July/August 2002 - Tech Users Committee

Richard Hunter, Chair Tech Users Committee   Addressing Technology Tools & Accessories that help Realtors® stay in business

When it was first established, the Technology Users Committee (TUC) had a “reputation” as the “computer nerd” brigade. Today, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Our meetings range from detailed discussions of Tempo issues to digital cameras, high-tech homes, and Internet web sites.

One issue I need to make very clear now that our MLS has become such a hot topic: The Technology Users Committee is not the place for Tempo questions or issues. We have an MLS Committee ably chaired by Chris Reese. That Committee is responsible for categorizing and prioritizing Tempo issues and problems. In addition, the Board Staff is doing a fine job of training and working through the conversion.

For 2002, the only thing the members of the Technology Users Committee have in common is their membership on the Committee. The TUC-2002 members range in age from early 20's to late 60's. Their experience ranges from close to zero to over 45 years. When looked at as a whole, it is a pretty solid cross section of our membership. As such, it brings home the fact that “technology” is not some mysterious holy grail, but simply an additional group of tools and accessories to help a Realtor® stay in business.

There is no way any Realtor® should be chasing the ultimate PC, the bazillion megapixel digital camera, or any other top-end technology. Just as we see very, very few Realtors® driving clients around in a Rolls Royce or Ferrari, there is no reason to consider a top-of-the-line PC, digital camera, or any other item of current technology as a mandatory need.

Do you even need anything? Probably not, but like the Realtor® in 1920 that stayed with the horse and buggy rather than buy his (or her) first automobile, there is a practical question of obsolescence.

As a Microsoft Authorized System Builder, I see several hundred new products every month. If I try to stay at the cutting edge and get the newest, biggest, fastest “thing” it would be a close call to see whether we went broke or crazy first! My criteria is to answer five questions:
   1. Do I really need this “thing”?
   2. Will it help me do my job better?
   3. Will it be easy to use? (Do I need to become an expert in another profession just to use it?)
   4. Will I actually use it?

After that set of questions, I also ask myself if this “thing” is cost effective. Some time ago I sat down and worked through my variation of the Bankers mantra, “The time value of money” and came up with my own “money value of time”. In simple terms, I went through my income, expenses and time spent, to calculate the value of an hour and finally the value of a minute of my time. It is interesting to then apply that cost to whatever “thing” you are trying to evaluate/justify.

And, now for the final question:
   5. Do I save or spend time with this “thing” and over a month or year, what is that real cost?

If something can save me 5 minutes a day, times 365 days a year, times (n) cents/dollars a minute, I'm interested! If it is going to cost me even an extra minute a day, it gets expensive!

By this logic, a digital camera almost becomes a “no-brainer”. Just saving 10 minutes a roll dropping and picking up film/prints becomes a major part of the justification. On the other side, I place the learning curve of a different camera technique and getting use from the pictures. On the plus side again, moving a picture into Tempo is so easy and quick that time savings also counts!

Also, I would not recommend the bottom of the price line. My experience with low-cost anything is that you do, indeed, get what you pay for. Using my 5-questions, the low end cameras get eliminated since they do not do a “better job” than the quality of pictures you get from even a cheap snapshot camera. Again, using my 1920's analogy, I would not be recommending a circa 1920 bicycle as an upgrade to the horse-and-buggy.

This logic also applies to upgrading a PC. I rarely upgrade my systems because the cost of the upgrade rarely comes up as a positive benefit. (Sadly, there is no way to really justify that Ferrari!)

Using those questions can also help you prioritize your Technology purchasing. Just remember, you never, never “need” a new piece of technology. A PC never closed a deal, a digital camera never signed a listing form, and they never will. A Palm Pilot may help you remember a listing appointment, but it didn't get it for you!

Finally, the 2002 Technology Users Committee's meetings are open to anyone within the capacity of our facility. Our meetings for the remainder of 2002 will be discussing Web sites, Personal Digital Assistants, PC technology and several other topics. Feel free to contact the members of the committee if you would like to see and hear other product discussions.