Brian Boero over at 1000 Watt Blog wrote a post the other day titled “real estates fortress of suckitude.” The main point of the post is we need to recover credibility by demonstrating it. A pretty solid idea if I don’t say so myself.
So please, if you can: pick up the biggest rock you can find and hurl it against the dark glass of the Fortress. And build your own oasis for consumers in its place.
I have been a long-time reader of Brian and Marc, who are passionate outsiders, looking into the dark fortress of our world. They hold lofty ideals and are forward thinkers of what the future may hold for us.
For the last few years, I have been re-inventing myself and what I think will be the future of real estate. No longer satisfied with being part of the problem, I am doing my best to put my money where my mouth is, and make some difference. This is how change happens.
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.- Gandi
The problem is complex, and the baby need not be thrown out with the bathwater.
The solution does not occur in one form or from one voice. It won’t be solved by powerful brokerages, small brokerages, Redfin, or Zillow.
There are many paths on the road to success, no one path is the best way.
It will be solved when enough of the passionate REALTORS® stand up and say it is time for a change. I don’t think the customer cares enough, or understands enough to demand better.
Real Estate is a complex mixture of salesmanship, psychology, law, marketing, and long hours. Our clients come and go every 5 or 6 years and most of them only use us 3 to 4 times in a lifetime. Each buyer or seller can legally do everything themselves, but as in many complicate matters, it is best left to the professional.
It is hard work and should not be done without passion.
So along with other’s across our nation, I am on a journey to improve what I can. My passion is for the Client, homeownership, and mastery. I try to learn something every day, improve myself whenever possible, and grow.
Now if a man tried
To take his time on Earth
And prove before he died
What one man’s life could be worth
Well I wonder what would happen to this worldAnd if a woman
She used a life line
As something more than
Some man’s servant mother wife time
Well I wonder what would happen to this world-Harry Chapin – What would happen to this world?
Will you join me on my journey?
JD, buyers care when they have to actually see every home because the system sucks so bad and makes them waste so much time and energy, when they shouldn’t have to…because it sucks so bad.
And sellers care because they see that realtors aren’t really marketing their homes, unless you really believe that an mls listing is real marketing, and they’re for the most part waiting and hoping someone will accidentally stumble across their listing.
People actually expect realtors to earn the commissions by helping make it easier on them and to also help create value so their homes sell for the best price, not just the easiest price.
It’s not a lot to expect is it?
Jill, absolutely not, the Client should expect nothing but the best. They deserve it and should demand it.Using professional or better photograph of the complete home would help all of us. Sometimes I feel the better the home presents itself the worse it actually shows. I spend a good deal of my week previewing new listings for Clients to save them time since I know what they like. Satellite maps, birds eye view, and virtual tours help but I know what you are saying. The big joke is the consumer tools are better than our professional tools.Sellers need to interview at least 3 agents and pick one that they feel meets the style and marketing they are looking for. Everyone has a different idea of what they want, and if you pick a low tech agent and you are a high tech buyer/seller your headed for trouble. Putting the home into the MLS is only the first step of many to get homes sold.Thank you very much for your comments.
Jeffrey, I liked the link from 1000watt…great shots and descriptions. This is a big part of what buyers want to see. It’s amazing that the mls folks don’t get it, because this is exactly what they should be doing.
A friend of mine on the other coast is ready to introduce something quite interesting in his area, in the next month or so. He’s putting together his notes on all the listings he sees and what he reviews online, and putting his views about the homes online. Should be interesting.
Love your site…it’s original and stands out.
Jill, Thank you.
Interesting idea, but a slippery slope. Everyone has subjective views when it comes to real estate, more emotion than logic.
Unfortunately for buyers however, they’re always kicking tires because the system fails to provide them with all they need. And anyway, realtors are always taking to other realtors and saying what they think about the homes…price, condition, appeal etc, so why shouldn’t potential buyers hear some of that…and maybe even see what other buyers have to say. Realtors can’t claim sole ownership to opinions of homes.
Hey, I think there should be a site where the public gets to rate realtors. That would be really interesting!
[...] own San Diego Jeffrey Douglass continues his one-man crusade to put the big brokers on notice. How can you not like a man who can quote Gandi, Brian Boero and Mark Chapin in the same article [...]