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Technology has changed so much since the 80’s! While we may not have flying cars, or live on the Moon or Mars quite yet, a lot of our world would look and sound like a sci-fi novel to people just a few decades ago.
They probably couldn’t have even imagined the basic things buyers, sellers, and agents see in the process of buying and selling real estate!
For a little fun, perspective, and appreciation for how far things have come, let’s take a look at 8 sentences that buyers and sellers would’ve had no clue what their agent meant, if they said them back in the 80’s:
1) “I know your Zestimate said your house is worth more, but unfortunately it’s not always accurate…”
Back in the 80’s people never would’ve dreamed you could eventually type in the address of your house on a computer and find out the (alleged… and probably inaccurate) value of your home!
2) “Do you want to follow me to the next house, or just use GPS?”
Back in the 80s, agents had a sneaky strategy for house showings: they'd have buyers hop in their cars, partly to prevent them from wandering aimlessly between properties! Those were the days when agents relied on their street-smarts (literally!) or a trusty book of maps to navigate the labyrinth of neighborhoods. Talk about an adventure-filled real estate quest! 🚗🗺️😄
3) “I’m going to send you a link to the contract so you can e-sign it.”
Even though electronic signatures have been around for a while, there are still folks out there who are utterly amazed by the concept of signing contracts on a computer. And let's not forget those poor souls who are still scratching their heads, trying to figure out the magical art of clicking a button! 📄
4) “You can get a sense of the flow of the house if you look at the 37th picture on the MLS listing…”
Back in the 80’s, buyers were lucky to see one grainy picture of the front of a house for sale on the pages of a book published bi-weekly with new listings. Now buyers can get a detailed look at the pedestal sink in the half bath, if they click to the third picture of it.
5) “The photographer will also be taking drone images when they come to take pictures of the house.”
If 37+ pictures of the inside wouldn’t be enough to amaze 80’s buyers and sellers, hiring someone to hover a small aircraft over houses to take pictures would!
6) “This wall would be the perfect place for you to hang your TV…”
Good wall space has always been a deciding factor on where to locate a TV. But considering the size and shape of TVs back then, an 80’s buyer would’ve had a hard time envisioning their TV on a wall, instead of on the floor in front of one.
7) “The QR code on my for sale sign will allow people access to all the details about your house, the dedicated website for your house, and the virtual tour…”
QR codes may look like the graphics (and quality) of an 80’s video game, but 80’s homesellers would never have expected the high-tech marketing for their homes that’s available to today’s sellers!
8) “Hey, sorry to actually call you, but just wanted to make sure you saw my text with a link to that website I sent for you to check out…”
A truly advanced (and wealthy!) agent back in the 80s might have had a brick-like mobile phone, but it was a rare sight. If you wanted to reach your agent, you had to hope they were sitting at their desk by the phone when you called, or you’d have to leave a message and wait until they got back to the office. Now you wouldn’t dream of hiring an agent without a cellphone, and the ability to call, text, or email you throughout the day!
But, while a lot of things have changed since the 80’s, one thing that hasn’t changed is an agent’s drive to protect your best interests…