Just one other thing. Why do you need barcodes stuck to your property? I can see barcodes for smaller items, but a house? Why not just use your geo-location (lat.& long.) or just street address? I mean the problem is that Stickybits would have to be the “standard” in real estate for it to be a meaningful investment of time. Everyone needs the Stickybits app and database. Where a website mashup with the same data is simpler to implement and works just as good.

Here’s where the train starts to leave the tracks. The real money is with the buyers and sellers. But they don’t usually pay up front for technology when they are buying or selling. In fact, pretty much every technology a buyer and seller uses on the Web is FREE. And that’s not likely to change. So there is no sale to this group for these technologies. Yes you can try and figure out a ad based business model, but these can be very difficult to pan out.

So that leaves agents. And like I’ve been saying, the majority of the agents and firms alike don’t get it, and won’t for some time. I agree the changes taking place in the market are going to drive change in the agents, but this is likely to take time. What we are actually seeing are fewer agents doing more of the transactions. Fewer agents with money to invest in technology.

What we really need are good basic tools that promote lead generation, contact follow up, transaction processing, and promote continued follow up and referral generation. Oh, and can it all be integrated, run over the web so it supports all platforms, and not cost an arm and leg. Then we can move on from there.

Again, think “Crossing the Chasm”. Going from early adopters to the masses is the key to technology success.

I also agree with Patrick — it’s about time we got some new technologically savvy, on-the-fly technology in real estate. It’s amazing how times have changed even in the past few years from desktops to laptops to mobile devices that do everything for you when you’re away from a stable internet line.

I do believe that some of what’s “hot” out there is really nothing more than an experiment in coolness of technology but the practical application of that coolness is a small hop, skip and jump away. 2010/11 will be huge for mobile and decision making. It’s a very exciting time to be in the industry – actively or as a voyeur.

-PH

I don’t mean to imply that we can sit by idly while others explore new ideas and technologies. Only that we MUST temper the technologies with here and now work.

It’s easy to get caught up in new bells and whistles and can lose track of proven technologies/strategies. I often find that the more things change, the more they stay the same…

The truth is, Barrett is right, but so is everyone else. To Barrett’s credit, he hit the nail on the head: it comes down to simplicity and usefulness.

But Todd, you’re absolutely right, too (“And by being stodgily resistant to newer marketing techniques, will endanger their sellers’ interests.”).

Buyers and sellers are more tech-savvy than most agents, but a sea-change is happening and eventually, buyers and sellers won’t tolerate an agent who is not reachable via text or who insists on filling out twenty-page long contracts using a Bic pen.

The world is becoming more mobile and more paperless everyday. The agent who gets this now will only benefit from it in the future.

Great post!

Nick Sweeney
The DotLoop Team
http://dotloop.com