Is it true that Buyers Agents work harder than Listing Agents?

Question

Is it true that Buyers Agents work harder than Listing Agents? The Listing agent puts the property on the MLS and can get away with sitting around twirling their thumbs while buyers agents have a brunt of the work having to drive buyers around, orchestrate paperwork and inspection negotiate and so on.

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

no one drives buyers around anymore.. thats a thing of the way long ago past. they will drive to the home to open it up for the buyer.. But a good buyers agent will have their buyer reeled in they wont just be led around by the nose ring.. Listing agents have to do all the paper work to list the property that takes a good hour or more according to my wife.. and as a top producer I can guarantee you she does not sit around twiddling her thumbs. Your earn it in this business and once you have some years in and your getting your business by referral like she does it does get easier at least on the marketing end she has not advertised in say 20 years all of her business just comes to her based on her quality of work with her clients. 2 years ago she was number one agent out of 600 HUNDRED agents and she does not have a team.. Its just her ..

Tatum Littleton · Answer

Thats a fair question, James! To answer, I don’t think there is a definitive answer that one side has to work harder. As a buyers agent, you need to know what the buyer is interested in and what their needs are. The real work does come in with driving around like you mentioned, maybe being creative and showing properties they may not have thought of, and articulating different ways to offer on a property, just to name a few items. As a sellers agent, you do have significant work to do by putting up the property and doing open houses and talking with buyers agents giving them information. A lot of other work comes in when presenting offers and again articulating and helping the seller negotiate, again, only a few things that have to be done. I think both need a great deal of people skills being able to deal with multiple different people with multiple different desires in the transaction and being able to balance all of that is hard work in of itself. Those are just a few points and I know many others have more thoughts as well! So, again, in my opinion, I don’t think there’s one right answer but am interested in hearing from others on what they have worked through as a buyer/seller agent.

Mike Dymski · Answer

It takes many years of work and experience to become a well known listing agent of choice at scale (and continued good execution to maintain it).

Jay Hinrichs · Answer

when I used to sell RE many many moons ago it was the drive and show game.. But for me I quailfied presented and closed.. I got into detail of what they were looking for first.. then I qualified that they had the money and were ready to go ( like a good car salesmen does) then I picked 3 properties ( back before the internet ) One I knew they might like one that pretty sure they would not and one I knew fit all the criteria and they would buy. then I asked for the order point blank and wrote it up usually on the Hood of my car.. contract with NCR paper and off er went to escrow. If all three were a bust I usually kicked them lose to go work with someone else. I rarely had a be back maybe 3 times in 10 years when I was active.. Most agents frankly have no closing skills and dont know how to ask for the order.. they just let the client lead them around and dictate to be a top producer you have to be the alpa and lead them to the promised land and close them.

Corby Goade · Answer

I don't think either work harder that the others on average. Listing agents do A LOT up front, buyer's agents do a lot to get a buyer under contract and help with due dilligence. That being said, there are many, many agents on both sides who do very little, regardless of the situation. It's rough out there.

Theresa Harris · Answer

I agree 100% and not just in real estate, but in anything. I wouldn't even look at hours worked because if you give two people with the same skills the same job, one might be able to get it done in an hour and the other might take a day both completing it to the same level. Depends on how they work.

Theresa Harris · Answer

I think it depends on the buyer. Their agent can do as little as show them 1 or 2 houses if they communicate what they want and the agent is able to find it or show dozens of houses with no sale in the end. For the seller's agent, I think the amount of work they have to do is more defined, but getting things ready for sale and helping organize inspections can take a lot of time.

Tatum Littleton · Answer

Sure, I mean it may lay it out nicely and compare both but I believe it is all relative in different markets at different times. Who's to say what "working hard" is exactly? Just hours worked I don't believe is the only indicator. Being able to explain things to their client? Being creative in finding properties they may be interested in? Being creative in marketing the property? Being able to work with different personalities. I think the list goes on to define and show "hard work".

James McGovern · Answer

If we made a list of activities that both agents do along with average industry time spent on each, would that not answer the question?

Gustavo Delgado · Answer

In a nutshell, yes the buyer will work more 'hours' from start to finish. But It takes time to become a Listing agent or have the bulk of your business be listings. Now, a buyer agent, can greatly reduce their workload with a buyer by qualifying the buyer and being as detailed as possible to better target what the buyer is looking for. I've heard of agents riding around town just opening doors and hoping the buyer will pick something. Now a listing agent will do work before the listing is active (paperwork, marketing and home prep) but once it is active, the listing agent has to be ready to follow up on all leads that come their way and answer all inquiries, but you can do that sitting poolside.