The world has shrunk a lot since I was a kid.
If you wanted to contact someone across the country you wrote a letter or paid for a long distance phone call.
If you wanted to learn from the best, you had to go to where they were.
If you wanted a certain food, perhaps the only way to get it was to go to the source.
Now?
I can call, email, text, Facebook message, etc. and have the possibility of contact in seconds.
I want to learn from the best? Services such as Masterclass.com offer some of the world's experts via video lessons. Tablet, phone, laptop, all just a credit card and a few clicks away.
I want wild salmon from Alaska or a muffuletta sandwich from Central Grocery & Deli? Easily ordered and shipped to my doorstep.
Basically if you've got the dollars to spend, pretty much everything you want can be at your door.
And while aspects of real estate have changed significantly (online real estate search portals, video tours on demand, etc.), there are some aspects that haven't changed.
Local knowledge is still irreplaceable and part of the reason I don't get too disturbed by the machinations of real estate companies that are going to "revolutionize & disrupt". Will there be a market for companies that offer to pay cash for quick sales? Sure, but I don't expect it to be a dominant portion of the market. Sellers that still want to make the biggest bucks for their home are still far more likely to seek out a LOCAL agent that offers expertise for what the consumer feels is a FAIR value.
Will there be changes in the real estate landscape? Of course.
Do I expect downward pressure on real estate commissions? Yes.
Do I expect continued governmental examination of our industry? You bet.
Do I expect some attorneys to continue to toss spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks? Nothing new in that either.
But what I don't expect to change is the ability of a good agent to develop LOCAL expertise that can't be duplicated by anything national. Just knowing square footage and average selling price isn't enough to provide exceptional care of our clients.
Knowing LOCAL market trends is critical.
Knowing the LOCAL economic trends is vital.
Knowing what might be built down the street? That's important stuff too.
Knowing which way the prevailing winds blow FROM the local sewage treatment plant? Yeah, you won't find that on a real estate portal will you?? :)
Bottom line, an agent that understands LOCAL information and communicates that to the public is going to have a leg up on their competition.
Sure, you still have to understand the global factors in play, but most often it's local actions that drive home prices up and down. Put the information out their via your blog and good things can happen.
Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help.
Bill of Bill & Liz aka BLiz
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