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Ode to my Real Estate Master Calculator

Real Estate calculator Today is a somber day as I come to grips with the fact that my trusty calculator will have to be retired. It has been with me since 1992. We have listed and sold hundreds of homes together, figured closing costs for buyers and sellers, figured production, you name it. Did I mention that I know where all of the buttons are and how to work the functions? Sigh! Yes, we have been through many things together. I tried to deny it, delay this sad choice. But, it has gotten to the point that it is hard to read any number over $99,999 - accurately. In Real Estate, that's a problem. I don't know about you, but I sell many homes over that price.

I'm proud of how tech-saavy I am. I tell my clients that I use today's technology but this calculator and its condition kind of shoot a hole in my tech-saavy image. I mean, what's a girl to do? Rely on her Smartphone? I just don't know if that calculator function is accurate. I have had no less than 3 Treo 600's, 3 Treo 650's, and now have a Treo 700. I use most of the functions including the e-key & e-data, Top Producer, speed dial, e-mail, paging and texting and even a few photos and video clips on an expansion card. Yes, I am running some large programs on this phone. Here's the thing, it locks up on me. There have been times when it decides to reset itself. Often, while I am in the middle of a phone call with another call waiting. It shuts down so that I can't see whose call I missed. Drives me crazy!! I'm a level-headed girl. I think of solutions in a calm, methodic way. I've thought about driving over it with my SUV or flushing it down the toilet. I'd even stick my hand in the water to force it down, but only if the water is clear. I do have my standards. But then, I check myself. I try never to speak harsh words to my phone or tell it what I really think. Instead, I tell it how much I really appreciate it, how it makes my life easier. I act like I'm going to bang it on the console of my car, but never come into contact. Sometimes, I wonder if there is a little gremlin in there just up to mischief. So, here is my question. Do I get another trusty, updated Real Estate Master calculator or do I put my fate in the "hands" of my Smartphone? Is anyone using their Treo to figure Buyers and Sellers estimated costs and payments? How is that working? What program or add-on are you using? Thank you for your warm thoughts as I adjust to life without my calculator.

Posted by Mary Richards on 11/07/2007 11:40 PM

Comments (16)

calculator, technology, smartphone, treo 600, treo 650, treo 700, top producer, email, tech saavy, speed dial, ekey, programs, suv

16 Comments on Ode to my Real Estate Master Calculator

1992... wow, I've never been able to keep track of a calculator for more than a few months at a time!

11/07/2007 11:44 PM

by Carol Williams Wenatchee Real Estate (Willinger Real Estate)

Interesting post. Thanks for sharing.

11/07/2007 11:46 PM

by Bob & Carolin Benjamin - E Phoenix Arizona Real Estate (The Benjamin Team - Keller Williams Integrity First Realty )

Well, as you can see from the wear on the calculator, I kept this one much longer than I should have.

11/07/2007 11:48 PM

by Mary Richards (Reece & Nichols Realtors)

Woe to the day my laptop retires :)

11/07/2007 11:49 PM

by Sarah Reinhart-Friendship Based Real Estate® (Keller Williams Spokane)

My laptop is 4 years old so I think I'm on borrowed time there too. Ack!

11/07/2007 11:55 PM

by Mary Richards (Reece & Nichols Realtors)

Mary, Your calculator is as old as my youngest son! LOL! It is hard getting rid of something that you are comfortable with!

11/08/2007 12:28 AM

by Roberta LaRocca - REALTOR® Las Vegas (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace)

This calculator is older than my son! It is the one and only calculator that I have used throughout my Real Estate career - over 15 years!

11/08/2007 02:39 PM

by Mary Richards (Reece & Nichols Realtors)

I have one that is just as old and worn as yours and I love it too. In fact, I have two. One at the office at my desk and one at home at my desk. I used to carry one in my purse but with the Treo I decided it would be redundant to continue that. My reasoning is that most of the time I need the calculator at my desk. If I have to have one in the field, I use the Treo. Yours is not dead. Just get a new battery!!

11/08/2007 05:07 PM

by Barbara S. Duncan ABR, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR (RE/MAX Advantage)

Thank you for the kind words Barbara! My problem is that there is this black blob in the middle of the screen that is covering part of the numbers. I'm not sure how that happened.

11/08/2007 10:26 PM

by Mary Richards (Reece & Nichols Realtors)

Hi Mary - there are a number of real estate specific calculator applications for the Treo platforms.

You can have more power, more convenience and not have to carry another device.

(check google for real estate calculator for Treo)

11/09/2007 04:43 AM

by Ted Baker (Carmody and Associates LLC)

Well, mine has the blob too but it is at the top of the screen so I can still see the numbers. I looked on the back of mine and it says 1982. I've probably had it that lone and it is a Financial 1. I still remember the job I felt when at a seminar they showed us how to do the "putting in three numbers to come up with the fourth" and the amount of interest paid, etc.

11/09/2007 07:46 AM

by Barbara S. Duncan ABR, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR (RE/MAX Advantage)

Ted: Thanks! I'll check that out. I'm all for consolidating devices.

Barbara: Ahh! Those were the days... ;)

11/09/2007 07:26 PM

by Mary Richards (Reece & Nichols Realtors)

Oh Mary...sniff, sniff...I'm so sorry for your loss....sniff, sniff..... I new you two were close....sob,sob....but it's for the best, you just have to hold your chin up, and move on....sniff,sniff.

I don't know anything about the Treo's, but all the phones that I've had, the calc. was junk. I really like using a financial calculator, so I can put in all the numbers. and getting the figures that I need for my client. I feel more comfortable with it than a phone.

Nice post, but the laptop is another post. Have a geat day

11/09/2007 10:44 PM

by Larry Hammelman Sterling, Illinois Real Estate (Mel Foster Co.)

Mary - This is so sad. LOL As we all get put out to pasture with age.

11/13/2007 03:19 PM

by Dale Campbell (Pioneer Realty)

Dale: Thanks for stopping by. I guess this is one area of my life where is it time to change!

11/13/2007 05:03 PM

by Mary Richards (Reece & Nichols Realtors)

FROM  ELIZABETH DAVID, 12 BP 1046 ABIDJAN COTE D IVOIRE
WEST AFRICA ATTN PRESIDENT/CEO
   Hello dear
l am Miss ELIZABETH, the only daughter of late Chief and Mrs Julius DAVID.My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan here, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, he was poissoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings for business. My mother died on the 20th october 1992 and my father took me so special because l am motherless. Before the death of my father on 29th november 2006 in a private hospital here in Abidjan, he called me and made some sympathetic comments: (1) he conplained that I am too young to be managing my life, (2)that I have not finished my university education as he planned for me, (3) that no body is to take care of me anymore , but after much , he revealed to me that he has the sum of US$8.000.000.(EIGHT MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) left in a security company  here in Abidjan. That he used my name as the only daughter for his next of kin in deposit of the fund.He passed an instruction to me, that l should seek for a GOD fearing foreign partner in a country of my choice where l will transfer this money and use it for proper investment purpose. That I must finish my university education by the help of a business partner abroad. He told me the money was deposited as an atifact to avoid problem or  tamparing by the officers of the company and to make sure I do not begin to make use of the money here so that his enemies will not get at me. I am now ready to do all these since my father my bread winner is no more and more worse the incesant political crisis here. l am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways: (1) to serve as my gaurdian in your country whereas I will depend on your expert advise .
( 2 ) to make arrangement for me to come over to your country in order to further my university education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country.
Moreover, l am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation for your effort /input after the successfull transfer of this fund to your account overseas. Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me as l believed that this project would be concluded within fourteen ( 14 ) days you signify interest to assist me.
Hoping to hear from you soonest. May God bless you as you extend your helping hand to a needy fellow. please contact me in my private Email (elizabeth_david1020@yahoo.com) Best wishes
ELIZABETH   DAVID,

03/01/2008 09:45 AM

by FROM ELIZABETH DAVID,

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