If you're not a real estate agent, broker or associated with a company that works with the industry, you've probably never heard of Connect, and that's OK. You can keep reading if you like, since I'm not talking only about real estate.
Any time you're in the company of a large number of top producers (and say what you will but the attendees at any upscale show with a decent price of admission are usually in the upper ranks of their industry), there's always a lot to learn if you slow down a bit and listen to what people are saying.
Technology is one of those crazy things that makes life better. Until it makes it worse. And the impingement of technology onto established methods (we've ALWAYS done it THIS way), well, that's really what is known as disruption.
Boy, is the real estate business in the middle of a giant disruption! There are any number of companies waiting to pounce, like Carmax or AutoNation did to the auto industry, like Expedia or Priceline did to the travel industry, or, of course, like Uber has done to the personal transportation business. And these companies will settle for nothing less than a complete upending of the apple cart, sweeping away the status quo!
Brokers and agents who've been in the business for awhile are (as expected) dead set against these upstart companies (mostly) and their crazy ideas (of course these whippersnappers are crazy) about how property should change hands.
One of the most talked about companies at the show was SoloPro - a service that enables buyers to get 3% of the purchase price of their new home returned to them at closing. And when I say talked about, I don't always mean kindly. Agents and brokers don't particularly like the idea of cutting commissions, and who can blame them? There was a LOT of grumbling about how agents working with them would have liability issues all the way around.
We sat in on a number of panels (I didn't get to go the first day, and missed some super good stuff) where some very well qualified people laid out a basic framework for packed rooms full of REPs who want to learn how to make the most of digital marketing, social & search, and new technology. Funny that I don't see the industry as a whole looking to better educate themselves in order to stay ahead of their competition - mostly I see the complacency in agents that leads the average consumer to believe that commissions are too high and agents don't deserve to be paid that much.
But time marches on, the beat never really changing, perhaps the tempo stumbles around in the dark before settling back into a real rhythm, but the song keeps on playing.
The takeaway from my story?
Inman puts on a GREAT show - top notch speakers, packed seminars and panels, a lovely happy hour, and filled with top producers.
OR
Just because you think you're in an industry that won't be disrupted by new technology doesn't mean you actually are.
As always, if you want to demo our mobile wallet marketing platform, just let me know and we'll get you set up ASAP!
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