March of this year on, there has been a frenzy of listings or requests for opinions of value, on all types of property.  In fact, sometime this week I will cross the one thousand career listing threshold!  People in the Midwest have been very supportive of our Group’s unique approach of focused representation, with member Realtors usually working with only the seller or buyer, but not both, in any transaction.

While the buyer representatives are out working with their clients, I spend a significant amount of my time meeting with potential sellers discussing how best to market their property.  Normally I spend four days per week in Lloydminster and perimeter communities, and one day on farms or in lake country.  However, because of the aforementioned activity of buyers and their Realtors; my evenings and weekends are often spent on the phone conducting negotiations, or getting prepared for the next day’s schedule.

Personally, I believe rural properties – acreages, farms, and recreation are more challenging to represent.  There often aren’t enough sales of comparable properties in the immediate area to accurately determine value.  Almost all are unique in their characteristics.  Many have been in the family for a number of years adding an emotional component that makes it difficult for the seller to be detached and logical.  Yet, I enjoy the change in environment from the high paced urban setting.

I guess none of us would do this job if we didn’t enjoy it; and most times we are rewarded with working with good people, fair negotiating, and interesting properties!  To keep it all in balance, we strongly encourage Group members to reserve Friday and Saturday evenings, and all day Sunday for family and personal interests.  After all, real estate is how we make a living, but it shouldn’t be our life.

Vern McClelland is associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster.  If you have questions or comments on this article or other real estate matters, he can be reached at 780.808.2700 or through the McClelland Group website www.mcclelland.ca

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