World Creativity and Innovation Day
Today is World Creativity and Innovation Day. A dedicated day to encourage people to generate new ideas and make the world a better place to live in. Perhaps now, more than ever this is a day that estate agents should pay some attention too?
Have you ever noticed that everything around us is a product of creative minds thinking differently, challenging the norm, taking risks and learning from trial and error? Creative thinking is a mindset and a skill set that is a framework for approaching problems consisting of brainstorming, generating new ideas and building on them. It brings creative confidence and provides an ability to look at problems as opportunities. New solutions emerge in the mind and can bring major changes.
Therefore, World Creativity and Innovation Day is celebrated on 21 April to encourage people to generate new ideas which further leads to an opportunity and make world a better to place to live. The main objective of celebrating the day is to encourage people to use new ideas, make new decisions, and do creative thinking. Creativity is what makes the world go ‘round.
That's lovely, but what has this got to do with Estate Agents?
Admit it, when you think of estate agency the words creative and innovative are not the first ones that pop into your head are they? Yet right now, in the midst of a global crisis where the world is suffering from COVID-19 many estate agents are being more creative and innovative than ever before.
Every day we read in the press a different prediction for the housing market. One minute a housing boom will be upon us by the end of the year, the next it is forecast that it will take years for the housing market to recover. The fact is we don't know, nobody knows. What we do know is right now the market is in a bit of a sorry state and we know that that is the same for everyone.
Estate agents have two choices right now. They can cut back on expenses, hunker down and ride out the storm hoping that there will be the predicted boom once this has passed. Or they can use this opportunity to look at their current business and get creative in ensuring they are in the best position possible when we come out the other side.
Harrisons Residential is very fortunate to be a part of the Federation of Independent Estate Agents. This membership has been invaluable, as we are able to talk to other agents who are in the same position as us and we are able to support each other, by offer advice and share what changes we have made, what has worked and what hasn't. With members working together, testing new ideas, methods of working and new technology we are moving forward with speed. In the past few weeks estate agents have introduced social distancing valuations and virtual house viewings. Many, Harrisons included, have teamed up with companies like Gazeal who offer buyer information packs ensuring that buyers make an informed purchase decision and underwrite an accepted offer with a reservation agreement to protect both parties from Gazumping/Gazundering.
Many estate agents are putting rainbows in their windows to thank our key workers, or clapping for our carers, dropping off supplies to people who are self isolating or promoting local businesses. Many are fundraising with sponsored online events, online auctions, online raffles etc and it has put them back where they should be, in the heart of their local community.
Right now estate agency has never seen more creativity or innovation and we are looking forward to seeing how it changes the future of the industry.
We will observe World Creativity and Innovation Day from now on.