Effective Comox Valley real estate communications are vital to the home buying process. The introduction of “smart phone” technology in the early 1990s brought with it new levels of technology for the general public. At the time “smart phones” were considered to be mobile phones with more computing capability than regular phones. Technological levels were elevated even more with the introduction of the I-phone in 2007. Like many others, Comox Valley real estate home buyers are able to use these revolutionary phones to call, email, and text from the same hand held mobile device. Even though we can do much more with their new mobile phones, not all features represented benefits. Why?
As with all technology, there are advantages and disadvantages. Being able to easily and nearly instantly connect with Comox Valley friends and others across the country and the world is seen by many people as an advantage. However, there are some disadvantages. One of the most significant is the creation of expectations that in many situations cannot be met. Merely having a phone that gives us the capability to call, text or email someone does not mean that the person on the other end will answer right away. The person may not have their phone on them. The phone may not be turned on. The person may be involved in an activity or sport and not have access to their phone. The person may not want to be disturbed. There are many other reasons why you may not get an immediate response to your text. Sending an email to someone in the Comox Valley is similar. If there is a lack of a response to an email or text you generally will not know why unless, in the case of an email, the email system is set to reply with an “out of office” response. When you phone someone, the result can be the same. You may or may not get an answering service message and be able to leave a message.
Let’s consider this in a Comox Valley real estate business setting. Let’s say you are working with a Comox Valley realtor and you are looking at options to buy a Comox dream home. Sending a text to your agent can be done easily and quickly. A response may come back quickly but then again it may not and you may or may not know why. The agent may be tied up with other clients and not want to disrupt them by responding to your text out of courtesy to the people that he/she is dealing with. The response may require some investigation by the agent in order to provide you with a reply. The response may require coordination with other people in order to obtain the other information or to coordinate an appointment that may be required.
As with most other business owners, Comox Valley real estate agents must deal with many different aspects of their business in order to be effective in business, and to stay in business. Marketing, finances, paying bills, coordinating services provided by third parties, dealing with other professionals such as home inspectors, mortgage officers and many others is just part of any business day. While Comox Valley real estate clients are very important, they are not the only people that Comox Valley realtors must deal with on a daily basis during the course of any business day. As well, like everyone else, these agents have families and friends that they wish to spend time with.
The next time you send a text or email to your Comox Valley realtor at 11pm at night or on a Sunday and you do not get an immediate reply, do not feel offended. While technology has enabled nearly immediate Comox Valley real estate communications, the expectation of an immediate reply should be tempered. A close friend may reply to your late night text but a business owner may not. Business have published hours to deal with customers and clients and they are often doing other business related things outside of these hours. They also have to find time for their family and friends outside of business hours as well. Clients and customers keep businesses in business. A work-life balance helps keep people healthy. Without health, business owners will not be in business.
There is nothing wrong with sending an email or text at any time of the day or night. When you do outside of normal business hours just do not expect an immediate reply unless you have previously coordinate a response with the person who must do the work or provide the information.