Be Yourself and Let the Technology Follow
BY JOHN N. FRANK
One of the more interesting sessions during Real Estate Connect in New York this past week started out sounding like some type of "gee-whiz techie fest." However, it ended up producing some very down-to-earth advice for real estate professionals, no matter their level of techie sophistication.
The session, “Technology Opportunities or Tomorrow,” was the last of the three-day Inman News conference on Friday. Instead of talking about flashy new tech toys, the panel told the faithful few who had waited for the session that the secret to effectively using technology in real estate is to find tech tools you’re comfortable with and reflect who you want to be as a real estate pro.
“Don’t do it all at once,” said Wendy Forsythe, vice president of broker services & product development with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. Other panelists quickly agreed.
Sure, people are looking to Web sites for real estate information, but they also want to find professionals they can work with comfortably and effectively. So whatever you put on your Web site has to tell them who you are.
Here are some other ideas for your Web site:
- Fast response. If you’re someone who wants to be available 24/7, put instant messaging on your site so they can reach you anywhere, anytime.
- Add some flash. If you enjoy playing with cameras, video is the hot trend for real estate sites these days. Create videos of your properties or give small vide cameras to your sellers and let them do their own video tours.
Grow Your Network
The great power of the Internet is its reach. More people can find you there than might ever meet you at the weekly Chamber of Commerce meeting.
But whether they find you online or in the real world, they need to get to know you and the level of service you can provide before they decide whether to work with you.
That won’t change no matter how much technology comes along.
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Comments
Melissa - This quote "...secret to effectively using technology in real estate is to find tech tools you’re comfortable with.." is very good for real estate agents.
There are new technology which comes along and would be great to knowledge of how to use, but we need to remember we are real estate agents and not techies. Hence, we should find those individuals which can often produce what we need at a far lower cost than if we try to purchase or learn the technology.
This also reminds me, how many real estate agents have a business plan that incorporates what technology they want to acquire and learn, dates for accomplishing and the costs associated.
Posted by: Glenn in Naples | January 16, 2008 07:38 PM
"But whether they find you online or in the real world, they need to get to know you and the level of service you can provide before they decide whether to work with you."
That's why social networks are the NEW Chamber meeting, just don't be that obnoxious guy, passing out biz cards to everyone you met.
Posted by: Brian Brady | January 17, 2008 03:45 AM