Where Have all the “real” Realtors gone?

Whatever happened to the full service Realtor? There are so many discount Realtors, offering discount service that the true full service Realtor has been facing extinction. In this challenging market, can you really afford a discount Realtor or to be a discount Realtor? Fortunately both the consumer and these part-time, sometimes, discount Realtors are now becoming a dying breed. They both realize this model does not bide well in today’s marketplace. Personal attention has become important again.
That being said, I come back to my original question… “What ever happened to the true full service Realtor? Some of you may be saying, “I am right here” or “My Realtor is full service.” Can this really be true? When was the last time your Realtor (or you) presented an offer in person? Of course the large number of short sales and bank owned properties make this near impossible, but on a conventional sale does your Realtor (or you) present in person? Fax machines, e-mail, Blackberry, text messaging, e-Fax…does anyone ever talk to anyone anymore. Does anyone meet with the Seller and Seller’s agent face to face to “make the deal work”? As a Realtor that learned to present in person whenever possible, I still continue that practice. Unfortunately, I find it more difficult to follow that practice as the Seller’s agent does not find it necessary to represent the best interests of their client and meet face to face. I can think of several deals that have been “saved” by being personable and working with a person, not a piece of paper. Details can be explained and worked through instead of fought through. Everyone starts on the same page, therefore the entire negotiation moves more quickly and productively. All parties realize that everyone is after the same goal, a fair deal for all.
The electronic age has definitely created a shift in the way we conduct business, but we do not need to depersonalize it. I find it disheartening how so much of the younger generation cannot leave a proper voice message. Forget written communication, unless of course it is a text- message full of text lingo. The only way they know how to convey the use of humor is with a “LOL” or  emoticon. People skills, presentation skills and just plain talking to people have become a dying art. Real estate is not sales, it is a people business. Once you lose the ability to relate to a person and build lasting relationships, you lose the ability to build and grown your business.
As you make the “shift” in today’s world and use all this wonderful technology, social networking and short cut communication, remember to “keep it real”. Talk to your clients, fellow Realtors and anyone else you want to build a relationship with. Pick up the phone and make a lunch or coffee date with that past client. What about that colleague you think of often but haven’t seen in awhile. Do that once a week and watch your business bloom. After all, real estate is a conversation. Let’s talk.

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