Jeremy Madore welcomes Chris Ridick from Compass Real Estate in Concord, part of the Ridick Revis Group.
Chris shares that he and his team opened the Compass office in Concord five years ago. Initially a small team of five, it has now grown to 30 people. The Concord office is a standalone branch, separate from the Boston Compass office, which has 500-600 agents. Chris acknowledges the rapid growth of the Concord office, highlighting that they’ve been able to establish it as a competitive player in the real estate market for both buyers and sellers in the area. Reflecting on their most successful year, 2021, in terms of volume, they experienced a dip in volume following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Chris mentions that they are on track to either match or surpass last year’s volume.
Jeremy and Chris discuss the overall decline in real estate market activity post-COVID. Most agents report that this year’s numbers are lower than last year. Chris emphasizes that, despite the volume being down in the broader market, their market share has increased, as their volume has remained steady or grown while others' volumes have decreased. Focus on Quality Over Volume: Chris points out that, for his team, the quality of interactions is more important than the sheer volume of sales. He stresses the importance of agents effectively marketing their properties and businesses. They discuss the evolving technologies in real estate marketing, such as virtual tours and Matterport, and how these have shifted over time. While virtual tours were once basic, newer technologies offer better immersive experiences. Chris shares his perspective on the development of real estate photography and marketing. Professional photography has become the norm, with agents previously using basic point-and-shoot cameras and minimal MLS photos.
Comparing the past to the present, Chris notes that the quality of listings has improved dramatically, particularly in terms of photos and virtual tours. He humorously reflects on how older MLS listings with poor-quality photos would now seem inadequate.