In light of the recent news, the distinction between a transaction-minded real estate broker and a solution-oriented real estate professional will soon never be so pronounced, and the economic viability between the two will never be so stark.
Friday’s ruling with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is leading to rampant speculation on the future of the real estate brokerage field. Norm Miller, a professor emeritus of real estate at the University of San Diego, predicts this ruling “will blow up the market and would force a new business model.” Others claim that this is the biggest change to real estate since the measures related to the New Deal nearly 100 years ago.
What remains unchanged is the gravity of finding a home – the right home – which is often a complex and always crucial decision.
Real estate professionals can (continue to) differentiate themselves from real estate brokers by providing key value in at least the following ways:
☞ Help Clients Understand the Importance of Making the Right Decision.
Home buying is not a transaction. It’s an investment in one’s future self. It shapes one’s sense of purpose, social connections, physical well-being, financial security, and more. It’s foundational to healthy longevity. Real estate professionals can assist their clients in making wise decisions about place. Unwinding bad decisions is often difficult and always costly.
☞ Provide High Customer Service Matching their Clients’ Needs.
Real estate professionals understand their role as quarterbacks of the process and transaction. A client’s problem is their problem. Having a broad network of experts to bring in to provide counsel or content becomes increasingly important.
☞ See Beyond the Transaction.
The average American adult moves a dozen times. With increasingly long lives, there will likely be more moves at mid-life and beyond. These moves can be especially complex. A trusted real estate professional on one’s team will be increasingly valuable.
No one has a crystal ball on how exactly the ruling will impact the real estate industry. We do know that the historical real estate brokerage system rewarded mediocrity. Transaction-minded real estate brokers were compensated the same as solution-minded real estate professionals.
There will always be a need for real estate professionals – especially in a world of increasing complexity and change – and I bet that the strong ones will stand out and have a business model that rewards them for the value they provide.
Founder/CEO at The Holden Agency, THA Brands, Mortgage, Title, Capital, Holden property management, former professional athlete, Author, motivational speaker
3wAlways thank you for the great information!