Marc Davison said it best in Inman News yesterday, "It's time for some clean up work." While a whole new generation of Real Estate professionals are hitting the streets the old guard is still up to their old, tired business practices. It's true throughout the entire industry...yes even the title insurance industry. While the general public is waiting on the sidelines, the industry as a whole is pulling up their skirts and trying not to fall in the puddle. Let's get real. After years of record breaking sales everyone is crying poor man. I don't get it....well maybe I do. Let's examine a few things.
We have Brokers with gate keepers at every office here in the Greater South Bay and Palos Verdes protecting what little bit of business they have trickling through their doors. At the same time the world rolls by at an alarming technological rate and passes them by like a lazy boy napping. Mr. Davison, you drew a beautiful picture and one I'd like to try and repaint.
Most agents and brokers are the people driving the cars. We as vendors and affiliated businesses get to ride in the passenger seat. Two completely different perspectives. When driving you are concentrating on the big picture of driving the car. As a passenger we get to look out the window and see all the trash and activities lining the streets. Some of that trash actually contains some valuable treasures that most are passing by on their way to wherever it is they think they're going and completely missing it or ignoring it.
As long as the owners of real estate companies keep a strict closed door policy on affiliates and vendors coming into their office, they'll continue to drive their businesses with blinders on. In-house services make money for the broker, but generally hurt the agent that works for the broker because their salespeople become lethargic and complacent...almost expecting the business. And in the environment we're currently in, that will only lead to one thing...near failure or failure. Besides, the consumer is the one that ultimately pays the price.
There's a whole new world of possibilities out there and for the last few years I've seen them roll closer and closer. 2007 had a clear scent of a technology based revolution in our industry, but the strong market wouldn't allow it. Last quarter leveled the playing field once again and that lazy boy napping has now been jolted to awareness.
If you're a consumer watch out. There are more agents out there that don't know what they're doing than there are agents that do. It's extremely important to not only price your home aggressively, but to smartly step up the level of marketing and techniques available to you. Print variables won't cut it this time around. It was said that you only had a 1 in 8 chance of a buyer seeing your home, well I believe that to be a much larger spread now. Simply due to the extra competition within the marketplace. Most real estate professionals and brokers don't know where to turn for answers and their affiliated business arrangements can't keep up with the competition due to the limited knowledge and resources they have. Throw your home on the MLS and it will sell they'd say... well not anymore.
If you're an agent or broker pay attention. You can and should be talking to every and any vendor or affiliate out there that is willing to help you. Some have amazing tools and techniques to help you grow your business and sell more homes. Don't let your guard dogs at the front protect their jobs by not letting us in. Don't let your Broker/Owner squelch your thirst for knowledge by demanding you use their services. If you want to be here in 2009 you need to take action immediately. There's only so many hours in the day and unless you want to be up at 4 A.M. like I am right now staying ahead of my competition ask for help. Do what you're good at and learn progressively (no pun intended for those of you that know me) over the next eleven months. You can overcome and succeed if you just open your eyes up a little wider and surge forward. If you ever ran the mile in track, 2008 is that last drafty corner when you start your kick to the finish line. This year will determine who finishes under the five minute mark and who doesn't. I'd rather stick a bicycle spoke in my eye than lose this race.
Remember, we're all in this together and we're all here to support the end user...the customer. If you as an agent fail, we as service providers fail. And that's all I have to say about that! Happy Hunting out there.