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Turning a Page in a Techy World

By Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Grants Pass, OR 199909023

July 16, 2015 04:03 AM

Turning a page in a techy world. It's a bit of an oxymoron, I know. Especially when the written word on 'paper' is quickly becoming a relic.

In the last 12 months, I've printed one transaction... the rest were digital. As a Principal Broker, this delights me. As a nostalgic kind of gal, I'm still coveting all of my wonderful books.

Relinquishing control to a mobile/digital world causes some to shake in their boots. I imagine we all felt a bit of scepticism when smart phones hit the streets years ago. Some quickly embraced them with smiles, while others had to be convinced they would make our lives easier. I suppose our parents felt much the same way about microwaves and fax machines.

Fortunately, I'm in the final leg of taking my real estate brokerage totally virtual. I hired an awesome 'virtual' Principal Broker to handle all of our digital files. It took months of prep and a bit of bravery to completely let go (coming from a self-professed perfectionist). Whoa... it's done! No more storing print files for 6 years!!!

Think of all the time, money, and Oregon trees we're saving! Maybe now I'll have more time to read books and write blogs (virtually speaking ;-) It's a brave new world and I'm lovin' it!

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Cari Corbalis

RE/MAX Estate Properties - Redondo Beach, CA

Beach Cities and Luxury Market Specialists.

It's amazing how fast the "docusign" era has become the norm. When I get a hand written offer now, escpecially in a mulitiple offer situation, it puts a bit of a red-flag on this possible transaction. I worry that the agent on the other end will be slow in all areas, and cause delays in closing. My advise to all agents, if you aren't using technology to it's fullest, hire an assistant who will!

Jul 16, 2015 04:07 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Belinda Spillman

Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO

Colorado Living!

So many places are going to this. I think I will store mine on an external hard drive rather than in the cloud. I am just worried about others accessing my clients personal information. Its a new world!!!

Jul 16, 2015 04:15 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Sussie Sutton

David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX

David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

I cherish books too. All my life, even as a little girl, I have always wanted a a big library room. I have one sort of. I have about 5 tall book shelves crammed with books. We, my book worm husband and I have given about 1,000 away...maybe more.

Still I like the tech stuff too. It is easy to whip out your cell phone and read a book while waiting for what ever.

Jul 16, 2015 04:21 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS

Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA

South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I would feel a lot better about digital transactions if I didn't have bugs show up in everyone of these transactions. Our office has been paperless for sometime over a year and a half however I always seem to have a printed copy no matter how digital I've become Melinda (Mel) Peterson (kudos to you though).

Jul 16, 2015 04:55 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

DocuSign has made my life so much easier Cari. My only regret is that I didn't invent it ;-) Hee, hee! Excited to embrace then next 'big' change. Cute pic!

I hear ya Belinda... I did that too, until I lost my jump drive (truth is, I was dancing in DC and the jump drive jumped out of my purse... true story... lol). Now I store the docs in 2 'virtual' locations. So far, it's been a breeze.

Books are becoming antiques Sussie. I'd love to have thousands of them in a beautiful library ;-)

Haven't experienced any bugs yet... Paul, except the occasional client who doesn't feel comfortable using DS. Then we print, sign, and scan to a digital file ;)

Jul 16, 2015 04:55 AM

Stefan Winter

Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV

Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

I love digital transactions, however once everything is set & closed I print one copy of everything to keep just incase.

As for books, still love the physical book also, I don't think I'll change that anytime soon.

Jul 16, 2015 05:37 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Ron and Alexandra Seigel

Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA

Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Mel,

Good for you...Bravo and all that good stuff. It is good to hear from you again. A

Jul 16, 2015 05:44 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Hey I've just started making an effort to put all my appts. in google calendar on my phone. Baby steps for me!

Jul 16, 2015 06:08 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN

Retired and loving life

Mel-Good for you. I am mostly still in the dinosaur age. I do like my books.

Jul 16, 2015 07:05 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

Melinda that is awesome! You are going to be so glad you let go and made it happen. Life is so much easier for brokers in the digital world. I would not want to go back to paper files.

Jul 16, 2015 07:56 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Rob D. Shepherd

RETIRED - Florence, OR

RETIRED

I do Docusign and other digital things. I'm not sure I would mention saving trees unless Oregon Loggers are not your clients. LOL

Jul 16, 2015 09:22 AM

Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

I still love the feel of a 'real' book too Stefan!

Thanks Alexandra! I've missed your smiling faces ;-)

Baby steps are good... Sharon! I couldn't live without the calendar app on my phone ;-)

Jul 16, 2015 09:48 AM

Sharon Tara

Portsmouth, NH

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

I doubt that... Miss Sharon! You're pretty savvy ;-)

I'm already breathing a sigh of relief not having to broker the paperwork anymore... Anna! Whoa!!!

No logger clients... Rob! We're tree {{{huggers}}} down here!!!

Jul 16, 2015 09:51 AM

Alan Kirkpatrick

Austin Texas Homes - Round Rock, TX

Alan in Austin

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Sometimes I feel I am making the tech transistions and at other times I feel I am completely out of touch. Like you I still love my books but working hard to be paperless in business.

Jul 16, 2015 01:29 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR
Lou Ludwig

Boca Raton, FL

Lou Ludwig

Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL

Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Mel

The real estate business has moved into the digital world.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jul 16, 2015 02:51 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

It's a process Alan... just when I think I have something mastered, my agents throw me a zinger. Keeps me on my toes ;-)

It sure has... Lou! Nice to see your smiling face ;-)

Jul 17, 2015 12:10 AM

Pamela Cendejas

Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ

Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Congratulations and welcome to the digital world. And, congratulations for having the courage to let go. Even though I do almost everything digitally, I just can't seem to give up my books. There's something special about about the feel and smell of a new book.

Jul 17, 2015 03:30 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807

HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ

Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Melinda - Technology is certainly changing quickly, and changing not only how we conduct business, but how we live our every day lives.

Jul 17, 2015 09:06 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Glad you're embracing the virtual business change in your world, Mel. Would LOVE to catch up with you one of these days. Miss you. D

Jul 22, 2015 03:11 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

Thank you Pamela... I love my books too ;-)

Isn't that the truth Troy! Just think what it was like before smart phones ;-)

Lovin' it Debb... it's giving me the freedom to be more 'mobile' ;-) Let's get together one of these days in Bend. Text me the next time you know you're heading up that way!

Jul 22, 2015 05:41 AM