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Do you think the handwritten delivered letter is a thing of the past?

Reblogger Joy Carter & Jeff Booker Brother and Sister Team
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Parkland/Coral Springs Realty-GreatFloridaHomes Team BK-0450270

I agree with Carol....I am a HUGE Fan of hand written notes.  Notes to say Thank You - Notes to Say, I am Thinking of You, Notes to Say I am Sorry You are Hurting or Sorry if I hurt you.

With email being the easy - hand written notes are the, "SPECIAL"!  Joy

Original content by Carol-Ann Palmieri S-96414

Do you think the handwritten delivered letter is a thing of the past?

I readily admit it.  I am a talk radio junkie.  The radio waves were buzzing early this week with talk of the United States Post Office and it's most recent troubles.    Back and forth went the banter about who really bothers to send US mail anymore.   Most people are sending email, texting, and choosing to do their bills and banking on line.  

Listening with interest, I mentally took inventory of what I have been receiving in the mail lately.   I receive lots of advertisements, the local paper and informational pieces, and magazines that I subscribe to.     Pretty much that's it.   It made me start to wonder if email and all our on line activity has changed our society so much that we don't need to get mail delivered to our door steps anymore.  Has it really become unimportant?Mail Delivery

Then, when I opened the mailbox today, there it was!   An envelope, hand written with no return address on it.    I tossed everything else aside and quickly ripped it open to find a handwritten note from my Uncle thanking me for a gift I had given him last month!     What a nice surprise!  

In fact, I typically have been one to send a note to clients and friends just to say hello and let them know I am thinking of them or to simply thank them for something.  But lately, I have been lazy about doing that relying on shooting off a quick email instead. 

How silly!   If I had received that Thank you note in my email box, I may have not read it, simply hitting the "D" key, loosing  it in the vast sea of advertisements, informational pieces, and other daily email communication.  

But it came via US Post.  It did not get deleted and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from Uncle Dante and appreciating that he took the time to write me a note!   

What I have realized is that the written, delivered note is not to be forgotten.  Nor should it be replaced by email communication!  While no one would argue that email and online communication is terrific and has made ours lives so much easier,

are we making a mistake by overlooking the power of a handwritten note delivered directly to one's door?

I think so!  In fact, in our business a well written note, even a quick one, sent by US Mail can make us stand out in the crowd.     It most likely will not be overlooked or discarded without being read;  the recipient just might enjoy reading it, even appreciating the fact that they were thought of!    

Do you think the handwritten, delivered letter or note is a thing of the past?

 


Carol-Ann Palmieri

Al and Cal Realty Group

www.FranklinMAAreaHomes.com

 

Cal@AlandCal.com

 

508-494-9061

Posted by

 

 
Melissa Zavala
Broadpoint Properties - Escondido, CA
Broker, Escondido Real Estate, San Diego County

I don't know. I'm beginning to wonder if the handwritten note is passe. Doesn't mean i do not do it, but I'm just not so sure anymore.

Sep 18, 2011 03:11 AM
Kimberley Kelly, SFR, HAFA, GREEN
HK Lane, Christie's International Affiliate, 760-285-3578 - La Quinta, CA
I do Real Estate like I played polo-to WIN!

I LOVE sending and receiving them. I know my Clients do too.  I am very sad about the post office cutting back.  Why not restrict those darned ads..waste of paper and post office delivery people's time.  

Sep 18, 2011 03:12 AM
Michael L. Brownstead
Brownstead Real Estate, LLC - Frisco, TX
ABR, GRI, MRP, SRS, 1SG US Army (Ret.)

Joy and Jeff, with the onset of technology and bulk mail, I think the basic hand-written letter is coming back very fast because it personalizes our message and shows our recipient that we have taken the time to write directly to them.

Sep 18, 2011 03:13 AM
Phil Hillerman
Crye-Leike Realtors® - Rogers, AR
Crye-Leike Realtors®

I think hand written notes are still worth while as long as you mean what you write.  As for how they are delievered that will probably be changing, but time will tell.

Sep 18, 2011 03:14 AM
Teresa Tedder
Carolina Realty of Wilkes Inc - Wilkesboro, NC

You are right in my opinion.  The handwritten letter really stands out in todays e-world.  I rarely do handwritten letters anymore and have never been a fan of sending things in the mail (pamphlets, listing cards, sold cards, etc).  I think it also depends on the audience as well.  The younger generation may think it strange and not really "get it" but the middle and older generation remember "the days" and may really appreciate the effort and thought!

Sep 18, 2011 03:15 AM
Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

My newsletters are computer typed ( my writing is terrible after 25 years in the auto body business), and then I pen a personal line or two. My clients are usually 70+ and prefer them.

Sep 18, 2011 03:22 AM
Joy Carter & Jeff Booker Brother and Sister Team
Keller Williams Parkland/Coral Springs Realty-GreatFloridaHomes Team - Coral Springs, FL
Trust Your Family's Move To Our Expertise!

Melissa - It takes an extra effort but I think people still enjoy them.

Kimberly - I think the post office probably does need to adjust their business model, with the excessive use of email, replacing a large part of their service.

Michael - I agree with you.

Phil - Only the future will tell.

Teresa - Your right about the audience.  I remember not being allowed to enjoy any gift until I had written a Thank you note to the sender.

Sep 18, 2011 03:22 AM
Linda Blumenthal
631-819-2913 - Westhampton Beach, NY
NYS Licenced Real Estate Salesperson, CBR

A hand written note makes me feel that the sender took extra time and effort to contact me.

Sep 18, 2011 03:23 AM
Jane & Jeff Daley, PhD
Luxury Valley Homes Scottsdale - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale Real Estate Arizona

The handwritten note was a great way of communicating and on rare occasions with special people we still “attempt” to use it. At least at our location we have trouble with the US Postal Service getting the mail to the right address. Example: We sent a first class mail with a message to former clients in an area we farm.  We got 13% of our letters back with the notation they did not live at that address. We know they do because we see them in the community on a regular basis.  We have had business partners send us a bill and did not receive it.

 

We have had much better luck with email and very good response with video email. They actually good the message and the cost was much less than UPS that does not deliver, at least in our area.

Sep 18, 2011 03:24 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

Handwritten notes are making a come back.  The new stationaries make it so much easier to send a card or note.  I really hate getting a card that is signed without anything written inside, but I still love to open the mail box and find the letter...kinda like Christmas all year.

Sep 18, 2011 03:31 AM
Joy Carter & Jeff Booker Brother and Sister Team
Keller Williams Parkland/Coral Springs Realty-GreatFloridaHomes Team - Coral Springs, FL
Trust Your Family's Move To Our Expertise!

Linda - Agreed!

Jeff and Jane - I just started using the video email...I think it is pretty cool!  It is frustrating when the post office sends back mail - ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN - when you know they live there - You sold them the place!

Gwen - I'm like you - not really thrilled when it is a stock card.  I appreciate when a moment of time is taken to express a thought!

Sep 18, 2011 03:39 AM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I think the handwritten note is classy and will be around for a long time.  If the USPS isn't around to delivery them, someone else will.  It may take more time and cost more to do but people appreciate how personal it is.

Sep 18, 2011 03:53 AM
Michele Cadogan 917-861-9166
Fillmore Real Estate 2990 Av U, Bklyn , NY 11229 - Brooklyn, NY
Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker -

 

I think that eventually the handwritten notes  will be a thing of the past.  Recently some public schools have cancelled script writting classes .  Im old fashion i still sent out note cards to friends, family and clients. 

Sep 18, 2011 06:51 AM
Joy Carter & Jeff Booker Brother and Sister Team
Keller Williams Parkland/Coral Springs Realty-GreatFloridaHomes Team - Coral Springs, FL
Trust Your Family's Move To Our Expertise!

Bryan - you may be right.....so many other things are outsourced.

Michele - I agree with you that all things evolve and change.  My Mom and I had this conversation today.  She remembers (She is 72 years old) when DANCE was REQUIRED in school.  Our systems and requirements for education will continue to evolve...Joy

Sep 18, 2011 11:26 AM