Decade #1 was an Effective Lesson for Decade #2. 2010 will be a Gem!

Wow, 2000-2009 was such a blur!  The first decade of the new millennium was backed with more economic and life lessons vs the entire previous century combined.  What have we learned financially, emotionally, and of course personally/socially/economically?

Our history doesn't require us to look back too far regardless of the marketplace.  For seven of the past ten consecutive years, the majority of real estate markets projected and pointed to the top right corner of the chart.  What was amazing during this past decade was that the majority of people associated with the real estate industry expected the same result as the previous year to continue year after year. 

 For 2010 and the next decade, here is what I feel most Realtors should plan on effectively communicating with their sphere.  Firstly, let me qualify their sphere as the following:  Their family, friends, people they meet and will meet, past clients, current and future clients:

• For the people/sphere who have encountered recent strife or hardship and need counselling regarding their home-ownership options... The best thing we can do for these people are to explore all of their best options versus just trying to generate a quick sale.
• For the people/sphere who are planning on moving because of necessity... The best thing we can do is inform them of the best net options versus just trying to generate a quick sale.
• For the people/sphere who are planning on taking advantage of the marketplace and purchase a great investment... The best thing we can do for these people is to make them the most informed investor of the current marketplace because of its' volatility, changes and shifts that have occurred and will continue to occur.
• For the people we meet impromptu via open houses, in passing, socially, online etc... The best thing we can do is focus on providing them with the trusted resources and information to better serve their needs.

Wow, not that insightful when we simply read the words!  Let me be the first to criticize my own words.  In this this next decade, what comes out of our mouths as real estate professionals must come from the consumers perspective versus the agent lead/transactional perspective.  The moment our industry as a whole makes that transition from an agent/broker centric approach to the client centric approach; our industry as a whole becomes a more credible and necessary commodity versus a replaceable service.  Think about it!  More and more non-real estate entities are taking a run at the Realtors job description which is truly nothing more than finding people who are planning on moving and helping them.

As a real estate industry, our history tells us that nothing is constant and everything changes/evolves.  What should that be telling us as real estate professionals looking to survive and grow their business in this second decade?  Simply this... Focus on the following 3 points:

1. Our first decade of this new millennium has generated a mass exodus of real estate professionals and even more have hidden or parked their licenses with independent warehousing brokerages allowing them to be completely active, independent and virtually disengaged with the industry and the ever-changing times.  What should these agents be focusing on?  They should be surrounding themselves with people who are connected with the current industry changes so that as transitions begin to occur, they are connected with the people who are active and engaged with these transitions in a successful manner that won't come back and haunt them in the future.  We're all in business for ourselves, however we shouldn't be in business by ourselves.  Surround yourselves with people who are active and engaged in the industry.
2. Web 1.0 can be defined as a 15 year Ego Centric marketing platform that can be best described as agents bragging about their Top Producing capabilities, awards, production blah, blah, blah... As real estate professionals we need to make that full blown transition into the Web 2.0 or should we say 2.0+ which does involve being socially connected with our sphere.  Social networking is no longer social networking.  It is social marketing and that platform can be your best friend or worst enemy.  Get connected with your sphere in every way possible.  Never pass judgment on change, traditionalists always have trouble with change.  However, traditionalists are rarely the most effective people in their industry.
3. Finally, the majority of real estate professionals who are still in the game and are struggling... Take points number one and two to heart and get back to contacting your entire sphere, those you have worked with in the past and those who are currently looking to move.  That means, get out there and do exactly what your job description is... FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE PLANNING ON MOVING OR BUYING/SELLING REAL ESTATE AND HELP THEM!!!

Hope this finds you well.  God Speed and may your 2010+ be your best decade of this Millennium!

 

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Frank D'Angelo Minneapolis MN Broker/Owner

EXIT REALTY NEXUS of Minneapolis, MN

(763) 548-1444

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