Phones!  Newspapers!  Real Estate!  What Has Technology Wrought?

On the last leg of our road trip, I lost my I-Phone.  I freaked myself out over the whole thing.

At the same time, though, it got me to thinking about what life was like before these handy little tools of the trade. 

On a vacation, it was possible to check messages (they hadn't started to call them "Voice mail" yet) at filling stations along the route.  You dialed a number, punched in the office code, and you could listen to your fan calls.  But there was no piece of equipment to misplace, but finding a pay phone was kind of a pain.

Today, I started to think about the different businesses that are, thanks to modern technology, completely changed.

Telephones, of course, will never be the same.  My mother had a gazillion shares of telephone company stock that, luckily for the family trust, her stockbroker sold a while back.

The newspaper I grew up with, The Topeka Daily Capitol, was as skinny as I'd like to be, just one more newspaper impacted by the Internet.  And once we in Washington were at the mercy of the Washington Post Classifieds to publicize Open Houses.  The Internet has changed all that.

And with respect to real estate,  we have a lot of modern inventions to thank for making our lives easier, or at least more interesting.

I had several of them, along with their chargers, on my recent vacation.  Phone, MacBook Air, I-Pad, I-Phone, and three digital cameras.  And when I misplaced my I-Phone, at least I could borrow my sweetie's Android to check my voicemail and make calls.

Somehow, I'd rather carry a bigger handbag with all of the gadgets and chargers that look for pay phones that hadn't been vandalized. 

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Star Posted by Patricia Kennedy on 10/01/2011 11:14 PM   Comments (46)   Tools of the Trade in the Technology and Tools Channel   real estate tools of the trade  
Short URL: http://actvra.in/kyv
Post is included in group: Diary of a Realtor

46 Comments on Phones! Newspapers! Real Estate! What Has Technology Wrought?

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OCT
02
2011
874,720 Points 154 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pat, loosing a phone would not be fun. For me I just tend to loose mine in the lake, the ocean, and the toilet. 

 
9:29am • #27
1,308,836 Points 96 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I can't recall seeing a pay phone booth with an actual pay phone in it for years... the phone company has removed them all around here... Glad you made it without your phone!
9:48am • #28
730,739 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Patricia, I can remember one time looking for a pay phone in Duck, NC to return an important page I received. Things have certainly changed. That is until you lose your phone.
9:54am • #29
554,426 Points 148 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pat, I re-blogged your post and forgot to comment.  Oy!  Yesterday our home Internet newtwork went down for a couple hours.  It took a while to get it fixed, and the crew around here looked like vombies.  What can we do?  They were lost without all of tools that are web-based.  It was kind of funny.  Of course, I have an air card.  8-)
10:03am • #30
149,184 Points Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Pat I hope you found your phone!! Another place where things have really changed is when you are at a seminar or RE meeting. At break time all the bank of pay phones would be full and people waiting their turn to check in or answer messages. Now everyone is outside or in the lobby walking and talking. I have made the comparison in my mind more than once. The phone and iPad have certainly made a difference in showing property also!
10:16am • #31
171,854 Points Outside Blog Called Shot Master

My iphone is everything to me, I would be lost without it, so stressful to even think about!
10:57am • #32
1,527,025 Points 164 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

As I was driving the other day I wonder who made up the new rules. When did it become necessary to respond to every email inquiry within 15 minutes, return a phone call within an hour and make ourselves accessible when we were on vacation?  Just because technology is available doesn't mean that our lives should have become completely controlled by it.  It's sad that the new "paradigm" left out common sense and reasonableness.

 
11:04am • #33
1,099,533 Points 51 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

The utility belt a real estate agent, broker, REALTOR wears has many marketing weapons to create the media streams. No longer in the days of black and white Polaroid peeled photos, MLS weekly books, before fax or Internet where we walked the contract in to the banks, lawyers. And relied on carbon copy or photo copy extensively. The public we deal with wants it instantly with a sense of urgency. Jack Rabbit quick. And it better be fully developed with everything they need in that real estate happy meal to win you another trip to the real estate closing conference table. Don't do it and the buyer has a few other options, choices. The phone is one tool that replaced the smoke signal, tin can and string. The principle of connection, engagement, marketing has not changed though.
11:17am • #34
839,784 Points 69 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Wallace...my colleague in upstairs cubicle #14 brought memories of having ashtrays full of change when going into the field to inspect properties and run errands...The other problem was finding a phone that worked. Now, these devices you are describing in the post own us as we must monitor them frequently. It is like caring for a pet almost..good one Pat
11:37am • #35
861,517 Points 174 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Technology has definitely changed the landscape of life, not just real estate.  These days, I can work out the details of a transaction via phone and email in a few minutes instead of the hours or days it took 15 years ago.  Hopefully that efficiency translates into easier work and more free time.
11:55am • #36
379,175 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pat, 

Sorry about the lost iPhone.  That would be tough.  I love the technology, but am good with turning off the ringer or ignoring it while with clients or eating a meal.  Very little is life threatening, but it's great to stay in touch.

All the best, Michelle
12:00pm • #37
696,172 Points 39 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pat - Very fun post that made me think about what is important to have on me at all times.... Now I'm worrying about batteries and them being charged to the max... hmmm how times have changed indeed...
12:09pm • #38
569,544 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Pat,  Yours is a fun read and is sooo true !  What would w do without all this techno stuff !?!?
1:08pm • #39
306,123 Points 6 Featured Posts

It's funny how we replace past junk for current junk, but it is still all junk in the end! 
1:29pm • #40
548,416 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Pat:

My husband is always telling me that I was able to do my real estate work without cell phones, faxes, email, voice mail, texts, etc.  I can get along without them now.  But I can't. 

5:22pm • #41
240,864 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

When I started Real Estate the office phone was your main source of communication.  If you were lucky enough to have an office with a secretary someone actually took messages for you.  I had an umbilical cord to my office to stay in touch. 

Now we are hard pressed not to grab the latest and newest technology for fear of being behind the curve.
5:45pm • #42
872,624 Points 47 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pat, I would shudder to think of losing my iPhone! Fortunately, synching it would help with the photos and contacts, but still! Good thing hubby had a droid so you could still make calls and you had your other toys to keep you company :)

Sharon
11:26pm • #43
OCT
03
2011
412,847 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Agreed, technology has changed the way we do business.  Do you remember having to mail a contract vs. fax?
8:54am • #44
1,346,808 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Down here in our area you would have do to a lot of searching to find a pay phone....I don't know when I last saw one!

When my daughter's boyfriend was in Germany (for the first time in his life) this past summer, he was amazed to see pay phone booths everywhere still.
8:56am • #45
MAR
06
2012
330,867 Points Outside Blog

thank you very much for the informative and interesting post. I get so much out of the active rain network.
8:55am • #46

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Patricia Kennedy

Washington, DC

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Evers & Company Realtors

Address: 4400 Jenifer Street NW, Washington, DC , 20015

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Pat Kennedy -- author of The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate -- gives you a look at life on the streets as a real estate broker in our nation's capital. And her blog is peppered with great advice combined with humor!


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