Special offer

If You Go Where It Will Be... You'll Never Be Behind.

By
Home Stager

If You Go Where It Will Be... You'll Never Be Behind.

“Skate where the puck is going... not where it’s been.”
                                                                                            (Walter Gretzky to his son Wayne) 

I heard this quote this morning at the Women's Council of Realtor's Distric III Forum from one of our speakers, Tony Macaluso.   I could list all of Mr. Macaluso's designations but if I did, the post would be so long you'd stop reading it.  If you want to feel like an underachiever, just go to his page. 

crystal ballWhat Tony was saying is that to grow your business and be successful, you have to be the point man.  You need to know where the emerging markets will be, not who's buying now but who will be buying down the road.  With unrest in certain countries, this could mean opportunities for markets here.   Money follows stability. 

How does this relate to you?

 If you are a Realtor, knowing your latest Real Estate laws and current neighborhood comps can carry you through this year, but what about next year, and the year after. 

With more and more international buyers for properties here in Florida, for example, how many Realtors have their CIPS? 

 For Stagers, we've seen our industry change in just the few years it's been around but what's our next step?  

And the same questions could be asked of any of the other professions here... Home Inspectors, Mortgage professionals, etc. 

It's no longer enough to be the best in your field today... as markets and conditions change, you'll want to make sure you're the best in your field tomorrow by investing time outside your comfort zone.  Know what is happening in other areas that could impact your area.  

If you are here at ActiveRain...I think you're already taking that step to "go where the puck is going."  We have access to information from a wide range of professionals who are blogging here.  

So are you doing to make sure you're "skating where the puck will be?"




Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

In Person Consultations in Texas
for Houston & Harris Counties
and
Virtual Staging Consultations
for all states


Follow My Blog for Practical, Creative,
Easy-to-Do Styling Solutions
Whether You're Selling
or Want to Fall Back in Love
With Your Home
 

561-914-6224
Call or Text

Email Me

About Me
My Blog
   Facebook
Instagram

 

Comments(23)

Barbara Hensley
RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX
Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Kathy - well stated!  Thanks for bringing up this excellent topic.  I have always prided myself on what I called "staying ahead of the curve" and this has worked well for me through many years.  Times, they are a changing...and just staying ahead of the curve in our local market is not enough.  We must all think globally.  Thanks again for this great post.  BTW I am suggesting.  

Sep 13, 2011 12:30 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Kathy.....great post.....staying ahead of the curve is half the battle.....there are too many who are left behind and never catch up.....agents must be forward thinking....suggested also

Sep 13, 2011 12:50 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

I'd say Mr. Gretsky gave his son some sage advice that he obviously listened to..........great post BARFF!  Ilene likes it too!

Sep 13, 2011 01:19 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Kathyn that's a concept that seemed to have gotten lost over the years.  Anticipating emerging markets has always been the key to growth and niche marketing.

Sep 13, 2011 01:31 AM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Kathy - very good advice and one thing I do regularly is know what the homes are going for and what they look like inside and out when ever I do a staging job. I want to know my client's competition and make sure they have an edge, and show better than the other homes at that price point.

Sometimes I even go to local open houses in my town where I do a lot of business to see the homes up close and personal.................... and I always find an opportunity to give my card to the listing agent. It's a great system and it works!

Sep 13, 2011 01:40 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Yes, and the "puck" stops here so to speak. One of the biggest aspects of staying healthy in any business is spotting the trends and being proactive. "You snooze you lose." Have a great Tuesday Kathy and thanks for the post.

Sep 13, 2011 02:01 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

It's always critical to anticipate Kathy and your post reminds us of that.  I try to look at all the competition in the local market for my clients so that I know what buyers will be seeing and comparing it to.

Sep 13, 2011 02:15 AM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Of course I suggested this post because I know its future holds a gold star and I want credit, LOL :)!  Those are terrific words Kathy and very true.  Knowing the future of the market is incredibly important! 

Sep 13, 2011 03:12 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

I'm thinking Mr. Gretzky gave his son Wayne some pretty solid advice, Kathy.

It's all about planning ahead.

Sep 13, 2011 04:07 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Kathy, you have the most thought provoking posts. You are right of course. We need to plan ahead to succeed. Not always easy.

Sep 13, 2011 04:30 AM
Lee & Pamela St. Peter
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Realty: (919) 645-2522 - Raleigh, NC
Making Connections to Success in Real Estate

Kathy, excellent points... it is tough to stay the course but you are so very right.  Follow the trends, know the emerging markets and be there. And as a follow up on Craig's comment;

'planting ahead' so to speak too!

See you on the ice...
Pamela

Sep 13, 2011 04:31 AM
Deborah Byron Leffler BzyBee Real Estate Lady!
Keller Williams Realty Boise - Nampa, ID

I love it....and so many are behind the 8 ball...doing real estate as they always have....so wrong...business won't just come to you ....you have to go to the business

Sep 13, 2011 05:26 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hello Beach Blanket Marco!  I don't know why but that quote just hit me yesterday!

Lisa- borrow as I did!  As they say "Father Knows Best!"

Michael- hello!  The AC was out in the meeting areas of the hotel yesterday for the conference and I think I latched onto this quote because it was like ice water being thrown at my face to wake me up!

Barbara- I wish I could have taped his presentation because it was very informative.  One fact was that 21.5% of the population in Palm Beach County is 65+.  It is a group that cannot be ignored and will grow due to us Baby Boomers.  And thanks for the Suggest.

Barbara T- You and Barbara H above must read AR at the same time.  This is not the first time both of you commented right after each other.  I'd say you are always on the cutting edge. Thanks for the suggeest. 

BARFF- Father and Mickey are always right!  Thanks for Ilene.

Charita-Even if you're not that interested in these types of topics then surround yourself with people who are via presentations, reading, or classes!

Kristine- sounds to me like you're being very proactive with your work and keeping yourself out there exposes yourself to what's going on. 

Debb- Good day!  I'm thinking of all of the Realtors I knew here who refused to even touch short sales or lower  pricepoints as the market just began to turn.  

Joanna- and for stagers, I'm not saying to embrace, for example, the virtual staging but look beyond at how it might fit as our markets change. 

Brenda- LOL about the star!!!  I do think that those who seem to get ahead or be cutting edge are those who anticipate what will happen.  They don't sit and react to the market. 

Craig- Good old dads, right! I think if you wait and react to what's going on you'll do ok but why not go a step beyond which then gives you more control .

Janice- thank you, Janice.  Thank goodness I have a filter on me or goodness knows what would come out.  Look at the really successful ones in their field... most are the ones who set the pace for the rest of us. 

Lee and Pamela- Now I like that  "Planting ahead!"  Thank you.

 

 

Sep 13, 2011 05:35 AM
Charlottesville Solutions
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

Makes good sense to stay ahead of the curve!

all the best

your friend in Charlottesville

Sep 13, 2011 08:13 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Deborah- good for you... go for it.  Where we'll be a few years down the road is anyone's guess but we do have to try to make an educated guess and plan ahead. 

Charles- Thanks!  Listening to economic forecasters and even the daily world news is a way to keep on top of where we're going. 

Sep 13, 2011 09:44 AM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Hi Kathy,

Loved this post so much I suggested it. The world of real estate is changing before our eyes!

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." ~ Wayne Gretzky

Sep 13, 2011 10:58 AM
Pam Hills
Innovative Artistry - Kendall, FL
ASP/IAHSP- Stager Miami, FL, Creative Minds Innovatively At Work

Dear Kathy ~ Excellent Post!!  Thought inspiring most definitely. 

Sep 13, 2011 12:53 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Kathy

Tony is an excellent speaker and your comments are right on point we have to move into the future with our thinking.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Sep 13, 2011 02:07 PM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...
Kathy, "if you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading" Lao-Tzu
Sep 13, 2011 02:56 PM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Kathy--great post.  I love the quote.  Florida is experiencing the same thing as Hawaii--an influx of foreign buyers.  As a stager I need to understand both tastes and traditions of those individuals looking at property here. 

Sep 13, 2011 05:28 PM