Inman is interviewing real estate professionals in every area of the field to talk about technology use. Here’s Lauren Sugarman, an author, coach and thought leader for Internet marketing and online conversion funnels — and an Inman contributor.
Is your phone an iPhone, Android, Windows phone? What model? Why?
I own an iPhone 5s. I chose the iPhone because I use a Mac at work, and thus the platform is familiar to me and compatible with my laptop.
What are your top three apps on your phone?
Email, my MLS (multiple listing service) and Instagram.
How do you split your digital time: how much mobile, how much desktop?
I spend about 65 percent of my time on my laptop and 35 percent on my phone.
Describe your job. What do you do every day? How does technology support (or not support) your daily job description?
I am a Realtor in Los Angeles. I use technology in almost every aspect of my business: interacting with clients (email and social media), searching for homes (on the MLS) and signing documents (via DocuSign).
Do you consider yourself an early adopter of technology? Or do you wait to see what’s working for other people?
As a millennial, technology has always been a big part of my life, and I am constantly trying out and adapting new technology to fit my needs.
What’s the biggest technology-related challenge you face today? How do you solve it?
The prevalence of technology and digital communication (email, text messaging) makes it more challenging to garner face-to-face time with clients. Sitting in open houses and being social within the community is even more imperative in this era of digital communication.
How do you feel technology is changing the real estate industry? Are these changes making the industry better or worse? Why?
One of the biggest challenges facing the real estate industry is that people now use the Internet to search for homes, often looking at wrong information and changing the traditional role of a real estate agent. This is neither positive nor negative, but as agents, we must adapt to this change and prove our value in real estate transactions.
What email system(s) do you use? Which one is your favorite and why?
I use Gmail as both my email system and contact management system. I access it on all of my devices (iPad, iPhone and computer) as well as easily import my contacts into MailChimp (which I use for newsletters and e-blasts).
Do you use digital documents, which one? Why?
I use DocuSign for its ease of use, and the fact that I always have an electronic copy of my documents.
Do you own a camera? What kind? What do you like about it?
I use my iPhone for photos, and I sometimes attach lenses for high-def or landscape pics. I use an “Ollo clip.”
Which websites do you visit every day? Why?
I visit the MLS daily to look at recent sales and homes on the market. I also check Inman for the latest in all things real estate-related.
Which social media app do you use the most on your phone? Your tablet? Your computer?
The social media app I use the most on all of my devices is Hootsuite Pro, which I use to plan social media posts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, followed by Instagram and Google Plus.
Where do you get most of your leads: portals or other sources?
Most of my leads still come from referrals and word of mouth.
What is your favorite “unplugged” activity?
Reading and hiking are my favorite activities to “unplug.”
Read Lauren Sugarman’s article, “Social media do’s for 3 popular sites.“
Would you like to participate in Inman’s technology profile series? Email amber@inman.com.