I just read a gem of an article about how GenYers view their online relationships. I frequently find myself in discussions about the long-term upsides and downsides of social media, so I found this particular article useful from both standpoints.

But what we, as Realtors, MUST understand is the way that social media is interpreted by the next generation of home buyers. Like it or not, buyers in their early twenties prefer to communicate in ways that are far different from what you may be used to.

Text messaging is a great example of this. I personally prefer texting over voicemails and phone calls at certain times. Now, don’t get me wrong; phone calls are necessary when you have a lot to discuss, but which is more efficient when you simply need to find out what time your teenager’s going to be home? Without a doubt, a quick text is most efficient and definitely preferred by the teen, which is why I think so many parents fight this transition so much.

What about when you need to just remind your client of their 9am home inspection? Is it quicker for you to send a quick text message, or to make the phone call that will likely turn into a long list of other unrelated questions, that could just as easily be discussed at the inspection in the morning?

Funny thing is, a short time ago, text messaging was considered to be something just for the teens, but now the baby boomers are the fastest-growing group of users of this technology. Is there a chance that social media will take the same course? Maybe it already is. The early adopters of new technology are often the younger crowd, but I can personally attest to the growth of Facebook users getting to an older average age.

The point is, if you don’t adapt to these new mediums, you’ll find your potential client pool diminishing over the years to come as that generation grows and the boomer generation begins to shrink.

Additionally, these “new” mediums offer you new ways to meet and get to know your potential clients in a way that doesn’t make them feel like they’re being solicited. They give you an opportunity to actually build a relationship with someone who may have some common interests or affiliations with, rather than just seeming like another used car salesman.