Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A • M Y M O N T A N A H O M E 60 cautions to protect the owners of the home. Now, they're just about to close their purchase. The process has a few extra steps and requires clear communication, but I'm left with the strong impression that everyone involved is happy to do their part. MARTHA JOHNSON: Facetiming while walking through a property has helped clients get excited about a property, but unless they've been to Big Sky, it is not a substitute for a "boots on the ground" visit. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE CHANGES TAKING PLACE WILL END UP BEING OF PERMANENT USE IN THE REAL ESTATE SALES PROCESS? AMY BAIN-WILSON: Absolutely! I believe the changes have brought us closer together in the real estate process. Title com- panies, lenders, Realtors, and banks have all adapted and assisted one another in making positive changes for our buyers and sellers in both safety and time-saving technologies. Adapting to a "new normal" has caused me to become more resourceful and innovative. Efficiencies have been created, and better systems are now in place. Before 2020, virtual viewing was accepted. During the height of the pandemic, it was required, and it will be more prevalent in the future. I look forward to continuing to serve and advise my clients in a high- ly effective manner. SUZY BARNETT: To keep our world safe, I do think that many of the new practices that have gone into effect in this Covid-19 craziness will become permanent. Hand washing at showings and in the office, keeping our distance, limiting the number of folks who gather in homes or offices to smaller groups – these are all part of our "new normal" and part of our ever-changing world. I think we will see these as permanent changes. JULIE GARDNER: As our industry hones the skills of virtual show- ings – creating a buyer experience that is as informative as a live showing, buyers and sellers will become accustomed to a decision process that does not rely on a live showing. The perils of accepting offers from a buyer who has not had the opportunity to visit a proper- ty will almost certainly decrease, opening a vast array of opportuni- ties for matching sellers and buyers across our market. MARTHA JOHNSON: I think it is an effective 'first introduction' to Big Sky real estate when the client is sitting at their desk in Texas, New York, or California. Nothing, however, can replace the experi- ence of snowshoeing to a property on sparkling, freshly fallen snow and rounding a bend that opens to breathtaking mountain views. Nor can it replace the experience of gazing out of a home over a wild- flower blanketed yard. VOSS SARTAIN: I think virtual meetings are here to stay. They create incredible efficiency in a workday but still allow the face to face interaction that is so important to successful relationship building in a professional setting. Buyers and sellers also love to do their research online, so the inclusion of high-quality virtual tours will continue to grow. I see the direction of virtual tours as more "mini-movies" instead of just using an app like Matterport, which is clunky and hard to maneuver. I also think many buyers looking to relocate will ask their agent for a videoconference showing before they spend the money to look at homes in person. At Voss & Compa- ny, we have been paperless for over five years, and I am positive we will continue to see this trend continue as well as having almost all of our documents signed electronically. " I think that once buyers and sellers BECOME SAVVY ABOUT THE NEW WAVE OF TECHNOLOGY IN REAL ESTATE, THEY WILL SEE THAT IT MAKES THE ENTIRE PROCESS MUCH EASIER. " - SUZY BARNETT " I think virtual meetings are here to stay. THEY CREATE INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCY IN A WORKDAY BUT STILL ALLOW THE FACE TO FACE INTERACTION THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP BUILDING IN A PROFESSIONAL SETTING. " - VOSS SARTAIN LIVINGSTON BOZEMAN

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