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Talkin' Tech...A fabulous morning!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 311291

What a fabulous morning! We drove to Worcester, MA because the marvelous Nelson Zide invited me to speak about technology at his office. I figured maybe there would be a handful of agents, but I was wrong - the room was packed!ERA Crowd

I showed them my tech tools and talked about how using them helps with listings and sales. Of course my tablet PC is part of me now - I don't go anywhere without it. The group was fascinated by how I've customized the "bump" case, another example of finding ways to make your tech tools useful. I took my digital camera out and gave it to someone in the audience; the photos here are from my camera.

I illustrated how an electronic measurer can be a real "Wow!" factor on listings. I took a couple of measurements and then wrote 14' x 14' on the tablet screen. Sometimes I have the seller do the measuring; sometimes I hand the tablet to the seller and let them write.

We talked about using a website and advertising for a buyer, as in my Buyers4YourHome page. It started several years ago when I advertised that I needed a home within five miles of the Baltimore Beltway. That covers Baltimore City and a lot of the suburbs; they quickly saw how an ad like that would reach a lot of potential sellers! From that print ad I moved on to the B4YH page that is one of the most visited pages on my site now.

Still on websites, we talked about formatting the individual listing pages so that they are full-color flyers for each property. Sellers never run out of flyers if they have a color printer - they can download and print off their home's details and photos any time. The same thing works for other agents, and potential buyers can print and carry with them all the information when they visit.

One of the agents in the front had a "smart phone"  and was on the web pulling up everything I was speaking about. It could not have been planned better. She was so enthusiastic and was sharing the technology with the group! "Oh look at her flyers".  I, of course was beaming!With Nelson

There were lots of questions and much fun and laughter. Nelson was a delightful host - he is the absolute BEST marketing person I know. He is always covered with his company ERA logo right down to his shoelaces. You might see him with Red Lobster hat on too, the mark of his mentor group. Nelson is not known to be a high tech person - and I did tease him about that a bit - but he has a wonderful way of selling a whole lot of real estate and getting a whole lot of referrals.

You better believe I talked about Active Rain. I had a big writing pad at the front on which I wrote my name, my email address and http://activerain.com/referrals/homerome  I referred to the AR address and had my special AR cards to hand out. Thank you Rain gods for making these available to . We already have some new members from this.

ERA-4I told the group that had I known there was going to be such a large crowd I would have planned what I was going to say. On the drive to Worcester from Boston I tried to write some notes on the back of a few envelopes but didn't get very far. It wasn't because I couldn't think of anything, but my go-anywhere office was busy! I had  contracts coming in on my Tablet PC, I was negotiating a home inspection request and making appointments on my listings.

I think they got the most important message about technology. It's a great tool but the creativity has to come from the real estate professional. I know how to list, I know how to sell. I know how to listen, I know how to negotiate. I know how to meet people, I know how to network, and NO one can show a house better than I can. All the technology in the world will not teach you how to do these things. A computer can show you photos but it cannot "show" a house with the warmth and personality needed to have that buyer already living in the property.

What technology can do is save me time and allow me to have more personal time. And it does all this without me being tied to an office. That's the real advantage of technology today.

http://www.homerome.com/

Baltimore,Md.

 

Posted by

Margaret Rome
HomeRome Realty
Broker/Owner/RealtorĀ®

Baltimore, Maryland


Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Radio Host ALL ABOUT REAL ESTATE
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Author: Real Estate The Rome Way

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(410) 530-2400
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Comments (19)

Keith Jeppson - Salt Lake City Real Estate
Everest Realty Group - Holladay, UT
Hello Margaret, great post.  This link doesn't work though? http://activerain/referrals/homerome   I'd love to see where it goes when it does.
Dec 01, 2006 12:50 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Keith, Here is the link:

http://activerain.com/referrals/homerome 

Congratulations on signing up a new buyer because of Active Rain!

Dec 01, 2006 01:20 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Margaret, you went right by my neck of the woods on your way to Worchester.  Sounds like you had a great day, and I hope you were able to make it into Boston.  Even though they have the world’s worst drivers, the city has a lot of great places to see. Just a little bit more than the capital of my state, Hartford.

Dec 01, 2006 04:13 PM
Bob Sommers
Sommers Communication - Kihei, HI
The Likeability Guy
Great post Margaret. I too am fascinated with how to use technology to sell homes. Isn't life grand?
Dec 01, 2006 04:23 PM
Brian Brady
Matthews Capital Markets - Tampa, FL
858-699-4590
Technology:  the ultimate tool for networking and making rain
Dec 01, 2006 05:27 PM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time

Hi Margaret, Wish I could have been there to see you in action. Maybe I'll fly up one day and we'll see if we can take 10 listings in one day together. Wouldn't that be fun?

Really enjoyed our conversation yesterday. BTW I wrote this on my tablet while sitting in bed:)

Dec 01, 2006 11:17 PM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
Kudos again, Margaret. How about having a video done of you showing the house - could use for iSucceed, would be great addition to your website, etc.  Why not have the BEST show the house?
Dec 01, 2006 11:56 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous

George, I waved, didn't you see me? I just left you a voice message cause you sight says you are available 7 days a week til 10pm.

Bob, You can't ever forget to do RE but the technology can be facinating and comsuming.

Brian, Speaking is a wonderful way to make it rain and network. We got some new AR members...yeah!

Bryant, It would have been fun if you and TLW  would have been there. Hey let's plan to do a session together. 

Sharon, I love your idea. You are always so supportive!

Dec 02, 2006 01:14 AM
#8
Chris Tesch
RE/MAX Bryan-College Station - College Station, TX
College Station, Texas Real Estate

Margaret, you are so giving!!!  I am amazed by you.  i had the pleasure of seeing you speak in Dallas and truly enjoyed it.  I had already completed my profile with AR, but hadn't done anything yet.  I came back home and immediately got on and started blogging (and haven't shut up yet!)

Thanks!

Dec 02, 2006 01:40 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Thanks for the comments!! Was I in Dallas?

www.Homerome.com

Baltimore,Md

Dec 02, 2006 01:48 AM
#10
Suzanne Marriott
Keller Williams Arizona Realty - Anthem, AZ
Associate Broker, CLHMS, e-PRO

Really drives the message home - if you are not "connected" you will soon be part of history.

Dec 02, 2006 01:57 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert
Margaget, it was a pleasure to talk to you. I will be looking forward to reading the blog we talked about.
Dec 02, 2006 02:09 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Suzanne, this is a wonderful way to be connected.

George, thanks for returning the call so quickly!

Dec 02, 2006 08:13 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Margaret - I love you website.  The changing thumbnails pictures are well done. 

Great point technology is a tool to give you more personal time, not replace it.

Dec 03, 2006 04:19 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Randy, 

Thanks for visiting my website. Those moving photos are loved by most but a few people don't like the motion. I tell them once they are sold they stop moving.

 

Dec 03, 2006 04:41 AM
Karen Richardson
ERA Key Realty - Northborough, MA

No H in Worcester, it's pronounced Wooster or as the locals say "Woosta".  I missed your talk because of sick kids but heard what I missed from other agents ... and here I am on Active Rain. Some great advise!

Thanks!

Dec 08, 2006 12:09 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Hi Karen,

Thanks for sharing my spelling oops. I will correct it.
Sorry I did not get to meet you.  Hope your kids are all well.

I had a great day and your office and management are the best. If I lived in the area, I would be with that office.
Hope you are enjoying Active Rain and feel free to let me know if I can help in any way.

Margaret
410-530-2400

Dec 08, 2006 04:35 PM
Jay Thompson
Zillow - Seattle, WA

Nice post (used with permission :) )  Things change after 18 hours. I'm taking advantage of Margaret's offer to use "Nice post" as a comment. 

I'm still reading them, but this way I can knock a few back with minimal typing. 

Dec 14, 2006 11:28 AM
Michael Jordan
Tarbell, REALTORS - Murrieta, CA
Hi Margaret,  seeing as how I am a new agent and money is tight, I was interested in a tablet pc, no one in my office has one, but from what little I have read online, they seem like the tool of the future. No paper, emails, faxs, and I am sure there is more I am missing. Do you think that buying one would be a good investment, and what model pc, and what program are you running?
Dec 14, 2006 05:00 PM