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If your technology isn't saving you money, maybe you aren't using it right...

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Holler Law Firm

I think we are all feeling the need to tighten the purse strings these days.  One of the best ways to do this is to look at all of the websites and services that you may have signed up for during a time when the cash was flowing more freely.  Make sure that you give each one a good hard look, though, before you start discontinuing everything with wild abandon.  Each service had some merit and possibilities or you wouldn't have signed up for it when you did.  Perhaps in the hustle and bustle of your daily business, you have just lost sight of those possibilities. 

When looking at these services, don't limit yourself to only looking at how much money the service costs you but be sure to look at how much money the service can make you if used properly. 

Hey, the way gas prices have skyrocketed is a perfect example.  It is costing us a lot more these days to drive around town.  But, would this be your solution???  I seriously doubt it.  You aren't going to stop driving your car.  What can you do instead? 

First, cut down on unnecessary car trips.  This is where other technologies can come into play. 

*Use an efax number or email to send documents instead of driving them around town. 

*Keep your files in an online transaction management system instead of having paper files that you need to constantly go to the office to retrieve.  Remember, if you paperwork is in a digital format on your computer, you may be able to turn in paperwork to your Broker through email instead of running it into the office.

*Setting up direct deposit with your Broker for your commission checks will save you both trips to the office and trips to the bank.  Being paperless isn't easy in the beginning, but once you get the hang of it, it can save you a tremendous amount of money.

Think of your car as a piece of your working technology and integrate as much as possible.  Here are a couple of ideas:

*Does your car have blue tooth capabilities?  Try syncing it with your contacts in Outlook.  Now, you can easily call clients during your time on the road. 

*Do you have GPS in your car?  There are some very affordable portable systems out there and this will save you time and unnecessary gas money by keeping you from wandering lost. 

The bottom line is that your car is a piece of technology that while it costs you money to operate ultimately it is saving you time (remember time is a commodity) and it is helping you to make money by giving you the ability to show property and get you where you need to be more efficiently than other modes of transportation.

I hope this will get the idea rolling around in your head.  You should do this with every tools you use in your business.  Always be looking for the return on your investments and don't be afraid to think outside the box. 

Comments (37)

Christy Powers
Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners - Pooler, GA
Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent
I agree. I love that I can cut out a lot of paper. Saves on clutter and saves the trees! Talk about a win-win! 
May 02, 2008 01:59 PM
Eric Egeland
RE/MAX SUBURBAN - Libertyville, IL
SFR, e-PRO, CDPE

Beth, Great post

 

Couldn't agree w/ you more 

May 02, 2008 02:28 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy
I'm trying to talk my wife into a Kawasaki Vulcan Drifter to use for pre-viewing... save those miles from the F-350... She's not buying it.
May 02, 2008 03:33 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI
I agree with your views on technology Beth. A scanner has helped me tremendously.
May 02, 2008 03:50 PM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate
Our office is working on transitioning to paperless. The time and cost savings are already visible. It's great to have access to documents from any online connection rather than having to drive to the office. It's still a bit of a learning process for some, but gas at $3.50+ per gallon is a pretty strong incentive.
May 02, 2008 04:38 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous
I love that we can scan all our documents straight to our email from our copy machine now. It save a lot of time, and as many said gas. I also use services provided by Title companies where you get a fax cover sheet and load the documents into and electronic file that they store on their servers for 10+ years. It saves me from storing in on my hard drive, and I can even download the entire file at the end onto a disc. Three copies, one for me, the office, and the client.
May 03, 2008 12:55 AM
#23
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Beth - very cute - LOL - Peddle Power works for me that looks like a 14 peddle power engine to me now to just sign up fourteen people to move me about town as required.

I will have to come back to re read and get the real message in your post after I stop laughing

May 03, 2008 03:28 AM
Beth Young
Holler Law Firm - Milford, CT
Been there, Done that...

Michael and Team DiMuria, thank you.  I'm glad to see that you are on the right track!

Heath, isn't technology great?!?!

May 05, 2008 01:58 AM
Beth Young
Holler Law Firm - Milford, CT
Been there, Done that...
Patty and Scott, I am so glad to hear that.  After switching to a paperless system, I saw the benefits almost immediately.  It was a huge cost savings.  Sometimes it just takes others a little longer to get the hang of it.
May 05, 2008 01:59 AM
Bill Nazaroff
The Nazaroff Team - Fresno, CA
Modern Technology with Old Fashion Service

Greetings from Fresno Beth!

We have recently purchased a S300 Fijitsu scanner - a little portable that we take to short sale listing appt. Have the client have all their docs ready that is needed for the short sale - bank statements - Tax returns etc. scan them in at the house when taking the listing - LEAVE them all the paper and leave with it all in the Lenovo X61 Tablet -

 Another GREAT tool that we just recently started using (the last 2 weeks) is Docusign.com - want to save time and MONEY$$$$ Get Docusign - last week alone I used it 6 different times to get signatures, and NEVER left my computer!! It is GREAT!  NO appointments - NO meetings - NO driving - NO nothing - Just email - YES!

Thanks for the post Beth! Take care

May 05, 2008 04:03 PM
Beth Young
Holler Law Firm - Milford, CT
Been there, Done that...
Yes, there are many services on the web for "free" but take caution...you don't want to become dependent on systems that may not be completely reliable.
May 06, 2008 02:12 AM
Beth Young
Holler Law Firm - Milford, CT
Been there, Done that...
Galel, thank you.  I often see people get caught up in the latest tech gadget and lose sight of how it is supposed to benefit their business.
May 06, 2008 02:38 AM
Dione Sage
Nova Home Loans - Gilbert, AZ

Great Post, Every little bit helps and in the long run can save you quite a bit of money and not to mention the benefits of time management!!! Thanks for writing this blog.

May 06, 2008 01:02 PM
Michael and Cheron Lange
Solutions Real Estate - Chandler, AZ
Associate Broker, GRI

Tips I'm sure we are all doing and the reminder is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

C. Lange

May 06, 2008 01:47 PM
Beth Young
Holler Law Firm - Milford, CT
Been there, Done that...
Steven, welcome to Active Rain.  You are right, you will find many good ideas to build on and some great people, too.
May 08, 2008 02:21 AM
Beth Young
Holler Law Firm - Milford, CT
Been there, Done that...
Alan, thank you very much for the compliment.
May 08, 2008 02:23 AM
Beth Young
Holler Law Firm - Milford, CT
Been there, Done that...
Stephen, I think you are right about the picture.  I would love to tell you about SureClose.  I think it is far and away the best transaction management platform available.  There is plenty of information I can give you.  Would you like me to email you or would you like to talk in "real time"?
May 08, 2008 02:25 AM
Stephen D White, E-Pro, ABR Cape Cod Real Estate
SDW Realty of Cape Cod - Falmouth, MA

Beth if you could email me with the short version info of Sure Close- your transaction management platform thank you very much

 

Cape Cod Realtor

May 09, 2008 06:59 AM
Beth Young
Holler Law Firm - Milford, CT
Been there, Done that...

Bill, as always it is great to hear from you.  I am so glad that you are adding tools to your business to lead you to being paperless.  It is a process that must be taken in steps but, boy oh boy, how they pay off!

May 13, 2008 12:59 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Hi Beth- I liked your analogy, and your graphic didn't hurt either :)

May 13, 2008 03:38 PM