Recently by Merv

Mollie, Merv and Paula will attend the Inman News "Real Estate Connect" conference in San Francisco July 30th through August 3rd.

The Inman conferences are the premier networking, information, and technology conferences for the real estate industry.

Executive-level real estate professionals, opinion leaders, technology giants, industry experts, and press gather each year at Connect Conferences to discuss a broad cross-section of traditional and cutting-edge topics critical to the real estate industry, opening the door to a wealth of opportunities for business development, information and idea exchange, discussion and debate.

Every seller is a "For Sale by Owner." Every buyer is a "do it yourselfer." It is simply a matter of how much of the work in a real estate transaction is contracted to a real estate professional. From none to the entire transaction. Or in industry speak, from the stereotypical FSBO for a seller to a "full service" listing.

If the only thing we change about our business is implementing a different way to charge clients for real estate and real estate related services we have missed the point. You just become another real estate agent with a different business model. So, lets take a look at what "consulting" and "consultant" really means:

Note: Republished from the Northern Virginia Real Estate Guide

October 17, 2006

The traditional commission model has no relationship to effort and expense across a wide spectrum of property types, markets and price ranges. We (Pam and I) began using consumer Choice models when I established our relationship with RE/MAX on August 1, 2004. We have accumulated significant experience with different approaches and what works and what doesn't; the pitfalls, potholes, roadblocks and agent/broker scourge as well as documented successes. This stuff works! I believe it IS the future for the real professionals in this business.

Property and homes are commodities, pure and simple. High demand and low supply drives prices higher and the asset becomes more liquid (easier to sell). Low demand and high supply drive prices lower and assets become less liquid (harder to sell). Market value is ultimately determined by what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller willing to take. I hear the following statements from consumers: Well, I can't sell for less than my tax assessment! My home is worth at least my appraised value! My neighbor said... My Mom told me... The one down the street sold for...and my home is better... Zillow says...