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Telecommuting: Saving Time, Saving Money, and Saving the Earth

By
Real Estate Agent with The Cascade Team

Since most real estate agents are already technologically savvy and often work odd hours, telecommuting just makes sense.  Corey and I  work from home. Everyone in my company does.  In Seattle, telecommuting is not only the "green" thing to do, it saves the company a lot of money in overhead, keeps us out of day-to-day traffic, and saves us all on gas and other transportation costs. .  We have offices where we have team meetings and can meet with clients, but we don't have to be there on a daily basis. 

A color image of Earth, as seen from Apollo 17


Each of us a provided a "virtual office."  A couple of tools we use are "Docusign.com" (https://www.docusign.net) and "ExtremeFax.com" (http://www.extremefax.com). My company provides these to all of our agents. Docusign is a website developed by attorneys which allows you and your clients to sign documents online.  It's easy to use and save your clients and you lots of time and gas.  I don't use them to replace face-to-face contact, but when you are dealing with multiple counter-offers, it comes in really handy. 

Extremefax and similar services allow you send and receive faxes on your computer.  It's environmentally friendly because it saves on toner and paper, saves money, and keeps your documents from becoming illegible after multiple faxes.
 
I think the key to making telecommuting work, is staying in contact via email in fax with our brokers and fellow agents.  Working from home may not work for everyone, but for us, it's fabulous!  It may be perfect for you, too!

 

Cameron Novak
The Homefinding Center - 1000 Palms, CA
Real Estate Broker since 2008

I love telecommuters.  They make me a fortune.  I spend my time at the office or in the field... where the clients are!  I haven't found a buyer or seller on my front porch yet.

Cameron Novak, Corona Real Estate Agent
Cameron Novak

Corona Real Estate Agent
The Homefinding Center
TM
Corona, California
951-212-7479

Mar 11, 2009 07:49 PM
Corey & Erika Kahler
The Cascade Team - Kirkland, WA

Cameron - I'm in the field all the time, I just don't expect the fish to jump into the boat!

Mar 11, 2009 08:17 PM
Ray Logan
Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors - Stacy Mathews - Houston, TX

I agree that with a lot of our work can be done from just about anywhere as long as we have an Internet, e-Mail, and e-Fax accounts. I find that working from an office I can get much more done.

I help to take care of several members of my family that have disabilities, god bless them but they do not get it that just because I am there that I am still working.

I congratulate you if you have somehow over come the family distractions.

Mar 11, 2009 09:59 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

We are fortunate that we can work from home. I like to go to the office once  a day any way.

Mar 11, 2009 11:26 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

I am one of those people that would have a hard time working at home. I like being in a work environments and not at home during the day.

Mar 11, 2009 11:56 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Advances in technology does allow us to work more from home and you can't beat the commute. I'm about to disconnect my separate fax line. I very rarely use it. Thanks for the links.

Mar 12, 2009 01:35 AM
Corey & Erika Kahler
The Cascade Team - Kirkland, WA

Ray and Bill - We all have to do what works for us. For em, telecommuting is great.

Gita - Sounds like a nice balance.  I hope your office is close.

Chuck - I'd love to check out your link but it didn't work.  Send it again and I'll take a look.

Michael - They are great links!  Let me know what you think! I still have a fax machine, but I so rarely need to use it that we just have it on the regular phone line.  It works well since we use our cell phones for most business calls anyhow. Extreme Fax and Docusign are terrific.

Mar 12, 2009 08:43 AM
Jennifer Hartwick
Crane and Crane Real Estate - Columbia, MO

I just love being able to convert my documents into pdf files.  So much easier and cleaner than a fax document.  I haven't heard anything about docusign so I may need to look into that.  We still have plenty of phone calls come through our office that are routed to the agents who are actually there, which aren't too many.  At one time, we may average 2 agents in the office out of 25.  The office manager sure gets lonely!

Mar 18, 2009 03:58 PM
Corey & Erika Kahler
The Cascade Team - Kirkland, WA

Jennifer - we still get leads through our office, we just get them at home.  You will LOVE Docusign!  Fabulous tool! My clients love it!

Mar 18, 2009 06:18 PM