Behind the Yard Sign | A Tell-All Real Estate Podcast by Big-Mouthed Home Stagers
EPISODE 2: Managing Real Estate in COVID Times, Interview with Todd Shively, CCB Managing Broker
In unprecedented times, we turn to leaders in our industry to help guide us and lead us in new directions. Todd Shively is the Principal Managing Broker of Coldwell Banker Bain Capitol Hill, one of the more than 30 CBBain offices in Washington and Oregon. He’s a career real estate professional and a good friend of Spade and Archer. In his many years in real estate Todd has seen and done it all, but this is uncharted waters for all of us. So, we asked him how he was navigating these turbulent times and what advice he had for the rest of us in the real estate arts.
Podcast co-hosts Spade and Archer founder, Justin Riordan, and marketing side kick, Kelly Hanahan, welcome Todd Shively to the show.
“My agenda primarily focuses around crystal clear communication; providing touchstones for the brokers so that they have a sense of continuity”, Todd said. With multiple agencies and government outlets providing constantly updated- and often conflicting- information it is important to stay in constant communication. “We do a lot of meetings. I ask everybody to get on the video and we do our regular meetings at our regular times. We have happy hours three times a week. People begin to fall into the rhythm of things. We have a couple of additional meetings in the mornings just to be available if somebody wants. We are helping folks who are not regularly in touch with their clients and trying to get them to use this time in the best way possible.”
And though the office is closed, Todd still goes in on Tuesdays just check on the basic infrastructure and provide a sense of continuity. Agents can set up appointment times to come in and pick things up if necessary. The goal is to get the work done to the degree that they feel they can safely do it. All models of business operation are going to change and it’s up to us to take what we know how to do and adapt to the change.
A major part of our business is the open house. Unlike a sweater you can return or an essential item you can order online, most people want to actually experience the home upon which they are spending thousands of dollars. Social distancing orders drastically alter the way business has always been done. Dozens of people showing up to walk through a stranger’s house right now is dangerous and impractical. Some agents have just been posted up in a house waiting for people to arrive and the idea that they're just going to say, ‘I'm just going to conveniently be here with the door open and try to stay far away’ and having people standing out in the line really just flies in the face of everything we're trying to accomplish. Showings have to be scheduled now- it’s the law- and everyone should be ok with that. “Let's just get on board with the rules,” Todd says.
What does the future hold for real estate? How long will we be in this new modus operandi and how can we best serve the client? The future is uncertain, but many things that we are doing now can carry over into the new way of doing business. Maybe all of this should be applied permanently. “I think everyone's behavior is going to be affected for a long time.” Todd says. “In terms of how we allow the public into our spaces and engage a public space we’re really trying to create enough of a sense of structure that people can feel as safe as they can coming into the house. You sort of just have to say: let's do everything we can within the smallest box possible to facilitate for the needs of the greater good.”
With the ever-changing landscape of business vs. virus, economic health vs. physical health, and personal freedoms vs. the good of the public we must bob and weave if we are to survive. Many industries will not make it out of this pandemic at all so it’s up to real estate leaders and professionals to try whatever they can to make it through. This industry has been adaptable in the past with adopting the online viewing format. We have created virtual tours and stunning imagery to engage buyers. This is a 24 hours service industry even with socializing restrictions. It’s up to all of us to adapt and move forward. Real estate will always be an essential business. Safely moving forward, leading this and other industries in new techniques, and maintaining the customer connection through any means possible is how real estate will survive and thrive in the future.
Spade and Archer Design Agency, a Portland, Seattle and Los Angeles home stager, has real estate’s most fun job. Staging homes is endlessly exciting—especially when properties are sold faster and for more money — but we also get the insider’s view of countless agent and client interactions. Our decade of experience watching real estate professionals do their work inspired us to share the stories happening Behind the Yard Sign.
Behind the Yard Sign is a podcast about the lives, struggles and successes of seasoned real estate agents. Veteran brokers share their highest highs and lowest lows and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. You’ll find lots of tips, tricks and how-to advice on how to sell homes for more money and in less time with Spade and Archer founder, Justin M. Riordan and his marketing side kick, Kelly Hanahan.