Real Estate: Then vs. Now – How Things Have Changed
I’ve been in real estate long enough to remember a time when the hottest tech in the business was a fax machine… and that’s being generous. Back “then,” we relied on newspaper listings, printed brochures, and, of course, good old word-of-mouth. Buyers were patient, sellers were patient, and open houses felt more like neighborhood meet-and-greets than high-stakes showings.
Fast forward to today, and it’s a whole new world. Social media has completely changed the game. Buyers in Creston—and really across the Kootenays—want to see professional photos, virtual tours, and sometimes even drone shots of the backyard before they even step foot in a home. A good listing without eye-catching visuals? That’s like trying to sell ice cream in January.
The market itself has changed too. Creston buyers today aren’t just looking at square footage—they want lifestyle. Proximity to hiking trails, the lake, coffee shops, or even just a killer view of the valley can make or break a sale. Sellers come in more informed than ever, armed with Google, Zillow (or their Canadian equivalent), and a little healthy skepticism. They’ve done their homework, which is great… but it also keeps me on my toes!
And us realtors? Well, we’ve had to evolve too. We’re not just showing homes anymore—we’re photographers, marketers, social media managers, and negotiators all rolled into one. But the heart of the job hasn’t changed: helping people find a place they love. That’s the part that never gets old.
At the end of the day, whether it’s the “then” of newspapers and face-to-face listings or the “now” of social media and virtual tours, real estate is still about people—and in Creston, that makes every day pretty special. It’s still about helping buyers and sellers make dreams come true, just with a few more apps involved.