The surge in available tech tools for real estate professionals has made many aspects of the job easier. That doesn't mean that technology on-the-go is free of drawbacks. Point2 settled down with Liz Alexander of Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Metro East to discuss a few of the perks and pricks of mobile technology on real estate professionals.

Advantages

Alexander has enjoyed a career in real estate for eleven years, witnessing fluctuations in the market and the passing of numerous trends. Overall, the use of mobile technology has positively influenced where and how business takes place. "Mobile technology has been huge in this industry," says Alexander. "With smartphones and tablets, it's so much easier for us to be mobile and not confined to an office computer."

Mobile technology saves time. Mobile devices allow agents to take photos and videos of properties in a snap; we can instantly upload these resources to our websites or send them directly to clients. Once viewed by the house hunters, agents know immediately which homes we can skip and which we should take the house hunters to in person. Such priceless tools appeal to out-of-town or busy clients who don't have time to tour a slew of homes.

Mobile technology helps clients to set realistic expectations. It's tough when clients come to the agent with a laundry list of must-haves and a modest budget. Mobile technology allows agents and clients to pull up properties on-demand, seeing what is feasibly available in an area, at their specific price point, in real time. Such resources can help clients adjust their expectations and build trust with the agent.

There are hundreds of apps for real estate agents. Stay on top of your game with instant floor plan scanners, real estate and architectural dictionaries, property info archives, auto-signatures and so much more. Doing business on-the-go is faster and more convenient than ever.

Lastly, the ease of access provided by mobile technology can save a deal. "We had been waiting forever at a closing and at the last minute they wanted to shut the file down because someone in the lender's department lost a termite letter. My client was nearly in tears," Alexander says. Fortunately, Alexander had an electronic copy of every document needed accessible on her iPhone. "I pulled it up, emailed the letter to the closing attorney and—poof!—we closed." Storing important documents on a portable flash drive, the cloud or online storage can make the difference between closing a deal and losing a deal.

Drawbacks

Listing sites have made some agents' jobs more challenging by giving consumers 24-hour access to information that is not always accurate or clear. "Consumers can now look on these sites and find homes. However, we agents call the listing agents to find that the homes are already in pending approval status by a third party," Alexander says. It can be difficult to explain to clients that the home is not available when a supposedly reliable website says otherwise. Many sites are created for real estate professionals, assuming a certain understanding of the industry. Unfortunately, consumers access this information without the proper understanding, causing confusion.

In addition to continually changing real estate law and protocol, real estate professionals now have to keep up with the latest advancements in mobile resources and technology. Tech savvy agents have the competitive edge due to easy access, up-to-date information and fast turnarounds; REALTORS® without access to mobile tech tools will get left in the dust.

What are a few benefits and disadvantages to mobile technology that you've experienced?

To view the original article, visit the Point2 Agent blog.