We have said it before and will say it again, technology is not going anywhere, so you might as well embrace it instead of just giving it a handshake. The fear among Agents is real, but if you face the fear you will find ways to use it to provide an exceptional experience for your customers and set yourself apart from the pack.

Traditional disruptors in Real Estate like Zillow and Redfin could soon look like small potatoes in comparison to the disruption that could be caused by an Amazon, and judging by recent events, that type of disruption might be closer than you think. Don’t panic. The robots can only “take over so far”. They will never be able to replace the Realtor, Agent and Broker because there are things they will never be able to do better, for example:

Provide a Concierge Experience

Humans have the ability to make other humans feel important. An app or a website does not have that skill. However, humans can use an app or a website to let other humans (customers) know how important they are by using tools technology offers like immediate email responses and customized drip campaigns.

Think of it like online shopping versus brick and mortar shopping. The online shopping experience is basically the same across any website regardless of product or brand. From Louis Vuitton to Walmart the process begins with selecting an item, adding it to your cart, paying then leaving the site. However, if there is a question or issue, what do you have to do? Talk to a human, and it’s usually through a technology the seller uses to enhance their services like online chat or email.

The same is and will continue to be true in Real Estate. There will always be aspects that technology cannot replicate or replace like experience, knowledge (especially niche neighborhood knowledge), personalization and personality.

Understand the magnitude and emotional gravity of buying a home (especially for first-time buyers)

Cars, then homes, are the two largest purchases a person typically makes during their lifetime. It is a choice that once made cannot be reversed just by presenting a receipt. Often Realtors find themselves playing therapist, whether it’s to a couple who want different things or someone who is nervous about the commitment. You are there to guide them through the process with care, concern and respect. These are attributes a machine or software cannot replicate.

Provide Expert Guidance

Technology can run an algorithm and spit out a response, but the only way it can do that is by looking at checked boxes from a provided list of options. It doesn’t understand why it has come to the conclusion. It is a data-in data-out relationship. Like the emotional responses that come with the home buying experience, the journey is not a strictly data-in data out-process.

Clients rely on their Agent to give them good advice and be their guide. They expect their Agent to have their best interests at heart and represent them as such. The Agent’s job is to take the connection technology made on paper into the real world and give advice based on professional experience, market knowledge and inside knowledge (like pocket listing and personal connections).

The technology disruptions of today will soon be old news because another disruptor will come along. Understanding this fact, and understanding that no amount of petition signing will stop technological progress, will help you move on to acceptance and then embracing technology.

Once you begin to embrace technology you will be able to see how you can use it to enhance your business, giving you benefits instead of headaches. One technology that has been around for a while, is not going anywhere, and is just getting better and better is the CRM solution. While there are many to choose from, the ideal CRM for the Real Estate industry is a Real Estate centered solution that has IDX/CRM integration, like the Buying Buddy IDX CRM solution. If you are ready to stop fighting and start embracing technology, contact us.