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Adapted from Radar via Babyrazzi | Suri Cruise + Maddox Pitt-Jolie

Today’s brats youth will one day become your future home buyer and home seller clients. Well, duh! But what does this have to do with what real estate agents should be doing today? Well, it got me thinking about my first experiences in the real estate market about a decade ago. Whoa. That sounds so long ago. Anyways……

Over the years, I remember watching my parents buying and selling real estate in various states. Some of the experiences were pleasant, while others not so much. In each instance however, they used a real estate agent, who some might consider old school, to help them find and sell property. These old school agents, over the course of the home buying and selling transaction, eventually become family friends. In turn, they reaped the benefit of our families future business not to mention lots of referrals along the way. They knew how to create long lasting personal relationships with their clients that went beyond the deal. It was a win-win as our families shared many memories along the way.

When I was ready to jump into the real estate market as a first time home buyer, guess who was right their to help me. You guessed it, our family friend and real estate agent. Now granted, this was over a decade ago and times were a little different back then. I didn’t have the knowledge I have today nor all the online tools available to me so it was the traditional thing to do. As I recall, the experience was long and tedious. Other than conducting some of my own neighborhood scouting, most of the information I obtained was from the agent. Hey, it was a decade ago

If you fast forward this scenario to today, personally, I might have chosen a different route. Family real estate agent you say? Does anyone still have one? I’m not sure. But I’d probably be doing most of my own searching online utilizing all the cool tools and sites that I have at my disposal - e.g. Trulia, Facebook, Linkedin, etc. I’d be looking at local blogs and social networks that talked about neighborhoods and real estate information that interested me. Unlike some folks out there, besides finding just a property, I would be interested in finding a local tech savvy agent to help me. I value an agents role within the transaction. But guess what, if the agent that my family or friend used was tech savvy, and ideally a hybrid agent, I would most certainly give them a shot at earning my business first. But if they could not relate to me or my needs, I would move on. Sorry Mr. family real estate agent

Ok. I did have a point in all of this didn’t I? Yes. As an agent, if you are not tech savvy, then start getting educated on all the online tools and communities/ social networks available to you today. I’m sure most of you reading this have already embraced web 2.0 but for those that haven’t, now is the time. Your friends children are getting older everyday. They are or will be entering the real estate market in the near future. The relationship and trust you’ve built with the parents over the years carries lots of weight with their children. Being able to relate to their children’s needs will be what gives you the inside track at establishing a long lasting relationship with a new generation of home buyers and sellers - and their friends too.

Have you had any success utilizing this networking method? If so, I’d love to hear about your success story connecting with your friends Gen-Y and Gen-X children.

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