Trulia Advisory Board on The Agent Value Proposistion

Trulia recently created an advisory board of industry leaders to help guide their business development efforts. They recently asked each board member the same question and posted their results in a blog post yesterday.

"With property information available across the Internet and new discount real estate services popping up everywhere, how should full service agents reframe their pitch to buyers and sellers to communicate their true value proposition in the home sale transaction?"

The responses were all very succinct and insightful. I would recommend it as required reading for all real estate professionals. Real Living COO Kaira Sturdivant Rouda summed up some of the most important issues

"Key elements agents must be able to master and pitch to clients today include: immediate e-mail response time, a robust personal and brokerage Web site, a blog, a listing search marketing strategy, and online contextual and key word advertising. It’s critical to be where today’s consumers are - and she’s there - online. And the majority are, as always, seeking a professional real estate agent’s help."

Your online strategy can no longer play second fiddle to anything you've done in the past. Bob Peltier - President of Edina Realty stated something I have been saying for years, and it's right on the money

"There is a difference between information and knowledge."

The real estate pro that has mastered information distribution and created the most compelling marketing message regarding the value proposition associated with their knowledge will be the big winners in 2007. I would evaluate my listing presentation and place as much emphasis on your ability to distribute information online as you do on the essential transaction and negotiation skills that set you apart from your competitors.