When I became a licensed REALTOR® in 1985 I carried my Day-Timer every where I went. It held all my contacts and daily schedule. Our messages at the office were on a pink "While You Were Out" slip. Later in the 1980's the pink slips were replaced by voice mail. Our office was the first in our market place to implement a voice mail system and as this became the norm many agents were fearful of adapting to the new technology. Our message boxes soon became fax boxes and as we journeyed towards the 1990's the World Wide Web was in it's infant stage.
One of my favorite quotes best represents what happened to the many agents who refused to adapt to the rapidly changing technology.
"In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."
Many seasoned agents found the emerging technology more threatening than new and exciting because they refused to become comfortable with the new way of conducting business. Therefore many agents retired or changed their career path.
My Day-Timer and pager became relics of the past as a cell phone and internet contact management program replaced them. I enrolled for my first email address with Prodigy, and I still use that address today along with a few others.
In 2003 when I served as the President of the Frederick County Association of REALTORS® the spring market was roaring. Our office phone lines were ring off the hook with inquires and scheduling showings. Many who called the office were getting a busy signal which needed a quick solution. While attending the May NAR mid year meetings in Washington DC I found the answer to our busy signal issue at the trade show.
Centralized Showing Service was a web based call center that scheduled showings and requested feed back from agents. Our office was the first one to sign up in the Mid-Atlantic region. The very first day CSS took over they set up sixty showings for our office which equated to sixty less calls to our switch board and this freed up the duty agents and receptionist's time to do more productive things. The web based feed back also saved an abundance of time calling agents for feedback. The sellers can also now log in to the CSS website to review the feedback and keep track of the showings as they occur on their property.
CSS was ultimately acquired by ShowingTime and incorporated into the BrightMLS system which became another time saving advantage for agents.
Having entered the real estate industry during the pre-internet era I have experienced many changes as a result of the World Wide Web. Transactions are more streamlined and move at a more rapid pace. There are fewer phone conversations and in person communication. Technology keeps advancing and challenges us to step out of our comfort zone. Those who choose not to keep up, as Mr. Hoffer states, will be "equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."
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