Why I'm buying an iPad
Realtor Notebook
By Teresa Boardman, Thursday, March 25, 2010.
Flickr photo by rego.I have been reading about how the iPad will revolutionize the real estate industry. Some of the legions of consultants and coaches who work in the real estate industry consider it a must-have for Realtors.
They don't write real estate contracts, so from their point of view it is "the bomb."
My iPad has been ordered and it will be the first time in my life that I have spent money on a product that I have never seen and one that I don't need. When the personal computer was invented, it was considered an invention that had no purpose -- but it changed everything.
You might say I am a virtual Realtor. I have everything I need with me to do anything from anywhere right in my bag; it all weighs less than four pounds. When my iPad arrives, my bag will be 1.5 pounds heavier.
My netbook does it all. I have Skype on it; it has a built-in Web cam; I watch movies from Netflix; I use Kindle for PC and have some books, magazines and a geeky manual or two on it; and I can write real estate contracts and access the multiple listing service -- all at the same time, if I want to.
The netbook weighs twice as much as the iPad and costs half as much, does more, has more storage space, can be used to write real estate contracts, and the Internet access is free through my unlimited data plan on a 3G network, by tethering it to my BlackBerry Bold.
I get data for two devices for the same price that AT&T will charge for an iPad data plan. I have unlimited everything on my current phone plan and it is inexpensive.
If the iPad is as easy to use as the iPhone and the Macintosh computer, it will change people's lives -- but by now you must be wondering why I am taking the plunge and buying an unknown, untested product that is expensive and that I have no use for.
The iPad may revolutionize real estate for me because I don't have an iPhone and it gives me access to the apps that many of my clients use. The iPad will be my gateway to iPhone apps, and I can't ignore the cool factor.
Sexy is a better word for it. My clients love my netbook, but I think they will like the iPad even more. ...CONTINUED
All rights reserved. This article may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of Inman News. Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright law.
You must login or register to post a comment.
Submitted by Ruthmarie Hicks on March 25, 2010 - 9:27am.
Hi Teresa,
I'm all Mac here in NY. iPhone, Mac-Pro laptop- and I'm very excited about the iPad - but I will be waiting for a while. Part of that is budgetary and the rest is that I generally wait for the second generation to come out before I purchase. Since you are an amazing photographer, you will find iPhoto a very fun place to store your pictures. You can create "events" and file them away easily. I have my neighborhood photos categorized by zip code/ municipality and subdivision/complex. Being as portable as it is, you might be able to show photos of an area prior to taking your buyer there. It's also a nice way to show what you do for listings in terms of photography. I bring my laptop to listing presentations and show what I do. It seems to make an impression..and I'm not nearly the photographer that you are.
Submitted by Rick Bonetti on March 25, 2010 - 10:31am.
I agree with you 100% Teresa. Can't wait for April 3rd.
Rick Bonetti
Alain Pinel Realtors
Saratoga, CA 95070
www.SaratogaVoice.com
mailto:rbonetti@apr.com
408-857-8800 (cell/VM)
DRE #01237009
Submitted by Richard Silver on March 25, 2010 - 11:40am.
I cannot wait to get mine....I expect lots of tips and tricks from you!
Richard Silver, Sales Representative
BOSLEY REAL ESTATE LTD. BROKERAGE
mail@richardsilver.com
416-322-8000
Cell 416-587-3300
www.RichardSilver.com
www.Torontoism.com
Submitted by Mike Parker on March 25, 2010 - 11:53am.
Mike Parker
mparker@theblackwatercg.com
I saw this in the NYT this morning. Hope it doesn't affect your plans.
SAN FRANCISCO — Jezper Söderlund, a music producer in Gothenburg, Sweden, was thrilled to receive a one-word e-mail message earlier this month.
The word was “no.”
The sender of the e-mail message was perhaps the most famous businessman in the world, Steven P. Jobs, chief executive of Apple.
Mr. Söderlund had written to Mr. Jobs asking if he would be able to link his iPhone’s data service to the forthcoming iPad. Mr. Jobs wrote back within 30 minutes, and though the reply was perfunctory,
Submitted by Josh Dart on March 25, 2010 - 12:05pm.
I agree that is tablet is worth having, I do however thing there are better options. With MANY vendors coming out this year with a tablet, you'll have some selection of hardware, operating systems, and software. I think the iPad is great, but I think the Moby by Marvell is better.
Why would I pay $600 for a 3G iPad when I could get a $100 Marvell Tablet that will run Google's Android? I have an iPhone so why would I want an iPad? With the Moby, the video will be better, and it will most likely run faster as well. If I didn't have an iPhone then an iPad would be a great choice. Since video will be an important feature for me, I want something that is more open and forgiving with video formats than Apple. For $100, you can throw one in your car and let your buyers use one during the tour. You could sync 2 together and share screens. While it's not decided YET, they have run a prototype with Windows Mobile on it, which means you could use it with the MLS (big PLUS).
I'd use the (any) tablet for Listing Presentations, Open Houses, Buyer Consultations, Previewing, and Buyer Tours. Why take a notebook and paper, when for $100 you can have a "Moby". If I break it I won't cry, because it's ONLY $100. It's too cheap not to get one. 25 reams of paper or a tablet?
http://armdevices.net/2010/03/18/marvell-announces-99-moby-tablet-to-rev...
Submitted by Josh Dart on March 25, 2010 - 12:08pm.
I forgot to mention...it will run Adobe FLASH & Flex, 3D, have HDMI out, and do gaming...with the iPad - you can read a book...oh the with the Moby - "I'll have an app for that"...
Submitted by Rose La Pira on March 25, 2010 - 1:41pm.
I'm ready to order one as well. Which one is everyone ordering? Is the $499 sufficient for all Real Estate?
I'm also a Blackberry user and will get the IPhone as soon as Verizon supports it....Very soon.
Submitted by Bernice Ross on March 25, 2010 - 1:58pm.
Bernice Ross, CEO of www.RealEstateCoach.com, home of this year's number #1 selling book at NAR--Real Estate Dough--Your Recipe for Real Estate Success
I bought my first tablet about 5 years ago. Coupled with the VREO tablet package, it was awesome. It read my handwriting and turned into Word docs, I could write on presentations, clients could sign docs--it was really great. I bought a Mac Book Pro and and iPhone a year ago. Love the functionality of my iPhone. The Macbook is awesome but the learning curve was a pain. (I suggest you dump your windows keyboard and get a Mac keyboard so you're not trying to fight the PC commands that you normally would do by habit. Also be sure to sign up for the Apple 1;1--they are unbelievably helpful and so much better than dealing with the endless loop of overseas customer support)
As I understand it, iPad does not have the signature functionality that you need to be totally mobile. Since the final version isn't out, I would hold off to see if that will be there.
I thought about getting the IPad because I travel so much and am tired of lugging multiple books to read on airplanes. I ended up with the Nook--it navigates like my iPhone, but has the easier to read screen that doesn't fatigue your eyes. (It also has access to a million free books.) I also discovered there are apps for Free Books that you can read on your iPhone. (Great for waiting in lines or when you don't want to carry your reader with you.) Other than doing presentations and writing articles, I can do everything I need to do on my phone. BTW, agree with Teresa about the coolness factor, but a true tablet is more cool because there aren't that many out there. My two cents worth
Submitted by Teresa Boardman on March 25, 2010 - 3:05pm.
Mike - it doesn't matter I don't have an iPhone. I will need a Separate data plan.
Bernice - I keep my books on my netbook. Never heard of a nook. Just looked at it, kind of cool. We have software for electronic signatures and in Minnesota they will accept electronic signatures and that eliminates the need for a touch pad or screen just for signatures.
Submitted by Wayne Harriman on March 25, 2010 - 4:05pm.
I'm not exactly what you'd call an Apple fanboy, having used Windows products since, oh, about the Dawn of Time; however, if Cupertino were to come out with a "Realtor Bundle" that included all the cool tools for Realtors in a box, linked up and synched up, for a suitably cool price that didn't require a second mortgage, I might be persuaded to switch. Of course, they'd all have to run on Verizon, as AT&T is too close to the Dark Side even for my Vader-like disposition. It will be interesting to see if anyone does do a Realtor Bundle...a "Virtual Agent in a Box", just unpack, boot up, and hit the highway. Makes me dizzy thinking about it...
Submitted by Barrett Powell on March 25, 2010 - 4:41pm.
I purchased my first Apple portable back in 1995. Yep, the original Apple notebook computer. Used it for years. I found it a couple of years ago. It still works!
Unfortunately I live and work in an area of the country that is behind many other parts, technologically. I sit on my local board’s technology committee, but this is usually no more than rubber stamping what the "Powers that Be" have decided is best for the membership.
This week they invited us in to do stress testing on the new website. All the testing was done in the associations training room on their desktop computers running...you guessed it, Microsoft Explorer 8 (I'm already beta testing 9).
Not to be denied, I fired up my laptop I had brought along and pulled up Safari to see how things looked to the rest of the world. Not to my surprise, the site showed signs of OROME (Only Runs On Microsoft Explorer).
(Sign)...even if it were in my budget.
Barrett Powell, Owner/Broker/Consultant
Southern Advantage Companies
RSA Software & Consulting
288 East Street, PO Box 1427
Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312
http://www.REMAXChatham.com
http://wbarrettpowell.wordpress.com
barrett.powell - Skype
wbarrettpowell@gmail.com
Submitted by Chris Freeman on March 26, 2010 - 8:44am.
T,
I'm sure I speak for many when I say that we are patiently waiting for your review of the iPad once you've had a chance to take it around the block a few times.
The rationalization you made for purchasing one sounds very reasonable. It certainly makes sense to step into your clients' shoes to see what their iPhone/iPad experience is like so you can view what they are seeing from their vantage point.
Chris Freeman
Chief Technology Officer
WOLFNET www.wolfnet.com
Submitted by Missy Caulk on April 4, 2010 - 5:54am.
Did you get it? I am waiting for some folks like you have not done the Iphone to review it. But, I want it for the same reasons as you the apps for Real Estate.
Missy Caulk
Ann Arbor, MI
Missy@MissyCaulk.com
www.AnnArborRealEstateTalk.com
www.SearchAnnArborHouses.com
Submitted by jim canion on April 7, 2010 - 5:47pm.
Jim Canion ,Co-Founder
http://www.connectrealty.com
Not sure you can use your 3G hookup on early version; like to hear your comments.
Jim Canion