The lively discussion was moderated by Chris Crocker<\/strong>, Zillow.com\u2019s vice president of strategic partnerships, and Tim Lappen<\/strong>, a partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m honored to be here at Haute Living\u2019s real estate summit,\u201d said Aaron Kirman. \u201cI think it\u2019s really important for top producing agents\u2014and agents in general\u2014to gather information and meet each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Read on for a snippet of the riveting talk, which revealed the panelists\u2019 motivations for doing what they do best.<\/p>\n Tim Lappen: <\/strong>When the internet was in its infancy, it was predicted that it would put an end to travel agents, lawyers, accountants, Realtors\u2026 we all know that\u2019s not the truth, but do you think we\u2019ll get to the point where we\u2019ll become marginalized, the service providers, because there is so much information now?<\/em><\/p>\n Randy Solakian: <\/strong>Cars and boats and trains are mass produced; homes are not. Homes are specific, individual, and distinct. A high network buyer especially really appreciates an expert consultant who\u2019s advising them on with all of these distinctions\u2014\u201dHow do I decipher fair value? How do I arrive at what\u2019s a fair value?\u201d\u2014for sellers and buyers both. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any technology that can replace that personal advisor.<\/p>\n Aaron Kirman: <\/strong>The more information we have, the better it\u2019s going to be. I think our role has also changed; I find myself every day in design meetings with designers, and architects, and developers\u2026 and I\u2019ve never had an interest in construction, but frankly I know more about construction now than I ever had before, because part of the game is: you have a developer who wants to develop and build, and the difference between selling it for 20 and selling it for 50\u2026 there\u2019s a lot that comes into that, and those buyers who are looking at it are going to appreciate the differences.<\/p>\n Lappen:<\/strong> Zillow is a phenomenal first look. You get some basic parameters, you have something about square feet, but you still need the information. The difference between information and wisdom\u2014the wisdom of an agent who can help somebody based on what he knows about that person what would be the right house.<\/em><\/p>\n Kirman:<\/strong> At the end of the day, this is a brick-and-mortar business: it\u2019s [about] who you know, who knows you, and who you have contacts to.<\/p>\n Solakian:<\/strong> Building our brand to be recognized\u2014but that recognition should be derived from ultra-professionalism, ultra-confidentiality, and a track record of success to very discerning\u2014many times, low-key clientele who don\u2019t want to be a party of the entertainment business\u2026 who really just want their houses sold at the highest price, with the minimum amount of exposure.<\/p>\n Josh Flagg: <\/strong>We like to be a little bit more on hand. That means getting on the phone and actually speaking to a human being.<\/p>\n Matt Altman:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been in the business for about ten years; my brother and I\u2014Josh Altman\u2014have sold about $250 million a year during the past few years.<\/p>\n Chris Crocker: <\/strong>Where\u2019s does the drive come from in your belly, that makes you want to do this next year?<\/em><\/p>\n Solakian:<\/strong> There\u2019s a tremendous reward and satisfaction in getting that fit. There\u2019s two sides to it: obviously, buyer and seller. For the seller, that challenge of selling a very expensive property and finding that needle-in-a-haystack buyer who\u2019s willing to pay the premium that the seller demands\u2026 when you pull that off, when you close that sale, not only is it financially rewarding, but it\u2019s also personally rewarding.<\/p>\n Altman: <\/strong>Our business never stops, and we just take it incredibly seriously, but we enjoy every moment of what we do.<\/p>\n Kirman<\/strong>: I don\u2019t consider it a job because every time I travel, every time I go to a restaurant, every time I go to a party\u2026 every time I go to breakfast or walk my dog\u2026 that is an opportunity to meet a buyer and a seller. We get to show the most fabulous houses, hang out with the most awesome clients, and the aspects of the job that can be tricky can also be rewarding.<\/p>\n![\"LA](\"https:\/\/newwebdev.wordpress-developer.us\/hauteresidence\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Screen-shot-2014-10-20-at-1.09.17-PM.png\")
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