I saw another blog today from a fellow Realtor who loved the fact that they were set up with the ability to function from their vehicle, and called it a "mobile office". I thought I would also share information on my favorite piece of equipment which enables me to perform with a mobile office.
I use something called a Jotto Desk. You can purchase one, assuming they make one for your make/model/year, at: www.jottodesk.com
They are a trusted equipment provider to many police departments. You will find a Jotto Desk holding laptop computers in many police cruisers.
It's made of heavy duty steel and it mounts to the floor very securely, and very easily. It has height adjustable features, swing-arms and a table top for the laptop which can pivot and swivel. The whole unit locks down securely in your favorite position. I plug my laptop into a power converter box I bought at Radio Shack which in turn plugs into my dashboard in the otherwise obsolete "cigarette lighter" style power outlet. The power converter box is compact and fits in a vacant space on my dash. The laptop is secured to the tabletop with thin cables which are spring-loaded and thus grip the laptop with gentle tension.
I use my laptop on the road to quickly access the MLS (it's a wireless laptop and I can pick up an internet signal in almost any neighborhood). Once I pick up a signal, I can check emails and respond to emails. I can find my way around with Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008 software with a GPS locator device that sits up on the dash and plugs into my laptop. I love the nighttime view feature for the map. Instead of having a bright laptop screen in your face while you're driving at night...you've got an option to go to a black screen with green map and street lines for more comfortable nighttime viewing.
All I'm really missing is a portable printer/scanner. Once I get a printer/scanner in the back of my Yukon, I will truly have a "mobile office".
Think about it....I can scan an offer to purchase contract into my laptop and then send it to the listing agent with my e-fax system from my laptop, over an internet signal I pick up in the neighborhood!
Good stuff!
Cell phone, GPS, internet access, MLS, Email, printing, scanning, faxing....all from my vehicle! I love it!
If Jotto Desk has a model for your vehicle....and you decide to buy one...please tell them Kirk Westervelt in Greenville, SC sent you!
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