“The more empowered the consumers become the more demands are going to be put on the professionals serving them. Waiting to make the necessary changes may very well be a sure way to slip out of the 20% group that is closing transactions and in with the 80% group that is going to be scrambling for transaction sides.”

- from the Swanepoel Trends Report 2007

So what are the necessary changes? Obviously meeting the needs of the consumer is very important. According to a study by CAR, most online home buyers feel it is extremely important that their agent’s response time is fast–within 30 minutes fast.

The new wave of Real Estate is coming. The market is going to look up. Agents must be ready to serve the consumers who are very informed and have heightened needs for frequent communication and expect truth and honesty.

Besides being the local expert with the mobile or the Blackberry, Agents can use online technology as a way to streamline their communication as well as their business. Lead Management Technology, Re-brand able Agent Websites, and Agent Blogs not only encourage Agent-Consumer communication that is quick and reliable; the solutions promote closing transactions as well.