It seems that since last week's announcement of the extension of the Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers (as well as the added expansion to include current Sellers who have been in their current home for 5+ years) that many Realtors feel the lines will begin forming soon to "sign on the dotted line." It's not that easy.
While these reforms are exciting and will help sustain the positive movement most real estate markets are experiencing around the country, it doesn't mean we should be thinking the hedonistic days of earlier in the decade will return any time soon. The efforts to get this extension done took a tremendous amount of effort, spearheaded by the National Association of Realtors as well as Richard Smith, CEO of Realogy, the world's largest brokerage operator, and many others. (See video below from CNBC.com).
But please realize...this isn't a magic wand. It is a stick to whip those professional Realtors back into action. Daily prospecting efforts must begin to start notifying all the people you know about this news. Sure, it's important to us...because we're in real estate. The truth is that most people didn't wake up today with a need for real estate. Future/potential Buyers or Sellers will not see this as anything other than a blurb on the ticker they see from the treadmill at the gym.
Did you think about vacuums today? How about a chiropractic realignment? A new car? For most of you, until you just read those last few questions, you didn't. That's the same with most consumers. If they don't need it, they don't need to know about it. I don't think about my doctor unless I'm sick. I don't think about my mechanic until my check engine light comes on.
This is where you come in. It's time to let people know this great opportunity. Maybe they won't take advantage of it but someone they might know will.
So post it on Facebook, tweet it on Twitter, blast it out in e-Mail, blog about it to your networks. Find a reason to make this important to someone. trust me, the business is out there but it's not looking for you. You need to go out and find it.
So what are you waiting for? Start prospecting today...
Until next time, remember to Build Realtionships...Solve Problems...and Have fun!
