So just how good are you?

I was asked by a potential client, "How many transactions did you close last year?" Now in real estate circles, we talk sides. You can get "both sides" (list and sell) of a transaction if you are lucky. I answered the question honestly but thought it was a little off-putting. Is there a number below which I will not be suitable for you, or a number too high suggesting I will slam you into the first home we see? Is my answer the right answer? I have no idea what the average is. There are a few agents I keep an eye on, but I keep an eye on them because they are good. I do not sell as many homes as them, I only had 16 sides last year, not 24, 37, or 85.

Instead of wondering how I fit in, I turned to the internets. I asked this series of tubes how many sides an average agent has in a year. (I imagine this is also where the potential client got his questions.) The first two numbers to come up (one is the average in Iowa, the other nationally) 5.4 and between 4-8. They seemed to groove so I will accept them as gospel and move forward comfortably knowing I am above average. Here is the real deal though, the reason you should work with me is not becasue I sold double, almost triple the national average last year, but because I am not satisfied with that number. I am striving to do more, and for that, I need to impress the heck out of you and everyone I work with.