By I’m always amazed at the amount of local community knowledge a typical Realtor has. If you need to know about the local preschool situation, where to get the best cup of coffee within earshot of a specific address, where to get free Internet while you enjoy a hot beverage or quick lunch, and where the best morning bun in town is served, ask a Realtor. Seriously.
But many times you wouldn’t know this as a home buyer or seller while out shopping for a Realtor. It seems that many agents’ marketing materials don’t seem to get this point across – that not only is this agent a master at closing sales in a particular neighborhood or area, he’s also an expert at all things local. He knows the right plumbers, contractors, inspectors, landscapers, cleaning services, florists, and interior decorators. You name it.
I think it’s time agents get the recognition they deserve as neighborhood connoisseurs, specialists, experts. Sure, you want an agent with an impeccable track record of selling houses in your area or area of interest. You want a master negotiator, a well respected and well connected professional. But you also want someone who’s going to be able to either tell you exactly what it’s like to live somewhere, how close life’s essentials are, and so forth or connect you directly with the people who can answer those questions.
One of my hopes for 2012 is that our agents realize their local expertise as the true asset that it is, and that they can convey its value to consumers before meeting face to face.
I cringed a little upon reading a recent news item about a new app that plugs into your Facebook account and segments your Facebook friends based on a location you type in. For instance, if you’re interested in moving to Palo Alto, this app could pull info for you on people who have either indicated that they live there or tend to check in there a lot on Facebook (indicating that they spend a lot of time there).
It’s a good idea: being able to pinpoint whom to ask local questions. And friend and family input is meaningful to people. But my gut reaction was that our Realtors are already really good at providing this information. Maybe it’s just time we put more emphasis on this knowledge asset.
Buying or selling a home is still one of the largest transactions a person will take part in in their lifetime. Where you live is an essential part of your being – and can have serious consequences on your family’s future. Let’s not lose sight of this high-touch aspect to being an agent – that sometimes through all the complications of a jargon-filled transaction, what a consumer really needs is for someone to understand their more intangible needs that help them realize whether or not they can actually live in a particular home or neighborhood. This is one of our greatest strengths as real estate professionals.
