In every profession there is always animosity between the young and the old, new hires versus veterans. Inevitably new people think they are smarter, stronger and faster than their old, plodding counterparts. These veterans may think they have seen it all and know, after many years of experience, how to handle every situation. Every young whipper snapper who comes along thinks she or he can do a better job.
The way I see it, every profession can really enjoy the benefits of both sides, but I think that getting along is the greatest challenge of all.
I am of the mind that I would rather encounter a veteran police officer than a younger one. Snap decisions occur with youth. The tension of the immense responsibility that a police officer must carry on their shoulders can cause the less experienced to go quick to anger when an error in their judgment is found or worse, pointed out. Notwithstanding the courage and bravery it takes to be a cop (my grandfather was a cop), I am fearful of a young man or woman who feels the need to lecture me on authority issues when I have done no wrong. Great responsibility in the hands of a young person is never easy, especially when they are new police officers. I would rather deal with a grizzled veteran who can see things with the clarity of experience.
Teachers also have great responsibility. We ask them to deal with what is most important to us; our children. Teaching students, especially small children, takes energy, patience and stamina. A young teacher brings that energy and indefatigable effort to their workplace. Teaching young minds is no easy task, especially today with so much information flooding their ken. It is also helpful to come fresh from learning the newest techniques and tools.
A young teacher can easily grasp these things and dispense them with the unbridled passion of youth. Sometimes a veteran teacher with 35 years experience in the classroom can become jaded. Yes, their experience is valued, but often the passion and energy needed to bring that experience to the day to day task of teaching can be worn out.
We could probably go through every profession and discuss the merits of youth versus veteran in every case but as this is REM and I have limited space, I do want to cover the real estate profession. I could argue both sides of that discussion in the very complex business of real estate.
Probably the hardest task of all in real estate is the challenge of dealing with human nature. I am not sure that can be learned in a classroom and I would be hard pressed to believe that there is another way of learning how to recognize and deal with the broad range of human emotions that are in play when one is facilitating the purchase and sale of a home, beyond the years of experience that it takes to learn it in the field.
On the other hand, a newly licensed real estate agent brings fresh ideas and new concepts to the job. They may have a grasp on marketing in social media, for example, that a veteran real estate salesperson may not. They may understand the technology behind information systems that are beyond the standard knowledge of a long time experienced real estate person. They could bring techniques to the table that a veteran may not even have heard about.
If you were selling your home, who would you pick to list and sell your property? A young person with fresh ideas and an intimacy with new technology or a veteran who may not know social media but who has an exceptional understanding of human nature?
I am sure that many will answer that the best thing to do is to hire a team with representatives who present both veteran experience and youthful acumen. I would probably do that. But on the other hand, there is a lot to be said for dealing with one person through the process of marketing your home.
I am curious. Which would you choose?
Heino Molls has been the Publisher of REM, Real Estate Magazine (formerly Real Estate Marketing), since 1989. Previous to REM, he worked as an executive at the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), and at the Toronto Star. Contact Heino by email or call 416-425-3504 x2.
