“We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely.”
-Edward Osborne Wilson, American entomologist and biologist known for his work on ecology, evolution, and sociobiology.
Easy access to information is no longer a significant differentiator when it comes to competing in real estate. Whereas an agent may have once been a kind of gate keeper to listings and market value, the age is here where greater transparency puts raw information directly in the hands of buyers and sellers.
If anything, the information explosion online has created as much a problem for homeowners as a help. The sheer volume of information–both good and bad–can create a kind of paralysis. As Clay Shirky once famously remarked, we’re not suffering from information overload… we’re suffering from “filter failure.” This is especially true when one can find information which confirms biases and tells people the story they want to hear.
Given that information does not automatically lead to clarity, you have an opportunity as a real estate professional to be both the filter and the synthesizer. When a client questions your value in the face of readily available data, don’t hesitate to defend your perspective: “Yes, you can access valuable information online, but transforming that information into a cohesive picture and plan of action is where I excel.”
A search engine may return millions of results, but only a trusted advisor can be the wisdom engine people truly need to help them make important, sound decisions.
