All businesses and industries have felt the effects of electronics. Commercial real estate, selling and buying, is no exception. As with all operational and procedural changes, there are plusses, minuses, up-and-downsides, and problems adjusting.
Few would question the positive aspects of accurate recall, efficient calculation or plain and simple speed. But, none of those benefits can be fully embraced and exploited in the absence of specific and relevant training, diligent practice, appropriate program and application choices and conscientious upgrading. With those disciplines on track — and perceived as essential — the impacts of electronics on the commercial real estate industry are positive and immense.
In today’s marketplace, the entire process of a buyer or a seller’s search for the right commercial property may easily begin conveniently in the privacy and comfort of home or office and one’s computer. Online listings — showcased through attractive websites — offer buyers and sellers the opportunity to explore specific market regions and inventories in advance of selecting their professional commercial real estate agent and getting down to the nitty-gritty.
Today’s successful commercial real estate agents come fully equipped with highly specific electronic applications and programs. With that contemporary capability, they easily access multiple inventories, instantly retrieve the specifics of those inventories and nearly immediately present client prospects with on-target relevant choices. (CAD (Computer Assisted Design) programs can take you onscreen for virtual walk-throughs of a prospective Commercial site— without leaving the office.)
Make no mistake. Paper, pens, pencils, good old-fashioned footwork and person-to-person relationships have not been crowded off the competitive playing field. It’s a case of “and,” not “either-or.” The electronic revolution in business promotion, marketing, operations, procedures, and functionality has raised the ante on all aspects of performance and success. It’s done it — in part — by zeroing in on marrying practicality with efficiency.
Remember the adage “time is money?” Who among us does not know one or more individuals in business who hated “wasting time” on the housekeeping end of things? You know, those endless hours massaging the paperwork, posting and calculating by hand and painstakingly generating reports? In the case of commercial real estate’s operational functions, hours once spent generating manual listings, adjusting inventories, tracking and reviewing descriptions, pricing, etc., is now accomplished with innovative programs and the touch of a key.
Communication is the concept that often makes the final difference —be it marketing and promotion, negotiations or wrapping things up to a satisfactory closing. With the remarkable and innovative benefits of email, website development, various social media, and hand-held computers, maintaining excellent connections with buyers and sellers cannot compare to even a mere twenty years ago. Add in texting, automatic electronic follow-ups and a dozen other ways to stay on top of client maintenance, and it’s easy to count benefits.
Your professional commercial real estate agent has all the latest (and some of the historical) best tools on hand, with your best interest in mind.
Jim Magliulo is a Lake County commercial real estate agent and can be contacted at 707-263-5729 or jim@countryair.com. You can also view his website at www.countryaircommercial.com
