For decades, being able to get clients to instantly like and trust you was a must-have attribute for a real estate agent. This, in turn, required you to be personable, available and knowledgeable.
However, the introduction of technology into the real estate industry has changed the once-cherished relationship between agent and client. Suddenly, loyalty is rare, because clients are now able to find homes on their own. They call agents based on availability and because the agent happens to represent the property the client is interested in. Phone calls have dissolved into text messages, and clients tend to interact more with your website than with you as a person.
This societal shift has caused many agents to turn away from technology. They feel that by communicating online, they are depriving the client of the relationship that is needed to facilitate a successful deal. However, this is not the case, and we, as an industry, need to start embracing technology as a new way to create that relationship between agent and client.
Don’t be afraid of technology. By using it properly, you can easily build that connection you need with your client and, often, can end up creating a strong bond.
Relying on someone choosing to work with you because they happen to see your name somewhere is not good enough anymore. People like to know as much about you as possible, and because of the limitations of technology, you need to make sure you’re putting as much out there as you can. Let them see your face, let them see what you like to do, and show off your personality. Then, connect, connect, connect.
Here’s the thing about technology: It’s instant.
Clients who are working online want to see what is happening, with whom and when. They don’t mind waiting overnight for a reply to a text or phone call, but they do want to be kept up-to-date when it comes to what is happening with their real estate transaction. This is when you need to find a way to let them know what’s going on, whether it’s through a specific system, or whether it’s because of the tried-and-true manual delivery system you already have in place.
Make sure to embrace technology and it can be just as personal as a face-to-face relationship, creating a lasting friendship between people that may never meet in real life. Look at it as a helping hand, bridging gaps that have always been present in the real estate industry, and allowing us to focus on our day-to-day work in a more efficient way. Ultimately, technology can help bring all of us closer in a new, exciting way.
Pauline Perenack is the Marketing Manager for RES.NET.
For more information, visit www.res.net.
