Here’s the thing: we are in the business of promoting and selling homes.

Here’s the other thing: social media makes promoting sellers’ homes easier and more effective than ever.

The days of print advertising are fading, and quickly. Remember the real estate profession before mobile phones? Remember before computers, when all homes were listed on index cards or stuffed into huge binders? The days of dinosaurs, my friend. And I’ve got news for you. Another cultural shift is occurring now. In fact, we’re smack dab in the middle of a paradigm shift — how information is processed and shared.

Don’t be scared. It’s fun! It works!  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Flip cams, smartphones, blog posts, online forums — you name it.  It’s all about where the eyeballs are. In order to showcase a seller’s home, it needs to be seen. Social Media accomplishes this beautifully, placing the best homes in front of the eyeballs that matter most: qualified buyers.

Question: Where are today’s qualified buyers?

Answer: Online.

Question: Where are today’s most beautiful homes being showcased perfectly?

Answer: Online.

The challenge? It’s new. And “new” can seem trendy or even threatening. Real estate professionals who assist Westside buyers and sellers know that they are in a higher-end marketplace and realize (hopefully) the importance of elegance and discretion. This is how it should be. But discretion should enhance a Realtor’s skill set, not interfere with effectively promoting the client’s property.

What all of this means is that, in order to be truly helpful to our clients, we must stay abreast of the newest and best technological tools. That’s easier said then done. Realtors can be like everyone else: fearful of change. But change we must, if we are to continue to provide platinum-level service to LA’s homebuyers and homesellers.

After we educate ourselves about the newest technologies and feel comfortable using them, we are called upon to educate our sellers. They need to know how social media is in their best interest and why. The best Realtors are more than just expert negotiators — they are great educators.

In this short video, I explain more about this new development in how the best agents are advising buyers and sellers of residential real estate. If you happen to be a Realtor, please watch it. If you happen to be a seller, definitely watch it!