GenY – Turning the Corner in Real Estate

We wrote some GenY Primers

• Here
• and Here
  

No Agent left behind

(unless you want to be, then good luck with that)

Many scoffed at the idea of discussing GenY without understanding the point of the background we were laying out for what is upcoming. What I found to be interesting is that GenX in the west seemed to have problems with what we are describing, yet Redfin just let us all know that 90% of their clients are less than 45 years of age. Are you sure you’re not missing something here? You cannot argue with data, it’s factual, all you can do is try to understand it and adapt.

Sure, the data we presented in earlier posts is about internet, computers, iPods, and cell phones, and you’re no piece of electronics. But if your marketing isn’t reaching the core audience, then it is more than likely that you’re not reaching the electronic stream that GenY is accessing daily, and hourly. Remember, this is the largest demo since the boomers.

The Question to ask yourself

If you truly believe that GenY has no real new expectations of you, then why do you blog? If you truly believe that GenY doesn’t get their information online from peers using social media, then why do you Twitter? If you truly believe this new generation Y doesn’t come complete with its own culture, then you are wasting your time online.

Most GenX could care less about what a blog or Twitter is unless their kids are using them, and even then, they’re warning their children away from you. The bottom line is that we want to try to help you turn that waste of time into primetime online real estate, and to do this you must understand the generational gap and the new merge taking place.

Why the first article was so dramatic and from the hip

…and smacked of sarcasm and grit

Because a GenY wrote it. Again, welcome to GenY- it was simply to make a point, that some missed.

Why we’re writing this series

Without understanding where GenY and soon GenZ mingle and congregate seeking the wisdom of the crowd, then how in the world do you stand a chance to be that wisdom- you can’t and you won’t.

Speaking from experience

This is Lani’s Facebook (in case you’re not on Facebook, I added an image at the top), and you see her list of 216 friends. Besides the usual suspects of Real Estate professionals, you see that her Facebook is loaded up with GenY friends that are now all around the world. She truly mingles in the GenY social media circle. Yet, some would doubt what she demonstrates effectively, daily. I would also acknowledge that she mingles with GenX quite nicely as well, so her ability to mingle in both realms should give anyone pause at just how well networked GenY really is. How many actual consumers are in your Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace feeds? Don’t fear, soon we’ll illustrate what works most efficiently and what doesn’t.

Here’s what we know

Show me one GenY client or person you know, and I’ll show you 20 GenYs I’ve closed (here’s three). The truth is, most agents have not one clue as to what will soon hit businesses in droves in the next few years. The oldest age of a GenY consumer is roughly 28 years of age, we’ll add 5 years to include a cusp which would mean that if the majority of your demographic isn’t 33 or younger, then you may want to sit back and grab a pen.

What we know about data

Demographic realities are just that, realities- it is a fact that your upcoming clients will be found on the internet. Chances are that your marketing is stab in the dark failures in the social department, which is probably true if you’re surrounded with other Realtors instead of potential buyers, that means you will miss out on the largest sector of buyers coming in the next 5 years- wrap your brain around that.

So, this closes the basis of what GenY is, and now you’ll be seeing upcoming articles about how GenY’s move in online social streams and how it will effect your business and how you can tap in. If you’re not up for this challenge then don’t read our up coming social media articles, but if you could use some serious input on how to find your way to the stream- stay tuned, but until then, here’s some more meat to chew on:

Why we chose Redfin as an example

It wasn’t because we knew you’d smell blood and attack, it was because of this simple fact- if you believe there are plenty of GenXers to still work with, you may be wrong. Entities in mainstream media such as the New York Times and others have already injected companies like Redfin into the Xer’s consciousness, and guess what, it’s resonating. Take Glenn’s assertion for example, “90% of our customers are under 45.” This means that clients from the age of 28 and older are using them, they’ve found the alternative, and it’s real whether you believe they offer service or not, and most certainly whether you believe they can survive- another company will just pop up in their place and do it bigger and better, and then what?

Don’t fear, we’re not here to tout the end of the world

Our goal is to break down these unique realities and begin to define niche options in marketing, together. The mission now becomes finding opportunities to break into social streams to offer the alternative, but it must be done in a way that speaks to a 2.0 buyer or seller authentically in whatever generation they’re in. We’ve lined up some interesting information that will help all of us tool what most are already doing poorly into something that wins. Our hope is that we can start a collaborative conversation on the future of real estate and how we can begin to shape it as we move towards rebarcamp08, rather than shot in the dark dribble- this is gonna be a lot fun…