The “week that was” just happened to me this week or perhaps it was last week. In any event it happened. It began by waking up in dark before sunrise in Santa Fe and turning on one of my ubiquitous screens to accompany my first moments of being awake. I confess, it all began last Monday when I went to my online office here on Activerain and then my phone rang. The call was the beginning of how real estate offline kept me away from real estate online.
There is something to be said about how we balance ourselves online and offline. At times, I feel like I am juggling more than balancing and catching up more than getting ahead . The bottom line is I am always learning, unlearning and learning again. What I learned this past week about real estate in Santa Fe is our market is beyond active.
Buyers now turn our car into a blue dot to follow on Trulia on their ipads during showings. Nearly 850 people came to our open house during a two day weekend event for Santa Fe’s Art Feast. Zillow continues to text my phone between 11 PM and 3 AM telling me someone wants information on XYZ property. We are now shifting our listing presentations to the ipad. Technology “tools” fill my briefcase more than paper. Short sales finally get completed after nearly six months of endless roadblocks and constant emails into the black hole of underwriting and bankless communication. I managed to finish my social networking column on Big Data minutes before the deadline. My real estate “to do” list is now longer than my market list. And I know many of you here on on Activerain are in this same boat of incredible change and challenge. Perhaps, this is all about what real estate work is now about in our internet culture.
Last night when ActiveRain was on “intermission” I took a deep breath and watched a movie. The film was Off The Map. It took me back to a time when life was a bit more meandering , when imagination IS the life of a twelve-year old, when summer actually happens and the world was actually offline all the time. I highly recommend it. And yes, it was filmed in New Mexico, in color and not a silent film!
This morning I woke up thinking about where I was on this map of change. Movies have a way of helping us see things differently. What I still see more than the challenge is the adventure. These are truly amazing times for those of us in this new landscape of real estate online. What do you see happening? What are you missing? How are you changing?
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living
Emily, I understand how you feel about "real estate offline"... I've had much of the same happen to me these last couple of weeks. Glad you were able to get some real "off time" to enjoy a good movie!
Feb 27, 2012 09:18 PM
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO
You are right the market is local. It's different here and there. My area is extremely rural with a lot of retirees. Technology is great, but you also have to be prepared to leave the technology behind and work the old fashioned way. We are seeing an increase in business and people interested in buying a house. Our office is experiencing more walk in traffic. This is great news.
Feb 27, 2012 09:29 PM
Prudential CT Realty - Manchester, CT
REALTOR® 860-748-8900, Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate
Hi Emily - It's so important to get offline once in a while! This is a tough business to do that in but as you said you gain perspective that you can't see when your nose is in the computer! Your scenery is beautiful so why not enjoy it?
Feb 27, 2012 09:29 PM
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133
Good morning Emily. I didn't own a computer or care to until 1999. Now it seems, I can't seem to function without my computer. I look to a day when I will not be soooo obsessed.
Feb 27, 2012 10:13 PM
The Address Realty - Redding, CA
Specializing in Selling Unique Properties
Emily, this is a very thoughtful post and I enjoyed your writing. "Off the Map" is one of my all time fav movies. For me it is so universal in so many ways (the accuracy of portraying out crazy lives but with an objective view of the fragility of it all.....charming) and I would love to live such a life.
Your description of our pace is frighteningly accurate and it is a time to make an effort to find the balance in it all. I am right in the middle of doing that very thing. I am glad that others see it also. Thanks for visiting me so often. One of my choices is to focus on getting out to visit more. It is where I learn so much. Enjoy your day and thank you for making my day more enjoyable!
Feb 27, 2012 10:14 PM
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM
Silvia, at times I think it is offline, then online, then in the car! The blessings are how we support each other.
Debbie, Santa Fe County is gigantic from one end to the other. I have found technology now drives with us as well as our clients. It is a new world.
Peggy, what I miss most about being offline is my online office here on ActiveRain. Frankly, I am always connected. The issue is the response time and being able to have a conversation, a meeting, a lunch and other life pleasures with those moments when screens rule.
Shelia, my first computer was a Mac in 1984. Nothing has been the same since. The good news is I am not one!
Jeanean, imagine what would happen if we lived more in imagination like "Bo" in Off the Map? Life is short and we have to set limits, make choices and live the life we have been given. Like you, I find the camera is a way to help me stop and smell the flowers. Thank you for stopping by.
Feb 27, 2012 10:35 PM
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience
Emily .. Emily .. Emily: During last night's AR intermission, I tried to collect some thoughts on marketing, etc. Took stock. I had noted that I hadn't seen you in a bit, so was going to dash off a note to you this a.m. ... and here you are!! And with such an excellent post, too. I am thankful for all the technology at my fingertips. Some of which I utilize far better than others at this point, I may add. But the whole world is available to us so easily now. That's good in most instances, but rather nerve-wracking at others. Knowing when to switch it off and on can be a challenge. I'm glad I switched my AR world on and found you this morning. I not only enjoy your posts and images of your life and region ... but I learn from them too. A great combo ...
Gene
Feb 27, 2012 11:39 PM
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM
Gene, I love your new avatar and "new' assistant in life! What I found challenging last week was the time to blog, nevermind tweet. We had just under 850 people at our open house. Fortunatley, I still have my voice. And you were so kind to be ready to dash off a note. Perhaps, that is why I woke before sunrise and blogged. If you have a chance, order the movie. It is awesome. As for the whole world being available: it is the people who are and you are one I know I can count on. Someday I hope you will come to Santa Fe and see our classic cars you'll love on display at the Plaza during Fiesta!
Feb 28, 2012 12:06 AM
Phoenix AZ Horse Property - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix AZ Horse Property, LLC
Emily,
We are with you this week! Delightfully, crazily busy and no time to stay even, nevermind get ahead! I love my technology.....
Feb 28, 2012 06:39 AM
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM
Marge, are we on board some new real estate jet liner moving at warp speed? Everything is beyond fast and like you catching up is more about not forgotting the "to do" list. I think it would be impossible to work in our business without a smart phone, an ipad, tons of apps, GPS, a website, blog and in the stream of conversation on social media. Then of course there is the car! Hang in there and thanks for stopping by.
Feb 28, 2012 06:46 AM
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert
Emily most of my business is still offline, but I can see where that has changed for Realtors. I appreciate the business that I get online, but heart is still with my offline business.
Feb 28, 2012 09:11 AM
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM
George, after our number of years in business, referrals do make up a substantial portion of it. What I see as the shift continues to be how both real estate information and communication has shifted to online. If I did not use my ipad or social networking tools such as FB messaging along with email, many of even our referral clients would be unhappy. What I missed for a week was being able to blog here on ActiveRain due to the constraints on our time of showing property and selling property. Our work day is all about being mobile and connected. Thank you for stopping by.
Feb 28, 2012 09:02 PM
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale
Emily -- I love, love, love being online and any type of technology. I am a real nerd with extensive IT background so it is a part of me. Sometimes, though, I get too involved in wanted to know everything and learn all the new tools and figure out how to best apply them to my business. It's just impossible to get a handle on it all. I had to escape today and go offline for an hour just to get away as I was helping with a community online project and while I was getting the job done, other things did not get done. Taking that break and getting out to connect personally helped me be more productive when I returned. It's all about balance.
Mar 01, 2012 09:59 AM
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Emily Medvec
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM
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Emily Medvec Realtor® provides Santa Fe Real Estate solutions and opportunities for sellers and buyers in all price ranges. Stay tuned if you love Santa Fe, New Mexico and real estate!
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