Over the many years as a professional real estate agent my growing list of friends is the biggest prize. A quick phone call, the chance meeting in the grocery store or seeing one another in the mall (trying to get that much needed exercise) brings me a lot of joy. New technology has changed our industry and I intend to “keep up”. Facebook, twitter, all the new avenues of communications will be a special focus in the next few months.

Notice that my business name is now “Linda Miller Real Estate”. My name, my business, my responsibility to serve you. Jim and I are looking for all the ways we can help you and provide the extra service you deserve. Mike is continuing to be our tech support and he watches over all the advertising. Of course, there are “sign guys”, inspectors, lenders, title people–all of them are part of our “team” to guide you, our clients, as you make very important real estate decisions. Give me a call! In fact, you just might receive a call from me first. Happy Fall!

Preparing for a busy year means evaluating business practices. We (Jim and Mike and I) are continually considering how to stay in contact with folks that might need real estate help. Standing on a street corner waving a banner isn’t appropriate, and it is becoming more evident that “print media” is going by the wayside. E-newsletters, texting, email, twitter, web sites (100’s of them) are just a few of the avenues of communication that we will be utilizing.

I shocked my husband (Jim) when I told him I would become a part of a technology committee. He usually has a few responses to such announcements, but this time he was speechless. Linda AND technology. You will be hearing from me via all kinds of avenues. But won’t it be fun to see one another in the mall? Or the grocery store?

Where does technology take us? I have been thinking a lot lately about all the tools I have to communicate with my clients. Of course, family is included too. The web camera that lets me see my grandchildren is very precious!

While I’m sitting in a class and absorbing all the new legal requirements of my profession, I can still communicate with closers, title people and clients via text messages. When I am teaching a class I watch some of the class members’ thumbs – busy, busy thumbs! At that point I hope they’re having business conversations. Today in an education committee I listened to the discussion about our need to understand all the social networking opportunities. Facebook, Myspace, Youtube, and what is Plaxo, Autorain, etc.?

In my office we have a very successful agent that is still grumbling about the fact that he doesn’t think “that the Internet thing will really catch on”. Of course it’s tongue in cheek – he’s sitting at the computer as he continues to mutter his disdain. I won’t go that far, but I think there is a limit to all the conveniences of communication. It can consume much of my time. So there it is again, taking control of my business and my life. Setting priorities – how can I truly serve you, my client. What do you need from me? One of my philosophies of business that I teach is this “to be successful in business, find a need, AND FILL IT.”

I’m working on staying current and filling the need of all my clients. No time to stop. Yes, Jim and I are glued to three PCs, two laptops, palms, phones, digital this and digital that, but we’re having to ask ourselves; how much time are we really saving?