Jim Walberg of Pacific Union Talks Early Adoption of Technology in Real Estate, Published by Inman News

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1438289594EMERYVILLE, CA - Inman News published an interview with Jim Walberg of Pacific Union this week on the need for early adoption of technology in the real estate industry and how to stay on top of leads. The article, titled Jim Walberg: ‘If I don’t stay current with technology, my professional world will pass me by,’ touches on how important it is to keep up with modern technology and use it to the advantage of real estate agents, as well as some of the challenges technology introduces, and what specific apps and electronics he personally values. 

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The following is an excerpt from the interview:

What’s the biggest technology-related challenge you face today? How do you solve it?

The biggest tech challenge I face today is the speed of response required by our clientele and fellow colleagues. We are pretty good at getting back to any email, voicemail or text within minutes. However, it takes such discipline and focus to pull it off. We are still the ones who answer every call, email and text. At some point, we may need to delegate this off to an assistant because of the time drain that it creates every day. Stay tuned.

How do you feel technology is changing the real estate industry? Are these changes making the industry better or worse? Why?

Today’s technology is allowing consumers to be very informed about their options of purchasing a home. The consumer has access to as much information as a Realtor does (or more), and the Realtor has the MLS as the local information source. Also, the use of mobile devices has changed the world of property searches.

Both of these factors are for the good of the consumer. We are dealing with very informed potential buyers in the (San Francisco) Bay Area. And, having almost instant access to property information is also very good for our industry.

Do you consider yourself an early adopter of technology? Or do you wait to see what’s working for other people?

I would consider myself an early adopter of technology. My belief is that if I don’t stay current with technology, my professional world will pass me by.

To read the full interview, please visit www.inman.com/2015/07/30/jim-walberg-if-i-dont-stay-current-with-technology-my-professional-world-will-pass-me-by.

About Pacific Union

Pacific Union is the leading luxury real-estate brand in Northern California. For us, "luxury" is measured by the quality of our people and our service, not the price of a property. Whether you are buying or selling a home in the Bay Area, Pacific Union is committed to providing you an extraordinary experience. We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations at every turn, whether it's with our unparalleled neighborhood knowledge, our willingness to go the extra mile, or our unmatched professional expertise and experience. With 21 offices in the Greater Bay Area - more than any other independent real-estate firm - we offer a full range of personal and commercial real-estate services, including buying, selling, and relocation. In addition, our exclusive relationship with Christie's International Real Estate, the property division of the legendary auction house, enables us to market our sellers' properties to more buyers in more places than any other brand.