Matthew Rathbun’s Share-Spot

With so many new apps being created for smartphones, it’s hard to keep track of them all.   Recently I downloaded some apps for my Droid that are examples of “Augmented Reality”.  They are tools that provide an overlay of information about a specific location that can be useful to the viewer. Imagine being able to add Augmented Reality information to your listings… Common Craft does a great video explanation of this type of technology:

What's The Plan, Man?

While walking through my office today, I saw a little wallet size card, called "One Year - Six Goals" and because it reminded me of a religious track that one might find in a public restroom from 1989 I had to pick it up. When I actually opened it, I realized that it was anything but. VAR had put onto an eye-catching, trendy card a summary of where they were headed in the next year. Brilliant.

Keep it Simple and Keep it Interesting

I know I don't say so enough, but I was immediately impressed with the pointedness, who was in charge and what the card had to say. See, in the process of going from Realtor to Association staff and then back to Realtor, I've kind of gotten lost in the shuffle of what's going on. I had not really been paying much attention to what was going on and what the Association was up to.  When I picked up this small 8-paneled card, I was easily able to read without salesy Association-gibberish exactly what direction we were going - I felt up to date and didn't have to read a legal size chart of 14 pages of strategic plan to get there. I've been incredibly fond of the direction that VAR communications has taken for some time. The recent editions of Commonwealth Magazine, the Association Blog and the Convention makeover have all been outstanding. The best I've seen in the industry. Goal 4 hit me "Use the expertise of more of our members to help all our members". I went to the website on the card and found this information:

Project: Leveraging your expertise for the good of the profession and enhancing your value proposition Leader: Scott Brunner, Chief Executive Officer At its core, VAR is its members. And while most of our 30,000 members didn’t join VAR just to be a volunteer, the services we deliver are only as good as the member expertise Realtor® leaders provide in their state and local associations. We simply wouldn’t be effective without our volunteers — hundreds of committee members, directors, liaisons, officers, and others just like you. That’s why in 2010, we’ll be doing more to identify members with critical expertise in key subject areas on which VAR is working, and engage those members in the effort. The result, we believe is better policy proposals, better programs and services and better overall member value. At the same time, it’s true that not every Virginia Realtor® has time to volunteer with the association. But every member should feel engaged in and served by VAR. In the year ahead, we’ll be looking to enhance your connection to VAR by creating a variety of tools and touchpoints that reinforce the value you receive for that dues check you stroke once a year.

I think VAR has always done a pretty good job of this, but I had never heard put so succinctly. I've traveled and taught for many Realtor Associations and just this past week I've had conversations with several staffers (usually those responsible for Education) in three different states, that have had issues with volunteer involvement. The most talented volunteers are rarely able to deal with committees and politics. They also seem to have a lot less time to give. I've lived both the life of the volunteer as well as staff and I understand the lack of time and interest that plagues the Realtor, as well as the frustration of the (usually) overworked Staffer. We Realtors seem to be incredibly blessed with an over-abundance of ideas and advice, but little to no follow through.   And before those who are involved get irritated, look around.  What percentage of your overall membership is engaged? Oh sure, we're happy to blog and chatter about what Association leadership isn't doing or why staff can't just.....fill in your opinion here. But often we're not interested in participating to make things better. Many people, outside of those voted into leadership have skills and abilities we wish to share. But why? I was reading a blog post of Lani Rosales from Agent Genius earlier about the emerging of changes in Brokerage models, and found a great video that she shared. It's well worth the time to watch and whereas it fits well with her blog post, I think it also explains ALOT about the dilemma that Realtor Associations face when recruiting and keeping good volunteers.  And why I've backed away from much of that life-style.

Confession of an Association Burn-Out

The presentation above spoke to me. I was happy and motivated when surrounded by a team of people who where enthusiastic and engaged. I was thrilled to go somewhere with a project or opportunity that actually built tools or made the industry better, but inevitably as soon as any project became popular everyone becomes interested. It becomes politicized and now we need more committees and more oversight. This issues isn't at all unique to Real Estate. I've been volunteering with civic organizations since my mid-teems and it's always the same. With the Realtor Association, it's a bit different in that there is typically so many varied needs that not everyone sees the benefit of every project. We're a diverse group and no one thing is going to appeal to the entire membership, this is hard for many dedicated or creative people.  Typically those gifted with creativity or skills are not gifted with tolerance for  hierarchy or bureaucracy. If I could recommend a few things that might help Associations with keeping their volunteers, it would be this:

• Stop having committee meetings for everything! Have task groups, only invite those that can contribute and don't invite those who just want to "make sure it goes right". The knee-jerk reaction to most organizations is to take complainers and tell them to get involved in a particular project if they have issues with it. This is deflating for most people. I don't want to have to show up to a meeting and spend 75% of my time trying to get the minority on board.  When the task is complete, so is the task force.
• Stop trying to make everything one size fits all. If your education plan appeals to tech savvy, fast moving, laptop-bringing agents than own it. If your publications bring fire from people who want to hear less about new trends and more about how to call from a phone book, give them editions of a 1995 marketing class - they won't know the difference anyway. If your members don't show up to meetings because they don't like the new chair, then tell them to find a group that they do like.
• No more leading by Clairvoyance. So often organizations die because when a project is announced, so many people "see" future problems. Look, people are going to get upset no matter what you do. Be Creative anyway. Be a Visionary anyway. Be Awesome, anyway.  Just because your leadership is typically "veteran" agents doesn't mean that you should neglect your innovative newcomers.  And we should stop assuming that "veteran" agents aren't also innovative and longing for something-anything new.
• If you don't have the people, than don't do it. Association staff and volunteers are limited resources. If there aren't enough people than there aren't enough. I find that often in all sorts of organizations, people try to cling to committees and projects that are dead. If you find that you'd don't have the folks for your functions, projects and socials than clearly you don't have enough vision to keep doing them. You often hear "But, the people who did show up enjoyed it". So?!?! If your programs don't have attendance than why kill yourself for the interested few, if it was that great why aren't they bringing more people with them?  I think that most people tell Association Leadership that they like a particular program to make leadership/staff feel better about low turnout.  If you have the same event again without increase, consider doing it differently.
• Scarcity and uniqueness drives interest - not ubiquity. When Associations do find something that people like, the Associations tend to do it over and over again until it dies. It's great that it was a success. What can we do different? People get bored easily in this culture. You're annual [fill in your event here] was a success last year, but after three years it's just the same old thing unless YOU make it different. Do fewer and more interesting actives and events.

I am sure there are more that you can add and I'm sure that better minds than mine will find fault with all of this, but I crave something different. I'm always looking for something new to do and engage in and I know that I'm not alone.

Do You Remember What HAMP Is?

All over the Real Estate world we've been talking about HAMP.  I think it was a program with potential, but like all good intentions, there is a reality.  Most agents still haven't full grasped how HAMP/HAFA effect our business and are less likely to care once you see the information below.  But you should... Here's the face that HAMP puts on: It's got potential, but the reality is that it's failing and doing so in the infancy of it's importance.  CNN has reported that up to 75% of those who are getting a HAMP modification are going to be back in default according to the Fitch report:

Many of these borrowers still have very heavy levels of other debt," said Diane Pendley, a Fitch managing director, "auto loans, credit cards and other expenses. The HAMP modifications reduce housing expenses down to 31% of income but do not touch these other obligations." On average, HAMP-modified borrowers, according to Pendley, have 64% of their monthly pretax income spent before they even buy a quart of milk. If even a small emergency arises -- an unexpected car repair, a medical bill or a loss of overtime income -- they're in trouble.

What Does This Mean to Realtors?

I think the information from this report is useful for agents when helping Seller's weigh their options.  If a Seller is in trouble with their mortgage, Short Sales are still a better option than the inevitable Foreclosure.  Agents should recommend that Seller's still attempt to process the HAMP program and the HAFA program to help them while the agent markets and sells their home.  The agent will do what they can to minimize the damages to the Seller in aggressive marketing and negotiations.

All New Again!

It was just a couple of years ago that Realtor.com released it's current version.  Now, as is the way with all technology it's time for a new release.  You can find the new site at beta.realtor.com. The current site is ok, I still find it hard to navigate and harder still to find the same listing twice.   Frankly, I never got much out of it - until this past year.   This year, presumable because of less active competitors I've actually been contacted from Realtor.com with honest to goodness consumers.  The page view reports are great for letting your clients know how many eyes have been on their listing. The first blush of the new site is clean and trendy. The splash page (as seen on the left) gives a few bullet points as to the new features.  None of which are earth shattering, but nice non-the-less.  Mainly they have seemed to improve some existing features.

What's Important To Me, The Realtor?

Findability...  The new Realtor.com site makes it easier to find Realtors and more information about us. The tab to search for Realtors in your area is at the top and makes it pretty easy to plug in a location or agent name and get their contact info and listings.  What is amazing to me is how few agents put up-to-date information and profile pictures in their account.  With Realtor.com touting such large visitor numbers, one would think agents would take a few minutes to make sure they could be contacted. Home searches are better on the beta, but honestly I'd rather not compete with Realtor.com for client searches.  I want clients to come to my site and sign up for home searches, so Realtor.com's search site doesn't benefit me much. Realtor.com is also giving "sold" property information out.  I think this is the first time that they've done this.  This could keep a listing agent on their toes when doing CMA's.

What I Wish They'd Do Better

It's new, so there may be new features added, but with the cool features of RPR I guess I just expected more innovation.  Some new Franchise sites have been released and have some VERY innovative features.  Zillow and Trulia still seem to be on the forefront of the intuitive user functionality and with fewer competitors advertising on those sites, maybe a better investment in your marketing. There are a few other things that I really wish Realtor.com could do better:

• iPhone App is cool, but what about Droids and Blackberry?
• Having Bank of America sponsor the Mortgage Calculator is just plain funny.  They're one of the worst banks to work with and show the least cooperation for Realtors trying to help their clients... so, let's not plaster their name everywhere on the Realtor website.
• When an agent profile is viewed, it only shows the number of residential listings next to the name but not the land/lot listings.  Yet when you click to look at the listings all listings are there.
• Home Valuation options are all over the site.  I understand this is an attempt to keep up with Zestimates, but the same issues that makes Zillow inaccurate still plagues Realtor.com - 'garbage in-garbage out'.  Having online estimates of a properties value is kind of silly, as there are too many factors that go into pricing a home.  I searched my home on the site and it gave me average price that was about $40,000 too high.  The problem is bad data from Realtors and tax records.  I know it's a needed feature, because the consumer wants it; but it might be easier to provide this information and a link or form to an agent do a better evaluation.  This could be a consumer contact source, just like when the consumer asks for more information about a specific house.

Overall it's a much better site.  The speed and extra information are much needed improvements.  The intuitive look and feel make it easier to navigate and you can't argue Realtor.com's findability on Google.  Since the site is more a lead-generator than anything else; I'm happy to see more effort put into the Agent Profile sites.  Realtors should be taking advantage of Realtor.com more than I think they are.  They've turned me around on this issue in the past few years.

I upgraded to Wordpress 3.0 yesterday and it’s pretty cool.  The upgrade with Thesis was seamless and super simply.  My favorite new feature is the ability to update all plugins with one click.