I have read too many articles to site on the demise of the real estate agent..  Apparently we make too much money and since that money is coming from home buyers and sellers there are a lot of people out there who are disturbed by it.   Apparently we are going to be replaced by the internet.  Now that people can look for homes on line and even find out how much their home is worth real estate agents are not needed.  Apparently in the past we were able to protect our industry and exorbitant commissions by hording and not sharing information with the general public.

So far online companies are using the information that has been put on line by real estate agents and government agencies and re-packaging for a more user friendly experience for the consumer.  They build directories of homes that are for sale using data compiled by real estate companies and re-deploy it on their own web sites and in some cases sell it right back to the real estate professionals.

There have been a couple of times in my life where I was told by an employer that I could be replaced by a computer.  So far it has been my observation that the nature of my work changes.  The work does not seem to go away.  It just moves to a different place and job duties change.

Will we become extinct or will we evolve?

 
Posted by Teresa Boardman on 09/13/2006 06:17 AM   Comments (5)   computers, real estate agents  
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5 Comments on Will Real Estate Agents Become Extinct?

SEP
13
2006
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I predecit a huge decline in the number of people entering this profession, or at least a decline in the number of people earning money in it. You'll see that the agents that own the listings own the business. There won't be opportunities for anyone else.
6:39am • #1
2 Featured Posts
Teresa, I love reading your blogs, they are so informative and interesting.  I too have wondered if we as Realtors are providing too much information to our clients in an attempt to be a value added agent, and having the clients turn around and use this information to buy or sell without us.  Great blog!!!  Have a wonderful day!
6:40am • #2

I agree with David on this one.  Yet, it has been my experience from comments I've received on here in the past, that Buyer Agents seem to deny this, especially the seasoned ones.  It is a natural reaction to get defensive when your views threaten the existence of someone's career.  That is not the intention.  It is simply meant to alert people to the possibility of changing the basket of services offered or consider alternative alternative (yet related) revenue streams.

People need to accept and embrace change.  If they didn't we'd still be driving by VHS video rental stores, albeit not too successful ones.
7:46am • #3
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Those of us who want to be around in this business for some time to come will EVOLVE as the industry changes.  Sure, there will be plenty who will leave, and then more who come in, and there will also be some who will become extinct because they don't evolve and embrace changes.  Like most of life, this business, along with loads of others, constantly changes, and one either gets on the change train or they get left behind.

EVOLVE!!!
8:21am • #4
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I have addressing the very same issue in my series of blogs on "Disintermediation." Just a fancy word for "eliminating the middle man." There are very specific ways we can intelligently avert the growing trend. The bottom-line is that we all need to do a better job and justifying the value that we bring to our clients.
10:44am • #5


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Teresa Boardman

Saint Paul, MN

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Saint Paul Home Realty

Address: 413 Wacouta street #250, St. Paul, MN, 55101

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