Help Measure Communication In Real Estate

Today we are fortunate to have a “guest” who is currently working on his Ph.D. at Florida State University. Tim Munyon is doing research on the relationship between real estate clients and their agent during a real estate transaction. You might have noticed the “survey” button on our sidebar, which takes you to Tim’s survey.

Here is an explanation from Tim:

A Real Estate Transaction Is Significant

A real estate transaction is the single most significant purchase or sale most individuals will make. Accordingly, it is prudent to seek the expertise and experience of agents who can help expedite the process and protect the interests of those involved.

Yet, the value of an agent to a buyer or seller is largely dependent upon their ability to communicate effectively with one another and meet the needs of the client. And, factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and even personality can sometimes impede or facilitate the transaction. These individual differences work together to create something called “distance,” which is the general similarity or difference two individuals feel about one another.

Communication Issues In Real Estate Transactions

Theoretically, distance complicates transactions. For example, a recently-graduated 22-year old female agent may experience difficulty interacting with a mature couple in the late 60s. This difference may become even more pronounced if the couple speaks English as a second language and comes from a culture where women do not work in industry positions. These factors can collectively act to impede communication and the quality of the relationship between both parties, increasing the probability that the transaction will fail.

Investigating Communication In Real Estate Transactions

Consequently, it is important to empirically investigate the causes and consequences of distance in real-estate so we can help better manage these agent-client relationships. Thus, for my dissertation, I am evaluating the effects of distance and relationship quality on agent performance.

My hope with this research is to shed light on ways that agents can better understand their clients and work through the perceptual barrier of distance. To test these relationships, I am seeking volunteer participants (agents and clients) to take a survey on their interactions with one another. The information you provide will be confidential, and will help us better understand how to improve real-estate transactions.

Feedback On Your Real Estate Transaction

Whether you are a real estate agent or a customer, please give Tim some feedback for his research. Everyone who provides a survey for Tim will be entered for a chance to win $100, so please give it a shot!

Customer Survey	Agent Survey

Also, feel free to email Tim (tmunyon@fsu.edu) or call (850-556-8506) for further information about this study. Thank you for considering this opportunity!