It's good to be home, but man was San Diego fun! I went to the National Association of Realtors Conference & Expo (NAR 09) last week, with my business partner Brian Ends. We figured that it was about time we join in an participate with some of our industry leaders and jump in on the dialog about some of real estate's most pressing topics.
The conference was located in Downtown San Diego at the enormous and picturesque Convention Center. Every city should have one of those things! But only San Diego could pull off a location like this – right on the water and footsteps from some of the best food and people watching in the world – the famous Gaslamp District.
Before the NAR 09 conference, we got into town the day before, for an "unconference," called Real Estate Bar Camp San Diego, or, #REBCSD! This by far was the best day we had while in San Diego, not because it was FREE and held at the coolest restaurant/lounge I've ever been to – Stingaree, rather it was because of the niche mini 45 minute seminars of all different kinds that we got to participate in, hour after hour. And the people – we met some of the best real estate/technology minds from all over the country at this event. The hot topic of the day, was of course, Social Media. And there were definitely some Social Media industry stars in attendance at the #REBCSD.
So what did we actually learn aside from the fact that San Diego is gorgeous in November?
- I want to move back to San Diego ( I used to live there for 3 years), and live in a high rise condominium. I know that will never happen especially seeing as I have two kids and 3 pets and lord knows what else, but, perhaps as a vacation retreat! Walking distance to the Gaslamp, Petco Park, the Trolley, and Seaport Village…c'mon!
- People will travel from all over the globe (Brazil, Austrailia, England, New York, etc) to come to the hottest Real Estate Conference on earth. It's really nice to see the travel efforts people put in, in order to advance their skills. I'm very proud to serve in an industry where people take that much pride in what they do. And no, they didn't all come to San Diego for the Zoo – people at this conference meant business. Standing room only at many of the seminars!
- Technology and Social Media ( a bit of the same thing) has no age limit. I'm not saying that I thought people into their 60's, 70's, etc., didn't "get" technology or social media , and embrace it, but I was definitely amazed at the large handful of agents from around the world who were well above 60 years old that DID get it! They were asking excellent questions and really dissecting the new real estate technology being discussed and the social media revolution. In a sense, I was proud of them. Proud, because I know there are so many people who just don't get it, and choose to turn a blind side to the new ways of doing business in an ever changing industry.
- Social Media is dominating the real estate industry discussion right now. With tools such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and even Foursquare…it's all about connecting with your fellow colleagues, clients, friends, and family online, in ways that we never have in the past. These new methods of communication, will forever change the way we, as Realtors get our business. For those Realtors who don't embrace this technology and new method of communication, I fully expect them to lose some of the business they have relied on, as those clients will start to identify and communicate (online) with other real estate practitioners that do "get it."
- It's going to take time for the masses of real estate agents out there to understand the changes that are going on in the real estate industry. Sure, it looks like there might have been thousands of agents who "got it" in San Diego….but do you know how many agents are out there that didn't go to the convention, and or aren't even aware of what Twitter, Facebook, and Blogging can do for their business? Strike while the iron is hot. If you don't know – learn. Your local competition is very slim right now. It's as if your one of the few agents with access to the MLS. Other agents in your area, in large numbers, don't get it yet…but it won't be that way forever.
- Help is all around you, and me, when it comes to improving our skills and understanding of new tools in the real estate business. It is astonishing to know how many nice, intelligent, and helpful people, in and just outside of our real estate industry there are. And they really do want to engage with you and I. I speak with them all the time. It's awesome to know that a key player in a particular field, 3,000 miles away, can send me a tweet with important information, and in one second, set me on a path to make a positive change in the way I conduct my own business. And that happens every day, on many different levels.
I can't wait to become more and more part of this sweeping revolution that is changing the way real estate business is being conducted. It will be interesting to see how what we know today, is changed and put to work in ways we don't yet comprehend or foresee. Until then, let's all take a deep breath, embrace change, take every opportunity to learn from those around us, and improve upon the current way we do business. Our clients expect these improvements, and so should you.
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