Lenihan wins real estate award

PATRICIA LENIHAN, managing broker of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, was chosen by her peers as the 2016 Rhode Island Realtor of the Year. The Rhode Island Association of Realtors award recognizes one of nearly 5,000 Realtors throughout the state for their commitment to Realtor boards, civic contributions and business accomplishments.

You became licensed in 1985. How has real estate changed since then? What was the impact of the Internet on the industry?

The practice has greatly changed since 1985 and, in the past decade, has changed at warp speed. When I began, each morning agents hovered over the thick real estate book that arrived with great anticipation each month. As the Realtors followed the consumers to the growth in Internet versatility, we all began to rely on instant availability of information. Consumers today have much of the information that was previously only available to Realtors. That has changed the practice. Consumers expect us to be consultants, helping them find reasonable options and solutions.

You have been an active fundraiser for a number of local organizations – why is it important to you to give back to the community?

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Communities and consumers support our business and the viability of the housing industry is impacted by the viability of those communities. It is my feeling that we owe it to those around us to ease burdens, help protect our environment, support those causes and organizations that lead to better living conditions now and into the future. I’m a great believer that what you do for others comes back to you in many ways and I am living proof of that.

What would you want a new real estate agent to know?

Real estate is still a “people” business. While different demographic groups may have different preferences as to modes of communication or different views of the home-buying/selling process, they want and need personal, face-to-face relationships. They need us to set expectations, guide them over the rough spots, and make the home sale the happy, exciting event it is meant to be. •

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