The recent 40th anniversary of the Commercial
Division of the WinnipegREALTORS® Association emphasized the changes that have occurred in the Winnipeg real estate market over the years.
For the WinnipegREALTORS® Association — the longest-running local real estate association in the country at 105 years — a big part of its tenure in the city has been its ability to prosper and grow to keep up with the times. Over the years, the association has been able to clearly articulate what it represents as technology changes how things are done.
When the Winnipeg Real Estate Board unveiled its new operating name WinnipegREALTORS® in 2007, it also launched a new tagline: “The tools. The team. The trust.” The concept behind the slogan was for it to become a pillar of the value REALTORS® bring to their customers.
Below is what Tim Kroeker and Russell Jeffries of Blacksheep Strategy had to say about their work with the association:
“The WinnipegREALTORS® brand position is summed up by its tagline, ‘The Tools. The Team. The Trust.’
“This approach fits WinnipegREALTORS® like a glove. If you think about it, it is the only group of real estate professionals (the team) with the tools needed for success — tools like MLS®/CPIX (commercial property information exchange) and the Winnipeg Real Estate News. As well, REALTORS®’ ongoing professional development and track record for results combine to create the trust that is so critical to professional sales. This is especially true when you are talking about reassuring a seller or buyer that is involved in what often is a very emotional situation, entailing one of the most significant investments in their life.
“When we (Blacksheep Strategy) evaluate a brand we look for a number of success factors: Is the brand relevant to the customer? Is it differentiated from competitors? Do those differences matter? In the case of WinnipegREALTORS®, the brand scores highly on all counts.
“Finally, we ask ourselves: Does the organization ‘live the brand?’ Is this core belief being adopted throughout the organization and becoming more than just a set of new ads?”
“While just one example, the fact 500 REALTORS® from many different real estate brokerages took time out from a busy spring market to get together for a WinnipegREALTORS® team photo (see picture on front cover) provides proof of a well-established network of full-time real estate practitioners who co-operate with each other to get the results consumers deserve.”
It can be said the team aspect of WinnipegREALTORS® is certainly found in the success of MLS® and the growing network of over 1,300 local REALTORS® and 94,000 from across the country. By listing with one REALTOR®, you are potentially enlisting others to work on your behalf.
While state-of the-art MLS® and new REALTOR® Web-based communications tools are enhancing the team’s ability to deliver effective results, real estate is still very much a relationship business. Whether they get together for this team photo or special education/industry seminars, REALTORS® know the value and strength of working together to serve real estate customers.
The WinnipegREALTORS®’ photo would not have happened if not for the co-operation and willingness of the Winnipeg Goldeyes to make CanWest Park available. Thanks goes out to general manager Andrew Colliers and his staff of Barb, Leah and Mara. In gratitude for their assistance, WinnipegREALTORS® will be making a donation to the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation.
Hope to see you all at the ballpark. The Goldeyes’ season starts next week!