Hey what can I say SDR with a million agents out there a guy has to eat somehow!

Are you a fan of Caravans, and do you think they work? I put out a cheescake(homemade),along with other pastries and drinks and hosted the caravan once.
It was fun.

It seems like it is definately a good way for buyer’s agents to get up to speed on a bigger chunk of the county, different types of properties and neighborhoods.

Have a good day.

Are you sure that you want to eat food that strangers are breathing over?

My feeling is that the age of the Internet, caravans are no longer necessary.

What’s the reality out there? Are agents still finding houses for buyers? Or are buyers reviewing Internet listing and asking to view certain homes? Piggington buyers are probably very different from the rest of the pack.

Caravans give agents the opportunity to look at properties that are currently on the market without having to make appts with the owners. An agent that has clients interested in a specific area or an agent that specializes in certain neighborhoods can view multiple properties in that 3 hour time frame conveniently. It beats having to make individual appts.

The Internet is no substitute for evaluation a property. Pictures just don’t provide the feel of the location (streets, noise, etc). I decided not to use a certain Realtor when I found out he did not attend caravans. I selected an agent that went to caravans and knew what I wanted so we did not waste entire weekends going to properties that we would not like. Like any sales profession, if you know what you have to sell, you tend to sell it better/faster.

“Are you sure that you want to eat food that strangers are breathing over?”

Perry, I hope you will just forget my suggested restaurant. I was about to say “Hey lets hookup there for lunch”.Your comments about individual’s untensil skill deficiencies and germs has changed my mind ;).There is a new french restaurant in Kensington, you might like that. (The name looks french). I’ll be eating at the the Roberto’s down the street.

As always,
Best wishes

Ha,ha. Rustico, yeah, I’m a food snob. But in a good way. I love small ethnic restaurants in East San Diego but I don’t do buffets — not even at the Hyatt. 🙂 No Olive Garden either.

My previous comment about table manners was in the “quality” thread. It was a comment on the “quality” of real estate owners in supposedly upscale, neighborhoods.

Please don’t get me wrong, the most genuine people I know don’t have good table manners. And I don’t care because they are nice people and good friends.

You mean I can cancell my enrollment to finishing school? I was feeling rather provincial(which I am).There is,or was, another good ethinic restaurant in the area, it is called the Red Sea. My wife and some friends of ours did the “taste of City Heights tour” for the ethnic restaurants and that one stood out so we went back with friends. It was fun and good,spicy ,Ethiopian I think. Zia’s (afghan) on 30th was awesome but the gentlman running decided to close up. His son runs Cafe Zia near SDSU.
What restaurant of this style stands out for you. (I am assuming we can chat about this on SDR’s post,especially if he likes foriegn food and we get him in on it.)

About the Caravans, Bob’s point ,that he wouldn’t work with an agent that doesn’t go to caravans, brings home just how variable the sensibilities of buyer’s are regarding what they want the agent to do. On the other end of the spectrum there are buyers who prefer the agent not look and act like a “professional agent” too much and are almost frightened if the agent takes the lead and guides them to specific properties. Also, most houses do not go on Caravan.If a client is really specific about what they want, the agent should pre-screen from MLS listings and that would be just as, or more, effective than Caravaning.IMO

I do agree with him that pictures, could leave one in for surprises at cold showings especially in neighborhoods with lots of variability in the housing stock quality.