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Empirical data or gut feeling? Which do you rely on the most?

Reblogger Lenn Harley
Real Estate Agent with Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate 303829;0225082372

ARE WE DROWNING IN TECHNOLOGY???  But, what does your gut say???

After attending a class this week where 4 full hours of instruction was for gmail, I'm inclined to say YES!!

Richard is so right.  Experience is still, IMO, the best teacher, guide, framework, example, etc. with which to conduct our daily real estate business. 

After all, I haven't yet seen a listing report, e-mail, e-flier, statistic, photo or anything else that will tell us WHAT A HOUSE SMELLS LIKE. 

Interpreting CMA reports is going to be far more accurate when the prospective listing agent knows that community; the original builder, sales trends over some years, nearby amenities or lack thereof, and more.

Go with your gut.  Your gut will get smarter with each transaction.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

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Original content by Richard Weisser

Empirical data or gut feeling? Which do you rely on the most?As a real estate professional, it is my job to know my market and to understand it. And in the course of doing my job, I have seen thousands of homes for sale.

Maybe the number is more like tens of thousands of homes for sale. Rest assured, I have been in a lot of houses that are on the market.

I do a CMA (competitive market analysis) prior to a listing appointment which provides an excellent source of empirical data that can be used to determine a range of pricing.

But the minute I walk into a house, my gut immediately takes over and my internal calculator starts the tally. I know all of the selling obstacles and what buyers are looking for in a house in that neighborhood.

And after touring the house and as we sit down to discuss the pricing particulars; I have a pretty good idea of where we need to be.

If the truth be told, I rely 75% on my experience and about 25% on the data. Blind data doesn’t “see” the house the same way that I do.

How about you? What do you rely on the most when you are pricing a home?

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Comments(9)

Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

My gut has always been more accurate than the data. The data is just for a starting reference point.

Mar 09, 2012 11:37 PM
Thomas McCombs
Century 21 HomeStar - Akron, OH

Technology is like statistics. You can prove any point you want to by finding the right technology or statistics.

At the end of the day it is the gut feeling of the Realtor that contributes the most value to the deal.

And yes, I believe we are drowning in technology.

Mar 09, 2012 11:41 PM
Adrian Willanger
206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA
Profit from my two decades of experience

I can't imagine what my career would be like without the tech tools I have? Yet my best tools are my market savvy and knowledge of the marketplace technology just makes it easier to get and disseminate the information. 

Mar 10, 2012 12:58 AM
Joan Snodgrass
Midamerica Referral Network - Kimberling City, MO

A great big YES!  Just this week I had a buyer ask if I could smell when a house had a smoker in it.  Seems really easy for the technology to come up with the stats, but as you said, Lynn - they haven't got a working nose going yet.

Mar 10, 2012 03:48 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I agree.  You can take all the classroom instruction you want in any field.  But until you get into the ring, and get some experience in the different scenarios that can be thrown at you, really, one is not prepared.

Mar 10, 2012 06:22 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lenn, you have to look at data, but the gut feeling has a lot to do in how I interpret it, and the gut wins out most of the time with me.

Mar 10, 2012 08:52 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Rob.  Same here.  Our "gut" is a reflection of actual experience.  Data can be manipulated.

Thomas.  Agree completely.

Adrian.  Indeed.   I was ahead of the curve with technology re the Internet.  However, in practice of real estate, experience is my forte.

Joan.  HA!  I suspect that someone has a "smell gadget" but, who needs it???

Jay.  BINGO!  Only experience can teach us how to use what we learn.

George.  You bet.  It is aslo our "truth meter". 

Mar 10, 2012 08:50 PM
Kathleen West
Trademark Realty Group of Palm Coast - Palm Coast, FL
Flagler County & Palm Coast Realtor

4 Hours to learn to use Gmail?  No, not the best use of your time.  4 Hours to learn how to use the Google Apps for Business system I could see, but just Gmail?  Yikes.  

My approach is that technology are tools to DOING BUSINESS in Real Estate.  Those tools are investements as well and if they aren't providing a return . . . I don't need it, because increased expenses simply ties my hands to providing the best level of service.  I am a fan of tech tools that are available today and have benefited a great deal from them, but i don't let the tech derail from the reason I am in real esate . . . to get buyers and sellers to their goals and closing transactions.  

 

Mar 13, 2012 03:06 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Kathleen.  I would have thought that too until I sat through it with wonder and the many, many gmail features.

 

Mar 13, 2012 06:56 AM