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Text - Do you let people know you receive/send text messages?

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific BRE #01474067

Today in a GRI class on technology we discussed asking your clients how they want to be communicated with.  We named phone, email, snail mail, face to face and text.  Being in the generation that text message is fairly new (unless we have teenagers or young adults in our family), text does not come quickly to me.  

My blog is not about doing it, but letting our clients and potential clients know we can receive/send text messages.  So my new mantra is to add next to my cell phone in my marketing the words Text/Cell, or similar verbiage to offer another way of communicating with me.  By offering many alternatives, this gives a potential client the capability to contact you in the way they may be most comfortable.  By not telling the public, it is the same as having an unlisted phone number. 

Sometimes a simple change such as this can make a big difference.  I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. We use descriptive verbiage such as office, cell, fax, toll free.... so why not include text?  So my goal is to get started changing my outlook signatures, website, profiles, etc.  We gotta' make it easy for people to reach us!  Do most of you incorporate this verbiage?

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***************************************************************************************  Melanie and Jenny reviews

Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific

Call or Text Melanie - 707-319-2828

Visit Real Estate Made Simple for more information about Homes for Sale In Benicia, Vallejo, Green Valley, and Napa. Melanie provides information and options to assist distressed homeowners in today's real estate market.  In addition to understanding the real estate transaction, seek professional tax and legal advice if your plan is to short sale your home.

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Melanie Ross Benicia Realtor

 

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Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan. If you stop paying your mortgage, you could lose your home and damage your credit rating. 

Ed Vogt
Midwest Properties of Michigan - Grandville, MI
Grandville, MI Midwest Properties
I don't know why I never thought of that!  I guess being a baby boomer it was hard enough to do the e-mail only, but since so many of the Gen X and Y communicate this way - we should too.
Nov 09, 2007 02:46 AM
Gil Kerbashian Real Estate Loans
Gil Kerbashian Real Estate Loans - Crystal Lake, IL
Text message are awsome during quiet times but have we lost the human touch?
Nov 09, 2007 03:11 AM
Joeann Fossland
Advantage Solutions Group - Tucson, AZ
Master Certified Coach to Motivated Agents

As with everything you do, it will depend on your target audience (perfect client profile) but texting is definitely becoming a more common way to connect! I love the widget Jeffrey shared! Way cool!
Thanks for your great post, Melanie

Nov 09, 2007 03:23 AM
Rebecca Savitski
BSR Real Estate Group - Cary, NC
NC Real Estate Listings
I have just started texting recently. I will inform them that I accept texts and if they are custom to texts they start the process. I recently had a 20 something conduct all communication via text.
Nov 09, 2007 03:28 AM
Tom Burris
NMLS# 335055 - Baton Rouge, LA
Texas/Louisiana Mortgage Pro - 13 YRS Experience

 chat with a few vendors via text.

great tool.... i even got a phone with a qwerty keyboard. lol

Nov 09, 2007 04:01 AM
Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA
Melanie... this is an excellent idea. Many will know that if you have a cell phone you can receive text messages, but prominently displaying your desire to use them will give them one more option to consider. Love it.
Nov 09, 2007 04:52 AM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker
It can be a change as simply as:  cell/text: (360) 440-4758
Nov 09, 2007 05:15 AM
Sara Bonert
Zillow - Atlanta, GA
Real Estate Internet Marketing

Agree totally.  Also, may want to consider adding your IM name. 

And if you get international calls regularly- you should add your skype user information.  Make it easy for international people to get in touch with you as well. 

 

Nov 09, 2007 05:42 AM
Melanie Ross
Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA
Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate, 707-319-2828
Holy Toledo everyone!!!  Out for a broker tour, came back and saw all the comments.  Thanks so much!! Sometimes as simple as adding it to our marketing or to the market we want...no brainer!!  I do appreciate the comments about concerns have keeping them, maybe just documenting it in the log might help.  and the concern of loony tunes sending nasty messages.  It is great to get so many perspectives.  Keep them coming!
Nov 09, 2007 05:47 AM
Todd Hueffed
Champions Real Estate Services - Everett, WA

I heard some numbers the other day not sure if true and would like to find the source but anyway I heard that the generation that is in there twenty's now are and or have bought 2 times more homes than my generation (late 30s) and three times more homes than my parents generation......they also said that e mail will almost be a thing of the past......kind of like the post office.....still popular but not widely used.....and that if you want to keep up for the next 10 years you need to learn to text a lot more.......

aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggg I am a terrible texter to but am now looking into a phone with a full keyboard and looking at making sign riders that now not only advertise my 800 ARCH number but will also advertise a texting code also....

Oh technology isn't it great......really lets go back to push button key boxes and books......lol

That's my two cents......

Todd Hueffed

http://www.thathomezone.com/ in partnership with Keller Williams North Seattle

Nov 09, 2007 06:20 AM
Kim Wilbourn
Kim Wilbourn Realty - Scottsboro, AL
Your Local Alabama REALTOR
That would be a great idea, but I have found that most people I know does not use text. I like texting, but I don't like the long messages either.
Nov 09, 2007 09:17 AM
Adam Dalton
Century 21 M&M and Associates - Turlock Real Estate - Turlock, CA
Realtor - Turlock Homes
I've had clients young and old and its actually more of my older clients who are texters.
Nov 09, 2007 09:40 AM
Melanie Ross
Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA
Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate, 707-319-2828

Todd, good point about who is buying...that was a discussion point in our GRI class yesterday also.  You said the same thing as our instructor.  The age groups who are doing the most buying are the texters (is that even a word?).  To me, even tho I am very slow, I don't mind getting a text, it is almost easier than listening to the phone ring and you are too far to answer it, then go through voice-mail.  I know, I know most of you will say "just call right back".  Again, little safe me, I would like to know what the need was so I can answer it or if I need more info go get it so I am prepared.

Side note:I noticed a little yellow star next to my blog and had to search to see what it meant. Ran screaming to my husband to tell him...one who barely uses email.  He was still proud. 

Thanks to all who find value in doing this with your marketing. Simple ideas can go a long way.  Kinda like not seeing the forest for the trees.

Nov 09, 2007 10:31 AM
Allen C. Wright
RealtyU - Aliso Viejo, CA
NS, AHS, REPS
Great point ... that sould be on everyone's business card ... there is a great class on Generational Selling that addresses communicating with different generations ... www.RealtyU.com
Nov 09, 2007 11:05 AM
Melanie Ross
Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA
Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate, 707-319-2828
Allen,  Thanks for the advice.  I have seen this several places and I appreciate you saying it again!!  Education and flexibility are vital in our business. 
Nov 10, 2007 03:50 AM
Larry Wright
nwRealty.Com - Tacoma, WA
Good post Melanie.  We have to adapt to our clients' preferred method of communication and not force them to adapt to ours.
Nov 10, 2007 06:35 AM
Melanie Ross
Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA
Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate, 707-319-2828
Larry, you are so right about adapting to our client's needs.  Thanks!
Nov 11, 2007 01:29 PM
Mike Klijanowicz
Cummings & Co. Realtors - Perry Hall, MD
Associate Broker @ Cummings & Co. Realtors
I took text messaging off of our phones because my brother in law would not stop sending inappropriate content to our phones and we kept paying for it, but now that he thinks its off and has stopped sending messages, I have to get it turned back on!  Thanks for the reminder and for sharing what you have learned in GRI!  Hopefully, I will find the time to earn that designation as I have heard nothing but wonderful things about it!
Nov 12, 2007 12:22 AM
Melanie Ross
Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA
Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate, 707-319-2828
Michael,  Unfortunately some people take sadistic delight in torturing us with info we don't want in any manner they can either through telecommunications means. snail mail or face to face.  The year has passed by so fast and my last two classes are tomorrow and one in December.  At first it was about getting the designation as a gatherer of "stuff", what has never ceased to amaze me is the quality and quantity of education I am receiving.  It certainly has enriched me and given me confidence.
Nov 12, 2007 02:19 AM
Ryan Hukill - Edmond
405home @ ERA Courtyard - Edmond, OK
Realtor, Team Lead
Melanie, I think this is a fantastic idea! I have personally had several clients who used text messaging as a very common form of communication with me and it was quite convenient. I know the perception is that only kids use text messaging, but it's simply not true. The last client I had that used TM to communicate with me was about 55 years old. Thanks for sharing this idea. I may incorporate this into my business cards also.
Nov 12, 2007 11:25 PM