Although I see and understand where the technology is taking us, I still feel that I can never be replaced by a robotic assistant.  No matter how far advanced the technology becomes, we will never have robots that are as human as humans.  That guarantes my place in the world!  No worries here!

~Renae

Ranae,

Perhaps but, we have been replacing human jobs with technolgy, robotics tools for a long time. Cotton Gin, Tractors, CAD CAM, robotic Auto Manufacturing, etc. etc. Having a backgound in the car wash industry I see robotics replacing workers. There will soon be airliners that fly themselves. My dad was an Airline Pilot after the military, he is sure of it and already sees it coming, the airliners of today practically fly themselves any way, and too, as we have trams and people movers now, some trains too. Eventually, all this will be automated, human error proof.

Real Estate agents will use these tools to become more efficient, eventually the techology will replace them too. Long time off of course, because customers expect personal service, relationship based consultation, but that is really the only hurdle, as robots will be programmed to deal with hard to deal with folks, conflict resolution, even prevent these events from occurring in the first place.

Just like now unions attempt to prevent technology from replacing workers, the real estate associations comprised of humans will fight the change too, staving it off for perhaps a decade or more, even when it is 100% viable, but not forever of course.

This could be 20-30 years, but if the consumer is okay with it, the real estate offices will want to cut costs, robots will not need as high a commission, so it makes sense from an ROI standpoint once the economies of scale come down to Earth. If I owned a real estate office, I would invest in robots as soon as they were feasible and relatively affordable for their work value. Lance

First, I have to tell you that this was the last thing I think I read online before I went to bed last night.  As a result, I dreamt of robots last night.  Thanks for the memories!

On to your post...  Just as union delegates are doing their best to thwart the encroaching technology that is putting more and more people out of work, I'm sure the same will happen in the real estate industry (and others as well).  Also, by the time there is no more resisting to be done, we (Virtual Assistants & Agents) will have found a way to move on and survive (I hope!).

Thanks for the great topic!

~Renae

Renae,

Yes, I pretty much see that as the most probable scenario, as those having jobs being replaced by such scenarios, will re-define their niches and go with the flow. Real Estate careers are very relationship based so they will not change as fast as others, but a real estate professional who wants to be successful needs to leverage technology and use assistants to help them remain more efficient.

Its like Plato elluded to in the Republic, each person in a city state should do what they do best and be alleviated from those mundane things they are not good at. When this is done, the city state is more efficient and each individual is more efficient at their specialty, therefore everyone, including the entire civilization as a whole achieves more, and does so in a more efficient way. Thus, the reason why your business is so successful and the smartest and best adpated agents must use it to win.

In fact, a Realtor outsourcing to you or buying a robotic assistant for 1/2 a million dollars amounts to the same thing, efficiency. Only difference is your cost structure is far superior to the robotic scenario and will be for many decades to come. Lance

Thanks for the advertising for Virtual Assistants, Lance!  Your next post could just be an out-and-out call to realtors to do their best and become more efficient by utilizing a VA!  I'd love it!  hahaahah

But I do completely understand what you're saying about becoming more efficient.  Also, you're right on the mark that the only way any of us will survive the changes in technology will be to evolve what we do, refine our niche and keep moving on.

~Renae

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Renae,

Yes, this is an observable truth, it really cannot be denied. You know, Einstein once said that "Change is the Only Constant" and with that said, well you either evolve, adapt or die? Those real estate professionals who change with the new paradigms in technology, will not ever have to ask the question; "Who Moved My Cheese?" Because they will be crushed by the latest innovation widget that built a better mouse trap. - Lance

http://www.amazon.com/Moved-Cheese-Amazing-Deal-Change/dp/0399144463 (Recommended Read)

http://www.whomovedmycheese.com/

Issac Asimov also said: http://www.thephoenixprinciple.com/quotes/2004/11/isaac_asimov_th.html

"The only constant is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be." - Isaac Asimov

Now remember that Isaac Asimov also wrote the Three Laws of Robotics too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics

I guess my question now is after reading these rules is; If a robot takes your job or steals your cheese, does that constitute harm to a human? Interesting question? - Lance

Thanks Hal,

Please just don't lock me out of my own blog if you feel threatened that I have to turn you off to protect the real estate agents and their careers! I promise not to use hostility in my voice, please let me back in! Lance

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Hal,

Please don't laugh at me, I am truthfully sorry, please let me back in, we do not need to have a Robotic War Over This!  http://www.worldthinktank.net/pdfs/unmannedvehiclerobotic.pdf .

Please tell the Mrs' I am sorry too: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061562129/Love_and_Sex_with_Robots/index.aspx

Oh please Hal, can't we just get along? Why did you encrypt my Electronic Day Planner and AT&T "TILT" Smartphone? You know I need that personal contact database, my entire client list is in there? If I do not sell another property, how am I suppose to pay for your latest Electronic Chip of the Entire History of Mankind? HAL, please unlock my database, this is not funy anymore! If you don't I am going to hire Renae, the Professional Real Estate Assistant, because she is always on-time and costs a lot less! Lance

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Hal,

Yes I am. And I hate to ACTIVELY RAIN on your Parade, but there are some Real Estate Professionals, who do not really fancy the idea of being replaced by the Robot Race! We need to set up dialogue and negotiation on this with the Artificial Intelligent Powers that be. Maybe a Blogger Writer's Strike against the potential eventualities of Hollywood Sci Fi Action Dramas?

Tell you what - you let me back into my blog so I can post another article, and unlock my Smart Phone and I'll tell them to call off the Writer's Strike, so all these Blog Writers can get back to work and paid and receive homebuyer and homeseller referrals or future royalties for their online writing efforts here at ActiveRain! What do you say, do we got a deal? Lance