The tools of the trade for real estate professionals are ever changing and evolving. That said, it is important that agents (or at the very least, their assistants) be able to perform a few basic tasks. For instance, being able to attach a document to an email should be a given. However, it is astonishing how many agents still do not know how to do this simple task. This is unacceptable!
All Real Estate Professionals should be able to answer “yes” to these 10 basic questions:
- Do you own a Blackberry or smart phone?
- Do you own a digital camera?
- Do you know how to use it?
- Do you know how to copy photos from your camera onto your computer?
- Do you know how to reduce the file sizes of the photos for email purposes?
- Do you know how to attach a document to an email message?
- Do you know how to scan a document to email?
- Do you know how to save an attached document received by email?
- Do you know how to copy your documents onto a flash drive or other device?
- Do you know how to add a link to an email message?
Sure, IT Departments can offer assistance with much of this, but wouldn’t it be better to be self-sufficient? Remember, assistance may not always be available when an immediate need arises. For that reason, learn to master the basics!
The solution?
Training! Make sure that your company offers agent training that covers these basic skills. If this type of training is not currently being offered by your company, make the suggestion to management. Chances are, you are not alone, and many others are struggling with the same issues.
There is a great deal of technology available, and much more on the horizon. Clients and competitors are more technologically savvy than ever before. Agents need to keep up with the same trends and have the same skills in order to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry greatly affected by technology.
