A few months ago, I heard a presentation by Gregg Larson, CEO of Clareity Consulting - Real Estate Information Technology Consultants, and a couple of items hit home for me and are worth sharing with my peers at AR.

1) From 2000 to 2006, the number of buyers who begin their search for a Real Estate acquisition has increased from 20% to 78%.  This may be particularly appropo for buyers of real estate in Des Moines, Iowa, because contrary to popular opinion on the coasts, Des Moines is really quite a hip place.   Just check out my website for more info about Des Moines -- not just for farmers and big insurance companies any more!

2) Internet buyers spent 2.2 weeks with a REALTOR before making a purchase while traditional buyers spent 7.7.  Investors in Real Estate, particularly the astute investors in Des Moines, have already researched areas online using resources like the Polk Country Assessor's website. 

3) If you want to facilitate communications, learn text messaging. 

Until that presentation, I must confess that I was not a big fan of text messaging.  I thought it was just for teens wanting to impress their parents by being savvy with a technical skill that really served no useful purpose.  Was I ever mistaken! 

Text messaging is GREAT!, and I'm talking about as an every day business tool.   I've been using it a lot ever since.  I've found it a wonderful adjunct to the traditional phone call, or email.  All the convenience of email (i.e. you recipient's email box is never busy, it accepts messages 24/7), yet without some of the unnecessary clutter of the casual conversatoin ("Hi.  Hov have you been?  How are you, today?  What's your weather like there? How have the kids been?)  Great chatter, when you're not in a hurry, but not what you need when your world is moving at a pretty fast clip, trying to render services to lots of clients.   

Text messaging can be a great aid for the busy REALTOR who also wants to be both efficient, and productive!