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Whatever happened to "good old fashion" face to face?

By
Real Estate Agent with RealtyUSA

How many of you have ever completed a transaction without ever meeting the other agent, or worse their client or even your own? Nowadays with text messaging, cell phones, e-fax, scans, emails, websites etc, we never have to meet in person. Now don't get me wrong, I am technologically savvy...I have sold homes via text messaging and emailing. There are some clients and agents whom I have never spoken to over the phone. Granted, this is not always a bad situation especially with out of town clients. I even had a hearing impaired that chose me because I only worked via email.

Nevertheless, there is something magical about the old fashion business practice of hand delivering a contract, pleading my buyer's case to a seller's agent, explaining an important point, a persuasion with words, shaking hands and adding a personal touch.

I think we are losing touch a bit, forgetting our humanness, the core of ourselves. Technology is impossible to live without and it makes our jobs so much easier, we can reach larger audiences, it aides us in being more efficient and more productive; I love it. Yet I enjoy person to person relationships, facial expressions and a smile. These are our best selling tools, don't forget them.

Comments(4)

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Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh
Century 21 New Millennium - Upper Marlboro, MD
A doctor who makes house calls.

I agree!!!!  I love chit chatting with people.  Part of why I like this job is the human touch.  I think it is a shame that we can complete entire transactions and never speak to the parties involved.  I like technology too but I don't think it should replace human interaction.

Nov 18, 2009 02:36 PM
Aja Shroll
United Real Estate - Prosper, TX
Your Home Girl

I remind myself of this everytime I want to email someone I met at an open house instead of picking up the phone.  I know a call works much better, but it's so easy to email instead.  I still have to work at it even though I know personal is better.

Nov 18, 2009 02:38 PM
Blossom Vernon
Jordan Baris Inc Realtors - Bloomfield, NJ

I sold a home for a seller in Oshkosh Wisconsin, I never met my seller, and negotiated the entire transaction through his local attorney. I love the opportunity technology provides for our industry, and I firmly believe we need to embrace it because it only enhances our traditional face to face. However, I find time management is improved extensively with technology.

Nov 18, 2009 02:38 PM
Lisa Ostrander
RealtyUSA - Queensbury, NY
ABR, RSPS, e-pro

Stacey thank you for your comment I bet if we were working together we would chit chat eachother's ear off :)

Aja, I agree that I am always struggling with calls. I am now 4 years later very comfortable with being able to just call anyone on a whim...it took so time and practice

Blossom, You are right, like I said I even sold a house via text messaging, it was cool! Time management is difficult for me because A) I am extremely busy B) I have adult ADHD, I can accomplish a lot, but need help always with keeping on task. I use my outlook, blackberry and time reminders that are so much better than my old fashion weekly hand written planner. I don't know how I used to do it!

Quick great tech tip I use. When I need to remember something or make a note, I use my blackberry phone to email myself. Save me from losing the many little scraps of paper and I have it when I get back to the office!

Nov 19, 2009 10:08 AM