The Bower Blog

I lined up...therefore, I bought the I-PHONE.

In December, a lot of agents including myself, start preparing ourselves for the New Year.  Weirdly enough, our Spring Market starts very early, sometimes as early as mid-January.  It's a time when there are very few listings on the market.  As a result, the "hangover" properties that are still on the market tend to sell if they are priced correctly and anything new coming on can often see relatively quick sales.  We can't predict what is going to happen this year, but with record low interest rates and the prices softening a bit, I am cautiously optimistic about our market conditions.  If the stores yesterday were any indication of an economic crunch, I want to be part of that.  The Eaton Centre was jammed.  That bring me to my story. 

I am tech-phoebic. Technology is a necessary part of my business but I find most things frustrating to learn.  It's just not my area of expertise.  I am so backward, I have a cell phone and a blackberry because the cell phone had a city Fido plan, 45$, unlimited day and night minutes.  A good deal, but it then required me to carry around 2 devices, one for cell and one for emails which is becoming increasingly important, particularly for other agents relaying information to you.

SOOOO, yesterday I was able to combine the two.  YAHOO!  I purchased the I-Phone.  I cannot believe how user friendly this thing is.  I've been playing, located my home on GPS, called my family by pushing one button, input everyone's name and contact info, checked the weather (New York weather; can't quite figure out how to do Toronto's yet), checked stocks (I have none, but I checked them anyway), set up ring tones for my friends and family (Rob is a bark, as is my dog-friend Linda; Laura is a mumba..you get the picture).  I made a pretty picture on my screen saver, made a note to self (the note was: I have an I-phone!), wrote reoccuring gym appointments in my calendar.  It's like having a new toy. 

Here's the best part; I was able to purchase most of it with my FIDO dollars and the monthly cost will decrease by $40.  Why didn't I think of this before?  Today I have to make some calls and transfer all my email data to my new toy.  PLUS, I got a breast cancer pink cover for it.  TOOOO FUN!

Cheryl Bower

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.

www.CherylBower.com

Why Blog? Is technology good or confusing?

The idea is simple: Using instant communication and the marketing power of the Internet to have a 2-way conversation directly with customers, clients, friends and other interested readers.

Personally, I've been dragging my heals on initiating a blog for this honest reason: I am overloaded on learning technology!  Every time I master something new (and proudly boast about it to whoever will listen), another form of technology comes along that I have to learn for my work.  Yesterday my broker posted on his blog the suggestion that we initiate electronic lock-boxes (lock-boxes are those items you see on home that hold the keys to the property-currently we are issued a code).  Electronic lock-boxes would require us to carry a phob, a sensory device allowing us to access the lockbox.  From an acountability point of view, this makes sense.  Every time you enter a home, you as an agent will be identified.  This would prevent doors left open, lights left on etc. 

From a practical point of view, it sends me into crazy land.  Right now, I have 15 different codes I need to know in respect to banking, real estate, personal entry codes at home.....the list goes on.  Recently, we were provided with something called an "activator" which allows us to enter the real estate site to obtain information about listings.  This is something I carry around so I can get on to any computer. 

I wish Bill Gates or someone (including my husband, who understands all this stuff) would develop a universal code, activator or Phob so with the push of a button, I could just go on my merry way on this technology highway.  Right now, I'm just blogging away on my new blog, and happily so.  I know the code!  As a side note, we have a fancy television in our home that hangs on a wall-another husband "thing".  We have had it for 3 years; to THIS DAY, I do not know how to turn it on...and frankly, I don't want to.  Cheryl Bower is on technology strike.