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Hello? Can You Hear Me Now?? A Realtor with no Phone Apps

By
Real Estate Agent with John L Scott Market Center 700512026

Hello, can you hear me now?? I'm a realtor with no phone apps....I feel so naked...so unadorned...

 

 

But why don't you, you ask?  Well, good reader, I have no CELL SERVICE out here. And you know WHAT ELSE? It's a good thing.

 

Tell you why.

In the world of convenience, instant gratification and 900 ways of getting in touch with someone immediately via every new form of friggin' technology one can grasp in the millisecond that you turn around or sneeze, I am realizing that sometimes

Simplicity is Good

I have one phone number, basically. Keeps it easy for my clients. I have one e-mail, no twitter, no ipad/pod, no blackberry or whatever bird or fruit contraption you might have. 

 

tWEEt!

 

 

There's an article in the March 2011 REALTOR magazine, written by Katherine Tarbox on the latest technology of "Foursquare" a location-sharing app, TIME calls it "the new twitter".

 

You know what my Foursquare is?  My neighbors!  People drive into our community and end up talking with my neighbors about Fishhawk Lake. We all wave and talk...even if we don't know you. People are taking leisurely walks

 

 

and are being stopped by potential buyers, getting asked questions about our community and they share information and tell them that there's a local realtor here or that my fliers are on the bulletin boards around the lake (as well as in the flyer boxes everywhere) or they will sometimes even bring them to my door. 

 

Katherine Tarbox goes on to add at the end of her article:

...see who's in your vicinity so that you can strike up a conversation and strengthen your connection. Because as powerful as technology is, it's the personal touch that still makes the biggest impact.

 

 

 

Works for me!

Some photos courtesy of:http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Gayle Rich-Boxman
Broker, Vernonia Realty
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
"Your Gateway to the Lake!"
Direct: (503)755-2905
My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/
My blog: http://fishhawklakerealtor.wordpress.com/

Comments (72)

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

I get back with people immediately, usually calling from my home office phone if possible, if they haven't left a phone number, I'll e-mail IMMEDIATELY. I have had SO MANY people say,

Wow, thanks for getting back with me so quickly!

They remember that kind of response, because it makes them feel like you're immediately in their corner.

Gotta love that personal attention.

Mar 15, 2011 06:07 AM
Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

My "flip phone", "dumb phone" out does a lot of others in the office for business. They are too busy playing with new gadgwts to do any work.

Mar 15, 2011 07:10 AM
Aaron Seekford
Arlington Realty, Inc. - Arlington, VA
Ranked Top 1% Nationwide 703-836-6116

I love this blog, Gayle. It makes me miss the golden days of not having a smartphone. But I do love my apps :)

Mar 15, 2011 07:21 AM
Tara Cummins
Stratagy4SuccessNow - Mesa, AZ
Marketing Concierge, Strategy4SuccessNow

The cool thing about technology is that really it's a bunch of tools we can use when they serve us.  I happen to be fairly connected on Facebook and love having a smart phone.  But I have plenty of friends who choose not to use Facebook or any phone apps.  The hard part, sometimes, is finding the balance between too much technology and just the right amount.  Sounds like you have figured out what works for you.  Congratulations!

Mar 15, 2011 07:34 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I think that there is a place for both high tech and personal touch to still exist.  Particularly in this business where "time is of the essence"!  And I agree that those that carry cell phones need to pick up the phone whenever possible during the business day, you never know what you are missing out on!  Returning calls and emails is so much easier with the use of our tech gadgets but it will never replace a thoughtful handwritten note or sincere drop in to one of your past clients!

Mar 15, 2011 08:06 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Aaron, I only have a very simple Pantech that just picks up a signal about the time I hit my real estate (other) office 24 miles away. I'm so busy trying to dig into the understanding of SEO and ranking and WHATNOT that I keep pretty darned busy expanding the mind.

Tara, I have my WordPress blog connected to FB, so at least it's one less step for me to hand do. No biz from it, but plenty of folks across the country are learning about my little niche market--Fishhawk Lake!

Mar 15, 2011 08:08 AM
Kim Inman
Mountains to Lakes Real Estate, Inc. - Harriman, TN
CRS, Broker/Owner

Gayle...loved your post.  It is a shame to some extent that we are as detached from society as we are.  It is nice to be with friends and neighbors face to face instead of behind a computer typing away.

Mar 15, 2011 08:29 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Which is exactly what I'm doing right now (typing away at the computer, but did just connect with my AR friend, Fernando--the one and only!)

Mar 15, 2011 08:36 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Technology isn't meant to destroy our personal relationships, it's meant to enhance them. Unfortunately, the misuse of these devices has contributed to the breakdown of in-person contact. I love that youhave taken what would be a liablity for some and turned it into an asset.

Mar 15, 2011 08:41 AM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Just like anything, moderation is key, and let's not forget real estate is local.  What works for the city agents may not work for the rural agents. 

Mar 15, 2011 09:19 AM
Rachell Jackson
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Naperville, IL
Realtor, Naperville, Oswego, Plainfield

Gayle - Keeping it simple means so much these days.  It's almost like 'social networking' has replaced social networking.  It takes hard work to remain social when everyone else is being 'social'. 

 

Have a good week!! 

Mar 15, 2011 10:49 AM
Pam Miller
Realty Associates - Conroe, TX
Broker Associate - Water Crest on Lake Conroe

Gayle, what a wonderful post!  Makes me want to throw my cell phone in the toilet.....but, I better not....I'm expecting a call--lol

Mar 15, 2011 02:04 PM
Don Hintz
2D-enterprises / HAUS Design, LLC - Anderson, IN

Gayle,

Since I left the real estate franchise support office, most of my work time is still sitting at my computer, with my IP phone and internet connection.  I found myself silencing my phone more than I used it.  So I downgraded my phone and when I "go someplace" not work related, I let the technology take over for me, voicemail, email and such.

Much less stress and much more connecting... with people, with my family, etc.

Great post!

Mar 15, 2011 03:33 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Karen, I'm a HUGE believer in thank you notes...handwritten. I'm working on my old-fashioned snail mail newsletter...all to be hand addressed (oh my), but it's proven that people open those FIRST.

Thank you, Tammie for seeing that I can turn lemons into lemonade. We can all see the sunny side of things, it's just how you look at it that matters!

Yolanda, my business arena is SO different than most that I figured when I spoke up, people would think I was NUTS.  It's nice to know that some people "get" that!

Rachel--Interesting twist on that--good one!

Pam--get that call first! I don't advocate throwing them away, just be discriminating about when to answer and when to let it go. But, you already see that!

Did you ever notice how rude it is when you're having a face-to-face conversation with someone and their phone rings and they just take it?  It makes you think that you're in 2nd position...well, I can understand when someone says," Oh, I'm sorry, I need to take this call, we've been playing phone tag all day". Be discriminating, I guess.

Mar 15, 2011 03:43 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Don, you had an aha moment--good for you!  "Come to the light"...not everyone gets this. Maybe it's either when we get older or have a near-death experience we understand the real value of life.

I'm still trying to woo my husband, The Workaholic to the bright side, not the dark side. He's still a work-in-progress.

Mar 15, 2011 04:12 PM
Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, ePRO, GRI
Keller Williams Indianapolis Metro NE - Carmel, IN
Carmel, Fishers, Westfield IN Real Estate Expert

Gayle--I totally agree with you that some of today's technology is taking the place of simple human relationships.  Sometimes I dream about going back to a simpler time, but this would mean no computers, no microwaves, no hair dryers, yikes!

Mar 15, 2011 06:41 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Now, girl you're gettin' CRAZY on me!  They had dryers and home perms (yikes) in the 50's and 60's when I was a kid. No seatbelts, but penny candy and cheap gas!!!!

They also had Phys. Ed as a requisite for kids in school and NO McDonald's for lunch.

Mar 15, 2011 06:47 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

p.s. Pat, look at us, we could be sisters!

Mar 15, 2011 06:48 PM
Linda Metallo DiBenardo
RE/MAX Impact, Lockport, Illinois - Lockport, IL

Thw low-tech approach to selling real estate works for me too. 

Mar 16, 2011 02:44 AM
CA COASTAL ESTATES Lauren Selinsky Perez CRS
California Coastal Estates - Aliso Viejo, CA
"Your Real Estate Broker" #oclauren

I do it all! iPhone, Twitter, fourSquare (my son is addicted to it), FB, iPad... I have it all! But then again I am in the middle of the .com mecca~ of all software technology, match.com etc.... Our city itself is super tech savvy~ guilty! But at the end of the day I am from TX, so I am going to say, "hello" and give my card to the gal at the furniture store that told the sales guy shes selling her house in one year... with no problem ;)

Mar 28, 2011 08:32 PM