I have been a technology guy since the late 70's. Keeping up is a never ending task. My grand kids are amazed I have a website. They are further amazed that I know how to get people to come to it. Me TOO! My phone download emails, my car has a GPS, my laptop has WIFI, my conversation is in GIG's my email is in megabytes, my 800# has a auto-responder, my fax is obsolete and my hard drive needs a sister. Where does it all end? It doesn't! So if you do not keep up with technology you will be left to the mega producers who figured out how to do the work faster, or should I say smarter.
Technology is here so either try to understand what you can...use what works for you or lose business. Sellers and buyers expect you to be current with technology.
I laugh when my new clients see me come in with all these gizmo's! They don't laugh...in-fact they are pretty impressed I can carry all that stuff! Once you turn on the technology and show your presentation in Power-point leave them printed copies and sell their property with technology they are hooked! So are you.... You do not have to have the latest and the greatest in fact lagging behind the cost curve is a good thing. I still have not warmed up to VISTA....not sure I will.
Do I think I can dazzle a client, yes, do I think I still have to perform? Yes. These are tools to get you listings and sales. You still have to List, market, Sell, negotiate and close. So what has the technology done? It certainly costs more. It requires more training and focus. Is it faster? NO....I can take a yellow tablet and do all the stuff I do on my laptop. Can I repeat my process precisely? YES! Will I be consistent? YES! Will I create a better image? YES! Will I beat competition that shows up with the yellow tablet? EVERY-TIME! Can I produce laser color handouts? YES! Do my handouts look as good as Corporate productions? YES, using the right paper.
Embrace your future or your future will embrace you!
I hope this sparks some food for thought. Not everyone agrees that technology will make a difference but watch the next few years. We are already seeing evidence of companies offering arms length appraisal values...are they good? I don't think so......yet. Will they be? Maybe, time will tell. We are also seeing a complete change in the referral business and relocation business all sparked with technology. Sure we still have to push the buttons. I would rather be pushing the buttons than have someone push mine!
Sincerely,
Gary White
Associate Broker
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