Real Estate Websites for Agents – They Can’t See It

Real Estate Websites For Agents

One of my golfing partners used to tell a story about her father and uncle. Her father’s eyesight
was slowly getting worse but he loved to golf. He could still hit well but he couldn’t see where
the ball flew to or landed. Her father’s brother, Uncle Dave, couldn’t golf anymore and wasn’t
allowed out of the house by himself. So, her dad picked up Uncle Dave and took him out on the
course. He told him, “I can hit it but I can’t see it. Dave, all you have to do is watch where it
goes and lead me to it.” Uncle Dave was all smiles. He knew what he had to do.

My friend’s dad teed up his ball, pulled back and let go of a beautiful swing. He felt the club hit
the sweet spot and heard the crack. This was going to be a fantastic shot. He turned to his brother
and said, “Dave, did you see that one?”

Once again, all smiles Uncle Dave said, “It was a beautiful shot. I watched it the whole way and
the three bounces afterward. It was beautiful.”

My friend’s dad jumped in the cart and joyfully said, “OK, Dave, tell me where it is.”

To which Uncle Dave responded, “Tell you where what is?”

After you read this book you will talk to your manager and your broker about this great idea of
being a horse farm specialist. Unfortunately, one can’t see the market and the other has already
forgotten what you told them by the time you leave his office. It isn’t that they are bad brokers or
bad managers. They got to where they are by being really good residential agents. That’s why
there is no training for equine agents and that is why there is no mention of it in “quick start”
courses offered by agencies. They don’t see it. A few years ago I ran across these stats in a
government report. I have to thank the great website horseproperties.net for reposting them under
their horse statistics tab.

A recent study commissioned by the American Horse Council Federation provides an exciting
snapshot of the vibrant and diverse horse industry. The study entitled “The Economic Impact of
the Horse Industry on the United States” provides compelling details and describes overall trends
that are shaping the industry today. Highlights of the study include:

The horse industry has approximately $39 billion in direct economic impact on our economy. In
a troubled time like this that is very good and very strong. If you add in the indirect spending the
amount jumps to a staggering $102 billion dollars. Your potential clients put
$102,000,000,000.00 back into the economy and most people don’t even notice the farms all
around them. Your potential clients buy saddles, hay, cowboy hats, riding boots, riding helmets,
horse vitamins and they spend a lot of money on vets to keep their equine friends alive and
healthy. They spend $32 billion on recreation that involves their horses and another $29 billion
on horse shows. Amazingly both of those areas yeild more than the racing industries $26 billion
dollars. Real Estate Websites For Agents

It is a big economic kicker to our communities. Take a little drive in the country around your
office. Those back roads will take you by farm after farm. Before long you will know if it is a
cattle, vegetable or horse farm. For now, just drink in all the farms that surround you.

Your broker and your manager don’t do this type of driving. They’re in residential communities
and see house after house. Like my friend’s dad, they can’t see the farms because they are not
looking. Like my friend’s Uncle Dave, in most cases, they have already forgotten the rural
market.

The study also showed that horse ownership appeals to many different types of people. It isn’t
just for the rich little girl whose daddy can buy and board a horse. Twenty-eight percent of horse
owners earn in the six figures and thirty-four percent of horse owners have an annual household
income of less than $50,000. Owners, families and volunteers make up the lion’s share of
contributors to the horse economy, with employees representing only fifteen percent of
participants.

The racing industry generates about a third of the equine marketplace’s money. In places like
Kentucky it is hard to drive anywhere without seeing the black or white four board fencing of a
thoroughbred farm. Thoroughbreds are only a portion of the racehorse world. Standardbreds
compete at our harness tracks. These are expensive horses that race to win high-stake purses.
Therefore, when they buy or sell a horse farm you can be pretty darn sure it is going to sell for
more than they average residential home. A well appointed equestrian facility sells in the
multiples of millions. A small boarding facility could run from a half million to one and a half
million. The nice hobby farm with a small barn, a few paddocks and a house is rarely below
$300,000. Are you getting the picture yet?

It doesn’t matter if your broker or manager understands. I was fortunate both of my brokers
understood but not until I proved it. Don’t expect a lot of support from your office and don’t
expect a lot of support from your bosses that is until you succeed. As they say, nothing succeeds
like success. After I sold the expensive properties I had imitators coming out of the woodwork.
Anyone who ever sold a chunk of land with a shed on it was now an equine agent. That was fine
with me. Their lack of knowledge simply made me look smarter. Don’t expect support until you
have established yourself. At that point you get support from many sources and respect from the
agents who have earned it with their hard work. To find out more, you can check out Real Estate Websites For Agents.