Newspaper advertising seems to be passe these days. Very few people are showing up at open house lately. Market is continuing to fall, maybe not freely, but fall none-the-less.
What is this all about? Are we doing something wrong or are we just victims of our economy? I think both.
I have been in this profession known as Real Estate for a little over six years. I don't have the experience that many of you do when it comes to slow times in this business. Many of you have already experienced times similar to these and are adjusting the best you know how. Is it working?
I have always believed that hard times create opportunity. They open doors that were not there before. Our paradigm needs to change however and we need to think out of the box in order for our business to work once again. If we do things like we always did before, good luck. Now I do know that there are certain markets that are still growing. At least that is what I read daily on the internet news. But for most of us, times are tough. They are poor at best and we need to scramble to get that home or building sold.
Remember when listings were the name of the game? I think Buyers are who we need today. We need to find that special person or persons who have financing in their pocket, have their home sold or don't own a home. Are being transfered here from another part of our world and are your captive for the duration of the home buying experience.
Where do we find these people? Do they exist?
I recently read the statistics in my market on agents and their sales for all of 2008. I was shocked to learn that many of the top producers in this business, had very hard times in 2008. What happened to their proven method of securing deals? It changed.
I don't have the magic answer for you but I am here to say that for each and every one of us who have experienced a traumatic year last year, that there is hope and that there is business to be had. We need to find it. We need to change how we do business. We need to BLOG... Post on Forums... Create Web Sites that are seen... get involved in community affairs once again... tell people about this economy by holding seminars with your local lender. There is so much that can be done to educate our buyer.
Wealth is created in tough and hard times just like we are in today. It always has been. Prosperous times will create wealth also, but at a pace that is equal to our inflation rate at that time. But real wealth, asset management and growth are usually gained in times like this. Let's tell the clients in our markets about this fabulous opportunity.
It's easier than you think.
Good luck to all of us this 2009, the year of change, opportunity and growth.
Larry Stanul
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