Circo: Don't Wait. Learn, Experiment and Execute Now.

Calling All Fence Sitters... A week ago I received many interesting responses to the recent "Survivor Dispatch" which profiled a new crop of dot-com sites. One commentary in particular (name to remain anonymous) really struck a chord. This gentle reader asked, "Why should I go through the effort of using these (web-enabled) services when my current real estate methods work just fine? Why don't I wait 9-12 months to let these companies get the bugs out of their systems and develop increased services? Let's see which ones survive."

My reaction -- after spending the last few weeks pouring over hundreds of different business models in preparation for the PikeNet Guide for the Expo -- was "no way." Why does any company buy new equipment, hire fresh talent, and pay outside consultants to implement different methodologies? Because that company wants to maintain a competitive advantage in finding and keeping customers. The experimentation stage is incredibly important to traditional real estate firms. Eventually, these new services WILL accelerate deal flow, foreshorten transaction time, improve property performance and lower development costs. To wait, sit on the fence, think you can successfully choose the right partner or Internet tool -- and then execute overnight at a reduced cost -- is dead wrong.

Hey, don't just listen to me preach. PikeNet Expo panels will include over 20 sage advisors to discuss the challenges of early adoption. So come listen to Andrew Farkas, Founder of RexOffice; Dale Anne Reiss, Global Industry Leader of Real Estate and Construction at Ernst & Young; Ray Wirta, CEO of CB Richard Ellis; Dave Gialenella, EVP Global Services, Cushman & Wakefield; Jeff Hipschman, EVP and CIO of Julien J. Studley, Inc; David Fries, EVP of AMB; Michael Coster, Managing Director of Robertson Stephens; Hoke Slaughter, Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter; and Bob Fitts of Prudential Mortgage Capital. You'll hear these experts tell you why it's worth the time investment and brain damage to figure out which Internet resources are the right match for your business. Don't wait another 12 months.

--Eileen Circo