Taking technology at your own pace

No need to panic. A measured approach will do fine.

by John Eckstrum   It’s funny how some people use the word technology as if it refers only to items that have been invented in the last few years. The fact is that technology has been a part of this industry long before any of us started in the real estate business.

I can imagine our predecessors grappling with how to use telephones, automobiles, carbon paper, and other inventions we either take for granted or would laugh at in today’s business climate. Can’t you just see the great debate about whether contacting a client over the telephone is convenient or impersonal?

Many of us remember when fax machines and computerized MLSs hit the scene. Some people embraced these new tools immediately, but not many. Sending faxes and logging on to the MLS are now second nature to the majority of REALTORS®.

And so it goes with most advances in technology. I bet you know a few colleagues who always have the latest piece of equipment. Some of it ends up collecting dust. Other inventions prove so valuable that virtually everyone in the industry ends up adopting them. Cell phones come to mind. E-mail seems to be well on its way, too.

One thing that has changed about technology is the speed at which new products are developed. This rapid pace has created an atmosphere of doubt for many real estate professionals. We wonder which advances will stick and which ones are fleeting fancies. I’ve talked with some REALTORS® who are in a near panic trying to figure out how they will keep up with all these new gadgets and programs.

Well, take a breath. There is no right answer to the question of how much new technology a real estate professional should incorporate in his or her business. Some people thrive on having a complete wireless setup where they can beam, print, upload, and order anything they need from anyplace they are. For others, wireless may mean they still fill out every form by hand. Both types can still be successful, depending on many other factors.

Not only is each individual different, but various real estate disciplines have different requirements. What works for a residential salesperson may not make sense for an appraiser. A third solution may fit best for commercial practitioners.

We have so many wonderful tools available to us. You’re not going to go broke if you’re not using every one of them proficiently by the end of the year. On the other hand, it’s not a bad idea to take a class now and then to see if you can put some new technology to use. At a minimum, each of us should stay informed on what’s out there so we can decide for ourselves which tools might benefit us and our clients and customers.

Our association helps. We get a steady stream of technology news and tips from Texas REALTOR® magazine and the Inside Track newsletter. TAR’s Technology Task Force looks to the horizon to study new developments and suggest ways we can use them to our advantage. (They are currently researching how to coordinate electronic signatures with the ZipForm forms package.) Again, it’s up to us to investigate these resources and make the most of them.

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