we list in Franklin MA and all towns that surround it.... the members will travel within two or three towns away to show homes, especially in this extreme sellers' market....

When I first started I went everywhere now I concentrate in the NW section of Austin. I will go further north to the new subdivisions under construction and have sold 4 homes recently in new construction.

I go as far as it takes if I feel it will be worth my while!

Paul, It depends.   For a "normal" home, we cover our county and immediately adjacent.  For a patio home, I'm willing to go further because of the niche (that's why I added the Kentucky license this year).  I'll make exceptions providing the client is okay with it (e.g. if a friend/coworker/referral asks me to go further, I'll let them know I'm outside of my "normal" area, and from there it's up to them as to whether we proceed together).

I make that decision at the time...

Economy of Scale.

Depends on the size of the project, for small parcels they need to be close to one of our offices.

For the large parcels (50,000 to a million Acres) we travel nationwide.

It depends on the price.

You know this is a great question as some realtors take the attitude of they are listed to sell in the entire state. That can't be true. You can't be competant in a super large area.

One agent in our area touts on the radio that she serves 5 counties. In the Chicagoland area that is 1.5million people or so. YOU CAN NOT do this effectively. It's ridiculous to advertise that way & both buyers & sellers are being dis-serviced.

I go 20 miles in a circle but stay completely away from the city proper of Chicago.

$100,000 Five miles

$250,000, ten miles

$500,000, twenty miles

$1 mill +, my license states I can work anywhere in Florida. Fortunately, the REMAX brand makes available skilled agents from border to boarder.

30 miles. Because it is not about miles in L.A. but about location. Often you have to drive 3 miles for an hour. 

Great question Paul!  And as others have said, it depends.  I'm in quite a rural area, so driving is part of the business.  That said I work on staying within my own (gigantic) county.  Even so, there are areas at the north end of the county that do so things so differently it does not best serve my client for me to work there so I refer those out, but still stay as liaison.

        I remember a 7-figure+ buyer who was looking at Sarasota County (about 250 miles south of my home in Tallahassee).  I did the math - should I take a referral fee, or should I be the selling agent, and make enough commission to buy a new car?  I joined the Sarasota Association, then spent a couple of days there getting familiar with their MLS, their inventory, etc.  Sold and closed!  I've done the same in Orlando, Destin, Ocala, Jacksonville, and other cities in Florida, when the net commission to me is worth it.

    But today, I am keeping it close to home.  The Tallahassee Metropolitan Statistical area, including the coast south of Tallahassee. 

Paul - I am comfortable traveling up to an hour for a client. That can pretty much get me anywhere in the Phoenix Metro, and East Valley areas. However, depending on the client, and/or the listing, I may be willing to travel further.

45 miles is no problem for my rural area, after that it has to be worth my time.

Within an hour of the office is my general limitation. I'd travel much further for the right client.

I typically cover anything 25 miles from the center of Charlotte.  Anything beyond that may or may not be worthwhile or they are areas that I know enough about to be able to represent a buyer with the fiduciary that they deserve.

I do have one listed about 50 miles away right now but, it is for another agent who requested that I list the property for her (it's her home).  I don't typically go that far out.  We are a 12-county metro region (North and South Carolina) and I have agents who I refer to in some of those counties that I do not feel comfortable representing a buyer.  

Many agents do it but, for me, it's about getting buyers in a home that I am 100% confident a freeway isn't going to be running through in the near future!

I work my county and refer out anything beyond that to agents who know their areas better.

It depends. One hour is normal around here. I've gone 2 hours before.

I primaryly work my county and rarely go outside beyond the borders. It is a personal choice.

I cover 3 counties and I'm located in the middle one. So, it's within about a 40 mile radius.

I do have a repeat buyer who recently asked me to help her find a home about 60 miles away. I explained that I do love working with her, but I wasn't really familiar with the area she wants to purchase in. She said she knows the area well and was okay that I don't. So, we'll be doing some house hunting next weekend. 

I agree with Barbara Todaro - I serve Cumberland County, PA and surrounding - 

I cover 3 counties ... about a 50 mile radius. 

I cover approximately a 50 mile radius in two states and numerous counties.

35 miles radius , 50 max one way

Almost all of my activity is within one County

It depends on some different factors including:  Is it in the best interest of my clients. My knowledge of the area.

It's not just miles but time that comes into consideration too.  

I try to stay within 10 miles of my area.  

I cover 20 sq miles in my county - depending on the listing I would travel further as well as long as it is marketable for me

Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Placitas are my main working areas.

The area covered by the MLS

It all depends on the location and price of the home.  I hold a brokers license in three states so I'm open to a wide area.

I would drive up to one hour one way

Two county area, and that is the southern half's.

Radius of 45 minutes

40 miles from my office is usually the furthest I go. I serve most of the county, which is 800 square miles.  This Saturday I met with 5 different clients during the day and covered about 100 miles.

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington working by referral, I drive about 60 miles in each direction!

Approximately a 45-50 miles radius.

I would love to work in my area. It's a 30-40 minuet drive for me most of the time.  For a serious qualified buyer that knows what they want... I will travel. 

I have a 25 miles radius. The rest goes to my partners.

We are licensed to work anywhere in the province. Where I am willing to work depends on many factors.

Paul,

We talked in terms of travel time in Los Angeles.  It was a half hour radius.  A

About 45 miles, buyer or seller.

I stay within my county.  I went out of county once to help a past client. I doubt I would ever to it again. 

Our MLS services 3 large Central Oregon counties plus a portion of another as the prime MLS. This is a very large area and there are agents within my office who will go anywhere in the MLS for buyers/sellers. We also have represented buyers/sellers in Portland - which is a 3.5 hour drive away from Bend - and even Astoria - which is 6 hours away.

Up to around 50 miles in San Diego and Riverside counties, but it will depend on the buyer and seller and the circumstances, especially if a referral. If I don't know the area well I would let them know and the decision can then be made depending on what they are comfortable with.

Whatever is within 30 minutes.

When you get outside of Manchester NH, the towns get smaller and farther apart. I service an are within a 30 minute radius in most cases. 

It would depend on how well I knew the area so I could properly serve my client.

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington Approximately a 30 mile radius.

I think that would depend a bit on the buyer seller and the market but a listing is fairly easily handled even 30 miles or more away

Denver is large, and have sold all over the city. I don't go into the mountains.

Not as far as I used to do. Service is a big issue and distance is a huge factor!

We service most of the Treasure Valley - Boise & Nampa the two biggest cities and the small cities surrounding.  It ends up about 30 miles radius-ish.  There are two areas in the mountains we will go that are a little bit longer drive only because we know the areas really well and are comfortable there.  Other areas within that same distance are too far and not our area of expertise.  Boise Metro Area is still relatively small comparatively and honestly I have no idea how you all work in bigger cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, etc.  It boggles my mind.  -Kasey

I must sound like a broken record, but I live in an extremely rural area. I cover a lot of ground and two and sometimes three counties. 

The area I feel comfortable with is 35x20 miles

For the better price-tiers we'll go about 60 miles/1-hour for a listing; and try to work with buyers within 30 miles/ 45 minutes drive-time.

I go from north to south  50 miles.

As a rule of thumb, within a half hour or so driving distance which covers all our our county and into the neighboring counties. After that, it has to be very specific or an exceptionally good price point, otherwise, I would refer out. 

Being in rural area and dealing with famrs and ranchs, at least 6 counties.  A 50 mile drive is not unusual.

I will only travel to our surrounding cities. I don't want to do a disservice to my clients. I know my limits.

I would prefer to have the time for travel less than 30 minutes.