Property Management
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The Technology To-Do List - 2000
from offering financial advice, instead simply referring financial inquiries to a loan officer. Unfortunately, this runs counter to growing consumer demands for one-stop shopping and expert advice from all of their business contacts. While no one is saying that agents need to become mortgage underwriters, having accurate answers to all of your consumer"s questions and offering unbiased and expert advice certainly goes a long way towards adding value to your services, and creating satisfied customers. The financial software programs from both Top Producer and PREP can make the task of mortgage counseling extremely simple, effective and accurate. If any agent doubts the value of adding such software to your current lineup, simply consider the proposition from the customer"s perspective. What buyer wouldn"t want to know the real financial differences between choosing a fixed-rate or an adjustable rate loan? Who wouldn"t want to understand the true impact of paying discount points? How could your buyer not be impressed by a simple, yet accurate, demonstration of the long-term impact of making small additional principal payments on a monthly basis? Finally, the real question is how will the buyer feel about the professionalism and value of the person who can provide them with this valuable information? The C List: The last grouping of technologies all have value, but are far below the "A" and "B" lists in terms of what they can add to the typical real estate agents income, productivity and time savings. This is not to say that you should avoid these technologies, just that they should not be addressed until you have fully exploited the more important, and productive, technologies above. Desktop Publishing- One of the biggest technology traps that seems to ensnare real estate agents is Desktop Publishing, (DTP) software. Whether you"re considering PageMaker, MS Publisher or another DTP program, your probably shouldn"t. Few agents are competent graphic artists, and fewer still can spare the precious hours needed to become competent in creating effective marketing pieces. Given that Top Producer and PREP both come with comprehensive, and customizable, marketing flyers, brochures, postcards and even door-hangers included within their software, there"s little to be gained from pursuing desktop publishing. Mapping & Demographics - One of the great benefits of the computer age is the ability to purchase electronic information. Every day the availability of software for mapping, demographics, school information, and public records increases. While all of these categories lend themselves to providing greater customer service and personal efficiency, they do not represent products that provide the immediate return on investment that most real estate agents are looking for. Additionally, these types of information can often be found on the Internet and at not cost. Digital Camcorders - While the promise of affordable, all digital motion photography is coming, it"s not yet a "price productive" technology. If you want to create your own digital multi-media, take a look at the Dazzle Digital Video Creator from Dazzle Multimedia instead. For just $250 you can create computerized video files from your existing camcorder or VHS player and then use these clips for distribution via CD ROM, email or for download from your personal website. As you plan your new year, whether for yourself or your associates, I sincerely hope that you will reflect on the above to-do list in order to determine how effectively you are using technology, and to set realistic goals for implementing newer technologies into the future. On a final note, regardless of where you are on the technology curve, realize that the shift to technology for enhanced productivity and production is an on-going process and that without effective training, results will typically be marginal.Pages: 1 [2]