Flight to Quality in a Post-COVID-19 World

Real estate is leading the economy out of the recession. There are differences now, but some fundamentals remain the same. Consumers and Realtors have always flourished when a high level of trust exists. It is a symbiotic relationship. More than ever, consumers are looking for the highest level of quality in marketing and sales while maintaining healthy environments and protecting against cyber fraud.  

The strongest Realtors and their Brokerages tend to excel through times of uncertainty. When you combine trust and integrity with highly skilled professionals with robust resources, it minimizes potential stress. It also means a higher success rate, lower cancellation rates, and fewer surprises for buyers and sellers. 

Lean on the power of our Network

In real estate, a flight to quality also includes the services associated with a transaction, allowing the Realtor to act as the Trusted Advisor and provide strong recommendations for a mortgage consultant, title service, property management, home warranty, etc. This trusted network gives consumers the extra benefit of security and time savings.

Quality tech augments quality relationships

During COVID-19, internet usage skyrocketed as teleworkers took their talents to the home office. Realtors have always been proficient at working from home. The best agents and brokerages prepare themselves by utilizing technology that would allow them to operate in a primarily virtual world. The key is to find the right balance between virtual and face-to-face communication. While we are fans of the virtual when appropriate, there is nothing that can replace a face-to-face consultation to get to know someone, and nothing beats stepping over the threshold of your dream house and knowing that you have found your home. Safety and health are always priority one, so it is important to find someone that knows how to operate in both worlds.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a virtual tour must be worth a billion. COVID-19 literally and figuratively clamped down on the amount of foot traffic touring homes, so if you can’t bring buyers to a home, you have to bring the home to buyers — and the best way to do that is with a virtual tour and private video tours. An agent who is tech-savvy with a fresh approach is also more likely to be selected by sellers than someone with a stale listing strategy.

Taking quality and trust to the next level

The best agents approach the business by focusing on what matters most to their clients, tailoring advice accordingly to add value, and keeping the ultimate goal in mind. The ultimate goal is never a sale.  It is providing the best real estate guidance and deepening relationships.  After being exposed to transaction-focused salespeople, this is a refreshing perspective.

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BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES FLORIDA NETWORK REALTY WELCOMES CHRISTINE STAUFFER

Atlantic Beach, FL (07/14/2020) – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty is pleased to welcome Christine Stauffer to the Beaches/Intracoastal West and Southside office.

Although new to real estate, Christine brings years of experience in the sales and services industries to Florida Network Realty. Having lived and worked in Northeast Florida for many years, Christine offers her clients invaluable insights into the various neighborhoods and communities around the area, and the lifestyles afforded by each. Her love of the area and excitement to share it is what inspires her in her real estate career.

“Please join me in welcoming Christine to the Beaches Office. Christine is ready to hit the ground running here at Florida Network Realty. Christine recognizes that each client’s needs are different and works tirelessly to achieve a successful outcome with every home buying and selling experience. Her clients can feel confident that she is continuously striving to ensure that the home buying or selling process is as fun and stress-free as possible,” shares Don Cline, Vice President of Business Development and Broker/Manager of the Beaches/Intracoastal West and Southside office.

For more information, Christine can be reached by phone at 904.652.5014 or at Christine.Stauffer@FloridaNetworkRealty.com and website: JacksonvilleRealEstateInfo.com. The Beaches/Intracoastal West and Southside office is located at 375-1 Atlantic Boulevard, Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233.

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How Real Estate Will/Won’t Change from COVID-19

Nineteenth century-French novelist Alphonse Karr probably wasn’t referring to a global pandemic when he first wrote, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Those of us here in 2020 can surely attest to that as our lives have been dramatically altered as a result of COVID-19. From stay-at-home orders and government shutdowns to social distancing and mandates for wearing masks, life today is vastly different from life just a few months ago.

The same can be said for how we work, a point that is especially true for real estate agents. With so much in flux, agents have had to get creative with how they move houses, both on the buy- and sell-side. But are these modifications just temporary or permanent? 

The answer is both. 

To help understand what we mean when we say that, read on for a breakdown of how real estate will and won’t change with COVID-19.

How real estate will change with COVID-19

Let’s start with the ways that COVID-19 could change the face of real estate forever. The most likely change to stick is the use of technology to support virtual visits and open houses. While 3-D tours and video walkthroughs were a tool in an agent’s toolbox for occasional use, social distancing guidelines essentially made it mandatory — and that’s something we don’t see changing. The days of buyers caravanning through 10 or 15 houses in one day are likely over. Instead, these virtual tours will allow buyers to easily eliminate properties that are clearly not “the one” so that they can whittle the list down to a more manageable number.

But it’s not just searching for a new home that’s ripe for change — it’s the entire purchasing pipeline. COVID-19 has thrust a digital, or at least a more hands-off, revolution upon us that’s sent ripples throughout each step of the process. Those ripples include a shift to drive-by and desktop appraisals and remote online notarization for closing. Even inspectors are conducting examinations with the buyer tagging along via video chat.

It’s unclear how long COVID-19 will be a concern in the U.S., but most expect it to be a problem for some time. These adjustments to longstanding processes are not only more convenient for buyers and sellers, but they’re in alignment with the type of tech used in other transactional situations.

How real estate won’t change with COVID-19

Beginning with arguably the most critical point, the first thing to know is that location will continue to drive market activity. The caveat here is that it may not be a good thing for some areas. Regions with established neighborhoods, a solid economy, high quality of life, and superb school systems (like what’s in Northeast Florida) with ample amenities will continue to move, but cities or regions hurt by the pandemic will likely be slower to rebound. Places like Las Vegas that are almost entirely dependent on hospitality will need more time to recover as visitors will be less likely to travel.

We also can’t underscore the importance of a professional agent in the process — if for nothing else, to be a sounding board for buyers and sellers and help manage the hundreds of steps in a real estate transaction. Those conversations may be more likely to take place over video chat or text for now and even in the future if more convenient, but customers will always rely on their agents for sage advice.

Lastly, a poor pricing strategy will remain one of the biggest impediments to closing a deal. Even at the height of COVID-19, buyers were willing to jump through many hoops for homes at the right price. As we get to the other side of the pandemic, buyers will be even more cognizant of how far their dollars will stretch.

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