How's the Market?
It's a question that Realtors everywhere will be asked many times over the next few weeks as we gather with family and friends. After all, why not? Real estate is always something that people want to talk about and have an opinion on. 
When I first started in real estate many moons ago, the real estate trainers of the time, had a stock answer for the question of "How's the Market?". The answer was always supposed to be GREAT! Like Tony the Tiger kind of great.
I never actually thought that the answer was really fair. I know that it was meant to give the impression that we were busy. People after all want to work with people that are working.
But don't people want more than a stock reply? If they care enough to ask, shouldn't we be more realistic with our answer? Today people seem to really understand that the real estate market is a good gauge for the economy. Maybe they have a real estate move in their future or maybe they feel upside down or in danger with their own property and are trying to make a judgment call, or just maybe they are just interested in how we are doing. Regardless of the reason for the question, I think we owe it to them to answer truthfully, versus giving a silly and possibly insincere stock answer.
I took a class where a very good speaker had another canned answer. It was, are you thinking to buy, sell, rent or invest? Good, I guess. It takes a direction, but I don't know about you, but at a gathering like that, I don't want to feel that I am being "sold", and I don't think others do either.
What's a Realtor to do? We may be really busy and in that case the market is great for us. But, we may not be. I don't think it serves any purpose to say it stinks. But maybe it is better to answer the question with some good and important facts, versus blurting out one word or turning the question around.
After all, isn't that what people are really asking us for? Doesn't that have a bigger and better impact than that Tony the Tiger, Grreat?
Isn't that a better way to say to the public, our family and friends that we are the professionals who actually know what is going on in our market place and are the go to people when it comes to shopping for or marketing property?
Just thinking.....
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About the author
a full time Real Estate professional in Massachusetts for the past 25 years along with Al Mussi have helped hundreds of families find, sell or purchase new places to live.
A former US Marine, she grew up in Walpole, MA... is committed to the serving the community through various volunteer opportunities. She attended MA Bay Community and Suffolk University and is committed to constantly updating her Real Estate education.
Licensed in MA and RI...
Al and Cal's primary areas of service Franklin, Bellingham, Medway, Millis, Medfield, Norfolk, Wrentham, Plainville, Blackstone, Walpole, Milford, Holliston, Hopkinton, Mansfield, and Foxboro, North Attleboro, Norwood, Hopedale, Mendon, Millville but have resourses to help anyone, anywhere....
Her mission.... To exceed your expectations!
Carol-Ann Palmieri
Al and Cal Realty Group
Remax Executive Realty
508-494-9061
A quick reply with some market data and a personal observation are usually the route I take...doens't have to be drawn out conversation, just enough to demonstrate you're on top of it. Best of luck this Holiday Season
Thanks Brian. I agree. Back at you too!
You gotta love those Trainers who teach you to respond with trite answers like, "Great!", or "Now is the Time to Buy!", or "Now is the Time to Sell!".
Granted, we should have a Zig Ziglar positive attitude, but we need to back up those statements with some facts and some data!
Carol Ann: I try to provide a few facts to gauge whether it is genuine interest or just small talk. For those that want more info, I provide as much as they need.
I feel that sometimes people are just trying to engage you in a conversation. You could answer like Brian and just keep the conversation going by asking about them. If they are interested in buying or selling they will take it from there and steer you back to their interests. Keep selling, looks like the real estate market seems to be picking up from my view. An outsider.
I get this question a lot during holiday gatherings. Eyes then glaze over as I explain DOM, average sales price, and the like. It's pretty boring fare, but does help to steer the conversation back to football.
Carol Ann, We always go into these community social gatherings and the subject always turns to real estate and folks always ask. Honesty is best and our sales are picking up so that is good news, but never at the prices they once were or the price folks would like. These past four years have been difficult and it is best not to "sugar coat the forsted flakes"!
Carol Ann, we all should have an idea of the market conditions, if only for listing presentations. I think a better answer would be 'It depends on whether you want to sell or buy'
Carol Ann, i always answer with the facts because even most of the realtors only relate to their small world & don't watch the overall stats for their communities well...it is so important...