1,543,613
Having served both and having been buyer heavy the first half of my career, I can share that very often, contrary to my respected colleagues' opinion, the Selling Agent (Buyers Agent) spends more than a Listing Agent. Now, true, it depends on the circumstances, as some listings cost more to market than some buyers cost to help buy, but some buyers cost more than some properties to list & close.
I recently sold a South Park (Balboa Park) home in 5 days that I never got to spend any money on at all beyond my MLS fees and a property website, maybe some fuel consumption driving to that house and the cost of time.
However, I have spent months, even years with some buyers, that I do not dare run a P&L on on for fear of losing my joy for those clients. There are many hard costs to showing property in time, vehicle maintenance, fuel, time setting up the tour of homes-which is a hard cost for me since my per/hour staff do that, etc.
Therefore, after 17 (continuous education, trial & error and experienced) years of serving both listings & buyers, I see that the answer is reliant on an apples to apples comparison. And, since no two deals/clients are quite alike, I suggest that this was a fun question to debate in The Rain, but alas, there is no definitive answer. I rest my case
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Tony and Suzanne Marri...
Scottsdale, AZ
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Paul S. Henderson, REA...
Tacoma, WA
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Amanda Christiansen
Fort Wayne, IN
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Ryan Huggins - Thousan...
Thousand Oaks, CA
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Mary Yonkers
Erie, PA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
5,048,758
Listing agents spend more money, but in general buyer agents spend more time
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Liz and Bill Spear
Mason, OH
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Eric Valente
Calabasas, CA
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Ashley Sanders
Golden Gate, FL
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Mary Yonkers
Erie, PA
1,502,898
I'm going with the chorous of "It Depends." It depends on the client. Some listings (and owners) need/want expensive brochures and advertising in magazines, professional photos, drones, etc. Other listings just need the free stuff and maybe $20 in printing at Kinkos.
Some buyers buy their first trip out, others take months (or more). The costs there are vehicle related primarily, but also incidentals, dry cleaning, etc.
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Inna Ivchenko
Encino, CA
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Lise Howe
Washington, DC
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
5,772,575
Paul,
It depends on how smart the agent is. I would vote for the listing agent, I do know without a doubt (from our circle) that listing agents make more. They may spend more but the bottom line is SO much better. A
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Eric Valente
Calabasas, CA
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Mary Yonkers
Erie, PA
3,383,334
Depends on marketing conditions. There have been seller's markets where I felt I would need to put a gas pump in my front yard to keep the car full of gas for showings.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
617,935
Paul, my most profitable and least time consuming clients are:
# 1 High end buyers.
# 2 Above median price sellers.
# 3 High end sellers.
# 4 Median price sellers and buyers are a tie.
# 5 Below median sellers.
# 6 Below median buyers.
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
23,743
A listing agent usually pay for pictures, video, marketing, all printing, open house treats and signs. A buyer agents has gas expenses and some printing.
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Inna Ivchenko
Encino, CA
1,231,853
Love both roles and never took time to analyze the time vs money. Some listings sell quickly and some buyers buy quickly. Other times the reverse is true for both
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
679,404
It all depends on the situation. If the seller's house is staged and ready to go and priced right it will sell quick. So there is not that much time spent. Sometimes we have buyers who are so choosy that it can take months (or more) to find the right one. So this is a touch one. But on an overall assessment I would have to agree with the others ... Listing Agents.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,513,143
Maybe it is slightly higher for the listing agent as they need the camera, more signs and more advertising.
Then again the buyers agent spends more in gas and repairs of the vehicle showing homes all over the place.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
6,392,929
5,868,472
Depending on how many homes and how long it takes to find a home, I think buyers. However, I do professional photography for sellers, and sometimes aerials depending on what the home offers.
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4,434,127
5,216,353
Jeff Dowler has he correct answer 99.44% of the time. There are always exceptions!
3,071,489
634,482
2,759,812
I would almost say more time is spent in buyers agency. Most of the agents I know that do sellers feel that it is easier.
1,622,432
I work as a buyer agent and as a listing agent. Depends on the buyer and listing, but working with buyer can be very time consuming, promoting a posh listing, can be very expensive( since you work for free till closing, if ever).
1,157,785
321,564
Depends on situation. Had a listing, photos, post cards, open house plus issues arose that needed constant attention and many miles, lots of fuel. On the other hand - a buyer that looks at homes for a little too long.. fuel and time spent.
4,319,419
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington this is simple.
In buyer's market, listing agent ends up spending more and in sellers market, the buyers agent spend lot more on Gas and traveling.
80,653
3,727,873
2,707,721
It not only depends on the circumstances, it depends on who you ask.n A buyer's agent will say they spend more...a listing agent will say they do!
3,988,007
Absolutely the listing agents if they are good ones. I know I spend a lot of time and money. I have heard buyers agent say they like buyers because they don't have all the handling that sellers agents have to do.
2,224,473
I think it can go either way. I spend money on marketing my listings, but I also spend money on attracting buyers and then traveling around to look at houses with them.
2,362,595
3,164,119
I work for both and buyers take more time, but sellers get more money spent on them.
4,935,567
Paul I would say listing agent but change on that after driving buyers to see one house a day because we have no inventory and each house is getting multi offers
72,125
As I read your question, did some quick calculations without the benefit of having researched this or done the math in my own business model before leads me to believe the correct answer is "It depends" On how much the listing agent spends on marketing and how much qualifying the buyers agent does. My gut answer is the Buyers agent spends more.
900,118
763,783
A listing agent spends much more money an usually will make less during the sale. However, they may get future listings, double end the sale or find future buyers. That's the origin of List to Last.
23,400
1,052,186
I think personally that if you consider the time, money and grief factors of each (and consider that listing agents often also have to deal with buyers, and buyer's agents, with sellers) . . . it's a wash. The real Q is: what are you temperamentally suited for. And there is no right or wrong answer.
797,457
9,018
140,768
It depends. If a house is sold the first day of being on the market and the agent hasn't started marketing and this is the 50th home the buyer has seen, I'd say the buyers agent.
The way I market my listings, it is the sellers agent that spends more money.
4,882,355
5,005,574
3,986,258
4,800,082
921,504
Depends on the level of service selected by the Seller AND/OR Buyer.
I've worked with buyers who paid me!
In the typical 90 market place, the listing agent will spend more per transaction.
1,466,207
94,105
Time... buyer agents. Money... listing agents. Who makes more money? Listing agents by far.
911,228
274,059
564,720
From what I see, generally, listing agents both spend and make more money.