When I became a Realtor nearly 14 years ago we had "The Book", the little metal key to open boxes (which I still carry on my key ring) and printed forms in triplicate ("Make sure to press real hard when you are signing.")
Since then we have gone through the uproar around releasing our "power over the information" by going digital - which everyone thought would be the "end of the industry".
(Nope)
We have changed the online provider for the MLS (3 times!), gone digital with our key boxes (with two major overhauls), consolidated to one MLS for the state (for a while there, our office had to input all information to TWO different MLS's for every listing, every change order, etc...glad that didn't last!), broker's won't hold earnest money anymore and we now have Buyer's Agency/. I have seen at least 6 MAJOR changes to Real Estate Law and Agency Law, we digitized the forms, the emergence of online clearing houses for information and online agents has become 'normal', I have learned to blog, twitter, facebook, build websites, I no longer have to wait for film to get developed or cut and paste together (with real scissors and tape!) flyers or marketing materials, I have upgraded my phone 4 times, my computer 4 times and have occupied 3 different offices at the Muljat Group. I have been in Buyer's Markets, Seller's Markets, a recession, and a "gold rush", I have seen REO's, and Short Sales, and bidding wars, and (even) lotteries for home purchases. I have seen interest rates close to 10% and as low as 4%. I have seen an overhaul to financing guidelines, appraiser guidelines, inspector licensing and the advent of Form 17 (with it's most recent connection to the purchase and sale agreement through mutual agreement). And this summer, we will (finally) make some MASSIVE changes to licensing and continuing education requirements for new agents. (even our titles will change from "agent" to "broker")
Through all of this shift, morph, change, I continued being needed by people to help them navigate the buying and selling of homes, protected by well written contracts and I found really cool new ways to market the homes I have listed to the
WHOLE WORLD.
Is there a moral to the story? I guess the only thing we can ever truly count on in this business is CHANGE...so, I say,
EMBRACE IT!
Live good. Be happy. Embrace change.
-Mimi
Mimi Osterdahl / GRI, ABR, ABS / The Muljat Group Realtors / Bellingham, Washington
Founding President, Northwest Washington Women's Council of Realtors
www.LiveGoodBeHappy.com / mimi@muljatgroup.com
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