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How can simple technology harm you?

By
Real Estate Agent with Elevated Real Estate Solutions

Have you ever talked to a client or agent over the phone, and in the end said "well I'll get to work on that right now, and email it on over when I am done, what's your email address?"

Okay so maybe not those particular words, but I am sure almost daily you ask someone for their email address. Its easier, its less time consuming, they can read it or view it when THEY have the time, and your already on the computer so why not just send it over that way (in most cases)?

But have you ever had a client or another agent say, I'm sorry I just don't "do" email. You know, they just aren't with it. They don't send, write, read or recieve emails.

Wait, what?!

I just don't understand how anyone, in the work world can go without something as simple as an email address. I think that people who don't have an email address should be told how they are not only hurting themselves, but they are hurting their potential clients, or people who work for them. Having something as small as an email address is very important in this business as I am sure most of you are aware. So how do people go without it?

Sometimes people are hard to get into contact with, their never by a fax machine, so sending an email over is just about the only way to go. What do they do in that case? Send them a letter, leave them fifteen voice mails?

What if it is late at night and you want to get something over to your client right away, but they don't have an email address, they can't meet until the following evening, they have no fax, and you can't drop it off by their work? Without having the right means to stay in contact with someone, the system that us Realtors use fails.

ANY THOUGHTS? What do you say if this happens?

Comments (16)

Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

I think e-mail and texting are important tools when they are the customer's preferred method of communication.

Jan 06, 2009 04:37 AM
Ella Glover
Lubbock Homes - Lubbock, TX

Email sure has made our lives easier, I hope that everyone will catch on soon.  But if not, you just have to work with the phone and their schedule.  But even at that don't we have the best job in the world!  I think that technology just makes it so much easier!

.

Jan 06, 2009 04:39 AM
Trish Greene
VanDorm Realty - Tenino, WA
Team 242- Realtor, ABR

Hey Terri, that has came up a few times and it makes things so much more difficult...ugh!! I just try to remind myself that there was a time when there was no fax machines, cell phones or emails (okay, so it's actually the old timer agents that remind me:) I have found that with elderly folks they usually have a son or daughter that is savvy and I am able to communicate a great portion of stuff through them.

I'm with you though! It is time to jump on the technology train...at the very least an email address!!!

 

Jan 06, 2009 04:42 AM
Ron Tarvin
Residential, Investment properties, rehab projects, property management, luxury homes, new construction! - Katy, TX
Broker, Katy, Houston, Cypress 77450,77494,77095

I have resorted to PRINT and MAIL for listings and such, but with the disclaimer that with the time and cost it takes to do that, I can not update and I can not say if the listings will be live by the time they get the information (depending on where they are being mailed to!).

I have resorted to Fax as well. 

A laptop with mobile broadband could help you meet an email-less client out and about to look at things online to determine a course of action.

Jan 06, 2009 04:43 AM
Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

I know what you mean emails make it easier-however, some customers don't prefer this way.  I always ask the customer they preferred way of communicating and use it.  Sometimes it can make the transaction take a while longer.

Jan 06, 2009 04:45 AM
Brett Tousley
Keller Williams Realty - Richland, WA
Tri Cities Real Estate | (509) 420-0013

I had a client last year that only had web tv!  I didn't eve know that they were still around.  It took him so long to view the emails I sent, that I resorted to printing and mailing them.  I think it was actually faster.

If you are in this business and don't have broadband/dsl or faster you are behind the power curve.  Couldn't imagine working with zero email.

Jan 06, 2009 04:47 AM
Diane Testa
Mullica Hill, NJ

In this day and age the technology that is available out there makes doing business much easier. Keeping up with it is part of our job in my opinion.

I remember the days when you would have to go an collect keys from agencies to schedule showings. It was strange to me when I attempted to schedule a showing this past year and I was told that I had to sign out a key from the agent's office, and return it when I was done. Keeping up with the trend to put a lockbox on their listings was a challange for this one agency, so I would imagine that they would also have trouble with the entire "e-mail" trend too.

Jan 06, 2009 04:50 AM
James Engel
Keller Williams Realty Beverly Hills - Beverly Hills, CA
KW Beverly Hills

I definitely agree with you that an email is a definite must, especially in this line of work.  Thank you for sharing that with us. I hope you have a great day!

Jan 06, 2009 04:51 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

I still work with clients without emails. Makes things a bit more challenging..try to make sure they are all local. And then there are a few agents without email...how long do you think they will be in the business?

Jan 06, 2009 04:57 AM
Mary Kent
Five Star Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids to the Lake Shore

Terri-I love my email and really can't imagine it as a major tool for my business! I know of a realtor that's been in the business for years and is of retirement age, very nice individual, top producer. She told me that she's Never driven a car or operated a Key Box, you might ask, how could this? Well, her husband goes with her everywhere, drives of course and also operates the key box, she talks to clients and closes deals!

Jan 06, 2009 05:01 AM
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

What can you do? If they don't use it, they don't use it.

Jan 06, 2009 05:03 AM
Bill Dunn
Elite Realty Group - Paducah, KY

I've been working with a client who has a similar issue. He has email and internet but does not have long distance service on his home phone. Not cell phone either. He's on disability so he doesn't have long distance to keep his home phone service costs down. He does everything with me via snail mail or email. He doesn't have a fax or scanner either.

I told him if he needs to talk to me he should either email me, call me at the office's toll free number or go to such and such web site and send me a text message on my cell. I'll call him back ASAP.

Jan 06, 2009 06:32 AM
Jim Dvorovy
Cutler Real Estate - Canton, OH
REALTOR - Canton Ohio Real Estate

I've had 8 or 10 customers call into the office while I was on floor duty and wanted property sheets mailed to them. I always complied with their requests, but have never had a single one of them ever return the courtesy of the communication. None of them every requested a showing, let alone close on a transaction. I have delivered documents to some of my clients, but with gas being so expensive, it makes it a hardship let alone lost time.

Jan 06, 2009 07:02 AM
Richard Shuman
The Only B.S. I Have is from the University of Massachusetts - Lake Mary, FL
Real Estate Broker - Orlando Area - Love Referrals

I love email it's the best way to get in touch with me any time of the day. Unfortunately there are those clients that prefer everything in writing and in person. While I explain that it's more more efficient contacting each other via email, I still have had a couple that refuse to even consider technology. Apparently, they don't trust it.

Thank goodness for my fax and scanner!

Jan 06, 2009 07:50 AM
Shawn Davis
Home Crossings, P.C. - Davison, MI
Homes For Sale, Genesee County, Michigan

I agree with you an e-mail address is a must for our business...and so simple to use...maybe they were having computer issues. 

Wishing You a Successful 2009, Terri.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Shawn Davis

Jan 15, 2009 12:45 AM
Linda Breeding
Keller Williams Realty - Pinehurst, NC

I agree with you, no email is not the way to do business. I have found that email is a life saver especially since a lot of people don't have fax machines in their homes. I lot of my clients are from out of town. I must say, I love my scanner too.

Jan 20, 2009 09:07 AM