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TEXT-o-bia: My text phobia

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Riverbend Realty, Cape Girardeau, MO 2004008944

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In spite of the limitations of texting, I find more and more agents are trying to have negotiation conversations back and forth using text messages. While any written form is better than verbal back-and-forths, the text method is very difficult to print and/or save in a permanent fashion.

I admit that this is a pet peeve of mine. Text messages are often garbled and riddled with misspellings and abrv.  Sorry, I just couldn't help myself--the irony of abbreviating the word "abbreviations" was too tempting. I guess that I should pick out some wrods to spel wroong, two. My "predictive" text program is always trying to guess what I mean and often substitutes words that I may or may not even notice. I typed one thing, but what I typed morphed into something else--the something else that my phone thought I MEANT to say.

I like having a paper trail for some things. How do you preserve these conversations in a meaningful way? I find that younger agents, especially, want to do everything via text. I don't want to be the curmudgeon oldie who doesn't keep up with technology, but it sure seems to me that texting technology has not kept up with business realities.

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Liz Lockhart Cape Girardeau real estate agent

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If you are looking for a foreclosure in Cape Girardeau, Perry, N. Scott, or Bollinger counties, I am the region's most experienced REO agent. As the area's ONLY Fannie Mae direct listing agent, I list more foreclosure properties than any other agent in this MLS. I am the only local agent approved to both list and sell HUD properties, so give me a call if you are looking for help with the purchase of a foreclosure property.

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http://www.homepath.com/ for Fannie Mae properties

http://www.homesteps.com/ for Freddie Mac properties

http://www.hudhomestore.com/ for HUD properties (foreclosures that were FHA financed)

Posted by

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If you are looking for a foreclosure in Cape Girardeau, Perry, N. Scott, or Bollinger counties, I am the region's most experienced REO agent. As the area's ONLY Fannie Mae direct listing agent, I list more foreclosure properties than any other agent in this MLS. I am among the few local agents approved to both list and sell HUD properties. Give me a call if you are looking for help with the purchase of a foreclosure property.

______________________________________________________

http://www.homepath.com/  for Fannie Mae properties

http://www.homesteps.com/  for Freddie Mac properties

http://www.hudhomestore.com/ for HUD properties (foreclosures that were FHA financed)

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Nancy Pav
Century 21 Redwood Realty - Ashburn, VA
Nancy Pav, Your "GottaHave" Realtor

I likr Joy's idea of acknowledging a voicemail message with a text.  In terms of negotiating via text, I think it's hard to do but possible. 

Oct 01, 2011 02:15 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Liz texting can be of a great help in saying one will be late, or on the way but i agree negotiations should not be done by text.

Oct 01, 2011 02:50 AM
Mike Yeo
3:16 team REALTY - Frisco, TX

Texting is a great handy tool but not for when negotiating contracts. It is better than verbal but is text message consider as legal form of negotiating? I am curious.

Oct 01, 2011 03:08 AM
Jennifer Chiongbian
Specializing in all types of Manhattan apts & townhouses - Manhattan, NY
Real Estate Broker - NYC

Texting is great because it has a 95% open rate.  On the other hand, there are certain things better off spoken over the phone.  I would turn that predictive text off so your phone doesn't speak on behalf of you!

Oct 01, 2011 03:35 AM
Amanda Howard
Century 21 Garner Properties - Independence, KY
NorthernKentuckyHomes.com 859-363-9900

Liz, if it makes you feel better, I hate texting and I'm 25. However, I do find necessity in it especially when I need to get an important message quickly to a client who I know can't answer a call/check email at work. This has been a lifesaver more than once.

Call me crazy, but I love email as much as possible, even way more than the phone. I love the written and easily transmissable record. An easy fix: when an agent texts you about negotiations, email them back (hehe).

Oct 01, 2011 03:36 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I am at the stage where I am debating how important spelling is in texting. Should I get the message out with normal spelling or should it get out anyway I can? It is changing the way we think...I think  Liz

Oct 01, 2011 03:44 AM
Eileen Hsu
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

I can not imagine agents actually using texting to negotiate. Texting is great for short and immediate message but definitely not for business serious stuff. I conquer with your pet peeve.

Oct 01, 2011 04:10 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I forward my text messages to myself so I can save them in my on-line for the transaction.  I also get all my voice mails transcribed using Voice Cloud and can save all of those messages in an on-line file OR print them out.

I do a lot more texting and many times it is convenient. It certainly keeps the conversations short, which may or may not be good depending on the situation. And you often get a faster response from those who text regularly.

Oct 01, 2011 05:23 AM
Robert Hammerstein -
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Liz - We're with Jeff. We forward our texts to ourselves as well to keep a record of what is going back and forth. They can be very good for us but we certainly don't negotiate via texts.... Just not our thing I guess...

Oct 01, 2011 05:56 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Texting is convenient for communicating short messages but when it come to contract negotiations, I use email. I also like to have a paper trail and texting doesn't allow that.

Oct 01, 2011 06:10 AM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

You absolutly have to have an electronic or paper trail for this sort of thing.  You can do SOME of this by texting - but can you imagine pointing to text messages while putting togehter a contract?  Everything has to be confirmed by some method that can be traced...I'm surprised people are trying to do this.  YIKES!

Oct 01, 2011 06:31 AM
K.C. McLaughlin
RE/MAX United - Cary, NC
Realtor, e-PRO, Homes for Sale - Cary, Raleigh NC

I HATE TEXTING! I would never even consider texting during a negotiation. Email me or call me with your clients' response!

Oct 01, 2011 07:27 AM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Liz:

I love texting and do it often.  But I do worry about negotiating with text messages.  I am going find some way to save my text messages to my email.  Is that possible.  I know Jeff mentioned something about forwarding his text messages.  But I don't understand how to do it.  Anyone have any answers?

Oct 01, 2011 09:14 AM
Lisa Dunham
Alexandria, VA
Associate Broker, Alexandria Virginia Real Estate

Liz, I think texting is good for short agreeable messages.  If there is anything to be discussed in details, texting is certainly not the solution.

Oct 01, 2011 01:24 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Liz - I like paper trails and believe there is a way to save texts though I don't yet use it.

Oct 01, 2011 01:28 PM
Liz Lockhart
Riverbend Realty, Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau, MO
GRI, Cape Girardeau Real Estate

Wow, everybody! I'll be back tomorrow to respond. For right now, though, my point is that printing a thread of texts is a convoluted process. The technology just isn't there, yet, for the printing process to be anything like what we are used to doing. It takes extra steps.

Dianne (#9)~ For the text messages to be used in court proceedings, I think that they have come from the cell phone provider's records. Not sure on this, but I believe it would be a break in the chain of evidence if an end user went through the various steps it takes to get a printable thread.

Oct 01, 2011 06:04 PM
Bob & Leilani Souza
Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA
Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

Liz, I love texting! I also don't abbreviate, even though it takes a little longer. BTW, I've documented text messages before by photographing my iPhone with my digital camera. :)

Leilani

Oct 02, 2011 05:04 PM
Sherry Chastain
Hendersonville, Nashville, Old Hickory, Lebanon Tennessee - Hendersonville, TN
Realtor, Selling Homes, Lake Properties,Luxury Homes,Short Sales

Like it or not. I hear it's replacing email sooner or later. I guess we'll all get better at it. 

Oct 02, 2011 06:59 PM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Liz:  I agree.  Texting has its limitations and frustrations too.  But increasingly, it's being used as the sole communication method by many, especially the young.  I typically text back and forth as much as possible ... but text that I'm emailing, scanning, etc. to further clarify my message, if need be.  That way I have myself .. and them ... covered.  I work around the problems as much as possible ... and enjoy the conveniences and benefits when I can ...

Gene

Oct 03, 2011 06:35 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Monday is my Happiness Day.
I visit as many blog posts as I can throughout the day
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I just stopped by to spread some happiness.
Feel free to delete this comment if it doesn’t make you happy.

Happy Day!

Oct 10, 2011 04:15 AM