I was recently featured in a story showcasing RE/MAX agents using digital technology to go paperless. I am always looking for the latest advances in technology to use to my advantage in real estate and I can sincerely say that the Lenovo Tablet PC and PDF Software has changed the way I do business, saving me more time than any single tool I have implemented. The ability to have a buyer sign the offer on the laptop, negotiate and resend the final offer back has been incredible. To me, using a tablet and signing listing contracts and buyers agreements this way is like the difference between how we now use email versus how we used to use fax machines. All faxed offers go to our phone/fax service that converts the documents to a digital format so that we can forward to our clients & customers. Read below for the full story.
Toronto Office, MA Star Go Paperless and Save
By Deborah Ball Kearns, RE/MAX Times Online Associate Editor
Some RE/MAX Associates and offices are finding that ditching paper for computerized recordkeeping is a better way to go.
The 200-Associate RE/MAX Crossroads in Toronto has gone completely paperless – a move that's saving time and money. The transition has ushered in new technology that helps agents be more efficient, says Pedro da Fonseca, Executive Vice President of RE/MAX Crossroads.
"We consider ourselves an iRealty office," da Fonseca says. "We've transformed all facets of our business that used to require paper into e-technology. This not only makes agents' lives easier, but is also more convenient for clients."
Each Associate in the firm's two offices has 24-hour secure intranet access to paperless documents, forms, contracts, files and presentations. The agents use e-fax for sending documents, and social media to stay in touch with existing clients and reach out to new ones. Many Associates have also expressed interest in using tablet computers, which enable clients to sign contracts on-screen without hassle or delay.
Aldo Udovicic, a Hall of Fame and Platinum Club member with RE/MAX Crossroads, says that going paperless has helped his team increase business by 30 percent in the past year. Clients appreciate the ease and convenience of paperless transactions and they've come to expect it in today's market, Udovicic says.
"I don't think real estate agents have a choice when it comes to technology – either you move ahead or you'll get stuck behind," Udovicic says. "Technology is constantly changing and if you don't adapt to using it, then you'll lose a potential client base. The fact that our office is cutting edge and progressive is a huge help for our team. They support us well."
By going digital, the office reduces its carbon footprint, da Fonseca adds. On average, a paperless transaction saves about 100 sheets of paper.
RE/MAX Crossroads' second office, which opens March 1, is outfitted for virtual agents; it will have meeting and client-reception space, but no individual workspaces for agents.
The firm's emphasis on technology will boost recruiting efforts, drawing a new breed of agent, da Fonseca predicts.
"This is huge for recruiting and retention," da Fonseca says. "We'll provide ongoing training for online marketing systems and social media so our agents who are tech savvy – and even those who aren't – always have the latest knowledge on how to use the tools we're providing them."
All tech, all the time
On a smaller scale, some RE/MAX Associates are arming themselves with the latest tech gadgets and systems to help manage their bustling business.
Sven Andersen has it all: tablet PC, SmartPhone, digital scanner/fax, and social networking – the works.
The Hall of Fame and Chairman's Club member with RE/MAX Leading Edge in Winchester, Mass., also provides a unique item for his clients: a DVD with all documents, images and virtual tours related to a buyer or seller transaction.
"If you align your paperless emphasis with going green, you can use that as a marketing component of your business, and more people will do business with you," Andersen says. "More consumers are embracing technology and they want to work with someone on the cutting edge. Everything I do, from giving out the DVDs to doing contracts and negotiations on my tablet PC, makes the transaction unique and memorable."
Andersen estimates that his team saves $250 a month on printing costs. While there's an initial investment to purchase equipment like a Fujitsu ScanSnap, a newer HP PhotoSmart printer, a tablet PC and a top-of-the-line SmartPhone, the return on those investments in time, convenience and additional business make it well worth the upfront costs, Andersen says.
"By offering something no one in our market has, it builds our brand. Clients think it's cool," Andersen says. "Going paperless has completely changed my business. Instead of a stack of papers, everything is easily accessible in virtual form. I even had a 92-year-old woman sign a contract on my tablet PC. Imagine that."
© 2010 RE/MAX International, Inc. RE/MAX Affiliates may share this article, provided they do not charge for it and this notice is included. All other rights reserved.
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