Since I’m sure you’ve all heard enough about what I think, we decided to take it to the streets to hear what you think. This month, we sat down with Morris Lyles of ERA Wilder Realty in Columbia, S.C., and picked his brain on a few things. Here’s what he had to say.
Seth Kaplan: What technology are sellers most interested to know if you’re using?
Morris Lyles: Sellers want to know that their listings are being displayed on mobile properly; this goes for websites and apps. I think we’ve done a good job of enabling this technology at our company, but I’m still seeing companies that aren’t, which means—according to NAR’s most recent stats—they’re missing 40 – 50 percent of buyers who are actively searching.
SK: What technology do you find most useful/practical/beneficial as an agent?
ML: Definitely an e-signing platform. As more and more agents begin to use this, it helps streamline signing and expedite paperwork. It also makes the whole process more efficient.
SK: What is the biggest technological change you’ve seen within the last 12 months?
ML: The largest change has come from video and the process of utilizing video as a means of showcasing properties on YouTube. The ease of this system—and the ability for anyone to search and find properties on YouTube—has been a new way to showcase listings. I think we’re just scratching the surface of virtual and stitching technology.
Final Thought: Morris hit the nail on the head with his last answer; video on YouTube is growing faster than ever. Not only can consumers access videos across all devices in an instant, it’s a more engaging experience. For more information on how to promote your property video, contact info@mobilerealestateid.com.
Seth Kaplan is president of MRE. For more information, visit www.mobilerealestateid.com.