A quick note before getting into this one: my work with The Forkenbrock Group is focused on Arizona’s East Valley, specifically Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, and Mesa, not Tempe directly. What follows is general guidance on what the top producing label should actually mean in practice, useful whether you are evaluating an agent in Tempe or anywhere else, and I am glad to point Tempe-specific buyers and sellers toward a trusted local specialist when needed.
Top producing gets used a lot in real estate marketing without much explanation of what it actually translates to. At its core, it describes an agent who closes a consistently high volume of transactions relative to others in their market. But volume alone does not tell you much. What matters is what that volume actually builds, and how it shows up in the specific work done for a buyer or seller, in Tempe or any other market.
A Pricing Strategy Built on Real, Current Local Data
For sellers, one of the clearest differences a genuinely strong agent brings is a pricing strategy grounded in current, closed comparable sales specific to the immediate neighborhood, not a general sense of the broader metro. Tempe in particular has notably varied inventory, from properties near Arizona State University with strong rental or student housing demand to established, traditional single-family neighborhoods farther from campus. An agent’s pricing approach should reflect that specific submarket rather than treating Tempe as a single, uniform market.
For buyers, that same data discipline shows up in offer strategy. Knowing what similar homes in a specific Tempe neighborhood have actually sold for recently, not just what is currently listed, helps a buyer make a competitive offer without overpaying, especially in a multiple offer situation.
A Marketing Process That Goes Beyond the Basics
Listing a home on the MLS is table stakes, not a marketing plan. A more experienced agent typically brings professional photography and video as standard practice, a defined strategy for the first weekend on market, and active outreach to other agents with buyers who match the property, rather than waiting passively for the listing to generate its own interest.
Whether you are interviewing an agent in Tempe or anywhere else, ask them to walk you through the actual marketing plan for your specific property, not a generic slide deck. A real plan looks very different from a rehearsed pitch, and the difference is usually obvious within a few minutes of conversation.
Negotiation Experience Drawn From Recent, Real Transactions
Negotiation is where transaction volume genuinely matters. An agent who has recently handled multiple offer situations, inspection repair negotiations, and appraisal gaps in a specific market brings pattern recognition that a less active agent simply has not had the opportunity to build. That experience often shows up in small but meaningful ways, like knowing which contingencies are typically negotiable in the current market or how to structure a competitive offer that still protects a buyer’s interests.
| Area | What It Looks Like in Practice |
|---|---|
| Pricing strategy | Current, neighborhood-specific comparables rather than general estimates |
| Marketing | Professional photography, a defined launch plan, and direct agent outreach |
| Negotiation | Pattern recognition from recent, comparable local transactions |
| Communication | Proactive updates and fast response times throughout the transaction |
| Transaction management | Coordinated timeline across inspection, appraisal, lender, and closing |
Production numbers alone do not make someone the right fit for your specific transaction. What matters is whether that experience translates into a clear pricing strategy, real marketing, sharp negotiation, and communication that actually works for you, in whatever market you are buying or selling in.
Coordinating the Full Transaction, Not Just the Offer
Getting an offer accepted is often treated as the finish line, but a significant amount of work happens between contract acceptance and closing. A strong agent typically manages the inspection period, coordinates with the lender and appraiser, tracks contract deadlines, and works through any repair negotiations, keeping the transaction on schedule and reducing the chance of a surprise derailing closing.
Verifying Production Before You Hire
- Ask how many transactions they closed in the specific city over the past twelve months. General metro-wide numbers matter less than activity in the exact market you are buying or selling in.
- Ask for two or three recent, specific examples. An agent should be able to walk through recent deals in detail, including what made pricing or negotiation strategy work.
- Request references. An agent confident in their work will readily connect you with recent clients.
- Cross-reference where possible. Many brokerages track and can share production rankings, and public MLS sold data can sometimes independently verify recent activity.
This framework applies whether you are evaluating an agent in Tempe or in the East Valley markets I work in directly. If you have a transaction in Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, or Mesa, I would be glad to show you exactly how this looks in practice. For Tempe specifically, I am happy to point you toward an agent I trust who works that market closely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does top producing mean for a real estate agent?
Top producing generally refers to an agent who consistently closes a high volume of transactions relative to others in their market, often verified through brokerage or MLS production reports. In practice, it usually reflects an agent with a well-tested process, strong local market knowledge, and enough repeat and referral business to stay consistently active rather than relying on one or two transactions a year.
What should a top producing agent do differently for a Tempe seller?
A strong agent should bring a data-backed pricing strategy built on current Tempe comparables, a detailed marketing plan beyond a sign and an MLS listing, and negotiation experience drawn from recent local transactions. Because Tempe has such varied inventory, from properties near Arizona State University to established residential neighborhoods, an agent’s pricing approach should reflect that specific submarket, not a citywide average.
What should a top producing agent do differently for a Tempe buyer?
For buyers, a strong agent should offer proactive communication about new listings, a clear strategy for structuring a competitive offer without overpaying, and established relationships with other local agents. Given Tempe’s mix of student-adjacent rental-heavy pockets and traditional single-family neighborhoods, an agent should be able to speak specifically to which submarket fits a given buyer’s goals.
Does it cost more to work with a top producing agent in Tempe?
Not necessarily. Commission structures are generally similar across most full-service agents in a given market, and a higher volume agent’s rate is not automatically higher than a less active agent’s rate. The more useful question is what is included at that rate, since a more experienced agent often brings more marketing resources and negotiation experience for a comparable cost.
How can I verify an agent’s production in Tempe?
Ask directly how many transactions the agent closed in Tempe specifically over the past twelve months, and ask for a few recent, specific examples they can walk you through in detail. Many brokerages track and can share production rankings, and public MLS sold data can sometimes be cross-referenced with an agent’s name to independently verify recent activity.
Does Dawn Forkenbrock work with buyers and sellers in Tempe?
Dawn Forkenbrock and The Forkenbrock Group specialize in Arizona’s East Valley, specifically Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, and Mesa, rather than Tempe directly. For buyers or sellers with ties to both Tempe and the East Valley, Dawn can offer general guidance and help connect clients with a qualified Tempe specialist when needed.
👉 I’ve included a helpful video below that goes into this topic further:
Have a transaction in Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, or Mesa? I would love to show you exactly what this process looks like in practice.
