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Letting Go of Obsolete Routines

Reblogger
Real Estate Broker/Owner with True Sarasota Real Estate

While it is true that modern technology has replaced many of the antiquated practices of yesteryear, many real estate practitioners are still stuck in their old ways. Change in inevitable, but not everyone is as receptive as others. The Sarasota real estate market is very competitive and those that do not embrace more efficient methods and newer practices and likely to go the way of the buggy whip!

Original content by Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities BRE# 01147470

It is often hard to change our established routines.  Tuesday, as I trotted from house to house on an impossibly long broker open house tour, I pondered whether this real estate routine would soon join the ranks of MLS books and other obsolete old real estate standards.

Kudos to the growing number of agents posting professional quality photos and lots of them.  With twenty-five plus photos of a property I find it less necessary to preview the property prior to showing it.  If I am already familiar with the neighborhood and street and there are photos of every room including the yard, pool and landscaping do my eyes need to see it in real time, and do I need to walk to property before I do it with a client in tow?

My first broker considered it a cardinal sin to show a property before previewing it.  He shared tales of horror and unspeakable surprises and converted the non-believers.  He also expected his agents to write thank you notes, keep their cars clean and caravan all new listings.  I still write the notes and make a weekly trip to the car wash, but dear departed George, I'm beginning to question that caravan rule.

I check the MLS for new listings at least twice a day.  I eagerly view the photos, study the floor plan, if one is posted, and match the house to prospective buyers in my database.  When the photos are really good I'm inclined to skip the broker tour or preview and schedule the showing. 

Is the broker open house tour becoming obsolete?

 

 

Comments (1)

Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

As much as I hate to take the time to preview, its a must. You don't know what you know, til a client starts asking questions. I have taken clients to homes I have never been to, and the next thing I see on their face is, Why are we here? very embarrassing.

May 13, 2010 04:39 AM