Internet generates nearly half of Realtors' new clients

Nearly half — 44 percent — of a Realtors' business originates from the Internet, a recent survey conducted by the California Association of Realtors reported recently.

That is up dramatically from the 19 percent Internet generated business reported in the 2003, the first year C.A.R. conducted the annual “Use of Technology Survey,”

“Realtors are striving to meet the demands of their clientele by delivering an unmatched customer experience, stay on the technological cutting edge … and offer second-generation Internet resources and software tools,” said C.A.R. President Colleen Badagliacco. Staying current will "offer an opportunity for greater productivity and efficiency in the real estate transaction and contribute to the value Realtors add to the real estate transaction.”

Realtors also are turning to high-tech instruments such as handheld Internet devices, e-mail, and Web sites to communicate with their clients. With 25 percent of Realtors using their handheld wireless Internet device “all the time,” 28 percent of respondents said they answered clients’ e-mails instantly and another 36 percent within 30 minutes to one hour.

Additional survey highlights include:

• 97 percent of Realtors have a high-speed Internet connection at home.

• 27 percent use a laptop or tablet computer in the field primarily to conduct listing presentations.

• 20 percent indicated that a new computer was their most important business upgrade in the last 12 months, followed by a hands-free phone at 19 percent and handheld Internet device at 13 percent.

• 87 percent find the Internet extremely or very important in the marketing and promotion of their business, up from 69 percent one year earlier.

• 9 percent of Realtors say they participate in online real estate forums or blogs.