Mastering Technology: How to Be More Effective in Real Estate
The real estate industry is historically behind when it comes to technology. Why is that?
In an intriguing post called “You Can Lead an Agent to Technology, but You Can’t Make Them Type,” Elizabeth Weintraub argues that an agent shoots herself in the foot if she ignores the web and what it offers.
Perhaps this has something to do with the demographics. NAR says average agent is a 57 year old female.
Then you have posts by Kelly Roark over at Future of Real Estate Marketing. She writes about Agent 2.0. She quotes her colleague Pierre Calzadilla, who’s trained agents for years on how to integrate technology into daily business, recently profiled what Agent 2.0 looks like:
- Not “tech savvy,” but “technologically empowered”
- Highly proficient in marketing, workflow and time management
- Aware of and open to new innovations, and how they can fit into one’s business
- In tune with consumer trends and changes in buyer/seller behavior (e.g., Gen X/Y)
- Appreciation for “old school” techniques but with an understanding of the value in adapting these techniques to new mediums
Further on in her posts she does an excellent job pointing out the key to successfully using technology: adapt the best offline techniques to use online.
That’s good advice. So exploit these traditional techniques.
And the thing to remember is this: if a piece of technology–whether a blog, Facebook or Twitter– doesn’t some how save you time, save you money or make you money, get rid of it.
Furthermore, always make sure you are in control. You are the master and technology is the slave. You make the plan, then you work it.
Regardless if real estate is behind when it comes to technology…it is never to late to start. And it is not as intimidating as you might think. I promise.
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