Consumer Attitudes

Whether speaking about a sales person, a manager or a company leader, the ability to embrace change is the primary personality trait for those individuals who maintain a ‘hip’ and progressive persona in our business. This is not a new idea by any stretch of the imagination, but remains something that is easier said than done.  The successful agent understands that as customer needs and wants evolve, so must our business vocabulary. Even more, the most successful agents that I have met actually learn to enjoy the changing business environment.

Just take a moment and consider all of the changes that have occurred over the past 10 years alone. In 1998, many agents did not have presentable Web sites or even effectively used e-mail as a communication tool. As time passed however, sales professionals learned to use technology in building and managing their businesses and navigated the advent of VOWs and IDX solutions. Brokers and agents have witnessed the transformation of marketing and advertising from sole focus on newspapers to a primary focus on Internet environments, as well as countless other key changes too numerous to mention here. Now, prospecting and social networking are coming together as building blocks to enlarge an agent’s sphere of influence.

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SAN FRANCISCO-AREA RESIDENTS REPORT 87 PERCENT RECYLING PARTICIPATION RATES IN LIVING GREEN SURVEY

96 percent of respondents report feeling informed about eco-friendly living

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (April 10, 2008) — According to the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate “Living Green Poll” taken at this year’s Macy’s West Flower Show in San Francisco on March 21-22, 87 percent of San Francisco-area residents reported that they had recycled products in the last six months when asked what “green” activities they had been engaging in. Looking to gauge the green living home practices of Americans in 15 different cities, the survey also found that among other green behaviors, 73 percent reported changing out incandescent lights with high-efficiency compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and 64 percent reported using less water for daily activities.

When questioned as to how informed respondents felt regarding green issues, a resounding 96 percent reported feeling informed (55% said “somewhat informed,” 41% said “very informed”). When asked to respond to the question, “How green would you say you and your family are on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is ‘not at all green’ and 10 is ‘very green?,’” the mean value reported was 6.41. This result aligned with San Franciscans’ thoughts about the city itself as they rated the city’s on average “greenness” as 6.27 on the 10-point scale.
“Our survey indicates that people are beginning to become more aware of the importance of this issue and what’s at stake,” said Sherry A. Chris, president and chief executive officer of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. “The respondents recognized that they can do more to green up their lifestyle and their home.”

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