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Dear George: "I
saw something recently about Palm Pilots or some sort of Personal Digital Assistant
("pda") that incorporated a supra key. I am considering replacing my huge
Franklin planner with a Palm Pilot (either VI or VII). I need to know if another device is
on the horizon that would be a better purchase. Do you have any thoughts on this?" -
PDA Prospect Dear PDA
Prospect: Supra
Products (http://www.supra-products.com) is conducting several pilot programs that utilize
a specialized Palm Pilot. This Palm Pilot combines the usual pda features with the Supra
SuperKey that currently opens the Supra Advantage Express electronic keysafe. In addition,
the new Palm Pilot contains other features such as the ability to download daily MLS data
and upload keysafe entry data for owner reports. I believe Supra intends to begin
marketing the new device sometime during the Second Quarter next year. Dear George: "I
was recently at the NAR convention in Orlando. I picked up a video put out by HomeSeekers.
I like the concept and their services. I'm new to this technology. I want to know how to
evaluate this program and others. How do I find the others? How do I determine which will
work for me?" - Want To Know Dear Want To
Know: You have touched on a highly controversial subject. HomeStore.com owns and
operates RealSelect who operates Realtor.com. Realtor.com wants to be your total web
presence to the exclusion of all others. They charge you for this. NAR is an equity
participant and it has been an excellent, unparalleled "investment" for NAR.
Having said that, I don't think any exclusive web presence for a Realtor® firm
is a good idea. Realtors® serve the wants and needs of consumers. The most
current consumer trend is mass-customization, not forced exclusivity. Therefore, find out
if your local MLS is uploading your listing data to any of the numerous MLS Aggregators
(Realtor.com, HomeAdvisor.com, HomeSeekers.com, CyberHomes.com, Homes.com and others). If
not, most of them will facilitate your uploading your own listing data and usually at no
charge. I maintain a web presence through the Houston Association of Realtors®
(agent resumes and office page), through all the MLS Aggregators HAR uploads to and on
Realtor.com as well. At the Orlando convention, we heard one of the NAR leaders state that he was sick and tired of hearing from vendors that the consumer was driving the real estate transaction. That Realtors® drove the real estate transaction. I agree. We are the drivers but the consumer pays the fare. If we are not "where" the consumer is, the consumer will not hire us. Some consumers prefer one web site, others prefer others. Why not be present on all of them? Bottom line, consumers want choices and they want to feel they are in control of the most important financial decision they will make. A truly "Realtor®- Centric" approach to web marketing would acknowledge that fact and would become "Consumer-Centric" of necessity. |
