There's an old saying... Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Heard it before?
In these tumultuous times in our industry, the rules of the game seem to be changing daily. Here's some of what I mean:
- Short Sales were Popular a month ago - now the banks just hold onto the property
- I placed a print ad 3 years ago and got 50 calls - now I get 4
- Foreclosures were everywhere 6 months ago - now they seem to be drying up
- Buyers could get USDA funding 2 months ago - now they have to wait 4 months
- Manual Underwrite FHA loans were abundant - no they are all but gone
- A credit score of 600+ was "good" - now it takes 650+
The Changes are happening faster and faster. Now loans get approved by lenders but turned down by PMI companies and on and on.
Probably the BIGGEST difference between now and 2 years ago is the impact of Print Advertising. All of our local venues are getting thinner and thinner - the Real Estate Magazines and the Sunday Real Estate Section... They used to be THICK with ads. Now the faintest breeze can blow them down the street they're so thin.
Besides the loan program changes and the changes in the behavior of banks that are holding properties, there's the consumer and their behavior - they simply don't look at print ads any more.
Between 2005 and 2008 - the consumer EMBRACED the internet. They actually started using online services like Amazon and eBay to buy things. They started getting their news online. They started using the internet as a "one stop solution" for buying, selling, shopping and even research and basic information.
This new "toy" called the internet has now turned into the GO TO Source for all things information based and if WE as a group don't sit up and take notice, then we could easily become obsolete - become dinosaurs. And here's why - the consumers are using the internet as about their ONLY source for finding houses and finding real estate services.
And that's scary... Especially if YOU are not highly visible Online. if you are not visible, then it follows that you are INVISIBLE. Not a good thing for any business to be.
So - here' the VIDEO that's changing that: Market Yourself and Your Listings Online
Do your fellow agents a BIG FAVOR and REBLOG this post.
Enjoy
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