In my time in real estate I’ve noticed a trend. The real function of brokers is to make their clients feel good about the decision they are making. The actual negotiation of a lease, while important, is something that most people can do. Saving a dollar or three a square foot is nice, but not really a noticeable impact on the bottom line for most locations. Most brokers will end up with about the same deal at the end of the day.
So in that line, technology for brokers should be focused on helping clients make EVEN better decisions or have a better understanding of their decision’s impact on the overall business. If technology doesn’t enable that, it isn’t going to gain ground. MLS type systems and even comp systems have value but ultimately they are reporting the same data that most brokers and clients already have access to; they aren’t differentiating anyone – it’s a cost to play the game.
Think different because the actual act that we get paid for isn’t how we actually differentiate.