I actually got asked this question this week.
“Karen, why don’t you just focus on listings?”
It’s a fair question. A lot of agents eventually choose one lane. They either become a listing agent or they only work with buyers.
My answer was simple. And was an immediate gut reaction…because I never want to stop doing both!!!!
Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely love listing homes. There’s something incredibly rewarding about helping people prepare their home for the market. I love the strategy behind pricing, the marketing, the staging (probably no surprise there), creating a story around a property and watching buyers walk through and fall in love with a space I’ve helped showcase!!! Anyone who has worked with me on the listing side – knows that I expect a lot from my sellers! That preparation IN ADVANCE – is always what helps sell the home!
But that’s only half of what I love.
I also love meeting first-time home buyers who have no idea where to start! Watching them get the keys to a home they didn’t think was possible is one of the best parts of my job…..
I love helping families relocating to Calgary figure out not just what house to buy, but where they want to build their life!! Every community has a different personality – unique characteristics – and helping someone discover WHERE they’ll feel most at home – is something I genuinely enjoy.
I love working with downsizers who are making one of the biggest transitions of their lives. Those moves often come with excitement, uncertainty, memories and a LOT of emotion. Being trusted to guide someone through that chapter is something I never take for granted.
Every growing family reaches that moment when their current home just isn’t quite enough anymore. Having a baby, blended families, multigenerational needs- helping them find the next one – where new memories will be made – is one of my favourite parts of this job.
I also love working with investors. Every investment property is like solving a puzzle – balancing location, numbers, long-term potential and future resale. I enjoy helping clients look beyond what a home is today – and see what it could become! Whether it’s a first rental property or growing an existing portfolio, it’s exciting to help people build wealth through real estate.
Every move has a different purpose. And I get to be part of all of them.
There’s another reason I never want to become “just” a listing agent.
Working with buyers keeps me sharp.
Every week I’m walking through homes, hearing what buyers love, what they don’t, what they’re comparing, what they’re willing to pay for and what they’re passing on. I’m seeing market trends unfold in real time…not just reading about them in statistics. I am always telling my seller clients what potential buyers will do and look for in their homes!
Helping buyers – makes me a BETTER listing agent!!!
On the flip side, listing homes makes me a better buyer’s agent. I’m constantly thinking about presentation, marketing, negotiation strategies, pricing and what helps a home stand out. I can help buyers recognize value – because I understand exactly what sellers are trying to achieve. And as a stager – I can always tell when the sellers are trying to distract away from something!!!!!
The two go hand in hand. I honestly think I’d lose some part of my “edge” if I only did one.
Real estate isn’t just about houses to me. It’s about people, milestones, fresh starts & sometimes difficult goodbyes. Whether someone is buying their very first condo, selling the home they raised their kids in, relocating across the country or searching for their forever home…every transaction teaches me something new.
So no, I don’t ever want to be just a listing agent. I feel like I was born to do this job – ALL parts of it…..