Spring Perspectives: Technology

A few months ago, Windermere launched a new, refreshed version of our website. It was long overdue and we still have a ways to go, but getting to this point involved countless hours of discussions about how technology impacts real estate and everyday life. Through this process, we decided that many of us treat technology almost like a family member (albeit one that can feel entirely too co-dependent in some respects). It’s an easy pattern to fall into given how much technology has made our lives easier. We’re no longer forced to send letters through mail, schedule vacations through travel agents, shop in stores, or wait for photos to be developed. Technology has made it possible for us to do just about anything from behind the screen of a computer, iPad, or smart phone.

So, this got us thinking, we’ve certainly gained a lot through technology, but in the process has anything been lost? We actually miss getting letters the old fashioned way (thank you notes via email just aren’t the same). Booking travel online certainly has its conveniences, but let’s face it, now we do all the work. Shopping online is interactive and low-pressure, but until technology can tell you whether or not those jeans make you look fat, we’re still going to need department stores.

Our goal at Windermere is to bring you the best of both worlds. We hope our new website makes it easier for you to see what’s for sale and what sold six months ago, check out nearby restaurants and shops, review school data, chat with your agent, and post your favorites on Facebook. But even with all of that, we’re proud to be in a business that still relies upon the one thing that technology can’t replace: personal relationships. It’s the lifeblood of the real estate business and why clients entrust their agents with what is one of the biggest financial decisions they will ever make.

For the most part, technology has done more good than harm: it has reconnected us with old friends, allowed us to go to school online, and encouraged us to exercise. If technology continues to impact our lives at the same rate that it has in recent years, who knows where we’ll be in the next decade. Only time will tell, but in the meantime, we believe personal relationships are here to stay.