Technology and Tools of the Trade

To remain relevant and avoid extinction, real estate professional must employ innovative technology.  Our clients use it; our clients expect us to use it. Top agents use technology to give themselves a competitive edge as they take their businesses to the next level. What are today’s “must have” technological tools?

 HARDWARE

Smart Phone

Remember how clever that TV gadget-loving G-man Maxwell Smart seemed, using his shoe phone for telephone calls? The idea of communicating with mobile telephones is not as ridiculous as we once thought.  Today’s smart phones are tiny and durable, like Max’s, but they have other features and tools that a creative real estate professional should use for maximum communication punch. Smaller than a small wallet, smart phones:

• Take great pictures
• Make movies
• Store and update calendars
• Send and receive email and text messages
• Connect to the internet, and
• Run the latest apps.

A sophisticated PDA is an absolute MUST HAVE for the successful real estate professional.

Still in love with your tried and true—perhaps a flip phone that has all the contacts of your nears and dears? Afraid of the cost of those contracts and data rates? Too busy or too tired to navigate yet another device? Get over it!  If you don’t have a mobile phone with the latest features--or if you do have one but don’t know how to use it--you’re in trouble. The world is digital, wireless, and internet connected at all times.  You must be, too, else you’ll be as dated as good old Maxwell Smart.

Breathe easy. The competition for mobile phone customers is fierce.  Packages are far more reasonably priced than ever.  Also, phone stores have trained professionals who can transfer your data and walk you through the features of your new gadget. 

 Notebook

A notebook, small laptop, iPad or the equivalent is quickly becoming a real estate necessity. You already have an smart phone you say?  That’s a good start.  But to show your clients’ available options and the latest opportunities, nothing sells as well as an image on a good-sized screen.  Smart phones are simply too small.

Furthermore, today’s notepads allow you to run extensive databases and records that the average smart phone cannot.  Your office is often on the go.  Make your computer on-the go, too.

SOFTWARE & TOOLS

Social Media

In ten short years, emailing as the primary high-tech tool for communicating with clients is passé. Instead, we must interact online with our buyers, injecting our experience and perspectives to add value to our clients’ quests. As agents, we need to take advantage of systems that allow us to:

• Participate in clients’ searches
• Collaborate with them
• Keep track and organize their searches and
• Share knowledge and ideas. 

In short, such systems are social media. Social media savvy is quickly becoming an industry standard. 

After you’ve ‘friended’ your long lost junior high school BFF, use Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to grow your client base and interact with them.  Colleagues of mine claim to have generated lots of business social networking. While there’s nothing like the old-fashioned telephone call or in-person handshake, adding a social media strategy to these low tech techniques will help you reach new people and establish yourself as a credible, up-to-date, and reliable voice of the real estate industry.

In addition, consider adding social media upgrades to your business portfolio. Do all of your print materials--including business cards, show sheets and post card mailings-- include QR codes?  Do you have a website? Do you want your clients and potential clients to regard you as Fred Flintstone or George Jetson?  If you have a website:

• Do you use video as well as still photography?  Action spurs activity.  Incorporate clips into your site.
• Is your website SEOed? Being listed on the fourth page of a Google search will not drive traffic to your door. 
• Do you have a blog? What better way to demonstrate your expertise than to comment on what’s happening n your local market?
• Do you take the time to read the comments and respond to queries on your blog? If not, you’re missing opportunities to connect with potential and actual clients.
• Do you have your webpage linked to your Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts? Add these icons today.

RentJuice

Agents working rentals are not immune from technological advances.  For those specializing in rentals, RentJuice:

• Offers practitioners a comprehensive database of all REBNY exclusives as well as most of the open and restricted listings. 
• Allow agents to market their own rental listings
• Provides an online rental application
• Offers an online tenant screening program

Full disclosure: I’m simply reporting what I’ve heard about RentJuice; this is one of the technologies that I still need to learn. That being said, the program and database look promising.

THE CLASSICS

While we update our technology and explore the latest tools, never forget that our business depends upon outstanding customer service, market expertise, top negotiating techniques and skillful management of transactions. The latest technologies are merely tools of the trade; they are no substitute for good, old-fashioned brokerage activities.

Real estate professionals who use technology well are more efficient, productive and successful than their “pre-historic” counterparts. If you’re not using the latest technology today and every day, you won’t be doing much of anything a year from now.