Today marks 27 years that I’ve been a REALTOR®. I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the big changes over the years. Here are a few:
MLS® Catalogues.
Yep, catalogues. Publications of listing information with ONE black and white thumbnail-size photo. Wait, it gets better. The catalogues were printed and delivered to brokerages every two weeks. Yes, that’s right … you had to wait two weeks to find out about a new listing.
Fax Machines.
Look, I don’t want to cause waves but if you’re still using a fax machine to transmit documents, come on! It’s 2022! The clarity of even the most expensive fax machines sucks at best. I got rid of our office fax number years ago.
SmartPhones.
I’m not talking about “car phones” here (those shoebox-sized contraptions) but those mobile devices that are used for more than making phone calls. According to Business Insider, people didn’t start using the term “smartphone” until 1995, but the first true smartphone made its debut three years earlier in 1992. It wasn’t until some years later though that smartphone became as necessary as having your vehicle in the real estate biz.
Interesting facts to note. Does anybody remember “BlackBerry?” The very first device to carry the BlackBerry name was BlackBerry 850, an email pager, released on January 19, 1999. And the first generation iPhone was announced on January 9, 2007.
Classified Advertising.
I don’t even want to calculate how many tens of thousands of dollars I’ve spent over the last 27 years on classified advertising. Just like I haven’t sent a fax in years, neither have I spent a dime advertising properties for sale in the newspaper. In 1995, the year that I entered the real estate business, 2% of buyers reported using the internet to search for a home. Today that number has reached 96%.
Electronic Signatures.
My absolute favourite change I’ve experienced in the last 27 years as a REALTOR® is an ability for buyers and sellers to sign agreements of purchase and sale electronically. This wasn’t a reality until July 1, 2015, however. With this change, agreements can be signed using a computer, tablet or smartphone. My clients have loved the ability to affix their signatures to contracts electronically anywhere thereby saving them time.
A lot has changed over the last 27 years but my love for the real estate business remains the same. You can get in touch with me by clicking here or calling my office at 519.586.7922.
(519) 586-7922
Our REALTORS®
Close
Register
Log in
Mortgage calculator
