Comments on: Real Estate and Politics | Does Experience Matter?

By: lake mary fl remax

lake mary fl remax — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:18:26 +0000

It’s not one or the other it’s a mixture. When typewritters came and we all complained we have to type the contracts and then computers and we had to learn how to run them and an now the internet and we have to blog and use a forum for clients. It’s part of the job and technology. It’s growing with an industry and merging the two. What took realtor hours to do and paperwork to pull a list is done in a click on a computer.

By: Diane Cohn

Diane Cohn — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:41:32 +0000

Experience absolutely matters, but so does new media thinking. One of the best pairings I’ve seen is an old salt-of-the-sea who knows everybody in town, has done hundreds of transactions, and operates brilliantly in the visceral, belly-to-belly world. His partner? A young, savvy, new media web marketer who can rumble with the most arrogant, academic, anonymous, peanut gallery on earth, my blog readers (don’t tell them I said that). He’s amazing. She’s amazing. Total opposites, but it works.

There’s no need to clash. If the two sides team up, they’ll rule the world.

Diane Cohn, Realtor
Chase International
Reno, Nevada

By: Debra Sinick

Debra Sinick — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:46:19 +0000

Great thoughts. I agree with Danilo, that the years are not the only measure, of sales experience. Exposure to the different real estate cycles is another plus. Some Realtors have been in the business as long as a decade, done a lot of business, but never worked in a “down” market. Experience in the “down” times helps to navigate today’s tougher market.

However, there are some very basic ways the internet can be used to market homes. It just boggles my mind when Realtors don’t use these simple tools. Professional photography, and lots of it, photos of the schools, the neighborhoods, and exposure on multiple websites are pretty basic ways Realtors can embrace technology and bring more to the table for their clients.

It’s a combination or a balance as Jim said. Actual contract knowledge, the amount of listings and sales, and experience in different markets all give a Realtor a leg up. But no matter how may years, transactions, different markets one has been through, real estate is a learning experience everyday. That’s what makes it exciting and challenging.

Web 2.0 is, as Danilo says, a marketing issue, not an experience issue. Web 2.0 will work for some, but not for others. Some traditional ways of marketing can be combined with web 2.0 to create a terrific marketing program. Blogging is great, if you like to write and comment on other blogs. It’s not for everyone.

By: Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:04:49 +0000

Experience Matters… yes because we learn from past mistakes, is it necessary to embrace Web 2.0 and be a good experienced Realtor? No, I know Realtors in my area that look at you crossed eyed when you mention blogging, but some a good Realtors.

Most Realtors in my area that do embrace technology are good Realtors and that is best especially for sellers. My daughter is 4 years in the business and a great Buyer Agent but just isn’t into the technology yet. But, she gets lots of leads, knows how to convert and gets tons of referrals.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:54:39 +0000

Experience, knowledge and the ability to adapt to change are the three most important aspects of any career. However, in reality, people who are notoriously on the internet will be found by more customers and that alone may make them more successful, even if they lack the experience and knowledge that the client may be seeking. Counting experience by years in the business is not necessarily a good indication. We all know agents that have been in the business for years without much experience (or knowledge for that matter)

By: Laurie Manny

Laurie Manny — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:29:25 +0000

Rudy,

There are people in the business for 10-20 years who don’t know what some of the 5 year veterans know. But I would agree with Danilo in that many transactions = a lot of experience.

Some people are savvy enough to know how important it is to make sure that they are VERY good at what they do. It is unfortunate that they are the 20%.

It always comes back to the 20%

By: Rudy, Social Media Guru

Rudy, Social Media Guru — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:03:54 +0000

Hi Jonathan!

That’s a great observation. So at what point does the “years in business” really not matter all that much?

By: Jonathan Miller

Jonathan Miller — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:28:59 +0000

Its important, but I think it is very easily over-emphasized and can often infer
dated or old school thinking if you’re not careful. I think there is a diminishing return with experience.
A 5 difference between someone with 20 years versus 15 years experience is nominal relative to the
difference between someone with 5 years and <1 year’s experience.

By: Rudy, Social Media Guru

Rudy, Social Media Guru — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:02:57 +0000

Hi Laurie!

Well said. Skills are learned first hand and over time. You can’t really be the “expert” by reading a book or passing a class.

Lock and load. Practical experience is the best teacher.

Visual inspections of real property takes skill.

At the end of the day, educating the consumer is what it’s all about. This way, they can make more informed decisions.

Hi Danilo! - Good point. Years in the business is not always a solid way to judge ones competence. As you have proven, it’s what you do in those years that matters.

The proper use of technology and marketing will enhance your business and brand awareness.But you still need to be out there in the real world meeting people in an old fashioned sort of way.

As you said, consumers want someone that speaks their language and vice versa.

Glad you found your niche and that it’s working for you.

By: Danilo Bogdanovic

Danilo Bogdanovic — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:03:14 +0000

Experience is very important (see Laurie’s examples in her response above). But it’s not necessarily the number of years that you’ve been in the business. I have only been in the business for 4 years, but I have over 120 transactions under my belt. If you look at the national average (6 transaction per agent per year), I have as much experience as the average agent who’s been in the business 20 years.

As far as being technology savvy, that’s more of a marketing issue. You may be the best negotiator and an incredibly talented agent, but if you don’t know how to market yourself to consumers and let the world know who you are and what you know, you won’t do as much business as someone with your same skill set that’s a good marketer. Blogs and social media are just the latest ways to help accomplish that (information and digital media marketing).

As Jim said, it’s a balance. I think that consumers are looking for both - an experienced agent who speaks their language. If the consumer is tech savvy, their language is blogs, social media, emails from your PDA, text messages, etc. If the consumer is more old-school, it may be something totally different.

One thing I learned a long time ago is that you can’t be all things to everyone. Pick a niche and run with it. I picked my niche of the tech savvy and self-sufficient consumer who wants a real estate consultant, not a traditional agent/salesperson. So far, so good!