I’m sharing this newest review from my first-time homebuyer clients because they were born connected to the internet and found out rather quickly the internet didn’t have all the information they wanted and needed.
When they reached out to me by email, I knew it probably took a lot of courage for them to do so. And then I made them actually come into my office and meet me in person! (I know – so mean, right?! LOL!) But joking aside, they did admit they didn’t know what to do next after looking at homes online and going to open houses on the weekends.
They knew they probably couldn’t do this on their own but they didn’t know what my role was, either.
They are not alone. Most consumers don’t know what REALTORS do. This was very evident this week when we had a change to one of our rules in our MLS and some local journalists took this as an opportunity to slight agents. This type of snub isn’t new, but in a market where homes are selling quickly, many were quick to comment that they could have done everything themselves and they could have done it much better, cheaper and faster than any agent.
This is our fault. It is our fault that consumers believe this because we as agents have not taken the time to explain what we do nor what our role is in the current market. This is why home buyers think all we do is just open the doors and as listing agents, we just stick a sign in the yard.
We have not updated our message to our clients.
Real estate has changed. As a REALTOR, I’m no longer the gatekeeper of information. Information is readily available to anyone with an internet connection. My job is no longer finding the house for my buyers but is arming my clients with the decades of my knowledge and experience I’ve gained so they can make the best decisions for them.
And my knowledge and experience have been hard-earned over decades of working in real estate every day and encountering different issues, situations and pitfalls. This background that I come to the table with and pass along to my clients is not something consumers can simply get online.
My role is now firmly seated as a guide and a distiller of all the information available to consumers. The information is there but consumers may not know what it means and how it is applied to their transaction. This is where I come in and provide my expertise.
Consumers have many options in their real estate journey, and who they choose to work with makes a difference. It’s up to us as REALTORS to let them know our new role in today’s market.