DAVID Thompson has always believed in keeping up with the times. As an experienced sales representative with ReMax, he knows that consumers demand delivery of information in a timely and convenient way. And the age of
today’s home buyers, according to statistics from the Canadian Real Estate Association and the National Association of Realtors in the U.S., is in the early 30s. “That segment of society is much more computer literate and typically very busy and doesn’t always have time for telephone tag with an agent,” Thompson says. So, to solve the problem he’s developed two different methods of delivering information quickly to the consumer. Thompson has a fully interactive Web site, www.davidthompson.net, which, as he explains, allows consumers to request informative reports on the subject of real estate and then receive the information via e-mail. Thompson also has an extra feature that enables his clients, with an assigned password, to enter his Web site and view the progress of their transaction. “Or, the marketing of their home In the case of a sale,” he adds. “Also, unlike most sites with an external Web master, I can physically enter my site 24 hours a day and thus upload information about my new listings immediately.” Thompson’s use of the latest on-line innovations certainly benefited Amanda Lerougetel and her partner in their purchase of a new home earlier this year. “The use of e-mail was fantastic and the key to finding what we wanted was to be on top of what was coming out in the market. I was never out of the loop of what was going on,” she says. Lerougetel remarks that Thompson alerted that way about the house she and her partner eventually purchased. “We went to see it that evening and made an offer and it was accepted,” she continues, adding that Thompson also sold their home. Thompson, who was a co-owner of the Roots store at Polo Park mall in the 1980's, mentions that the number of agents in Winnipeg has declined by approximately 30 percent since he began |
selling real estate in 1987. "Those that are currently in the industry will continue to face demands to upgrade their technological skills and tools," he says pointing out that he also writes his own monthly newsletter. David Thompson Real Estate Update. The other product I utilize is my personal 800 number. On every listing I have I assign a specific 800 number which hangs on my signs. Consumers can call that number 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and what they’ll hear is a recorded message in my voice about that specific property.” Despite all of these innovative tools, Thompson, who is developing smaller but more specific Web sites dealing with real estate-related topics, emphasizes that it’s still important for him to maintain a personal face-to-face relationship with his client. “Because no matter how technological we become, one-on-one service is still priority number one,” he adds. “Real estate is a business where your effort, intelligence and integrity affect your income. Speed of knowledge of properties is crucial given that we’ve been in a strong seller’s market. Many of my sales have occurred when my buyers have been amongst the first in the door. I think this is the wave of the future for other real estate sales people, The Internet and computerization grow exponentially every year and what is true today will not be true five years from now.”
He’s leading the way.
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