Agent Blogs

REAL ESTATE HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY THROUGH THE YEARS !

This is where I sound like I'm 400 years old again...when I first started my real estate career, it consisted of a 5 week course with the 1st segment being 1 week long and the 2nd and 3rd segment each consisting of 2 week periods.  Then off you go into the wild wacky world of listing and selling real estate as a living.

I started my career with MacKenzie and Gallinger.  Anyone out there that was in this area in the early 80's will remember this company.  And Laurrie MacKenzie used to always say to me "if you list...you last".  So off I went to knock on doors and walk down the street shaking hands and handing out my business cards.  And at that time...I handed out a few cards at RU Reddy's and the Arlington.

Then there was the MLS Book that came out once a week and gave us all the details on what was currently listed.  That was our bible.  It only showed the front of the property and no other pics.  And so much for knowing what was listed right away...unless you drove around and saw a 'for sale' sign and called the respective Listing Company for details.  None of this sitting in front of a laptop and getting info instantly.

If a prospective buyer wanted details on a property, they would call you...and not on your cell phone...non-existant at the time...and you would give them the details over the phone and/or mail them the details.

And if you wanted to show a property...you would call the real estate listing company to make the appointment, pick up the keys for the property...and we're talking driving all over...Creemore, Meaford, Wasaga Beach, etc.  You showed your prospective buyers the properties and then you went back to all of those same offices to drop the keys back again.

Now comes the offer.  It would be typed up and 6 copies would be used.  The respective parties would have to sign ALL the copies and not by email or by fax, but in person which usually meant me hopping in my car and driving through horrific snow storms to Toronto to put the deal together.  And, it never failed, the Buyer would be in Oshawa and the Seller in Mississauga... and of course there would be several signbacks...yes back and forth to each party.  One of my client's felt so sorry for me he finally took the offer because he didn't want to see me driving back and forth anymore.  And, as mentioned, all 6 copies would have to be signed...not very environmentally friendly, eh.

There was no such thing as a home inspection done on a property.  The buyer would usually have their uncle or father or best drinking buddy walk through the house, make their negative snide remarks and that would be it.  'Caveat Emptor' applied back then...in English 'Let the Buyer beware'.

We've come along way in the last few decades.  The consumer can log on to their own computer, go to Realtor.ca (MLS.ca)  and get all the details about  any listing anywhere in Canada.  Then, if interested in a property, they can phone, email, text, tweet and whatever else to contact a Realtor. Everything is handled

through a computer and the information is saved for future reference. And...no more driving 4000 kms to do a deal.  No more using 6 copies of an Agreement of Purchase and Sale anymore..  We can email it or fax it. And the actual deal...same thing...all by electronics.

Realtors must go through extensive on-going training, none of this 5 weeks and you're a Realtor.  There are many government and self regulated 'eyes' watching over us at all times.

We highly recommend that all buyers hire a professional Home Inspector to go through the prospective home thoroughly so they know what they are buying.

As great as this all sounds, there are 'pros and cons' to it all.  For example, when a consumer looks on the internet, they make the decision of whether, or not, to see a property... based on the photos in many cases. And, if you're like me, sometimes photos don't show the true beauty of something...hence my passport photo and driver's license photo.

All in all, we must change with the times and it truly is the better way to go.

Until we meet again.

Trish