A while back I spoke about the types of people in the world and this has been a very popular post with visitors. To sum up it talked about the person who will watch what happens, the person who waits for it to happen and then the person who makes it happen. 2008 was a perfect example of this with all the bad news doom and gloom there were clear examples of people sitting on the sideline, people wondering what was happening and then people actually making things of the situation and doing very well.
2009 in my view will not be any different. There will be many difficulties and challenges that we all have to face, but again there will be a few of us that watch or wait and wonder what’s happened and there will be others that take heed of the situation and make the most of it. It’s up to your own personality and your attitude which person you will be.
Today I want answers. Answers from you… Obviously I am a real estate sales person. I really enjoy my job, if I didn’t I wouldn’t be here. But this job takes a lot of hits from the general public and the like. There is a very negative perception in New Zealand about Real Estate and its agents. This has by no doubt stemmed from the bad experiences and gossip. Let’s try and change this. From 2009 I have decided to make a stand and start what I hope to be a better Real Estate experience. This is not intended to be a sappy BS sob story. I just want answers in order to start making it right.
If you’re a real estate agent reading this I hope you are striving for the same thing. While the entire world is changing I think it is important for us to keep up with the times of change and change the outdated system we have in place at the moment to something better. Something that helps the public better and something that gives them better security in their Real Estate Transactions.
If you’re a member of the public I ask you please leave a comment below, If you don’t want to put your name put anonymous. But it is important to me to get as many responses I can so me and all the other agents that may read this can get a better understanding from where your views are.
What I would like to know is a few simple things…. What is your perception of a real estate person and how could this be changed for the better? If you have had a good or bad Real Estate experience tell us. Lastly in your opinion how can the Real Estate system be changed or improved.
Again this will only work if you participate and comment so if you have landed to this page have your say. I want to make things happen and this is going to be the start. We have all heard the moaning and groaning that goes on and I believe we are now in a perfect situation to be able to make a difference and deal to it face on. So let’s just do it.
Real estate agents are essentially sales people; that is their job. They get a bad rap because (1) inevitably that product doesn’t always live up to the expectation, (2) since you are a sales person we know your interests (to sell us the most expensive house) aren’t aligned with ours (to find the best value that meets our needs), (3) sometimes sales strategies are too forced, (4) it is hard to quantify what value you provide. With the significant real estate volume decline, the aggressive salesmen are only going to get more pushy and more disliked.
In the US, there have been some developments that consumers like but are not good for real estate agents: 1) Redfin (see http://www.redfin.com) and 2) Zillow (and similar sites). These models are targeted at either providing a low level of service (with lower costs) or eliminating the real estate agent altogether. As consumers we like these because we know where the companies interests are and we see them as a better value because we can do the legwork ourselves.
I hope this helps!
Thats great stuff there and all to true. I have seen redfin a few times and is a good system for the users who wish to use it. I just worry that we are by trying to earn our pot ruining our reputation thus just starting a downward spiral
we’ve never had any trouble with r.e. salespeople, but we stick with a long-experienced (20+ years) agent. it seemed a whole bunch of people with no experience in property got on the boat back in 2003/4 when it seemed you could sell anything at any price, looking to “get rich quick”. most, if not all, of them are gone now – weeded out by the slowdown and looking for a new scheme for a fast buck. my recommendation for finding an agent is the same as finding any other service person: ask your family and friends and neighbours, compare what they say, check with past clients, and go with an conservative estimation of who will give you the best service for your needs.
a successful r.e. agent (and *successful* is the key word) works very hard – i don’t think the general public know just how hard it is; good agents put in 10/12 hours/day over 7 days/week for their clients and to keep their business going, just like any other self-employed business. it certainly isn’t a job i would do. we really appreciate the work our agent does, which is why we are loyal.
real estate is like any other industry, with a lot of hard working people and a few bad apples, except it gets a lot of bad press here in nz – it appears in the media the press here hate agents and real estate companies in general – i’ve always been surprised at how much vitriol in the papers goes in that direction. there is a perception that real estate is a get rich quick scheme, but anyone in real estate over the long haul knows that’s crap – business takes hard work and the stamina to see it through the ups *and* downs.
re your post about the financial woes of 2009: some people got greedy over the last 5 years and are hanging out in the wind financially now, overextended on their short-term gains. but i’m sure there’s plenty of other people who looked around, then stored their nuts for the eventual swing.
i may take a look at will’s links – real estate in the states is extra hard work. agents there have far more training and education due to the laws and other legalities (and don’t forget the tax system) of property, and escrow, something we can, and do, do without here in nz, thank goodness!
best of luck in 2009.
Thankyou for your comment. And you have hit the nail on the head here. 95% of the agents I know do work very hard and are very devoted to their clients they work for. A few bad eggs I know of are leaving or on the verge of leaving. Its sad but a good thing so now we can have good agents working hard for the people they try and help.
Thanks for you input. Much appreciated.
you’re welcome :O)
Hi Deon, good post here. I sell lots of auctions as the listing agent and I can’t sleep at night if I think a buyer got a good buy or would have paid more. Sellers pay my wages, this is why I think like I do. An agent colleague said to me recently how thrilled she was that her bidder beat my bidder. She was even more thrilled that her buyer got a good buy, and would have paid $50,000 more for the house (that sold at $400,000). I was speechless to say the least.
I wish the public (especially potential sellers) knew that some agents think quite differently to others. There are so many variables! Human nature, greed, different priorities, ethics….it’s a minefield out there for the public and I think most don’t even know the mines are there!
One thing’s for sure though – success leaves clues hey!
How you getting on in ChCh?
PS – send me a blank email. My auto-response might give you a few ideas.
Thankyou steve. Hope all is well up your way. I am loving Christchurch. Its a huge culture shift but the people I have been meeting are just awesome. Am really looking forward to this year. Your autoresponder is a great idea.
Well written Deon, I also believe the answers supplied are well rounded and unbiased, written by individuals who have a “real” understanding of what a real estate agent does. As a 16 year in-service agent I am gratified to read of people who can make their own judgements – not being easily led along by the negative media.
Cheers for a well run blog
Glenn
p.s “Never live in other peoples mindsets” Peter Irvine, co-founder Gloria Jeans Coffee
Thanks Glen. It is clear to see that people do appreciate the work that many put in, because there is just so much to do and it is never ending sometimes. Very hard on relationships thats for sure. My one suffered from it. Putting that behind us its always good to get a thanks from people. And your right by saying the media leads people to believe sometimes warped perceptions on real world events and happenings.