Marking PAR’s 100th Anniversary: Past President Janice Smarto

Editor’s note: The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. As part of our Member Profile feature, we’ll be highlighting some of the Realtors® who have served as president of the organization.

Name: Janice Smarto
Company: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty
Years in real estate: 42 years
Local associations: Realtors® Association of Westmoreland, Indiana and Mon Valley and the Realtors® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh
Year served: 1999 president

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself to learn more about technology. When I was president, I would have to take my computer and a printer with me when I traveled to all of the local associations, because we didn’t have iPads at that time. I would say whenever technology is introduced, to learn as much as you can.

Why should agents get involved in their local, state and national associations?
I think Realtors® should get involved in their local, state and national associations because you will interact with other members of the association, from other locals and other states. You can bring information back to your offices and your association that you may not have typically received.

In the past, PAR had a monthly paper newsletter, The Pennsylvania Realtor®, that was mailed to every member. Now, you can read information every day on JustListed. You receive information every day through JustListed and the information is in front of you. Way back when, you didn’t have that. It was a newsletter that was sent to the members and they probably just pitched it. Now, with JustListed, it’s right in front of you.

What advice would you give someone who was thinking of moving up through the offices in PAR?
Educate yourself when you think about moving through the offices. There are requirements you have to meet in order to serve. It’s helpful to serve on many of the committees. I think it’s helpful to interact with other members of the association and get to know them. You need to know a lot about our industry. I believe it’s important to attain your Certified Residential Specialist designation, or the Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager designation if you’re a broker. I believe it’s also helpful to become an associate broker because it shows other Realtors® that you have made it a priority to get more education. It’s not that you may open your own office, but it appears on your business cards that you decided that you wanted to further your education, just like professionals in other fields, like insurance or accounting. When you see any designations after their name, you know that they have attained more education.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the real estate market since you started?
I’ve been in the real state profession for 40 years, so I’m a long-time member. The biggest change has been technology, which can cause some problems. I think it will become increasingly challenging for Realtors® to show their value in the transaction. We’ve seen more consumers go online to look for homes. In the future, you may see places like Home Depot or Lowe’s promoting homeownership. With new 3D technology, buyers can purchase a home without physically going into the home. I think Realtors® will have to continue to work harder and show how valuable they are to consumers.

Do you think the environment or technology will have a bigger impact on real estate in the next 100 years?
I think both technology and the environment will have a big impact on our industry. Many younger people don’t think they need us because they do everything online. They communicate by texting, through emails and the internet. But sometimes that can get you in trouble. I believe it’s important to have actual in-person communication with your buyers and sellers to explain the Agreement of Sale to them and what’s happening in the transaction, so they understand what’s happening.