Real Estate Technology Tip: Choosing a Computer Consultant that's Right for You
When it comes to computers and other real estate technology, most of you out there are on your own. It’s not that your broker doesn’t give you some support, but most of the realtors® I know just can’t wait 10 hours to get help from the one person who is burdened with providing tech support to 200 agents.
When you find yourself in need of a resident “techie” to help resolve those things that go bump in the night on your computer, here are some things to remember to make sure you choose the right consultant for you:
1. Personality is Key
You may not be a computer whiz, but if you sell real estate, you most likely are a people person. Listen to your gut and make sure you find someone with whom you feel comfortable. If your computer consultant is condescending, intimidating or not a good fit with your personality, show him or her the door – and the earlier the better.
A lack of communication is responsible for more computer mishaps (i.e. “Oh you didn’t say you needed that data.”) than Microsoft. Bottom line… find someone who you can easily communicate with.
2. No One is Perfect, Make Sure They Don’t Think They Are
As long as computers and computer software are made in the same way they currently are (which is not very well), problems will arise that even the most talented consultants have a hard time dealing with.
Beware those who guarantee “everything will be fine.” Guarantees are possible when you control every aspect of a situation. With computer hardware and software, that simply isn’t the case. In the computer world, things just happen… In the world of Microsoft Windows, for example, you can do the exact same thing twice and get two different results. That’s just the way it is (for now).
Don’t look for the consultant who says she can fix everything. Just look for the person who says she will work with you until you are happy. That’s a wise consultant.
3. Watch Out for the Quick Trigger Finger
This is important.
If you ever get someone in your office who starts clicking and tweaking before you’ve even stopped explaining what you would like, you have good cause to worry…
The mark of a good computer consultant isn’t someone who insists on you doing things the “right” way, but rather asks you how you want things to work and then helps you achieve a viable solution based on their input, expertise and experience.
It’s a bit like making that call into Hewlett Packard tech support and being told within the first ten minutes to pop in your “Restore” disc… You know, that disc that will set your computer back to the pristine condition it arrived in? That same disc that will erase all of your data with impunity? I just had it happen last week to a client.
That’s their way of doing things… you go through steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 – if they don’t work, step 5 is “the disc.” The disc is their “right” way of doing things, but it’s rarely the best thing for you and your business.
4. Hire a Consultant, not a Geek
I have nothing against computer geeks. After all, they make much of my business (and yours) possible because they are responsible for building the tools we use everyday. But there is a big difference between a geek and a consultant. A geek is great at fixing a computer. A consultant is great at helping you use your computer to move your business forward.
One type of person has great computer skills. The other has a combination of technology, business and problem solving skills. You and your business will win with the latter combination every time.
How do you tell the difference between the two?
Just listen to their questions. “Geeks” will ask about your “computer situation.” Consultants will ask about your business. That’s a clue.
5. If You Can, Go with a Referral… ALWAYS
When choosing a computer consultant, getting a referral from a trusted source is a smart way to go. It will save you from testing the waters with new blood. The trick is to ask for a referral before you need one. Now would be a good time to start in fact.
If you are in dire need of computer help and really have no one to turn to, you can try a computer consultant referral service like ComputerAssistant.com. Just a word of warning… Services like this tend to attract everyone from the most talented consultants to the most unemployed computer lovers, so tread carefully.
