As if it ever was, but these days knowing how to use technology is a requirement for real estate professionals.

Yet, in my daily travels I am constantly running into agents who tell me that they really don’t have a clue how to do even the most basic tasks.  Oh sure, they can operate email…AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail and maybe even their company’s Exchange server email via Outlook.

But ask them to get in to their email on any other computer other than their normal one and they are lost.

Ask them to right click, double click or drag and drop with a mouse and they are lost.

Ask them to open a browser window and they are lost.

And the list goes on. Why are so many agents proud of their technology ignorance?  I have no idea, unless it is a coping mechanism.

So, enough is enough.  You REALLY need to know how to do these things.  Why, you might ask?  Because the new generation of software and hardware requires it.  And even more important, the new generation of home buyers and sellers knows how to do these most simple of computer commands…and they expect that you will know it too.

You can’t hide behind the comment “my clients don’t do that” anymore because yes they do.

And while we are at it, why don’t you have a smart phone?  I don’t care if it is an Android, iPhone, Windows phone or whatever, but you need to be able to access the MLS, handle contract signings, show pictures, take pictures, take videos, calculate net sheets and on and on while on the go. Your clients don’t want to wait until you get back to the office.

If you are not able to create contracts online, create digital signings and use a transaction manager to it’s fullest you will not be able to compete in the near future.

The generation of people like you who are your clients is shrinking…and the generation of people who are fully comfortable with these most basic of technologies is growing.  If you can’t relate to this growing, technologically conversant (I’m not even claiming savvy for them, just conversant) how will you ever hope to find them let alone convince them to work with you?

I’ve collected a few links to help you get with the program.  Of course I realize that the people who need this post the most probably aren’t reading it.  So, if you have somebody in your office who could use this advice, please print this out for them!

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
These courses introduce you to some of your computer’s applications and how to use them. Plus, learn some basic Mac tasks, including installing and updating …

http://www.mouseprogram.com/
Practice using the mouse on your computer. Learn clicking, double clicking, moving,  and more.

http://www.mesalibrary.org/research/mouse/page01.htm
More mouse training.

http://www.internettutorials.net/ This website is gone…I guess everybody knows how to use the Internet now…
Tutorials on how to do things on the web.  Once you go through these you will know how to search the web to find more tutorials.

http://www.top-windows-tutorials.com/windows-8-2/
Tutorials to help you with Windows 8