It hit me today like a slap in the face after having yet another conversation with a consumer about real estate! Every day I have real estate conversations outside of working...then again...in my mind...its my profession...I am always on...let them ask me rather than one of the other "so called experts."
Today's conversation hit me hard, I told the gentleman, "If you do not have to sell to buy then yes it is a great time to buy!"
In his mind, he was waiting...waiting until 2009 to see what happens with the market because that is what the so called experts are saying!
In my mind I wonder who are the experts he is referring to?
Is it the reporter who works for the newspaper or is it the newscaster that just reported the late breaking news that the sky is falling? Maybe its that unserviced seller or a seller's kids who are the experts. Why?
We are licensed, we are in the trenches everyday..we report the real estate lives we lead, so if you are portraying to the public poor poor me....Nothing is selling in my state......why would they look at us as the expert?
Take a look at your marketing and the way you are portraying what's happening in your market place. Are you the expert or is it the newscaster reporting late breaking news that the sky is falling?
I did ask the gentleman the question...Who are the experts you are referring to? It's obvious based on this post who he is referring to as the experts...
Let's just say once I got finished talking with him...he has my card...and is considering buying vacant land.
The lesson here is....We are the media!...if you don't believe in what you do...who will...if you do not believe in your profession...why should anyone else.
Yes Newspapers and T.V. News sell stories...yup I expect that from them...but from the true experts...The real estate professionals... we don't sell stories.....We sell real estate and in most instances we do an awesome job at it. Ask yourself....are you the expert?
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerain Network and it's members and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Midori Miller and CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty. Midori Miller and CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty are not responsible for the accuracy or content provided by The Community.
Midori, I hear this all the time from people who own a home and sell 1-5 homes their entire life. It just gets me. Here we are living and breathing the market, selling tons of houses and "they are the experts".
They are the ones who are on the airwaves trumpeting doom & gloom. They are the pundits who don't have any credentials. They are the ones who can't sell so they talk (can't do, teach).
Midori, Great post yes if we keep up the doom and gloom then we shall reap what we sow.....
Midori:
Your post is true on so many levels. I also think that Gita is right that the media will be busy covering the elections that the RE Market will take the back burner. Which will stimulate more activity when all the "doom and gloom" isn't being broadcasted 24/7.
Great points and well written.
Why is this not featured?
I'm flagging it!
I think when we provide accurate information to the consumer we are doing everyone a service. One of the things I spend the most time talking about letely is that the national news is not the local news! In some cases we do have pockets of distress but we also have very healthy zip codes that still sell well and areas where we'll need to pay particular attention to condition because of the inventory.
In asserting the fact that we know our local markets better than the national press, we become the experts and take the power back. Sounds like you did just that to your client you'll help take advantage of an opportunity for him that he wouldn't have otherwise seen!
Midori
Powerful examples for a powerful article. Thanks for sharing.
Tony
Josette-I am a big mouth...really I think I am part over achiever...my mom. In my mind...I fight for our profession more so for myself. You are so right...real estate is local. There are lots of factor's to consider...in different areas.
I think your response says it all. We have lots of new construction and have lots of vacant land to compete with our resales. Important factors that do not affect every single market. Thank you...
Hi Midori,
Part of my business practice is educating my clients of what is happening in our market. Our local association publishes quarterly economic and market watch report. This is what my prospective clients receive from me prior to our meeting. They then realize that the media exaggerates on a lot of things. It is not as bad as what they portray it.
You brought up a good point ~ we are the experts!
Catherine
"We are the media" is a great perspective! Agents who take control of their market data and consistently share it with consumers will thrive in any market. It's all about education.
"They" are trying to sell papers or get ratings. People seem to want to hear the bad news and not the good. All you have to do is watch any evening news. How many uplifting, human interest stories??? Hardly any.
We know what motivates the media but what about the real estate agent? I am sure I am not the only one tired of hearing non productive agents complain about the market. For some it is an excuse to not get to work. I look forward to the market correction reducing the number of agents who are sitting around the average office having a continuous coffee break instead of prospecting.
Houses are selling and the agents that are selling them are them will do well in 2008!
Katheryn DeClerck, Prudential Rand Realty, Warwick, NY
I have seen some of the most misleading press in the last two years. A couple of months ago we had a headline that foreclosures are way up. As I read deeper in the article they then happen to mention that our local foreclosure rate was among the lowest in the nation. All of the quotes about foreclosures were from other markets like California. It seemed like they were trying create a disaster.
Midori,
I hope the slap to the head didn't hurt too much!!!
Kathy-Yes I did enjoy your comment very much...I had nothing to add except the number of realtors in our area that have left and it was not as many as I would have expected! Yes I am all about marketing and self promotion and you are right....we got our work cut out for us...I just thought I would start practicing now! :)
Midori, Great post. Don't you love the experts. I know I hear all the time "Boy I would hate to be in your business" WHY?? I am having a great month right now. I think people love to be negative.