The NAR has launched a new website called Realtor Confidential. This site is “designed to educate our membership about technology-related topics and investigate how NAR can best use Web-based technology to communicate with members”.
In this, the first season of the Realtor Confidential series, the camera crew and production team have decided to follow 2007 NAR President Pat V. Combs, as she and her staff “implement new technologies”.
You know, people accuse us of Realtor bashing and it is just unfounded. We just bring to light the incredulity of what is fast becoming the laughing stock of trade organizations.
When you view the video below, you may think you’re watching a skit on Saturday Night Live, but unfortunately, you’re not.
From the “We can’t make this stuff up” department, comes a video featuring the 2007 NAR President Pat V. Combs wherein she describes the mainstays, the must haves in technological advancement.
Without further adieu, I give you the 2007 NAR President explaining to the world, that technology that is vital to the success of a Realtor.
There you have it. For all of us who did not know, it is the typewriter that no real estate agent can do without because you simply can not fill out forms in any other manner. Ummm…okay.
So, since this video was placed out there for the world to view, just what do you think the reviews will be like?
The former head of one of the world’s biggest trade organizations just allowed herself to be filmed telling the world that Realtors will be technologically advanced if they have a typewriter, a fax machine, a printer and a scanner…and let’s not forget about email.
My God what would she do if she heard about Twitter?
Is writing a story on this Realtor bashing? We didn’t make this video and put it on the Internet. This was supposed to “help” agents? Much to the contrary, this has got to be really, really embarrassing for a lot of Realtors.
Waiting with baited breath for the next informative episode! I am sure you are too.
Greg Swann says:
This is not Realtor bashing, it’s NAR bashing — the unofficial blood-sport of BloodhoundBlog. 😉
I had meant to watch that video the other day. Thanks for posting it. A nice illustration of why the NAR does not matter at all to the future of real estate. The won’t keep up because they don’t want to keep up. I’m sure dinosaurs keen when they die, but it’s nothing but noise. Who cares?
April 25, 2008 — 8:10 am
John MacArthur says:
Barry,
As a member of this organization (the NAR), I can only say that this video is one more piece of empirical evidence that my dues are wasted. The video may be a product of Larry Yun’s department. Sort of a long range, job justification gambit. Put out a video that proves to the world that agents are morons and then rebut any negative commentary with grand pronouncements. Yun may even be able to spin that the number of views indicates that consumer interest in real estate is picking up and we should have a great summer market. I would not be surprised if he quoted statistics regarding the relationship between you tube hits and the increase in real estate prices to prove his point that real estate is a great investment.
Thanks for sharing this gem. I would write more but I have to go see if I can locate a new ribbon for my Smith-Corona.
April 25, 2008 — 8:11 am
Barry Cunningham says:
LOL…I’d like to be a varsity member on the team! these people are truly out of touch!
April 25, 2008 — 8:17 am
Doug Quance says:
On top of everything else… the production value of that was nearly non-existent.
What was it shot with – a $100 camcorder?
Puh-leeeze!
April 25, 2008 — 8:23 am
Eric Richardson says:
I can’t wait to see their next “cutting edge” snippet entitled, “Using smoke signals to advertise your next listing” – should be a real scorcher.
April 25, 2008 — 8:26 am
Mike Farmer says:
I think it’s a given that individual agents are far ahead of NAR in understanding and utilizing the new technology. NAR is an organization chained, limited in it’s ability to innovate. These types of organizations are by design conservative and protectionist with no real incentive to become creative.
The video reveals that lack of imagination and vision and clearly shows the difference between entrepreneurs and associations. And I think this is the real lesson to be learned.
April 25, 2008 — 8:28 am
Wayne says:
I think Ms. Combs’ office is just a teensy bit behind the times. This video could have been made 5 or 10 years ago, then it’s message might have been current. Some of the “new” technologies mentioned have been around for a while, e.g. blogging, single property web sites, and using email to send updates to her clients(?!?). I would think that our fearless leaders should be pioneering the move to new tech, not reporting about yesterday’s old news. Come on, NAR, let’s come into the 21st century, whaddya say??
April 25, 2008 — 8:33 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Some of you guys have some real wit..love the smoke signals comment..Could not stop laughing!
April 25, 2008 — 8:33 am
Dave Barnes says:
Wow! I am impressed.
A color printer. What will they think of next?
It is good that consumers will not see this. If they did, they would not do business with any NAR member.
April 25, 2008 — 9:14 am
geno petro says:
In the 1980s I used to go to the bank once a week for several rolls of quarters; for payhones. A salesman without quarters was a salesman without a game plan, I was always told…
And typewriters? those were for the ‘secretarial pool.’
come on.
April 25, 2008 — 9:48 am
Scott Cowan says:
I have heard that they were going to have another video to show how to use carrier pigeons to announce brokers opens. The pigeons fly to the offices and “poop” on the windows to let the agents know that there is a brokers open. Truly cutting edge.
April 25, 2008 — 9:48 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Hey Dave…what makes you so sure consumers don’t see this stuff…:(
April 25, 2008 — 9:49 am
Jim Kimmons says:
I don’t know where you get the time to post and comment like this. I was trying to get a letter out to my mailing list, found an error at the last minute, and now I have to go to the office supply for White Out!
April 25, 2008 — 9:58 am
Greg Swann says:
I vote for Jim Kimmons for best joke so far.
April 25, 2008 — 10:02 am
ideal4investors says:
These people haven’t heard of e-fax or PDF? Having worked for several major trade associations, I am shocked that NAR thinks this is cutting edge stuff. I am embarrassed for them.
April 25, 2008 — 10:04 am
Bob Wilson says:
NAR went back to typewriters because the carbon paper kept jamming their dot matrix printers.
April 25, 2008 — 10:43 am
Mike Lefebvre says:
Wow. This is frankly embarrassing. As a rookie in the business debating whether it makes sense to spend the money and join the NAR so I can officially call myself a Realtor (TM), this video speaks volumes. At least I know they have a legal department who is policing criminals like myself who registered domain names like AppraiserRealtor.com and twitter handles like @RealtorLefebvre. Wouldn’t want to trick the public into thinking I’m actually someone on the cutting edge of technology with my typewriter and color printer in tow. While the guys at 1000 Watt Consulting are pushing for paperless real estate offices, it’s shocking to see what the former NAR president is pioneering.
How many people at the NAR saw this and said, “Yeah. That’s the image we want to portray. That’s the future of technology in our business”????
April 25, 2008 — 10:44 am
Daniel Rothamel says:
I left this comment on the RERadio USA blog, but I wanted to repost it here, since it is in two places:
Actually, I can understand exactly what Pat is talking about. I think this is a bit of a geographical thing.
I am about as technological as REALTORS come (at least, that’s what I like to think), but there have been times when I wish I had a typewriter in the office. The area that I live and work in isn’t exactly on the cutting edge of technology, so there are times when a typewriter would come in handy, believe it or not.
All of our contracts are done on Zipforms electronically, but there are forms that our County, or a homeowners’ association, sometimes requires or requests that either have to be filled out by hand, or on a typewriter.
Just from a writing perspective, I happen to like typewriters. There is something to be said for the physical connection and tactile feedback that one gets from depressing a typewriter key and hearing the whhirrrr…ca-chunk! of a letter being put onto a piece of paper. Call me nostalgic. . . .
As far as NAR’s series goes, it will be interesting to see how it develops. I’ve had discussions with the good folks at NAR about stuff like this, and I think that, believe it or not, they want very much to do a good job and lead their members in the right direction. After talking with some of the NAR folks, I have a much greater appreciation and understanding of the challenges and obstacles they face when it comes to stuff like this.
April 25, 2008 — 10:48 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Stop,,Please…you guys are killing me!!!! I think I have finally hit my stride on Blolodhound..OMG I needed the laughs on a Friday..you all have a great weekend! This would be funnier if it were’nt actually true!
April 25, 2008 — 10:52 am
Ryan Ward says:
Don’t think for a second that there are not 1000’s of agents that are even farther behind that. Many would look at that video and actually learn. Seriously.
April 25, 2008 — 11:08 am
Todd Carpenter says:
So let me get this straight. NAR creates a blog specifically to teach REALTOR’s more about technology. In their very first episode, the cover some of the basics. And for that, they should be lambasted?
I guess I would wait to see episodes 2,3,4… before making such a judgment.
On their Blog, Keith Garner encourages others to pitch in their own ideas. Sounds like an opportunity for RE.net to reach mainstream RE agents.
April 25, 2008 — 11:09 am
Greg Swann says:
> I think that, believe it or not, they want very much to do a good job and lead their members in the right direction.
I believe they do want this. They just can’t actually do it. You’re either in our world or you’re not, and you can’t lead by playing catch-up from behind. They will never catch up. Eventually they will give up instead. You’re seeing newspapers do that right now.
> After talking with some of the NAR folks, I have a much greater appreciation and understanding of the challenges and obstacles they face when it comes to stuff like this.
This is what they’re actually good at, silencing criticism by absorbing the critics into their vast orb of squishy incompetence. You would never think to forgive your cell phone provider for being inept. Instead you would find a vendor who could deliver the goods. The National Association of Realtors is second only to the National Education Association in its ability to get people to defend it for being a boneheaded failure at everything. I’ve been meaning to write about this. Thanks for the goad.
April 25, 2008 — 11:24 am
Sean Purcell says:
Barry et al,
I don’t see what all the hub-bub is here. I find this video strangely compelling. As a matter of full disclosure I must admit that I have not seen the entire video. Once the porn music at the beginning kicks in… something gets me… right here.
I can think of nothing more appropriate from the trade group that collects my voluntary dues each quarter, than a little horizontal mambo music from the 70’s (maybe it’s the reverent Gerald Ford reference).
Why do I suddenly feel an urge to call my frat buddies over and make a run to the brown bag video store?
April 25, 2008 — 11:35 am
Daniel Rothamel says:
Greg,
Glad I could give you a goad. 😉
>This is what they’re actually good at, silencing criticism by absorbing the critics into their vast orb of squishy incompetence.
I haven’t ever once had them silence any criticism of mine. I can’t speak for anyone else. I’ve given them plenty. One thing that NAR has done a very poor job of is showing people where and when they ARE competent. There are a lot of very competent people working for the organization. They seem to have a messaging problem that stems, in part, from the way in which the organization is structured.
>You would never think to forgive your cell phone provider for being inept. Instead you would find a vendor who could deliver the goods.
This is true. I am not, however, a member of my cell phone provider. I am not in any way responsible for the way in which my cell phone provider acts, or the decisions it makes. The only way I can ever interact with my cell phone provider is through someone in customer service who doesn’t know me, has never even met me, and might not even have the same cell phone provider as me! These things are not true of NAR. NAR is not just a vendor to me (although sometimes they seem to want to do that, unfortunately).
I have honestly been amazed at the level to which NAR pays attention to what is going on all over the country. Equally as amazing is their inability to react to some things, even when they want to. With an organization as large as NAR, there is a tremendous amount of inertia. I think it is one reason why the Virginia Association of REALTORS has had more success on issues of technology and leadership. Both organizations have access to the people who can get the job done, but VAR has a much easier time actually acting.
>The National Association of Realtors is second only to the National Education Association in its ability to get people to defend it for being a boneheaded failure at everything.
Impossible. I dealt briefly with the NEA, and my parents can tell horror stories. Everyone else is a distant second to the NEA in that category.
April 25, 2008 — 11:48 am
Will says:
I think you all are missing the point of NAR in the first place… and maybe that’s NAR’s fault. Really, though you belong to their group, as I do to CREA in Canada, I want them to work on legal issues, pushing for reforms in government (tax issues, for example), and representing my needs on a national/international level.
I don’t want them to be telling all of our secrets. I don’t want the competition (my fellow realtors who work outside my firm) to know the power of a properly executed blogging platform and IDX for lead generation or the amazing ability of a tabletpc and a virtual modem hook up via bluetooth for instant contract/offer creation and email/fax anywhere and anytime. Heck, I love how they (the local board) just thrust MLXchange on our board members a few years ago and gave them some training about not clicking the back button (resets the webapp)… since I can figure the system out and have been able to pull and reformulate data like nobody’s business. Seriously. The information is out there to be sought (BHB being just one of many such sources) and those who have the thirst for greater knowledge and efficiency will seek it out.
And, yes, I am sure some people will actually watch that and think, “Gosh, what a neat idea.”
BTW, love the innovation Stateside. We are several years behind in Canada on many technologies. Thankfully, those which require local board approval are often welcomed as our board is not full of neophytes.
April 25, 2008 — 12:09 pm
Lane Bailey says:
While it certainly is fun to take the shots at the NAR (Lord knows I like to do that), they could probably put together a tech series for the other links in the chain… like the tax assessor’s offices in this area. In fact, I think the governments I deal with a re ALL behind the NAR. Of course, they are also among the few entities that are bigger than the NAR. So, the typewriter is the time machine that we need to connect with the different county entities…
BTW, I think that the second part is almost worse. Pat talks about her wishlist and there must have been 37 different vendors offering those exact solutions at the NAR convention.
April 25, 2008 — 12:12 pm
Sparky says:
Well, they gotta start somewhere, right? I think our industry as a whole, not just NAR, has lagged behind in adopting/embracing new, emerging technology. That’s obviously changing, and rather rapidly. Still, it would be nice to know exactly where our dues are being spent, and just what we’re getting in return?
April 25, 2008 — 12:20 pm
TheRECoach says:
Ok Barry (et al), I agree with you that this video was an embarresment, but the tone of the post is still “Bashing”. Your a talented writer and I enjoy your posts, but use this forem to help the NAR, not ridicule it. It’s obvious that they could use your insight, and maybe even a color TV!
Eric Bryant
TheRECoach
April 25, 2008 — 12:45 pm
Dave Phillips says:
Since I’m known for defending NAR on the BHB, I feel compelled to respond, but not eager. Here’s my comeback to everyone who thinks this video is (insert your word of choice).
• Pat is a very nice lady and class act.
• They used VERY LITTLE of your dues dollars to produce this.
• 75% of the members will benefit from this video.
• The other 25% of the membership breaks down as follow: 15% think yeah, so? 9% are proud of themselves for being smarter than 90% of the rest, and 1% are deeply offended and write a blog post or comment bashing it.
• Ditto to Daniel’s comments.
And as a parting shot…Barry, you’d make a great sommelier. No offense intended. I love this post and ALL your other ones. I’m simply pointing out that it is very tough to relate to the unwashed masses when you posses such superior knowledge and ability. Running an association is not like running a phone company. This video is not NAR’s finest hour, but by design, associations are not capable of leading from the front. That’s why we have Bloodhounds.
April 25, 2008 — 1:35 pm
Jesse Clifton says:
This is just sad. I’m sure there are a lot of folks who are further behind the technology curve than this but we’re talking about the Pres. of NAR for heavens sake. This makes me wonder if Pat drives one of those newfangled car things to work or if she rides a mule. For crying out loud.
April 25, 2008 — 2:24 pm
Ian smith says:
Ian here from REALTOR® Confidential.
I think that we didn’t explain the series properly. The show is essentially a makeover show. For those of you who are unfamiliar with makeover shows a good example, and the I think the original, of a makeover show is This Old House. Over a series of episodes the crew of This Old House rehab a house. The first show of one of their series is the one where they show the house before the transformation- the before house. In the last episode they show the finished house. REALTOR® Confidential episode 1 is the before house of our series- or before office if you will.
As the series progresses our subject broker and some of her staff will be introduced to some new technologies, learn to use them, then integrate them into their business practices. At the end of the series we will show what worked for them and what didn’t- the finished house.
Episode 2 will showcase a technically advanced REALTOR® to illustrate how far technology can take you- he doesn’t have an office and does just about everything from his Laptop or Cell phone.
Episode 2 will be posted May 15th.
Thanks for watching the video and I hope you check out Episode 2.
Ian Smith
April 25, 2008 — 3:09 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Hey Dave, “75% of the members will benefit from this video” That makes me very afraid! Might make many a consumer afraid as well. Might even scare a few Realtors.
C’mon Dave, are you saying that publishing this video and showing it for what it is…is bashing? Wow!
Dave, we need to have you on the show as well..this needs further discussion, especially if those stats you quote are anywhere near reality.
April 25, 2008 — 3:12 pm
Dave Phillips says:
Barry, I never said this was realtor bashing. I siad I loved the post. My stats are based only in opinions gathered from 18 years in the realtor business. High tech is a niche market – a really cool niche, but a niche. If everyone became high tech, it would take away the market differentiation of those who fully embrace tech. Email and cell phones are now main stream, but just 10 years ago they were cutting edge.
The real issue is the gap between the age (read tech adoption) of buyers and realtors. I’m sitting on my deck, drinking a Corona and typing on my Blackberry, so I can not give you a link, but go to my blog and read the Swanepoel stats on the gap between realtors and buyers.
Keep in mind that a third of the members did not do a transaction last year and another third did less than 3. You should not impose your high standards on ALL realtors (I’m not suggesting you cut them a break either). So if 66 percent did 3 or less deals last year, I would argue 75 percent would benefit from the video (even before Ian’s comments).
Now, back to my Corona and a very beautiful day in Charlottesville.
April 25, 2008 — 3:55 pm
Matthew Hardy says:
I wonder if the typewriter had anything to do with the licensing strictures on contract paperwork. Maybe she doesn’t want to pay zip forms any more money. Oh wait, the paper contracts are copyrighted but required too, aren’t they? It’ like they’re livin’ in 1864!
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/166716/
April 25, 2008 — 4:07 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Dave..thanks for the link and have one on me bud!! I love Corona!
April 25, 2008 — 4:13 pm
Ted Mackel says:
Ian,
If your genius is to make over the president of our association, then you ought to stop and find a new subject before it gets worse. You are basically telling the whole world the leader of our organization is out-of-touch. This series is an embarrassment and it is not makeing the point you intended.
Ted Mackel
Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
Simi Valley, California
April 25, 2008 — 4:47 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Ian, I hope so…it does not say this on the site…but I sure hope that you are going to do as you say. This is useless. But, as many have sai, it’s a start, an inauspicsious one, but a start. We’ll be watching!
April 25, 2008 — 5:20 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Oops..spelled inauspicsious incorrectly..sorry.
April 25, 2008 — 5:21 pm
Stacey Harmon says:
WOW. This video really highlights for me the opportunity that exists for Realtors who really embrace not only technology, but Web 2.0. What I see in this video is the application of technology to improve the “traditional” way of selling real estate. I think there is a whole emerging group of Realtors out there who are looking to utilize technology (in particular Web 2.0 technologies) to TRANSFORM how real estate is sold. I agree with Dave that this video speaks to 75% of Realtors – I work in one of the most lucrative markets in the US (Newport Beach, CA) and I’d say that this video accuratly represents how most Realtors (that do any business in my market) view and utilize technology. I see this as a huge opportunity for anyone who is savvy enough to have even found this blog. Thanks for a very interesting post!
April 25, 2008 — 7:07 pm
Hunter Jackson says:
Unfortunately when I emailed this to some people in my office, they came back asking me questions about this ‘new technology’…that is all the rave….GOD SAVE ME FROM COLUMBIA SC SOMETIMES! I Love the people, but c’mon…can’t we atleast get a decent blackberry service (Edge was just unvailed).
April 25, 2008 — 7:23 pm
Bob Wilson says:
So their incompetent when it comes to demonstrating competence?
April 25, 2008 — 8:09 pm
Bob Wilson says:
should have read “they’re”
April 25, 2008 — 8:10 pm
Natalie Langford says:
Barry, give it time. NAR will catch up. I’ve seen them pick up their pace, react, and begin to embrace those of us ready to share what we know to better our fellow members and our group as a whole.
Eventually, you will see a more proactive association when it comes to technology. One can choose to mock, or one can choose to bend over, and stretch out a hand to help.
I dare you, Barry, to make a (positive) contribution of that wonderful brain of yours to NAR. Hey, I’m lazy, what’s your realtionship to NAR?
Mike Lefebvre – You’re a good guy and I have a ton of respect for you already. Join your local association and make a difference. 🙂
April 25, 2008 — 8:18 pm
Barry Cunningham says:
Natalie I don’t have a relationship to NAR, nor do I desire one. As for contributing to agents, now that’s another thing entirely and we work closely with many, many agents in quite a positive manner.
April 25, 2008 — 10:46 pm
Brian Brady says:
Wait a minute. Has anyone actually watched this video? It is dead-on accurate. A typewriter is an essential machine. Many legal documents do not allow you to amend them via computer; you have to “type” in the amended language onto an already prepared document.
This video demonstrates the technology an office NEEDS. County recorders are not automated in a systematic way. Not all lenders use uniform documents. For those very reasons alone, the MOST technologically advanced offices will have a typewriter, which the video shows has been around for 120 years, to deliver superior, accurate results so that closings aren’t delayed.
April 26, 2008 — 7:42 am
Greg Swann says:
> the MOST technologically advanced offices will have a typewriter
Normally it’s just the two of us, but we have extra work-stations so we can throw contract employees at jobs when we need them. Three Macs, three Windows machines — Cathy and I have one of each — two laser printers — one prints lush color, one doubles on fax — an image and OCR scanner. No typewriters. I haven’t had a typewriter in my office for 15 years, at least. I can’t remember the last time I even touched one. The last time I wrote a contract with a pen was February of 2004. Lenders and title companies might have typewriters — but I tend to rank them, present company excepted, in the category of frustratingly tech-impaired impediments to getting business done. Most Realtors fall into that category, as well, but I can’t tell you how much easier it is to work a cross sale with a Realtor who lives in 2008 and not 1978. My goal, which I’ve stated here many times, is to be able to do from my phone anything I might do in the office. That’s maybe a year or two away. I never wear a shirt without a breast pocket, but I’m pretty sure there’s no room for a typewriter in there. 😉
April 26, 2008 — 8:23 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Typewriter…have not had one since before college (over 20 years ago). As with you BB, have closed hundreds of deals over the years and have recorded just about or maybe more on deed overs and such, and have never used a typewriter. GS is right, maybe the title company uses one ..somewhere..and maybe a mortgage broker may need one (our banks send all docs electronically and if they need to be amended they redraft them), but from a real estate perspective, not ever needed.
If a particular form was needed and was not available online, we long ago re-created them ourselves, graphics and all, so they would be forms we access on our own network in our office.
We have EVERY form available that can possibly be needed on our server, including any recording documents that the County needs.
We have been talking to the guys over at 1000 Watt Consulting and they have been talking about the “paperless” real estate office, which is where things are headed if we can get agents to abandon that other huge paper weight and technological albatross…the fax machine.
Have’nt had one of them either for going on 5 years now. Haven’t missed that a bit either. Our title company does not use a fax machine either. For some reason realtors won’t let go of that either. Kind of amazes me.
April 26, 2008 — 8:31 am
Jim Kimmons says:
If you can’t email me the form, fax me the form. I’ll receive it as a Pdf in my email, pull up PDFAnnotator, do what I want with it, including type in text or signatures, and I’ll send it back to you.
I won’t print it out until I’m back at the office if I don’t feel like pulling out the HP 460 portable printer. Oh, you faxed it to my hotel room. I’ll use the tiny plustek scanner, scan it into a Pdf and take it from there.
Or, you could put it up as a private document on docstoc.com, and I’ll get it from there.
Or…there are just so many ways.
April 26, 2008 — 8:33 am
Ian Smith says:
Ted and Barry,
I like to use the term edutainment to describe this series, much to the irritation of the people I’m working with, so we try to add in amusing snippets. The typewriter that captured everyones attention was added for comic effect.
As I said earlier this is a makeover show so we tried to create a large contrast between the before office and finished office. This show is aimed directly at members who are cautious about trying new technology so we tried to make the before office recognizable to that group. In reality the office is more tech progressive than it appears. We didn’t think it would be interesting or informative to cover staff members applying software patches.
They are many great tips and tricks in the comments here. Please visit realtorconfidential.org and watch the Become a Confidant video greeting from Keith Garner. We hope people will share their tech experiences and knowledge on the site.
Ian Smith
April 26, 2008 — 8:55 am
Dru Bloomfield says:
My question is: What does the client prefer? I have a client right now that has no voice mail and doesn’t have access to his email. I also have a client who is Gen Y, but prefers phone calls and email to texting.
My sense is that this video series is intended to be a bit humorous and quirky, yet it appears that many have missed that aspect.
Being open to new ideas is what stirs innovation, and I do not believe that there is any one idea that rules over another. Being flexible, adapting to our client’s needs, and giving professional real estate counsel are critical. The whole concept of innovation is to collaborate and build on other’s ideas, creating better solutions than currently exist. Technology for technology’s sake is the beginning of the end. Technology for the sake of aiding and assisting, creating a better community, providing timely assistance, is what will move us forward in humanity.
April 26, 2008 — 8:57 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Jim you are so right..we have been using Winfax for groups, efax when I am on the road and of course the PDF…don’t forget Google Docs…yes, it is amazing the percentage of agents who don’t realize how much easier their life would be with the implmentation of viable and truly state of the art technology…but as we know, what is state of the art today may not be tomorrow, so you have to keep up..always!
April 26, 2008 — 8:58 am
Sean Purcell says:
Not sure about where my brother Brian is coming from on this one. I have not used a typewrite since college. Before we give up the fax machine, however, let’s remember that it is our clients that dictate the speed at which we can move forward more than our fellow LOs or agents. I have a lot of clients that find it a stretch to even fax things to me, never mind scan and email. Heck, I have some clients that must go down to the local Kinko’s to even send or receive a fax. Still a few with no email… the list goes on. And while Jim is right, I could go without a fax on my end, but there are times when it is convenient to have paperwork show up at a fax machine (instead of my email) so that I can direct my assistant to pick it up and forward it on as needed.
April 26, 2008 — 9:01 am
Sean Purcell says:
BTW,
While the typewriter and the dedicated computer desk were quaint, my issue with this video is the production values!
Is this the best we can do with an organization as large, well funded and technologically advanced as the NAR must be? I know this is about helping the agents who are not up to speed yet, but surely the NAR has people on staff or the money to contract with professionals that can put together something a step above “Uncle Jack’s Vacation Videos”.
April 26, 2008 — 9:04 am
Ian Smith says:
Sean P.,
This video was put together on a shoestring budget- essentially none. A few people from different departments in NAR got together and gave their time to create it. I agree that it doesn’t approach TV level production values but it wasn’t intended to. Our goal was to create a series for very low cost that would provide information to our members. That being said, we are learning to improve the production values with the tools we have.
April 26, 2008 — 9:26 am
Broker Bryant says:
I started going paperless at the beginning of the year. The only problem is that I have quite a few Sellers that do not have access to fax or email either, so…I have to print and hand deliver docs to them. It suck but what can you do?
I agree with Sean that we have to be able to work at the level of our customer/clients.
At this time I do not own a fax machine and haven’t had a typewrite for about 10 years.
Most of business is handled with a tablet pc, efax and email.
I did find the humor in NAR’s video. Maybe it would help if some of the high tech REALTORS(R) would volunteer their time to the association. Just remember it is a non-paying, very thankless job.
April 26, 2008 — 10:41 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Ian, I for one hope that this series becomes what you envision. I do not envy your job and I will be the first to commend you if the series reaches it’s desired conclusion.
April 26, 2008 — 10:46 am
Doug Quance says:
Ian,
Two things. First – the idea is good, in theory. If you are going to make a multiple part series, then each segment should be able to stand on its own.
Secondy, the production value MATTERS. When you have an organization the size of NAR – raking in millions and millions of dollars from your members – you need to deliver something better than this.
Several members of this blog – myself included – have delivered better production on a shoestring.
You guys have no excuse.
April 26, 2008 — 11:39 am
Daniel Rothamel, the Real Estate Zebra says:
Opinions about production value are going to vary due to personal taste. I happened to think it was fine. I made a comment about the Dick Gaylord podcast that I thought that video was way over-produced.
I know that NAR takes in a lot of money, and in the grand scheme of things, my personal opinion is that they shouldn’t be diverting a tremendous amount of it to video production. I say, spend only what you must. The content is far more important than the actual production.
April 26, 2008 — 11:46 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Daniel, that may be true if it is a password protected site that only agents can view..but the consumer can see this and it’s the image that counts.
Amazing we all saw how Glen Kelman took down a blogger becasue of potential image and branding problems and the NAR does not see this in this instance.
Same thing goes Daniel. Image and branding mean everything and right now, the consumer cna view this and if they do, as they have done (See youtube comments), they end up laughing and ridiculing the effort.
April 26, 2008 — 12:13 pm
Bob Wilson says:
I have a typewriter. I used it in high school and college to type papers. It dates to WWII. I still have it BECAUSE it dates to WWII. The last time I used it, Michael Jackson and Madonna topped the charts.
I have a fax machine I have used primarily to fax to myself (to an efax) and for outgoing faxes to lenders who still require I send all short sale packages via fax.
That ended yesterday as I said adios to efax and switched to Smartfax – $10 a month, free local # with unlimited incoming & outgoing faxing FROM MY COMPUTER. (As I grow the company I’ll likely switch to ringcentral).
My monthly savings includes the dedicated fax line, a few reams of paper, ink, & most importantly – a huge amount of time. With Win/Zip Forms, digital signatures, online storage and transaction platforms, cell access to servers, etc, I’m pretty darn close to paperless.
April 26, 2008 — 1:04 pm
Thomas Johnson says:
Wharton County Texas: Deed and Title info is not computerized, or if it is, it is unusable by any title plant: Stewart, FATCO, Fidelity, etc. When Fidelity talks about having 95%+ of the title information guess what? Wharton is in the last 5%. The good ole boys that run the place will not give the county recorder the money to modernize. After all, their land is all inherited from the 1800’s land grants, and is going nowhere. The original parchment, now on microfiche, is good enough.
I have written about this before. There is a huge digital divide in the US. When the census bureau says that 99% of the US has broadband access, it means that one broadband connection in a county = broadband. Some Texas counties are larger than some states. Realtors that serve these areas do not necessarily require or have access to the past 15 years’ technology. This is also why the Redfins of the world will not revolutionize real estate across the board any time soon. Back to my Corona. My Smith Corona…
April 26, 2008 — 2:18 pm
Brian Brady says:
Typewriters are used when deeds need to be amended on the fly. It’s usually done at the escrow office. Typewriters are useful and acceptable when a simple addendum needs to be made to a contract, with a client in front of you.
Why use a typewriter rather than fire up the laptop or PC? To save time of course. Change an APN, a legal description, etc. Pens would work but are generally unacceptable so typewriters solve the problem.
Technology is about convenience and saving time. When stuck in an office with a nervous couple, you will learn to appreciate the usefulness of this little 120 year old machine. It works wonders to documents, in 38 seconds.
I’d submit that the modern office has both a typewriter AND pens. Can any mortgage or escrow folks share a story about the utility of the typewriter?
April 26, 2008 — 5:41 pm
Brian Brady says:
“Is this the best we can do with an organization as large, well funded and technologically advanced as the NAR must be?”
Ahh now, come on. First we tell people that the grainy vids on YouTube show authenticity, then we bag on them for following our lead.
I’m at a loss here. I’ll admit that the NAR has a lot of room for improvement but this is a stretch.
April 26, 2008 — 5:45 pm
Sean Purcell says:
Ian,
we are learning to improve the production values with the tools we have
Let’s see if we can not enhance those tools a bit. Please see my latest post.
April 26, 2008 — 8:41 pm
Bob Wilson says:
The quality of the vid is unimportant. The majority of those who have viewed it did so only because Barry poked fun at it. The issue is the content. It’s about the former NAR president claiming to be state of the art with technology that is several years old.
I’m glad NAR isn’t spending money on video production. Enhancing production value of a pointless message is still putting lipstick on a pig.
April 26, 2008 — 9:10 pm
jmac says:
Ian,
I suppose you mean well. You have a major problem. No one got the joke. The NAR is held is such contempt, everyone assumed that the video is factual.
The NAR will never crawl out of the hole it has created. The dollar sucking leeches that earn a paycheck from the organization will never release the golden goose. The volunteers are destined to become disillusioned former Realtors.
Every single ad campaign has been an embarrasment. The boon doggle with the new President debating Jim Cramer was the epitome of public ineptitude.
It would be best if the NAR cancelled this half baked attempt at wit and spent more time lobbying the house and senate to pass legislation that would allow the NAR to purchase group health insurance. The NAR would be better suited if they raised the bar for the Realtor designation. It might even be a cracker jack idea to actually have people required to pass a test following CE courses.
The first step would be to replace Larry Yun with Bagdad Bob. Then, at least, the rediculous spin they put on every nuance of the market would be funny instead of terribly sad.
April 26, 2008 — 9:18 pm
Louis Cammarosano says:
Some items missing in the video:
-Floppy disk filing box
-rubber stamps
-desk top calculator to figure out 6% of the sale price
-pong and pac man video game room for a high tech break
-electric pencil sharpener
and most importantly every “tech savvy” office needs one of these
http://cgi.ebay.com/SUPER-PRINTER-hand-held-label-tape-gun-maker-1970s-A-Z_W0QQitemZ280220274253QQihZ018QQcategoryZ25348QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
April 27, 2008 — 9:26 am
Barry Cunningham says:
Louis….”pong and pac man video game room for a high tech break”………yer killin me!
April 27, 2008 — 10:28 am
Tom Vanderwell says:
Okay, first thing I’ve got to say is that I haven’t had time to read all of the comments. Now I’m going to make a couple of comments about it:
• Pat is a very nice lady and class act.
Pat is from my home town and I’ll second that opinion.
The video would lead you to believe that President Ford is still alive. He passed away about a year and a half ago.
While probably 98% of the Realtors in the Grand Rapids area are technologically behind those of us on BHB (I know of only one Realtor in Grand Rapids who twitters), my experience is that very few of them actually use typewriters to generate purchase agreements any more.
Grand Rapids is not the leading edge of technology, that’s why I enjoy hanging out with you guys because I can see the future of the real estate world more clearly.
I’ve been working in the Grand Rapids market for 20 years now (yeah, I started when I was 12) and it’s a great place to live and work, but it’s not the leading edge on much.
I hope you noticed, I didn’t say anything about NAR. I’m not a Realtor, I’m a lender, so I’m going to stay out of that part!
Tom
June 20, 2008 — 9:38 pm