Not too long ago, (2-3 years), when a transferee would come into town to house hunt without his spouse, an agent would have to wait until that spouse came in before a decision was made. It would be the transferee's job to pick out 3 of the best homes available for his spouse to make the final decision.
Today, because of digital cameras, life is much easier for an agent (and for the buyer). A recent experience I had with such a transferee is a testament to technology.
JR's wife had to remain at work and handle the sale of their home. JR had chosen homes from various sources on the Internet, and was anxious to see one in particular that sounded just right. It was and he was excited. I took photos with my digital camera that saves to a disk. Each disk holds 40 photos and I took 2 diskfuls (don't you love it, new words!). He went back to his office here, and emailed them to his wife's office. Her co-workers milled about her computer oo-ing and ah-ing. What a wonderful house! What wonderful grounds!
She called JR and said make an offer! In our robust market, I was very happy about that because we often have multiple offers. His wife was so sure that this was the house, based on JR's feedback and the photos, that the offer was made without a subject to "wife's approval.
Two weeks later, she came in and just loved everything about the home! I just received e-mail telling me how grateful they are, how impressed they are with the way it came about, and how impressed they are with me.
This is such fun! The world of technology is full of tools like this that make the life of a real estate agent fun and efficient. Just think about how we did business only a few years ago before faxing contracts, before MLS was on the Internet, before scanners, before e-mail! E-mail is the biggest boon to the real estate industry!
In a blink, we can keep in touch with our clients, anytime, anywhere. We can attach documents, photos, and files. Think of the convenience, speed and efficiency! We can develop relationships with our clients so they feel like old friends before they even get here.
I think it's very important for an agent to take their clients by the hand and help them through the transaction. No matter how many homes someone has bought and sold, it's always a bit nerve-wracking for people. The ease of email allows us to do this.
You can explain the technical terms and exactly what's going to happen at each step. You can tell them what happens to the money in escrow and what a title company really does. It takes the mystery out of what's going on and makes it fun to do business with you.
An e-mail I received recently from a client who was coming "with checkbook in hand" as he put it, wrote these words, as a PS to his note:
Do your outstanding services include hand-holding and making the appropriate soothing noises? I had NO idea that moving would be so stressful! :-)
They are excited, but they're also filled with trepidation. Without the closeness e-mail enables you to create, they could not have felt as comfortable with me.
I, for one, am just excited, too, about where we will be in another few years if we've come this far this fast in the last few years. I can't wait to see what develops!
