To answer the second part, in my opinion real estate from a business standpoint is a lot like an airline. Suppose you were in charge of marketing your airline. Would you focus on the aircraft, the route map, the fuel efficiency, load factors and average cost per seat mile? Well maybe, and of course you would definately want to know about all of that, but what really is it that you do in the mind of the consumer? Perhaps the most important thing is that you get them from point A to B safely, and quickly. Does the consumer care about all the facts and figures and details about stall speeds, the aerodynamics of the plane, the temperature of the jet fuel? Do they pour over the numbers and compare airlines in the market based on how well they churn them and present the numbers? Do they run out and interview 7 pilots before they buy a ticket? Probably not. Will the consumer buy a ticket on your airline based on your airlines reputation? That probably weighs heavily on it, for sure. So brand is super important, and being properly trained is a must.
In real estate then, do we spend all of our time trying to make people believe we are the facts and figure guru to earn their business? I will venture to say that most consumers are going to want to make sure you know what your doing and understand the market, in this market for sure, but perhaps something else is more important in their eyes in terms of what it is that we actually do as professionals.
Just like with the airline, consumers want to be sure that the pilots understand what they are doing, but do they really care what the weight of the aircraft is and the average weight of the fuel generally burnt between point A and B? Probably not. I'm betting they already trust that the Pilot knows his or her stuff and so leaves the details to the professional.
So then what is Real Estate really all about? I say it's about relationships and communication. It's about understanding people and their families. It's about helping people not only take on a wise investment or realize a good return, but to help the client have a better quality of life. It's about living our lives. We live under roofs sure, but that's not all...it's about quality social activities with neighbors, or maybe it's about peace and quiet. Maybe it's finding the right neighborhood for the children to grow up in, or maybe it's that cool condo with the swimming pool?
Do you want your agent to know the facts and figures? Absolutely! Should your agent be committed to understanding and staying current with the market? You Bet! Should your agent be completely qualified and competent to market your home or sell you a new one? Of course! But isn't what we do more about people living life and being able to improve life in some way that's meaningful for that individual or family?
I take pride in being knowledgeable, educated, trained, and experienced, but for me Real Estate is more about the lives of the people in the houses than the house itself. What are your thoughts?
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