Dick has been in real estate all his life. His experience includes selling real estate, managing and owning his own company, managing 50 offices for another franchise, and heading one of the largest residential real estate companies in Northern California.
Dick joined RE/MAX of California & Hawaii, Inc. in 1995. He oversees all Regional Operations, including the areas of Broker/Owner and Sales Associate services, promotions, events, legal and financial services.
RE/MAX of California & Hawaii currently has 7,500 Sales Associates with over 320 Offices, doing 100,000 Transaction Sides and nearly $30 Billion Dollars in Sales Volume in 2001.
Dick served as President of the Northern Virginia Association in 1983/1984. At that time, the largest Board of REALTORS in the Country with over 15,000 members. He was involved in merger of 5 large MLS, the first such consolidations.
Dick holds an MBA in Marketing from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
As an "industry visionary", what do you see as the major changes occurring in the real estate industry?
Consumers demand higher standards/levels of service and the quality of service. Consumers want more control of the transaction process, however they continue to want to use a REALTOR as their focal point. They are willing to pay the price, they just want the value to be there. Additionally, consumers desire a signal point of reference for all aspects of the Real Estate Transaction - They want "One Stop Shopping", using their Sales Associate as there main/signal contact. Technology is leading the major change in our industry. From the shoebox full of MLS cards to cell phones to the Palm remote and beyond, our industry has already changed. Some of my friends think I am crazy, but I believe our industry is past being ready for the "PAPERLESS" transaction.
What major "corporate players" are driving change and what may be their impact?
Cendant has set a mark with Acquisitions/Mergers that is reshaping market places and creating opportunities for other Networks to capitalize in their own growth efforts. Corporate America can make it in our industry, but only if they realize the individuals that make up their organizations are humans and not a stock or a commodity.
Who are the "individual trendsetters" that are shaping the future real estate industry?
- Steve Murray
- Wes Foster
- John L. Scott
- Ed Krafchow
- Jim Sherry
- Bill Raveis
What are the expectations of the emerging real estate consumer?
How should the Brokerage and Realtor Association / MLS respond to these real estate consumer expectations?
Listen to the consumer and give them what they want, desire and deserve, value added QUALITY SERVICE without discounting fees for service.
What changes should a Brokerage implement to ensure profitability in the future?
Plan for profit, implement plan and stay with it. Profit is not a dirty word.
What role do you see the Realtor Association / MLS playing to ensure Broker profitability?
NONE!!! It is my belief that Associations should operate on membership fees and NOT MLS fees. Associations should reduce staffs, focus strictly on Professional Standards and Governmental Affairs issues and get out other business such as data management. It is a travesty for REALTOR members to pay MLS fees to list properties for sales and then have to buy the data back to post to their web sites, which are nothing more than another marketing vehicle.
Based upon your vision of the future of the real estate industry, what are you doing to help influence positive change?
Offering a Service Center Concept for our membership so that they can provide the best possible service to their customers and clients. Staying in front of the technology curve and supporting our membership in the same. Real Estate is a relationship management business. Assisting our franchisees in being a competitive One Stop Shop for the consumer, offering multiple services surrounding the real estate transaction from mortgage services to closing services, inspections, reports and other related services including the ability to follow the transaction progress electronic through a Electronic Transaction Management Platform accessible by all parties to the Transaction including the consumer and all vendors involved.
What books would you recommend as a "must read" that have influenced your
vision?
- Jack - Straight from the Gut
- The Essential Drucker
- Blown to Bits
- Click & Close
What advice would you give Brokerages and Realtor Associations / MLSs to assure they stay relevant and successful in the future?
Follow the Golden Rule - 2 ears one mouth - Listen more than speak and action with sound business judgment to be competitive in your market place. Associations & MLS - Go away and come back as a useful - professional true trade association that really understands the memberships best interest and not that of the individuals running, both staff and volunteers.
