Check Your Competition (But Don’t Let It Scare You Off Farming)
Check Your Competition (But Don’t Let It Scare You Off Farming)
Why the Agent Already Farming Your Area Might Be Your Biggest Opportunity
Let me guess…
You found a great neighborhood.
You like the turnover. You like the price point. You even like the community vibe.
But then it hits you:
“Someone’s already farming there.”
And just like that, you start second guessing everything.
I’ve heard this fear more times than I can count — and it holds far too many agents back from ever getting started.
So let’s break this down together.
The Bad News
Yes, competition can stop you from succeeding…
IF you let it.
The Good News
Most agents aren’t farming at a high enough level for you to worry about them.
Not really.
The key isn’t avoiding competition.
The key is understanding it — so you can make smart decisions and outmaneuver it.
Here’s how.
How to Evaluate Your Competition (The Right Way)
1. Market Share
Start by analyzing the numbers — not the noise.
Look at:
How many deals were done in the past 12 months
How many were listings
How many were buyers
How many one agent or team handled
If there were 100 sales total (200 sides) and one agent had 10 listings and 5 buyers, that’s 15 sides = 7.5% total market share.
Many agents overestimate dominance by only looking at listings — don’t make that mistake.
2. Are They Actually Farming?
Just because an agent has market share doesn’t mean they’re actively farming.
Big teams often have deals spread across dozens of neighborhoods. Their presence in any one area could be incidental — not intentional.
That means:
✅ They’re not sending consistent marketing
✅ They’re not involved in the community
✅ They’re not building brand equity
That’s your opportunity.
3. Should You Be Concerned?
Here’s my rule of thumb:
50%+ Market Share → Look elsewhere
25–50% → Proceed with caution & a killer plan
10–25% → Game on, but go in committed
Under 10% → Fair game — take it and run
The reality is, it doesn’t take much market share to gain mindshare in your farm. If you can get even 5–10% and stay consistent, you’ll start to tip the scale in your favor.
4. Watch the Trends
Snapshot stats only tell part of the story. You’ve got to look at the trajectory.
Ask yourself:
Is their market share growing, flat, or declining?
Are they mailing less?
Have their sales dropped in the last 6–12 months?
A top agent with a 15% share today might be down to 1% in a few years — I’ve seen it happen.
And the reverse is true:
An agent with just a few deals might be in growth mode, quietly building steam before they explode.
Competition trends tell you where the real threats and opportunities lie.
Final Thoughts: Be the Competition
I’ll be honest — I hope one day your market share is the reason someone else second-guesses farming in your area.
But until then, don’t let another agent’s presence stop you from building yours.
Most agents:
❌ Don’t farm intentionally
❌ Don’t stay consistent
❌ Don’t stack strategies
✅ Do leave the door wide open for someone like you
So check your competition — but don’t fear them.
Out-plan them. Out-serve them. Outlast them.
– Ryan "The Future Competition" Smith
Founder of Launch Your Farm & Creator of the 30 Day Launch Program
CTA (Aligned with the Blog Theme):
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