High-tech crosses boundaries
In the real estate realm, Randy Thomas thinks his crew – Team Thomas at Murney Associates – is abnormal, at least when it comes to using technology.
“About 90 percent of the business our group does is through the Internet,” he said.
And Thomas is adding new tools to his arsenal in order to navigate the digital marketplace.
About seven months ago, Thomas spent an undisclosed amount on 417 area code marketing rights for Houston, Tex.-based Text My MLS, a service that allows potential homebuyers the opportunity to request homes’ listing information, including photos, via text message.
“What we run into when we’re selling houses is that the sellers want to give instant information to the buyers,” Thomas said. “This way, that information goes straight to the buyer’s cell phone. They don’t have to wait until they’re in front of a computer.”
Agents who participate in Text My MLS provide a text number on their signs at available properties, said Thomas, who estimates that five text requests come in weekly for each of his listings. He also attributes at least three home sales directly to the text service.
So far, Thomas has signed on seven other agents – all from Murney – to use Text My MLS. He said there are several different plans, but the most popular is 10 reusable MLS codes for $99 a year.
Thomas’ team also uses a their own Free iPhone app to get information to buyers quickly, he said, noting that users can draw a map over an area they’re interested in and find available homes within that range. Or, if they’re driving in a neighborhood they like, they can use the app and their phones’ global positioning systems to pull up nearby listings.
The iPhone App is available directly from Apple iTunes or from the Team Thomas website, at www.Team-Thomas.com