Ok...I know this topic has generated more blog post than "Carter has Liver Pills" but if more real estate agents would continue to pound the bloggosphere, maybe - just maybe the national media would stop and pay attention to the "experts in the streets" and not the "talking heads" from the financial world. Besides enough is enough. It's time our voices were heard!
I wrote a post on this topic on my blog and felt it was important my peers had the opportunity to review my thoughts too. Besides we have a unique perspective - we are the "eyes and ears" in the streets. We live on these streets and we are the neighborhood experts! Lest anyone including members of the media forget, real estate is bought and sold on a local "street" level. Granted the Internet makes our services and the homes we list for sale available to anyone with a computer and a connection to the World Wide Web. Real estate transactions are and will always be conducted "hyper-locally".
If my memory serves me correctly, the bloggosphere was dominated in its early days by political groups and their viewpoints. Appearantly, they understood the power of the pen er... post. It could sway the opinions of the masses. Today, political organizations continue to mine the bloggosphere of its fertile opportunities to influence the public. With that said, if the political arena understands the power of the bloggosphere, it's time this industry's most powerful voices understood the power of the blog too and put this vehicle to work!
I say to arms and unleash the power of the real estate blogger on our nation. Let us unite to daily post on the realities of our real estate markets. Yes - provide a balanced voice of the facts about our markets not through the lens of "rose colored glasses" but delivering the "whole story" with a voice that shares a perspective that speaks of the possiblities of capturing the "American Dream of Homeownership". Words have power and should be used to set individuals free - not hold buyers and sellers hostage to the negativity we continue to see and hear spread among us.
If you're waiting for the media to be spread a fair and balanced message about our industry, you're in for a long wait! I look forward to your comments.
A Pittsburgh Real Estate Blogger
Jim Dolanch
A Pittsburgh Real Estate Professional
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Providing the ultimate resource in Peters Township real estate for innovative home search tools and buyer resources, Jim Dolanch loves treating Peters Townships home buyers and sellers like family.
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The media will never be positive...positive does't bring them viewers or readers. I agree ..it's up to us to spread the word.
Man, you got me fired up! Of course, I pretty much stay that way, but you're right on with this. Waiting for the media to report the truth is about as intelligent as overpricing a listing. We have to consistently report the truth on our blogs, through real-world statistics and activities. Great post!
Well said Jim. I love how you spell out the FACTS in your Peters Township Blog! Both are solid post.
Jim, we are all voices in the blogosphere, and I think if we express our viewpoints with credibility readers on balance will dismiss the uninformed mainstream media. Most people know they hype things to sell newspapers.
Of course, your peers in industry may be both your most ardent supporters and harshest critics.
Pat-Ryan-Bobby and Gary: Whatever your message, we have the freedom to accurately tell the local story of our real estate markets. For that I'm especially appreciative.
Don't forget opportunities for good "ol PR. Many publications look for "experts" to consult for information and quotes. Contact real estate writers at your local newspapers. You will be surprised out how interested they will be in what you have to say. Send press releases about transactions at your brokerage firm. Keep positive information going out. Always try to make your presentation "newsworthy."
I hear your 'call to arms' and agree with your message. The 'Chicken Little' story is part of our culture and the media has embraced it. I doubt that they will listen to realtors since we are deemed to have a slanted view of the market...I will continue to blog anyway.
The media is either super-negative, or super-positive. They are the ones that fueled the home buying spree of the last five years. When they smell blood, like they did in August when the first hints of the sub-prime crisis started to surface, they immediately start chasing BAD news.
From an ex-Pittsburgher, thanks for the post!
I agree with Diane's comment. Focus on "spreading the word" through the media and the bloggosphere. Sooner or later, they will come to you for information.
We absolutely do need to keep REAL and ACCURATE and VERIFIABLE information in front of our readers. I run numbers for my area and call them as I see them... good, bad and other. I see national numbers reported on the local news, even when they are different from the local situation... but I also see agents putting out rosy anecdotes as general market reports.
So, if we can counteract the BS coming from either side (the NAR doesn't have much credibility either) we can do a lot of good for our markets...
Jim - Thanks for linking to my Sheridan Real Estate Blog post in your Peters Township post. No the real estate "sky isn't falling" here in Sheridan, WY either. Providing good information "by the numbers" is the way to go.
Good post, thanks for sharing. All the best for the new year.
LOL. I'm really glad this one got featured. I've been compiling and posting stats since 2005 on my blog since yesterday. Many more graphs and charts to go. Then I will be using them when I get to commentary so that the facts back up my position.
Credibility is a hard road when you're walking up a steep hill. Every time someone mouths off "it's ALWAYS a good time to buy!" OR "Real Estate ALWAYS goes up!", my hill gets steeper.
Thanks for the message...it is oh so very true.
Happy New Year!
Oh, in case you go looking for the stats, they are not on my AR blog, they are on my consumer blog.
I have been trying to spin positive news in my blogs for sometime. If a few more start we may get some momentum going. Great blog thank you.
Great Post..
I found it interesting today in the paper that the top 10 stories locally were all negative stories. If that's playing to the market and pushing out the negative, I don't know. But right now the story is that real estate is negative. It's our job to educate the public about the facts, good and bad - the newspapers job is to sell newspapers!!
The market is just that, the market. Whether it is "good" or "bad" depends on what YOU and YOUR position.
I am finding that blogging can be like disturbing a hornet's nest. Many people are willing to give their two cents. In many ways its a great communication tool.
The mainstream media may never catch on, but it's ok - they don't have a monopoly on information any more...
Jim- Great post about the power of the pen. It is very powerful. I am so grateful that blogging came into being so that we could voice our opinions to the masses. The media is a doomsday ratings at any price and totally irresponsible. But now people are going online to learn what is going on and that is a good thing. Katerina
Jim - great post. Interesting fact - Classified section of our biggest local newspaper The Plain Dealer asked us the brokers to give them the positive stories, testimonials from happy buyers for FREE publication. It's a great initiative, especially as a controversy to editor's horror stories about the collapse in real estate. Media influence has become a decisive factor back in 2006. I remember people almost laughing at me when I was trying to warn them about bad influence of media. Those who laughed are cryimg and complaining now. Isn't it better to be honest and pass on the true facts?
Great Blog. show your clients the statistics and ask them to turn of the TV. Remnd them that above all it is an election year and no one in politics will tell the thruth for at least a year.
So true, we need to get the truth out and blogging is the best way for the public to see it.
Great post, our voice and blogging is the best way to communicate. Happy New Year!
Wishing You HAPPY HOLIDAYS and Best Wishes for A GREAT YEAR 2008.
TommyDiane Adler - I totally agree. Your encouraging words has caused me to get with my marketing team at Dakno to create an Online Press Room. Here I will add our periodic Press Releases. Happy New Year to you!
Linda M. Cataldo Myrtle Beach Realty Specialist - I appreciate your comments and as a newer blogger, I for one will be blogging more consistently in 2008.
Ex-Pittsburgher glad you chimed in. Eliese Pivarnik - Maybe it's time we seized control of our own destiny and not left it to the devices of the media.
Betty Cutler Favier - I'm with you Betty. Lets use all the mechanisms of the media to spread a "complete" message. Happy New Year!
Jim,
I am the only realtor blogging in my city. I agree with you that the public needs to hear the other side of the story. I try to share the positive because frankly there is a lot of positive that we can tell. I am like you, I love to blog.
I took my family of a trip about 3 years ago in our small plane and we made our way to the northeast and landed in Pennsylvania and rented a car. We just loved that area so I know why you love to blog about your area! We loved visiting Hershey but really loved driving by the homes of the Amish and seeing them at work.
I added you as an associate and when I have a referral for your area, I will call you. Where exactly do you live in the state in reference to Hershey or Gettsyburg?
Jim, Nice post. The thing that gets me is all the stats compare what is happening now to last year. We all know that the last few years have had a lot of upturn in both pricing and volume. But if we compare to a more normal market things are not as bad as it seems. PS: I am an ex Pittsburgher as well. My sister and two brothers are still there. Make it a Happy and prosperous New Year.
you are correct in that it is OUR responsibility to report on what is really happening out there in the trenches, rather than sitting around waiting for the media to tell it the way we want
I love it! let's spread the real news...in my local market place we're seeing multiple offers and a decrease in inventory.
Happy New Years
Lane - In the world of Web 2.0 full disclosure and transparency is a must. The jokes really on the media. Because of the Internet, they are no longer in the "power" position holding all the cards of information. We have the real data and the local knowledge and we are the ones in the drivers seat. Now it's up to us to tell the real story "responsibly" via our Press Releases and Blogs.
Jim, I can't believe I came across you here! But I must say, I can't remember WHERE we met. Was it at a Ken Goodfellow event? Was it a CRS event? I just remember meeting you sometime and have a great time discussing real estate. I'll be adding you as an Associate.
I do believe exactly as you posted and wrote my own prediction today about how this market will turn when the psychology turns.
Hi Jim,
Didn't you know that they love to give em' dirty laundry? It sells papers! The professionals in the industry are the real voice of what's going on in the market. Sure it's got it's ups and downs but that's true of any market. It's up to us to educate the public as we meet them. Wishing you health, wealth and prosperity in the the New Year - with a mix of Happiness!
Now that blogging has started, I'm sure there's no end to it. The depth of the internet is so much more vast than we have even imagined.
I think the consumers can get very balanced local information from us as bloggers. It's not so much about positive news as it is a realistic view of the market, not skewed towards selling papers or the unrealistic views from NAR!
Not that I have anything to do with the editorial here at the Baltimore Sun, but I feel like playing devil's advocate. A lot of feedback from our readers indicates that our real estate news is to fluffy and optimistic. All of the agents and brokers I talk to hate the the RE section because it's too negative. We have to walk a fine line between giving our readers what they want and not completely alienating out advertisers. Of course, you could say, just print the truth. But there's always a spin and the same NAR press release can be taken several different ways. For every sensationalist journalist who stretches the truth to sell more papers, there is a RE agent who stretches the truth to sell more houses. That being said, I've gotten more insight into the industry from a few months of raining than in years of reading the paper. And as I tell all my clients, if you disagree with an article, post you comments for all to see. The more interactive the relationship between the RE industry, the media, and the consumer the better!
Bruce with C-21 Sheridan, WY - Your welcome. Always happy to provide a fellow C-21 colleague some link-love. Happy New Year!
Bob & Carolin Benjamin - E Phoenix Valley Real Estate - Thanks for the comment!
ARDELL DellaLoggia - I'll need to follow up and read your post.
Graham Holmes - Yucaipa Hemet REO Homes - I'm all for balanced reporting.
Frank Rizzo - Just call it the way you see it - the good, the bad and the ugly. Real estate is so local market driven.
Brian Schulman - Your Lancaster County, PA Real Estate Consultant - I have decided to "tell it like it is" in my market and if I can alter the media's perception with sound data and my market expertise, all the better.
Nestor & Katerina Gasset, Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes - The shift is happening and RE Professionals must also be responsible for "painting an accurate picture" of the realities of our local markets.
Max de vries - With the power of blogs, now we have a mechanism to share how our markets are performing. Using it responsibly and consistently will be the test!
Clark Hitchcock Fraser Valley Realtor - I agree!
Lupe Soto ~ Burbank Real Estate - Happy New Year to you too!
Jim,
Blogging is a great medium for real estate professionals to discuss independently what is going on in different parts of the country. It seems to be the only way to get a street-level look at the market. Timely post.