Real Estate....Not a PEOPLE Business?

To all the Pre-mid 1990's Agents.....  

I just read a great post by Kate Elam (http://activerain.com/blogsview/1610175/you-don-t-have-to-like-people-or-enjoy-showing-houses-to-be-successful-really-) Which had been fueled by a post she didn't much agree with. Her post has fueled this one...Oh how I love AR!  

I am curious how many of us out here are like me....someone...ANYONE?  

Remember when....  

You got calls from local sellers, because they knew you were the local real estate 'go-to' expert? They didn't find you online, they knew you and your reputation in the neighborhood.       

Buyers would walk-in the office, or call off the sign to inquire about the home at 123 Main st. This was the ONLY way to find out ANY  information on the home.  

Marketing consisted of your own client list (not a data base-these people you actually had met,or at least spoke to b/4), open houses, a local print ad, and /or a mailing--by USPS. Prospecting was some cold calling, and mostly door knocking!  

When you started working with new buyers, the only way for them to know which homes were for sale (other than driving up and down the streets) were to come in to the office and pick up the weekly published MLS books to look thru, or the list you left for them at the front desk.   

Presenting an offer was gathering at the sellers kitchen table after dinner hour, 7-8pm at night, with the agent that was working with the buyers telling the sellers who they 'really are' making them 'real families' and sometimes not leaving until midnight or after (and sometimes fighting over a 15 year old harvest gold fridge, that became a sticking point even though the sellers really didn't want it anyway)!      

After putting a deal together, delivering by hand, the contract to the attorney's office. In my area, fax machines were not used commonly used until ~ 1990 or after.  

Don't get me wrong....those days have come and gone, I am not a dinosaur (that's the term we used to lovingly refer to the older agents as), I have changed with the times which was necessary to stay AHEAD and ON TOP of the real estate market, it's just nice to reflect back to simpler times once in a while.

Real estate was a 'people business' ....period. You needed people/social skills to be successful. You actually got to know and develop relationships with your clients---and you wanted to (hopefully this is one thing that hasn't changed)! I miss many of these 'hands on tasks'--some I don't, but I can tell you 1 thing for sure...I am so very grateful for experiencing and 'learning the ropes' in real estate at that time. Some things have changed, some things haven't, but MOST IMPORTANTLY Real Estate was and WILL ALWAYS BE (at least to me) a people business.  

Heidi Engel
BROKER/Realtor
RE/MAX Suburban
www.HeidiEngel.com
ofc 847-385-3327
cell 847-910-2001
fax 847-749-3708
Listing + Selling NW Suburban IL Homes for over 20 Years!



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