2 minute read
WINDS OF CHANGE
BY CRAIG WITT, PRESIDENT – UNITED STATES
I’ve been boating most of my life and one thing I’ve learned living on the Great Lakes is that conditions can change quite unexpectedly. Even with the best weather forecasting, you must always be ready from a skill and safety standpoint. No matter where you find yourself when conditions change, it always comes down to your attitude and experience level when deciding how best to adapt to the situation in front of you. The real estate industry has continually evolved for both agents and consumers as it has been doing so since 1855, which according to the earliest records, is when the first brokerage began operation in Chicago. This is because almost everything affects real estate from the economy, conflicts, disease, natural disasters, and countless other hidden factors. Those who understand this and are open to a moving target like our industry, typically have the most success.
I don’t have a crystal ball to predict where we’re heading, but history and trends interest me in positioning myself and those around me to be as prepared as possible. On the sales and service side, I think we’ll see even more mobile business with tech-oriented companies like our Premier Partner, Zillow experiencing a 190% increase in online 3D home tours according to a recent CNBC news broadcast, and Premier Partner, Matterport launching their iPhone app allowing users to capture and share 3D tours without the need to purchase their professional cameras. There will continue to be office space to conduct business, but we’ll likely see smaller brokerages with virtual learning and remote work access continuing to gain popularity with the changing agent demographic. Zillow and other big tech names like Twitter and Atlassian recently made the announcement to their workforce that they could work from home indefinitely, with giants like Google and Facebook keeping workers remote for at least another year.
This year has created a more educated and knowledgeable client who knows what they want, where they want it, and they expect to get it quickly. Agents will have to understand this and be more service - and value-added professionals to support their commissions. People will continue to pay for great service, just as I can go to a fast food restaurant or choose fine dining with impeccable quality and service. The one thing real estate will always be is a human experience with emotion and anxiety; the agents best trained to handle these waters will continue to thrive. In any industry, the most competent and best trained individual has the best chance at success. Work ethic, passion, genuine interest, and positioning your customer first seem to be the perfect course toward make a lasting experience. Try not to lose sight of who your customer really is and remember to lead with kindness and empathy.
