Seeing that I am 24 years old, Technology is my life. I can remember using computers for the first time when I was in Kindergarten. Point being, I have used Technology my whole life. I live it, I breathe it, without it, I am lost. Technology is also a way of life for many of my Generation and myself. The way that it makes every aspect of life impersonal is amazing. You can have complete conversations with people without even speaking a word to them. Email, Text, Instant Message. It’s quick, to the point and fast. But is that best for the client?
When I got into Real Estate some “Old School Agents” would look to me for answers with Technology because they didn’t have a clue what they were doing. Me being the “Newbie”, I would talk to the “Old School Agents” to ask how to do Real Estate because I didn’t have clue what I was doing.
What I have learned from the “Old School Agents” is to make those personal contacts with people. By simply picking up the phone and giving an agent a call for feedback. Some agents hate it, but the ones who answer and speak to me, end up having a nice conversation with me. The things that I can pick up from the tone of someone’s voice, or follow up questions in a simple 2 minute conversation would take many follow-up emails.
That is just one example of something I have learned from the “Old School Agents” and I believe the information I received from them has helped me far more than the information that I gave to them. “Old School Agents” have been in this business for year and have been hugely successful and a major part of their success comes from those personal contacts they have made. In good markets and in Bad, they have seen it all and weathered the storms. Obviously they know what they are doing. Obviously we have something to learn from them. Don’t just turn your backs or brush them aside by labeling them, closed minded or stuck in their ways. They are still around and surviving in this market for one reason, that reason being, Their ability to Adapt.
The market will always have its ups and downs, that is just the nature of the market. Good agents who are great at adapting and taking what they already know to work and tweaking it, to work for the client during that certain market. That agent will be successful.
Technology is great and Old School ways have worked, but let’s not forget that Real Estate is all about making Personal Connections with people. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new, or Old! Remember Real Estate is not about you, its about the client. As time changes, Adaptation is necessary.
I was not in the business during the crazy boom that everyone speaks of, so I don’t know what that was like. But what I do know is that Real Estate is changing. It is evolving into this mash up of Technology and Old School. We can all learn something from each other, “Newbie Agents” and “Old School Agents”.
I just ask all you “Old School Agents” if one of us “Newbie’s” send you an email when you think it would be easier to call, try answering in an email. All you “Newbie’s” out there, if one of those “Old School Agents” gives you a call, when you think it would be easier to answer in an email, try answering the phone and having a conversation. Just try to remember, in that email or phone call. There might be some new bit of information or some lesson for you to learn. Be us old, new, or both, we all have something to learn from each other.
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