Communication is deemed effective in my opinion when it is mutually agreed upon.  Regardless of age - "farts" come in many varieties as do real people and real situations.  

I say that only because younger people HATE talking and I want them to know they can text this old lady. Also because I get my texts immediately and only check my VM once a day.

ALSO, I'm the Seller's agent on a sale with no Buyer Agent for the Buyer. The Buyer is a PUSHY BRAT and I often find myself wanting to hang up on her, so I'll only talk to her via text 

Call me anytime.  I love TALKING BUSINESS.  

I've found many younger people (20-30) don't bother with voice mail. They try calling and if you don't answer, they just hang up. Then they'll text. Or just wait for you to call them back. 

Interesting.

I am all for talking eyeball to eyeball, come on over, I will make some coffee.

I hear this all the time.  Just leave me a message but for a faster response text me.   I prefer a conversation. Text messages can sometimes be misunderstood.  I feel better when I just say it.  High Tech is here to stay.

I have researched texting and calling during purposed open houses.

The active buyer and buyer/seller OVERWHELMING stated they prefer texting. 

I think it worthwhile to actually explore 'texting' as it applies to those who overwhelmingly stated they PREFER texting.

I once had someone share that eye-ball-to-eye-ball was the equivalent of a stare down. (did not know how to act with eye contact) Those less comfortable with direct contact are taking THE action that every human takes to avoid one emotion.

Be aware, real estate agents who use this tactic get the thing they value most....the callers mobile number....and that is gold.

Just got text spammed by a 'REALOGY' agent who apparently is spaming every number they have to see if something will float to the top.

I agree. I cannot tell you how many times I see agents complaining that they can't communicate, yet they refuse to have a simple conversation. One phone call can address all the questions instead of texting back and forth 10 times.

I think newer agents are taught to get everything in writing, so texts are easy to save. But they can be confusing as well.

Just go with the flow

Clients prefer texts - they're nearly immediately responded to, whereas voice mail takes much longer to get a response. Everyone can answer a text, even if they're in a meeting.

John,

I just wrote a post about that last week.  I think we all (young and old farts) understimate our biggest asset, which is the human touch.  A

I like face to face or at least a phone call.  All this texting, messaging, etc is a mess.

I'm "old school" but it's easier to text agents....  potential clients would be face to face....  

I prefer the human voice myself but I'm well aware that it's become a thing of the past except for us romantics John DL Arendsen . I myself do far more texting then visiting these days.

All forms work for all forms.

You have to adjust with the consumer preferences.

Best advice is to ask which form of communication do they prefer.

Seems like you are on to the norm here, John!

VM you say! Most just leave a text and want one in return! Thought it was a telephone?

I don't say for a faster response people can ext me, but do offer it. I sometimes find that those who say this are not necessarily any better about returning a text more readily

Yes, I prefer messages.

I prefer to talk , but I'm ok with texts or emails. 

In my phone there are a few phrases I reply if I cannot talk and will call back as soon I can.

I love talking to anyone and everyone!  

When I get a text, I get an alert. So I usually check it.

If I get a voice mail, it depends on whether or not I heard the phone ring so I know it is there. Sometimes I don't check VM. But I do check them and I do call back.

I hate it when I get the robot voice that tells me that the VM has not been set up or the mail box if full.

There are many situations where texts and/or email are better. In a training, at a funeral or wedding, driving,at misc appointments, etc. I was at county health dept Friday, and they require cell phones to be turned off or put on vibrate. I can't always hear or feel the vibrating, but can look at my phone and see if a text came in. There is more than one way to effectively communicate with others.

I'm afraid the jury is in .... maybe you are an ole fart? Meanwhile, technology is running you over instead of maybe saving you time & energy.

I never ask anyone to text me for a faster response time. I don't discriminate in my response time based on how the message arrived... phone, voice mail, text, email.

Many days most of my time is spent talking with people. I logged 4 hours on the phone yesterday with 3 different clients.  High touch for me as well ... from one old fart to another. 

I believe that 90% of my communication( and not just business) is via texts and emails. I have no issues with a live/phone conversation, but having a written trail of a thread is very beneficial and extremely convenient. 

This tells me they're just too lazy to listen to their voicemail messages!

Seriously, it tells me I'm going to have to hunt then down every time I need them.

I don't do that.  If I call, I'll leave a message I'm not going to hang up and text.  TextS have no guarantee of service and may never show up!

The more high tech communication tools we get the less communication actually takes place. In my opinion the personal cell phone and it's 24/7 part of people's lives has resulted in too much "enforced" communication to the point that people don't answer their phone any more as a way to only have the conversations they want to have.

I cringe when I see a VM   People tend to drone on and on in love with the sound of their own voice, or worse speak in sloooow motion.  As I'm listening I'm silently screaming "Why God why?!"     I'm also of the school of keeping a papertrail and for that reason alone, try to encourage texts or at least emails.

Thankfully, my clients are the same as me and love to text; even those in their 80's !! 

I see nothing wrong with that. Quite often when I am somewhere I can't answer the phone, I can respond by text! I am not 74, I am close, and I prefer face to face. Sometimes face to face isnot possible. I want to respond ASAP in any way possible!

Texts can be quick but a phone or face to face conversation is best.

We are hearing this more and more on vm.

The ways that work are numerous. What is important is we find them