It’s a good thing that I am active in the market – or I would not know how to help my Sales Associates succeed today.  Because things have changed.

What’s different now vs. 1.5 years ago?  Glad you asked!  Here’s a list:

1. Print Advertising.   It generally does not work.  Sorry local newspapers!
2. Direct Mail.  It can INFORM and drive to the internet.  That’s all.
3. Floor Time.  This old hoary relic died in 1995.  Most of my competitors still use it!
4. Open houses.  Except in new homes models. . . .
5. Door Knocking.  First thing I learned at the real estate school of “hard knocks”.  No one is home today.
6. Cold Calling.  Hard to believe this was ever done.  You have to be a politician today to do it legally.
7. Hiring new agents and NOT training them.  A cruel joke:  90% of all new agents fail.  They need help today more than ever since no transactions are easy anymore.
8. Agents sitting in the privacy of their offices.   You have to meet the people.
9. Bragging that you are “Number 1″ in Perrysburg or Three Meadows or the 43551-1403 sub zip code.  People see through this.  The customer ought to be #1, not the ego maniacal agent or broker.
10. Discount Brokers.  They always shrivel and shrink in a down market.  Every time.  In this market?  They are dieing.   Dead.  They are dead men walking (along with a lot of “traditional brokers” who are neither changing or learning).