I’ve been listening to a book called “The Warmth of Other Suns.”* It’s a book about the great migration which is really about blacks leaving the deep south. A lot of it is like a flashback to a sad part of my childhood. One of the things that struck me was a reminder of how slowly things changed back then. The period covered in the book is from 1915 to 1975. Car models changed a bit every year but everything else changed very slowly.
Change is Constant
Fast forward to today where change is constant/daily. Some things even change for no apparent reason. One thing that never changes is that when the market peaks, there’s a flood of new agents, but this time there’s a new twist. There’s also a flood of new companies. These new companies recruit agents hard with promises of higher commissions and advanced technology that will deliver buyers to their inbox.
Keeping Up With Change
Training seems to be an afterthought. The last data I recall is that 88% of new agents do not last 5 years. We were all new at some point, but if I look back to year 5, I’m grateful that things did not change so fast! And it’s not just new companies and new agents, even my long-time colleagues move so often that I’d be hard pressed to tell you where they are working on any given day. The internet doesn’t forget so even when I “google” them, all their previous affiliations pop up.
Value of a Sign
Another tried and true constant of real estate is the value of a sign. Seven percent of all properties sell because of a sign. It makes perfect sense that when buyers see something they like, they call to take a look. Even the most tech savvy buyers may miss a listing without a sign. Familiar signs (or even ones that are easy to read) still get a fair number of calls. My friend just returned from Disney World where they were forced to make an appointment for rides on their phone. What if you don’t do technology? Portals are another place we get snagged. What if you don’t do “portals”? Point is, sometimes the old, familiar and comfortable are still preferred. So, if you have an agent who you love, keep loving them and let them know when your real estate transaction is being gobbled up by technology. Most of us will gladly adjust to the speed that makes sense for you!
*Isabel Wilkerson, author.
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