Real Estate is no different than any other industry...there's constant change. My question always seems to be "Why??" I guess the answer is simple...the world is continuously evolving and becoming more complex, therefore it only stands to reason that the industry in our world must become more complex as well!  

Yesterday, at our monthly sales meeting, a young enthusiastic "ex-realtor" gave a presentation showing us the latest "marketing" tool. Tell me, is selling techno to Realtors easier than selling houses? Several months ago another gentleman demonstrated the latest in home inspection gizmo's, an expensive hand held device, capable of detecting moisture or air leaks behind oh so innocent looking walls! Who would ever want to employ an inspector that didn't have one of these? Was he an ex-realtor as well!! Then my Blackberry vibrates with an incoming e-mail, advising me that there's a new method for me to retrieve my answering service messages after hours, and I'll be able to save, file, duplicate, forward and analyze with great detail every message from the answering service! Wow!! Probably designed by another ex-realtor!!!

Soon we'll be introduced to  "Poken", a nifty little device that will allow all of us to simply touch our Blackberry or smart phones together and transfer our contact information! What the heck is going on??? Is techno going to kill off the business card??

Seems to me that Realtors are sitting ducks for every single type of technology and gizmo being developed...and we're the first stop for any "ex-realtor" who is now selling "anything!!" ...everyone sells the Realtor who is simply trying to sell a house! And....we BUY everything, hoping that it will increase our ability to earn a living!

Yes...information is being distributed in a much different manner than it was 25 years ago, but one thing about Real Estate, is it's a very up close and personal affair. It requires physical movement by all parties involved. Buyers have to physically see a house, they have to experience it and determine if they would like to live there. The Realtor is present and helps them in the process. Now, what does this have to do with technology??? Nothing!!! It doesn't matter how many tweets I do in a day, or how many facebook friends I have, or how many people are viewing my properties via virtual tours....the only thing that matters are the people who I physically meet with and the houses that I physically list or sell....it's that interaction that can never be duplicated by technology.

Soooo...I can't get too excited about this last little bit of techno-marketing hoopla...it's no different than the digital picture was 15 years ago....and I can't speak for other Realtors... all I want to do is sell houses!!!