Embracing the Changing Westchester Real Estate Market

This past Monday I was honored to moderate a panel of local industry leaders at the Women’s Council of Realtors breakfast entitled “Embracing the Change.” The panelists were Jason Wilson, manager at Julia B Fee Sotheby’s, Chris Meyer, president of Houlihan Lawrence,  Leah Caro, broker at Bronxville Ley Real Estate, Gary Leogrande, past HGMLS president and principal at Keller Williams, the tremendous Laura Scott of Douglas Elliman, Marcene Hedayati, broker owner of William Raveis Legends Realty, Joseph Rand of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, and Wayne LoFranco, manager at Coldwell Banker. 

Now that’s a panel folks. And they did not disappoint. The subject matter covered the changing market we are experiencing  how technology has affected our industry, market and consumer trends and how we can collectively raise the bar in the industry. The audience of 173 people were treated to some thought provoking, insightful messages from the panel, and it was an experience to behold. 

I could actually write a book about the wide subject matter, but two things impacted me the most. Chris Meyer made a great point about how to best train the new agent. All too often, we as brokers and managers key in on generating clientele for new associates and not enough to have them understand their business, their market, and the process they must guide their clients through. I couldn’t agree more. What good is “lead generation” if you can’t help the clients you attract? And without knowing how to best help them, how are we best serving them? 

Joe Rand also made a good point about consumer responsibility that I myself have written about recently as well. He asked the ladies in the audience if they would ever use the “up” person at the hair salon instead of their preferred stylist. Of course, no one would take that chance. Why then, he asked, do consumers trust the largest transaction of their life to the “up” person in the real estate office without serious research into how to get the best representation? 

It was over an hour of real brain food. I was honored to preside, and hope the dialog will continue from this event.  

I also hope that the next time they ask me to moderate something that they get a smaller podium. 

That’s me on the right, barely peeking over the podium.
Photo courtesy of Carol Dorado