Are Tech-Savvy Agents Stealing Your Real Estate Leads?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Jessica Cates Creative

photodune-9664188-modern-computer-devices-s

Most people know and acknowledge that technology adoption is happening at a dizzying speed – but do you know how it is impacting your real estate business?

 

If you take a look at consumer research data, a very clear image of today’s tech-savvy home shopper begins to emerge. Technology adoption has facilitated a dramatic shift in consumer behavior – one that requires businesses (e.g. real estate agents) to adapt their marketing strategy in order to keep pace with evolving consumer demands. If you’re not on board with harnessing technology to optimize your marketing efforts, you're almost certainly losing real estate leads to more tech-savvy agents on a regular basis.

 

Let’s think about smartphones for a moment, and discuss the impact they’ve had on the day-to-day behavior of a prospective homebuyer. Smartphones are so powerful that everyone who owns one (which is to say, almost everyone) is walking around with a mini-laptop in his or her pocket.

 

“Phones” are used for much more than just making or receiving calls. In fact, I so rarely use my phone for calls anymore that sometimes when it rings, I just look at it quizzically and forget what to do for a moment.

 

Real estate leads are now using their mini-laptop devices to browse the web, connect on social media, complete bank transactions, shop for everything imaginable and hunt for houses.

 

smartphone_use

But that's not all - take a look at these stats:

  • At the end of 2013, there were more mobile devices than people on earth

  • The average age of owning a first cell phone is now 13 years old

  • 90% of American adults own a cell phone, 63% own a smartphone and 42% own a tablet

  • 90% of people move between devices to accomplish a goal

  • 90% of people have a mobile device within reach 100% of the time
    mobile_data_traffic
  • 70% of mobile searches lead to online action within 1 hour – a 3X conversion rate than the same search done on a desktop or laptop

  • 75% of users prefer a mobile-friendly site but 96% of consumers say they’ve encountered sites that were clearly not designed for mobile devices

  • 48% said that if a site didn’t work well on their smartphones, it made them feel like the company didn’t care about their business

   Sources: Huffington Post & Google

 

You must take these things into consideration when deciding on your marketing strategy. Not doing so means losing leads to competitors. It’s really that simple.


 

It's not too late to meet lead expectations in 2015:

Click here to download the 2015 Ultimate Guide to

Real Estate Marketing Success!

Posted by

Jessica Cates

Connect with me on LinkedIn

 

Comments (63)

Christina Sanchez Hood
Palo Alto, CA
#SiliconValleyHOODS | Inspired Living

Jessica Schweppe, I beleive that a tech savvy agent has an advantage over those who are not tech savvy.  However, today, it is pretty easy to hire a pro to help any agent be mobile ready to chase their share of leads.  I appreciate your questions, you make me want to be a better REALTOR® :) 

Aug 03, 2015 08:34 AM
Jessica Cates
Jessica Cates Creative - Gilbert, AZ
Real Estate Marketing Expert + Blogger

Christina Sanchez Hood - very true, there are literally hundreds of services available out there. And thanks for your comment - that made me smile! :)

Aug 03, 2015 08:41 AM
Jim Miner
Miner Noh & Associates - Phoenix, AZ
Loan Modfication & Short Sale Specialist

You are spot on with your post about being mobile friendly.

Aug 03, 2015 08:42 AM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

My granddaughters…8 and 10 years old…have phones. They do not have phone service but they have wireless internet capability. They use the phones for watching movies and T.V. They surf the internet. They contact family and friends through FaceTime or Google Hangouts.

There are tomorrow’s consumers. Where we all be in 10-20 more years when they are looking for homes.

Me…I will be retired!

Aug 03, 2015 09:18 AM
Theresa Akin
CORPUS CHRISTI REALTY GROUP - Corpus Christi, TX

I never thought I would be as tech savvy as I am and i still feel like a new agent everytime I turn around with the devices. Still can't get my laptop the way I want so I just stick to my tablet and phone. I get on YouTube alot. My broker does all he can to help me with my tech-challenged mind. I know you didn't mean it literally because if one has had a lead "stolen'', it usually will come back to where it should've been in the first place. Karma will raise it's ugly head and pay the thief a visit and remind them of ethics and legals. The tech savvy agents are usually trying and most often than not, with everything in place going to get the lead. I just say well done and wish them the best. Would love to be on the other side of the transaction and I try. Oh! I will gladly appreciate any tips and techniques thrown my way. Thank you very much!! wishing best and quick sales from my keyboard to yours!!! 

Aug 03, 2015 09:35 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Interesting data, but let's not forget Google will punish you too if you do not have a Mobile Friendly Site...but on a side note Real Estate is still a relationship business it is not just a quick response...one still needs to develop rapport or the other tech savvy agent will take over where one leaves off. In other words you still need to answer the phone if they call you, just sayin, Endre

Aug 03, 2015 09:54 AM
Terry Kraemer
Exceed Realty - Houston, TX
Houston Realtor

Personally, I think that by us buying into all the fads and trying to stay up with the newest tech gadget, we forget about the importance of face to face contact to help build more solid relationships. Of course technology is important; however, let not forget about the importance of a hand shake with a friendly smile!

Aug 03, 2015 11:34 AM
Dan Derito
Success! Real Estate - Brockton, MA

I'll admit that it is difficult to keep up with the pace of change in technology, but I'm doing the best I can.  Belly to belly contact, and a good old fashioned hand shake will never go out of style.

Aug 03, 2015 12:53 PM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
Good Company Real Estate - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Jessica - Agents are certainly getting more leads because they are more tech-savvy than other agents, and are on top of today's technology.

Aug 03, 2015 01:48 PM
Chris B Johnson REALTOR®
Allison James Elite - Moorpark, CA
5 Star Rated REALTOR® Quality, Not Quantity

Yes, tech makes it easier to get the lead, but your still have to have the phone and face 2 face skills to close.

Aug 03, 2015 02:43 PM
Adele Langdon
Los Angeles, CA
Exclusive Realty Inc.

Great post Jessica!  Sometimes I forget I am in the real estate business and think I am a computer geek.  I have had to learn so many new things in the last 2 years. I finally hired someone to take up the slack.  But wouldn't you know I hear of a new thing and now here I go again. Sometimes its right here on Active Rain.  A wealth of new info all the time.

Aug 04, 2015 01:50 AM
Jessica Cates
Jessica Cates Creative - Gilbert, AZ
Real Estate Marketing Expert + Blogger

John Juarez – at the speed of tech innovation, I can only imagine how things will be for your granddaughters when they’re in the workforce. So much change!

Theresa Akin  – thanks for your comment! Best wishes to you as well. J 

Endre Barath, Jr.  - very true. At the end of the day, real estate is one of the few industries left that is still all about being able to build relationships.

Terry Kraemer – I agree, it’s easy to get sucked into the tech side and lose touch with the face-to-face portion of the business. When it comes to tech, you definitely need to pick and choose what is worth your time and energy.

Adele Langdon  – it’s definitely a blurred line these days! Real estate is one of those industries where you have to be a little bit of everything to be great at what you do. Thanks for your comment!

Aug 04, 2015 03:18 AM
Mike Reyman
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors - Media, PA
Delaware County Real Estate

I couldn't agree more.  I started my RE career utilzing a Market Leader website and have been thankful ever since.  Great company.  Great product.  I also think the fact that many of us are ahead of the curve with being tech-savvy just by keep better educated and sharing through AR! 

Knowledge is power only if you do something with it! 

Aug 04, 2015 04:44 AM
Jessica Cates
Jessica Cates Creative - Gilbert, AZ
Real Estate Marketing Expert + Blogger

Exactly Mike Reyman - you are your own best asset or biggest hurdle.

Aug 04, 2015 05:03 AM
Nancy Robinson Ranked #6 in MI
Century 21 Town and Country - Royal Oak, MI
#11 Century21 Realtor in the US, #16 in the World

An interesting stat  have come across is that 89% of the people looking for real estate services start their search looking on the  Internet and the same number 89% also start by asking for a referral to a Realtor.  I figure what this means is we must be equally technologically sound and relationship oriented.   If your tech-savvy  you might get the appointment but not get the client if you dont engender trust or are not very likable.

Aug 04, 2015 09:32 PM
Robert Hicks
United Country River City Realty - Savannah, TN

Great info here.. Thanks for taking time to share..

Aug 05, 2015 01:02 AM
Jessica Cates
Jessica Cates Creative - Gilbert, AZ
Real Estate Marketing Expert + Blogger

Great point Nancy Robinson! It's definitely a balancing act. 

Thanks Robert Hicks

Aug 05, 2015 08:50 AM
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
& Host of Postcards From Success Podcast

Good Points, I've made sure I use Mobile-friendly websites.

I wish Active Rain would get mobile friendly :)

Aug 09, 2015 03:24 AM
Jessica Cates
Jessica Cates Creative - Gilbert, AZ
Real Estate Marketing Expert + Blogger

Kim Stuart - thanks for your insight and for the updated stat. 

If you had to pick 3 things that dominated connect this year, what would they be? I know a few years back when I attended, it was all about learning how to use Twitter and Facebook business pages so I'm curious about what the "new" focus has transitioned to.

Aug 10, 2015 07:03 AM
Jessica Cates
Jessica Cates Creative - Gilbert, AZ
Real Estate Marketing Expert + Blogger

Awesome Kim Stuart - thanks for sharing!

Aug 11, 2015 03:29 AM

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