I arrived in New York anxious to meet the movers and shakers in real estate tech. I didn’t know a soul and had never been to a Bar Camp, but knew that the answers I needed were there. I had a simple idea that I needed to share to see if it has a future.
Real Estate Bar Camp is where industry people gather to talk about technology and how it can help your business. Many of the sessions focused on social networking – a timely and useful topic.
I signed in, told the folks at the desk that I was a vendor and asked if I could present at a session or two. Done – everyone was welcoming and helpful so it was looking good.
At my allotted time I stood alone in my corner of the presentation room quietly watching and listening to the well attended presentation at the other end of the room. No-one came to speak with me. I was a Bar Camp rookie with no reputation and no relationships and I was a vendor. I understand completely.
What I would have said
I wanted to share a new use of technology that will help real estate agents attract serious new clients online at a ridiculously low cost.
As real estate salespeople we advertise, manage our sphere of influence, blog, facebook, twitter, put our listings everywhere, join networking groups, buy leads, and do anything else we can think of to generate new business. We do many things and hope that new clients will find us somehow. Agents spend a lot of time and money trying to be everywhere a potential client might be.
The big idea – one searchable registry for all agents
The idea is to have many real estate salespeople present their services together on one website. Consumers would go to this single site to research and find the right agent for their particular needs anywhere in the US and Canada. We simply provide the information that consumers want and need in one place.
Individual agents and brokers do not have the size needed to compete with large industry websites. With many agents on the Agent Invitation site we can become the defacto agent search resource online.
Agents could present their qualifications and experience, differentiate their services, and attract new clients that need what they are really good at. Over time agents will be able to rely more on this site to attract new business and spend less time and money on other marketing and promotion activities.
Agent Invitation is version one of this website. Consumers can research neighborhoods across the US and Canada to quickly find out which agents:
- focus on the neighborhood or community that interests them
- specialize in their market segment – condos, luxury, first time buyers
- speak their language
- have happy clients.
Today we can develop, maintain and host a service like this for much less money than even a few years ago.
The cost to any one agent can be a few dollars a month, with no other fees.
Agents will be able to keep more hard earned commission dollars and spend less time and money on marketing. You can focus on providing great service to your clients.
What do you think? Does this sound crazy?
I need to know if agents will support this idea and what suggestions you have for Agent Invitation. That’s what I wanted to find out in New York. What do you think?
We’ll give the first 5,000 agents a free 12 month membership to get us ready for a consumer launch. If you think this idea has merit then sign up today and please tell your agent friends.
If you have issues or questions I would love to learn more (email don (at) agentinvitation.com). That’s the discussion I wanted to have at RE Bar Camp.
Was RE Bar Camp worth it?
Yes. I am really glad I went and would recommend it highly. I learned a lot and met lots of great people. One person was particularly kind.
When I was standing alone, hosting a discussion with myself (and feeling more than a little awkward and embarrassed), a kind soul walked past the crowd at the other end of the room, smiled and asked what I would like to talk about. We spent a delightful few minutes together. Thank you Nancy Chu, your very thoughtful gesture is appreciated.
I’ll be back, you should come too. Watch for a RE Bar Camp in Toronto May 7th..
