Jennifer and I took a quick trip to Arizona the week of Labor Day, to spend 4 days with our kids, and do some high desert hiking. I am a “catch up on a book” guy when flying. It is the most peaceful time I have, as the phone is in airplane mode, and there is no email. I did take some time to observe people around us, and the “scrolling habits” of each, which was mind boggling. The speed that people were skipping from app to app was dizzying, and the amount of people around us engaging in the same practice was incredible. It was one of those moments that we see things happening in front of us every day, but there is that one day when we are in a certain mindset, that changes everything. The mind shift I took away that day has changed my focus, and our future.
That day has me watching our industry, and our peers, in a different way. As AI is changing real estate marketing daily, I watch as everyone jumps on the bandwagon and does the same thing. I am preparing for the scoffs as I write this, but it is all so boring. The “next best thing” is happening at light speed, and the next best thing, immediately adopted and done by everyone, becomes (at least in my opinion), the next boring thing. We operate a business of service, memories, and relationships. We live through a marketing strategy of gratitude, with some fun things thrown in, and share in the successes of our clients. We don’t care about looking perfect, because if we did, I wouldn’t be in a single closing or market update photo and video. Our photographer does the absolute best job, which is why she has worked for us for over 13 years. Photography and videography must be professional, clear, and creative, but it also must be real. Making things TOO good creates disappointment when a home buyer walks through the door, as they see how the home really looks. Expectation, followed by disappointment, is something few people talk about in real estate. Our team photos are real, so when we walk through the door, we are who the potential client expects. I have never felt the need to share every aspect of my day with the world, our clients and friends know how much we work, and how long our days are. What we love is showing gratitude, and celebration, for our clients’ memories. But that’s just us.
The real estate market, as of the time of this writing right after the Labor Day holiday, finds us in a slight lull, which is historically typical. The Iran war is influencing gas prices, that is contributing to some buyer hesitation, and we have the impending mid-term elections coming up in November. But the market will remain very steady as we get further into September. As of this date, our team has already surpassed 2025 production numbers, and we remain 5% ahead of our 2021 pace, which was our best year ever, and I hold a very positive outlook for the remainder of this year. Buyers are in a stronger position now, given slightly lower buyer pressure, and listings must continue to be accurately priced, and move in ready.
Make it a memorable fall and take a color tour!
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