Special offer

How Essential Is The Internet To Your Business?

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Realty NRDS # 146013739

How Essential Is The Internet To Your Business?

A Funny Thing Happened On Sunday Morning...

 

Soldiers Pass Map

The Sedona fall selling season is underway.  In Arizona, our spring season is the most active. This is followed by our fall season.  I have 4 buyers that I am currently working with and 3 coming soon listings.  So, I was working on the MLS this past Sunday morning looking at luxury Sedona listings that I could show a prospective client.  

A Four Day Complete Service Disruption

Approximately 150 homes in Soldiers Pass were affected. I spoke with 6 neighbors who were all affected by this outage. Even though it was only one company, Suddenlink is the most reliable in our area. This is actually the first service disruption we have had. 

Shadow Rock Estates Soldiers Pass

 

All of a sudden, there was no internet connection, so I restarted the modem and my iMac and nothing changed.  To make a very, very long story short, the Soldiers Pass area of Sedona was affected.  Suddenlink is upgrading the lines on Soldiers Pass and those lines were cut, affecting at least 2 entire communities.  We had no TV reception, landline, and even more important no internet service.  YIKES!

Of course, this was Labor Day weekend! By the time that the crew determined the problem and "fixed" it, Tuesday was over! That is 3 days without service.  The crew sent out an SMS that it had been fixed.  What they didn't realize was that at least 2 different nodes were affected.  They fixed one.  But my community didn't get fixed. It wasn't until Wednesday evening that service was restored.  

I didn't realize how critical the internet was until I didn't have access to my high-speed service. At that time, I was able to get two buyers in 2 separate contracts because I had a backup plan.  This includes writing 2 additional contracts that were rejected. 

 

What Is Your Backup Plan?

 

Rattlesnakes Sign by Zack Savinar

 

Not having a backup plan for running your business is like playing chicken with a rattlesnake!   What would you do without the internet?  Of course, you could go to a coffee shop or some other area that has "free" internet service.  This is the last resort for me. 

  • Purchase a cellular unlimited data package.  
    • This gives you the option to use a hotspot with your computer if you need the MLS or write a contract on the spot.
    • I can be 20-30 minutes from easy access to the internet so having this plan works for me.  Fortunately, it was my "Plan B".
  • Is your brokerage nearby? 
    • This is a great option unless you burn the midnight oil or need to react to a client when you are not in the office.
  • Lastly, go to a business that offers "free" internet.  
    • Just remember to have a VPN to protect your connection. 

Are there any other "Plan B" ideas that might work? 

 

Other Areas To Consider...

 

  • Do you depend on the "Cloud"?
    • If so, without internet service it may be difficult to access your files even with a "hotspot" connection.  Generally, I found it to be much slower.
    • Consider storing your files on a USB drive.  USB drives go with you everywhere.  This is how I access most of my files. I have a 128 G USB.
    • Consider having a Sync program to keep your USB and hard drive up to date. 
    • Use a portable hard drive.  This is another tool I use.  All my files are backed up on the drive and the USB. 
  • Does your printer connect to the WiFi?
    • This was another issue for me.  Even though my printer is connected to the iMac, it was set up for WiFi and I had to go through extra steps sending the docs to my phone and using the iPhone to connect to the printer.  This is an area to look at. 
  • Research can only be done on the iPhone.  

Can you think of other areas of modern tech that might affect your business?

 

I am Thankful For Our Service!

The more we can be prepared for in advance of problems like this, the better we all are in the ActiveRain community.  

Sometimes, we don't realize how much we depend on our services until they are not available.  I am thankful to be up and running again.  Four days without any 21st century services other than my cellphone was very demanding on my time and my patience.  

~ ~ ~

With the world's human population now at seven billion and growing, and the demand for technology and modern conveniences increasing, we can't control all our negative impacts. But we have to find better ways to live within the limits nature and its cycles impose.

David Suzuki

 

Comments (37)

Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi James Dray - My husband doesn't have access to unlimited.  He doesn't need it...except for this week! HaHa!

Sep 10, 2021 11:18 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Michael Jacobs - So true.  In today's "got to have it now" culture, Clients don't want to hear you say that my internet is down!  I am used to taking care of clients quickly and that was tough. It created some angst! 

Sep 10, 2021 11:21 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Kat Palmiotti - My husband is a techie so he is going to see why the printer is not communicating directly with the printer.  The printer cable is connected to my computer.  However, Rick's computer was communicating with the printer and his office is in the next room. There was no WiFi connection except what was coming from the computer.  He is baffled by this.  

Sep 10, 2021 11:26 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Brian England - I never heard of Starlink but that is not unusual living in Sedona. HaHa!

 

Sep 10, 2021 11:30 AM
Brian England

Starlink is what SpaceX has been sending satellites up into space for, internet for everyone!

Sep 10, 2021 12:22 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Sheri:

What a nuisance that must have been, but you raise some really good points about having back-up systems that we can use when needed. You've given me a few things to think about!

I think we have all gotten so used to having the technology available whenever we need it and it's panic mode when it fails us...even for short periods!

Jeff

Sep 10, 2021 05:35 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Sheri, even when I use the hotspot, it is a bit more spotty.  Don't worry about AR, get your deals done!!! 

Sep 10, 2021 06:18 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sep 11, 2021 05:45 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Sheri. No internet, Yikes! And that is coming from a retired guy. Congrats on your end around. Enjoy your day 

Sep 12, 2021 04:49 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Sheri - I have had that happen with unreliable service.  The phone hot spot does it for me.  I am in my car now using the hot spot.

Sep 12, 2021 07:10 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much, Sheri, for sharing your personal experience and your advice.

Take care, be safe and have an outstanding week.

Sep 12, 2021 10:04 AM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® I've thought about cloud services for file storage, but haven't made the jump yet. My files are accessed via RDP (remote desk top), so I had a problem when my office internet went down (which is almost every time there's a thunder storm). Then my PC would shut off and I was stuck with no access. I finally put in an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS), that works brilliantly. I suggest that to others.

Sep 12, 2021 12:37 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Hi, Sheri 

       I have no cell service at our new home in the mountains, so no wi-fi hotspot with my smart phone.  We have AT&T internet which is "acceptable",  but not dependable.   I am getting junk mail from Hughes saying that they are in the area.  Maybe I will give them a try.  

    In the meantime, backup is critical!  

Sep 12, 2021 04:30 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

There was a time when we would hesitantly consider doing anything on the internet. Of course that was 30 years ago.  Now we don't feel we are functional unless we have that electronic access

Sep 12, 2021 06:35 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Sherri the Internet is a key component of my business, just to be clear so is a Smart Phone... texting and Wattsapp to name a few:)Endre

Sep 12, 2021 10:43 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Very good information on this topic. When I lived in Houston during Hurricane Ike, we were without Internet for weeks. As a Realtor, I had to resort to going door-to-door once the roads were cleared to check on my clients. It was an interesting time.

Sep 13, 2021 06:50 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

You just really know where your audience is and go from there and also keep your Internet contact pretty Evergreen so that Itcan accumulate views

Sep 13, 2021 10:44 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Sheri, having no Internet is a disaster with our business.  There is only so much you can do on your phone!  

Sep 14, 2021 07:46 AM
Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

Sheri, I enjoyed reading your post Roy did a reblog. Thanks for sharing. I  hope you have a great afternoon.

Sep 14, 2021 02:46 PM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Securing the most reliable IP is essential, however, IMO the cable connection  is the best and most reliable with the fastest speeds and most economical compared with all other options as well as satellite connections like Starlink. VPN, encrypted email and Cloud service is also necessary for business. 

Sep 15, 2021 09:26 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I'm glad you got all your work done during the outage.  The "internet of things" is great, but it can be a disaster too.

Sep 19, 2021 04:17 PM