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Ask An Ambassador: Time Is Money, So They Say

By
Real Estate Agent with Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com SAL.2002007747

Over the weekend I attempted to scan a document to my email.  Wait, wait, wait...nada.  Reboot router, modem and printer/copier/scanner and still nothing.  Tinker under the hood,  No luck.  Spectrum had forced us to update our modem and router in April, and looking back through the error log realized that was when the issue started.  Wait, the problem started in April and you just now noticed?  Yep.  Scanning isn't the big tech tool it used to be for us.  Most offers/contracts are now Dotloop, so scanning has taken a distant back seat.

Monday I gave it one last try.  Talked to the copier tech service desk and Spectrum's tech service desk.  Neither was really much help, and while I spent a little more time on Google searching for answers, it didn't take long to decide that continuing to troubleshoot wasn't the best use of my time when a basic scanner on Amazon cost under $70 and could literally be on my front porch within 5 hours.  Order placed, delivery received, installation completed, scan completed.

How to best use my time has been a big part of my life.  Juggling engineering, real estate, "zookeeping" and beekeeping means I didn't have a lot of time to mess around with problems.  Find an effective fix quickly and move on.  Sometimes the fix was something I could personally do, other times it meant replacing something, and other times it meant hiring out help.

Each of us have time demands in our lives, and how we use that time determines how happy our family and clients are with us.

For me, overhauling our website is best handled by Charra and her team YourSiteNeedsMe SEO Team.  While I might be able to figure out some of what they do, it would cost me significant amounts of time.  Time that would be better spent creating more IDX pages or feeding our zoo (we need happy dogs and cats!).

For some of you, handing off your blogging may make a lot of cents/sense.  If it's a task you don't enjoy, and there are other revenue activities you do enjoy, why not do what you do best and let someone else do what they do best?

The same test needs to be applied to our potential clients.  We don't have to work with everyone that contacts us.  Sometimes catch and release makes the most sense.  The seller that won't listen to any advice you provide and the buyer who looks at home after home after home that all seem to perfectly match their criteria and won't act...maybe they're a home looker and not a home buyer.  Cut your losses, refer out if you can, and move along.

Mind your minutes.

Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,
Bill & Liz aka BLiz

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Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of Transaction Alliance
Elizabeth Spear, ABR, Ohio License SAL.2002007747

William (Bill) Spear, Ohio License SAL.2004011109 
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!

EHO
Bill Direct:  513-520-5305
Liz Direct: 513-265-3004     
Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo:  Liz@LizSpear.com

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Comments(22)

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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Mind your minutes - what a great way to put it, Bill! While I've known as long as I've been in the business to hire out those things I'm not good at (bookkeeping, admin activities, photography, drone shots, measuring, etc.), it took me years to finally realize the value of my time outside real estate. 

Hiring a landscaper was, believe it or not, a difficult thing for me to do. I absolutely love working in the yard and the garden. I also gave up pool care. Now that we have another house with a pool, I plan to learn all I can from our pool guy...until I retire. Then, I will be taking both my yard and my pool back!  

And funny but, I JUST had to reinstall my driver to get my scanner to work again. I 'tinkered' with it far too long before I realized I needed to delete the driver and reinstall! 

Jun 10, 2025 06:17 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

I hate Spectrum (they are known as Rectum in my house) because when they have you do an update they should explain what will be needed after. Even ATT does that. Not a big deal, just need to know. 

Jun 10, 2025 06:22 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home again, home again...

It's sad that it's more time efficient to go out and buy a new one, but I totally get that it is a better, and more efficient use of your time to abandon the old scanner (or scanning software) and just start from scratch.

- heavy sigh - 

Jun 10, 2025 06:33 AM
Peter Mohylsky Gulf Front Homes
Property Management International-Destin - Inlet Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

We all need to keep an eye on our BUT  (best use of time)  and that includes time off as well.  

Jun 10, 2025 06:35 AM
GilbertRealtor BillSalvatore
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Thank you for the great information. Have a fantastic week!

 

Bill Salvatore, Realtor

Arizona Elite Properties

#AZVHV / Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans

Jun 10, 2025 06:46 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bill (and Liz too) - management of time and expectations continues.  Often playing against each other they can be challenging.  Here's to finding solutions.  In the moment.  Maybe for a bit longer too.  

Jun 10, 2025 07:06 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

Technology is great when it works.  I have been where you were and now the IT guy tweeks things every month--just money and no stress--to keep us running smoothly.  Have a great day!

Jun 10, 2025 07:12 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Mind your minutes is such a good way to decide what to (or not to) do in our life. I just realized I was running out of steam with managing our home, garden, greenhouse, wood working business, farmer's markets, shop tools, dog walking, habitat for humanity building, new job I accepted as a backup (more on that soon), the exchange club work, etc.  I decided the one that was currently providing the least amount of positives in my life was the last one, so at the end of this fiscal year (end of June), my responsibilities there are finished. Time is definitely important and they are not making more of it for any of us.

Jun 10, 2025 08:37 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

PS - when I am not in the vicinity of my scanner, I've found that using the Notes/Scan document function on my iPhone works pretty well.

Jun 10, 2025 08:38 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Bill time is very precious, and these days I have little tolerance of frustrating things like you experienced. 

Jun 10, 2025 09:31 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Bill minding ones minutes - like that!  Thankfully I learned early on to delegate out what didn't make sense for me to do or I didn't like doing it.  Sometimes it worked out great - other times not so much and I learned to 'shift' quickly and get back on track which saved me a lot of those  precious minutes. I still delegate out quite a bit especially on the home front as it's not what I want to do with my time. Very  thought  provoking post!  Thank you!

Jun 10, 2025 10:31 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Featured in BananaTUDES!

Jun 10, 2025 10:33 AM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX
Inactive/Semi Retired Real Estate Agent

Liz and Bill Spear 

Hi Bill, 

That's a great slogan! "Mind Your Minutes!!!" They are very powerful words. As for the issues you encountered, it's very strange because I went through the same thing, except my router is with Frontier and my laptop is Surface Pro. I got the same song and dance, and it was very frustrating. I thought it had something to do with the Microsoft updates because it was all so coincidental. Luckily for me, I also have a MacAir and there were no issues using the Mac. As far as Microsoft goes, I'm hearing lots of bad news about their products. I'm glad I bought the Mac when I did. As for the Router from Frontier. Well, they promised to send me a new Router. But they never followed through. 

Here's what I found out about Microsoft:

Recent problems with Microsoft include:

  • A coding issue that caused a Microsoft 365 outage affecting Outlook and Exchange Online authentication.
  • Known issues and the status of the Windows 11, version 24H2 rollout.
  • Windows update issues.

I do have Windows 11. Also, I have two HP Printers. The small inexpensive one won't scan or print anymore. But the big more expensive one will print and scan. 

Good luck with your situation. Our time is so valuable. Also, I don't want to induce anymore stress into my life either. I wish I could offer up more hope for you.

Jun 10, 2025 11:28 AM
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

We had a similar experience when changing to a fiber option for internet at our office.  The "base" for all the wireless cameras did NOT "talk" to the new router.  Had to replace the base, but all the old cameras still connected so a fairly inexpensive fix.

We have always scanned to usb drive for documents at the office then email attached them.

Jun 10, 2025 01:29 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Love this, Bill. and Mine Your Minutes...priceless. It makes so much sense to direct your positive energies towards what you enjoy doing. And, unless what you don't enjoy doing is something only you can do...refer it to someone else!  

 

Jun 10, 2025 07:27 PM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

True, use tools to make your time an investment instead of a cost. Very good post.

Jun 11, 2025 07:08 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Bill,

Time is money and peace of mind and less stress. I so agree we don't have to work with everyone that contacts us. I just had a call from someone who has his house listed in my community and he's not getting any traction and is wanting to switch agents. His house is one I had listed when he purchased it with this agent and was a pain in the butt! Nope not going to take it on!

Jun 12, 2025 12:48 PM
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

we can never recover time spent  Bill - see you Tuesday!  Do you need me to work slides or ?  Call me 954.483.3912

Jun 13, 2025 12:03 PM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Great advice.  Need to sense when someone is simply interested but will never go through with a contract.  I have worked with a couple for over three years on and off.

They want to see how this looks, how that might work, will it fit on this lot, etc.

I've given up and simply told them: When you are ready to move forward, let me know.

Jun 13, 2025 12:43 PM
Thomas Santore Lic Associate Real Estate Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty/Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT - Yorktown Heights, NY
Realtor®-ABR-Land, Residential & Commercial Sa

Technology is something that slows some people down. I try to keep up with it but it can be trying. But hopefully we get better at it as time goes on. 

Tom S

Jun 14, 2025 12:51 PM