I am always looking at the market and seeing a new way to utilize technology in my career. The real estate industry is becoming this high tech field, and it wasn't considered that way in the recent past.
Internet and mobile technologies have transformed the way I do business. I use my tablet PC to display and retrieve documents my client's can sign directly on the screen. I can write an offer on the spot then fax and email it directly to the listing agent. I don't have to lug around heavy files or explain why I don't have the right documents on hand.
When I want to list a home, I register a domain name for the property at godaddy.com based on its address, and then create a Web site that demonstrates its marketing effectiveness. After I list the home, I hang a rider on the For Sale sign with the home's Web address. People love it and it saves them and me time and money.
Furthermore, utilizing these new technologies has helped me service my clients faster and offer more value than traditional agents. I recently was able to get my offer accepted on a great investment property because I wrote the offer while still at the property. I guess other agents had to drive back to their office and try to find their assistant to draw up the paperwork.
Working with agents who do not embrace new technologies is becoming more burdensome. Among my contemporaries, I have noticed a resistance in dealing with agents and their staff who lack the proper technical skills. We found a nice lease property for one of our clients that we wrote an application on. We emailed the application to the listing agent and set it up in NTREIS Transactions. After many phone calls, we finally got in touch with the listing agents assistant who informed us that she did not get our numerous emails and did not understand how to work in a transaction portal. She advised us to send our client up to their office with the paper work. We found a better property the next day and leased it instead.
In closing, agents who do not embrace and utilize the latest technologies will continue to fall behind and lose business. This also goes for brokers, small and large. Utilizing the latest technologies has allowed me to reduce my commissions and give money back to my clients. More real estate professionals are catching on that a new type of Broker has emerged that charges per transaction and small yearly fee. I do not have split my commission with a broker or pay to keep the lights on at their fancy brick and mortar digs. I give the money I would have to split with a broker back to my clients at closing. I recently credited my buyer back $5900.00 on the HUD1 to pay their closing cost. I do this for every client.
Being techno savvy means you can do your own marketing, build your own websites and add a ton of REAL value to every one of your transactions. Meet the Jetsons.................
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