Marc Davison started 1000watt as a digital branding firm with Brian Boero from Inman in 2007, and it's been a source of information I constantly return to, not only for their very practical information on approaching marketing in the world of real estate, but also for their unique perspective on the nature and philosophy of the field of real estate.
Every now and then, they'll send out one of their deep cuts from the archives, and the blog post "Delisted" from 01/28/19 is very pertinent to what we do at Kinoko, Side, and with the greater San Francisco Bay Area real estate community.
The post focused on the nature of lists and competition and real estate. While lists and rankings can be useful, they can also encourage the wrong kind of motivations for the service-based businesses, which real estate is.
I've now been in the real estate game in the Bay Area for over 15 years, and I've learned that this business is not for the faint of heart. The field is competitive, and San Francisco real estate can be cutthroat, with enemies, frenemies, and, rarely friends. However, like minds attract, and over the years I've been able to build relationships with agents and clients that I deeply value. On occasion, toxic personalities do surface, but by and large, experienced agents in San Francisco do have a respect for one another.
A select few, including myself, have found ourselves on the top of these lists, and I do enjoy the recognition. However, with digital behemoths looming over the industry, team and community are more important than ever, which is why I joined Side. They gave me the unique opportunity to build out my team by working with me and supporting my business since its inception.
I've been able to take this support to Kinoko. I don't know if the mega brokerage is a thing of the past, but I do know that Kinoko is trying to build a close-knit group. Many agents in San Francisco are an island, and I think some enjoy working solo, but I think more can be accomplished with the give and take of a team. You have to give to receive, and I think that in the long run, thriving in this business is impossible to do alone.
Marc is correct in bringing up the sometimes divisive nature of the real estate community, and how competition and status can sometimes be used against the business community. Reflecting on his perspective just affirms why we are where we are right now. It's sometimes more difficult to try and do things in concert with others, but I remain certain that, in the long run, it's the only way to survive, and hopefully, thrive.