When I moved to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston from Atlanta in 1996 real estate agents here were still carrying the MLS book and opening their lock boxes with a clunky key. Few had cell phones and even fewer had computers. It seemed to me that Atlanta was light years ahead. I was used to getting it done fast as in over the internet at the speed of "tech" fast and Interstate 75 and 285 at 60 or more miles an hour fast.
Welcome to the Lowcountry. I found that fast meant getting it done well with a Charleston twist. Real estate was done just as efficiently and professionally but with a less "fast" pace. No fax, no problem hand delivery was just fine. No cell, that's fine too just stop and borrow someones phone. Deadlines were met and real estate got sold without gadgets and with typewriters.
What does this have to do with today? A lot. Some of us have lost sight of what the basics are. A personal note is not the same as an email. A voice mail is not like getting someone on the phone. Faxing or emailing offers to other agents gets the job done quickly but it doesn't always convey who your buyer or seller really is and exactly what is there motivation. A smile and face to face chat can go a long way toward smoothing over a starter offer that may seem insulting.
Don't get me wrong I love my Droid and my laptop but I do write notes and I tell new agents to do the same. Personal trumps tech ya'll.
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