The tools have definitely made the job easier in many ways. I remember buying my first house and having to look through the MLS books. It is up to us to keep a level of personal contact with our clients. I think we are all better off with the technology.

I agree with you 100%, with 30 years in this business I have seen a lot of changes. You are correct about the changing landscape, but a lot has to do with agents who only dream of big numbers and forget it takes one house at a time.

Jennifer - I am a technolgy junkie, but I recognize it can be an over utilized tool.

David - They also forget that if you take of the clients the money will come.

Nott - Great points!

You and I both are tech junkies...and that's okay. I just never fail to follow up with a phone call to make sure they received the email or fax....because something can always go wrong...I forget to attach something to an email, I put in the wrong email address, their email server is slow, I dial the wrong number for fax, or they don't have paper in their fax machine. So it's always advisable to follow up....not to mention the personal face to face contact and hearing the person's voice.  I know I don't feel comfortable unless I meet the person.

Sally - Very good points.

Randy, this is why I still insist on meeting with all my borrowers to sign loan papers and collect documents, even though I have the option of doing that by mail, fax, or e-mail.  I want to sit there and explain everything line by line and look into their face to see if they understand it. I love what Technology has done and how it has made our business easier, but something’s I feel need to continue to be done the old fashion way.

Randy-I think the personal touch is required, meaning however the customer wants to be contacted! I think the calls and letter's are the magic touch to keep you in your customer's mind.  Great post Randy!  I only wish I had all the tools that are available now 10 years ago!  

George - Meeting in person can not be replaced by technology.

Midori - They are great tools.

Randy

I have to agree with Sally. I of course use all the tech toys, but I like to follow up with a call and I like to send personal handwritten cards at the end of the transaction.  I think the personal touch is always what will tie the client to you, not the impersonal email. :)

Roberta - It can be a trap.  We get busy fire off e-mails after hours and then get busy again in the morning.

You got it Randy!  Technology is great but if we remember what we learned when we first started selling...They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care!  Technology does not generally demonstrate caring.  I took my financial planning business from $47k a year to $950,000 in income in just two years.  How did I do it?  With some fancy technology?  Nope, I just started writing handwritten notes.  I wrote 240 a week and it changed my business. Imagine changing nothing but adding handwritten notes and having your practice take off like it did.  I guess people are so starved for personal attention that my handwritten notes really hit home with them.

Mike - That is an amazing success story.

Randy- A really well written post!  Congrats on making the localism week in review!  Way to go!

Allison - Thank you.