-->
Aug
20
Posted by Jim Warner
yr - yr comparison, originally uploaded by Jim Warner, Realtor.
These are the year over year price and activity comparisons for home sales in July. Not a pretty picture for sellers by any means but on the bright side there is still quite a bit of activity. Low interest rates and motivated sellers continue to make this the best buying opportunity in a generation. Call me if you’d like to know more about what it takes to get your home sold for top dollar in this market.
Courtesy of Jim Warner, Lynnwood Realtor
-->
Aug
20
Posted by Jim Warner
The Waltons 1972-1982, originally uploaded by Jim Warner, Realtor.
I don’t know why, but I woke up this morning with the Waltons on my mind. The Waltons?! I have been thinking a lot lately about the economy and where we may be headed as a country. It’s just random thoughts, like this one, but they do come and go. What struck me, and I really can’t fathom as to why, is that the Waltons began it’s run in 1972 and was set in 1934 (a difference of 38 years) and ended in 1981. It occured to me that whereas the period of the Depression, which was the backdrop of the Waltons seemed like ancient history at the time, it has now been almost just as long (36 years) between the start of the show and our current looming economic crisis. I just wonder sometimes if we are still at a place as a society where we would conduct ourselves with as much dignity in the face of adversity as was portayed by the characters in this iconic american story. Just something to think about…. Good night John Boy, Good night Jim Warner, Realtor
-->
Aug
20
Posted by Jim Warner
change, originally uploaded by Jim Warner, Realtor.
As I survey the current real estate landscape I can’t help but be fascinated by how people are and in many cases aren’t adapting to the new rules of the game.
Surely as Sellers have come to find that positive equity is no longer a given, many of them are asking, “what the heck am I getting for the commission dollars I am being asked to pay?”
A very fair question and unfortunately, not a lot of good answers have been forthcoming. I have been trying to come up with some legitimate answers for most of a year now, answers I can share with my fellow Realtors through the ROCS Alliance as we begin the work of regaining the position of trust and confidence our industry fought hard to engender for many years. We somehow managed to piss it all away in short order when the free money started flowing and the internet offered up the spoils of anonymous commerce.
As things change there is a certain order to what comes next as we work our way through this.
The first noticeable change is going to come about regarding People. There will be fewer of them in the real estate business and that is all for the good. Too many people fighting over too few deals seems like a good thing for the consumer right up until the problems we face now are compounded by the hangers on who cut corners and even more people get hurt by poor representation in a tough market.
The Second change will be one of Process. The process by which we communicate, the process by which people make decisions, the process of securing financing and the process of accountability. Marketing for instance, is an art form that requires certain skillsets and is best left to professional marketing people. Sales are the other end of the elephant. If an agent is in the back room printing flyers or shooting photos on their digital camera to save money, they are already falling behind and selling the client short. The issue of investment and return on investment as it relates to the expense of proper marketing will become a more prominent part of the discussion in the agent selection process.
An finally, we will see a gradual but deliberate change in culture. Confidence will be the commodity held most dear in the marketplace. Confidence in the information being provided, confidence in the loyalty being proffered, confidence that the agent has a plan and a verifiable track record.
Unless an agent can instill confidence in the processes and people that he or she surrounds themselves with, the current culture of suspicion and distrust directed towards the profession will linger and the question will remain, “what do I get for the commision I am being asked to pay and what are my other options.”
At ROCS we are working on options. Ask your agent if they know about us. If not, tell them to call local Realtor, Jim Warner for some pointers. We can help.
