Download a copy of the latest survey of REALTORS by the Center for REALTOR Technology and you’re certain to be fascinated – startled, perhaps – at what’s happening on the Bat-belts of modern agents.
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Riddle me this: How is it that the industries that charge the least for their products and services seem to have more more advanced technology than those that charge the most? Some time ago, we wrote that REALTORS might want to take a look at how gas stations were using technology to market ancillary products to their customers. Now a year later, my local real estate brokerages still don’t offer any interactive technology to their visitors in the waiting area, but my local veterinarian and shoe store does.

Download a copy of the latest survey of REALTORS by the Center for REALTOR Technology and you’re certain to be fascinated – startled, perhaps – at what’s happening on the Bat-belts of modern agents trying to make buying and selling homes a twenty-first century experience. While the report is no page-turner – in fact, it looks a bit like it was produced on a Commodore 64 with dot-matrix fonts – a few facts stand out, highlighting just how easy it should be for serious salespeople to scoop up market share in the months to come. And all they really need would be a Blackberry and a thousand bucks.

After spending five days in Orlando, Florida with the National Association of REALTORS Annual Conference, I thought it might be helpful to provide the 99.95% of the Association who didn’t go to the event with a few take-aways from what we saw. With trainers, consultants and trade show booth staff in every corner of the Conference, Matthew Ferrara & Company easily saw a little of everything going on. Here, then, are ten take-aways of what you missed.

In our ongoing attempt to transform the real estate industry from a cottage guild angry at the internet to a technology-integrated modern production system focused on the needs of the consumer, we’re going to engage in a little myth-busting today. At one point, mankind believed the sun revolved around the earth. We soon learned that it didn’t – and that discovery made it possible for us to eventually go to the moon and beyond. What might happen if we dispel the myth that real estate agents are independent contractors? Let’s clarify the essentials: An independent contractor has two definitions. The legal meaning is that of a worker or organization who provides services to another organization without being an employee. For example, when a home builder constructs a new home, he calls in an “independent” electrician to run the wires. The builder does not “hire” the electrician, and provide him certain obligations under the law, such as insurance, health care, unemployment insurance or training. And mostly, he doesn’t withhold his taxes and contribute half of his Social Security benefits. For most companies, this arrangement is normal, and usually occurs between two “companies” such as a software company and a marketing firm; [...]

Perhaps I’m just getting old, but I still don’t get the fascination with the iPhone (new or old). Maybe someone can help me out? I just read the cool story at Engadget (love their site – bookmark them!). Apparently the whole universe has become star-struck again as Apple plans to release its next version – cuter, cooler, whatever – of the iPhone. And they’re about to release a software development kit so people can write software apps for it. Just about the only thing I can say about these two moves is: It’s about time. Apple must have learned its lesson about releasing the SDK, because it’s lock-down on hardware/software in the Mac personal computer end of things prevented it from dominating the universe.

Fact: 24% of Buyers found the home they actually purchased on the internet last year. Fact: 80% of consumers stick to the first agent who “responds” to them. Fact: 23% of real estate agents have an email capable phone. Fact: You can’t make sales to consumers you continue to ignore. First, let’s just put your first objection to rest, shall we? Blackberries aren’t expensive. Shhh. Zzzt. Shtttt. Zip it! Any excuses that it “costs money” to get a Blackberry tells me that you just don’t belong in real estate. Is your business down? Cash flow a little slow? Well, so is business at cellular phone companies – that’s why most are virtually giving away Blackberries and other smartphones in the hopes that you’ll upgrade your plans and pay for some data services. Oh, well, then: doesn’t that mean that it is expensive to own a Blackberry, smarty-pants? No, dolt: You’re paying $99 a month now for too many talk-time minutes (you’re not using them phone prospecting buyers, are you?). When you get your Blackberry, you’re going to simply switch to a 50/50 plan: $50 worth of chatting and $50 for unlimited data and email. Same bill. Better business opportunity, though. [...]