ERA Key Realty Services

The Digitalization of the Real Estate Industry: Is Tech Taking Over?

The following article, which quotes ERA Key President Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor, appeared this month in RISMedia.

The world of real estate is shifting. Is technology taking hold of an industry that was traditionally all about in-person interactions?

Relative to other occupations, real estate careers are low on the list of digitalization. According to a new report from the Brookings Institution, Digitalization and the American Workforce, real estate, including the rental and leasing segments, scored a 45 mean digital score in 2016. Scores range between 0 and 100, with those over 60 considered high digital occupations. But since 2002, the industry has made strides, with its score increasing by 19 points, up from 26.

While clients are still at the heart of the transaction for the majority of brokerages, other segments of the business have dramatically changed from just a few years ago. The digitalization of the industry is slowly progressing, and brokers and agents have different things to say about the benefits, challenges, opportunities and how to best adapt to a world run by tech. RISMedia spoke to three industry experts to gauge what their experience has been thus far, and where they see real estate tech going in the future.

Human at Heart
While viewpoints are mixed, they all share one similarity: Real estate will always need the human touch.

“Ultimately, when a consumer buys or sells a home, it’s one of the most emotional moments of their life,” says Mitch Robinson, chief marketing officer of eXp World Holdings. “For this, digitalization is not the key. Having a great local, personal advocate...

ERA Key Scavenger Hunt Raises More Than $3,000 for MDA

The Billerica team included, left to right, Billy (limo driver for A-Executive Limousine), Andrea Wickwire, Shelly Laffey, Deanna Malko and Maryanne Webster.

A scavenger hunt sponsored recently by four area offices of ERA Key Realty Services raised more than $3,000 with donations still coming in for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), said Lisa Luther, event coordinator.

ERA Key offices in Billerica, Chelmsford, Wilmington, Woburn joined together for the fundraiser. More than 40 people, including agents, and their family and friends, participated. Five teams traveled in limousines to various locations and sought team photo opportunities with the list of items or tasks. Each time an item was found or a task was completed, it was posted on a Facebook page created for the event.

Teams started at Kings Dining & Entertainment, 52 Second Ave., Burlington, and joined together for a buffet there after the scavenger hunt.

“The scavenger hunt was a fun way to raise money for an important cause, while building team camaraderie,” said Lisa, who is Branch Manager of ERA Key offices in North Billerica, Wilmington and Woburn. “We were fortunate to have generous sponsors and high participation among our agents. We look forward to having the event again next year.”

Event sponsors included DaMore Law (Peter DaMore), Burlington, diamond sponsor; McCaffery & McCaffery Law Office, Billerica, bronze sponsor; Aria Luther (David and Sue Luther contributed in their dog’s name), bronze sponsor, and one other anonymous bronze sponsor. Lane sponsors were DaMore Law, Team Blue from ERA Key’s Wilmington office (Team Leader Lori Penney, Tim Penney, Linda Ducharme, and Laurie Finne), New Fed Mortgage Corp. of Danvers, (Mary Mitchell) and an anonymous sponsor.

MDA National...

Brewing a Fundraiser for the MDA at CraftRoots

Agents from the Milford, Framingham and Whitinsville offices recently sold raffle tickets at CraftRoots Brewing in Milford to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).  Pictured are, left to right, Framingham Sales Manager Ali Corton, Milford Sales Manager Claudia Conte and Framingham agent Rob Fontaine.

Other events to raise funds for the MDA have also been taking place throughout ERA Key Realty Services.  The Framingham office has a goal of raising $5,000 this month and, to date, has raised $2,100.

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ERA Key Food Drive Collects 120 Bags of Food for Food Pantries

Agents from the Marlborough office of ERA Key Realty Services who participated in the agency’s recent food drive included, left to right, back row, Branch Manager Kevin Harris, Donna Coffin, Deanna Blais, Joyce Torelli and Donna Holmes; front row, Tracy McGrath with Peaches, Tami Dome, James Majors and Ryan Miner.

The Marlborough office of ERA Key Realty Services collected 120 bags of food for the Marlborough Community Cupboard and the Hudson Community Food Pantry during a food drive that ended Tuesday.

Marlborough agents used social media, direct mail and phone calls to people in their databases to notify area residents about the food drive. They also delivered empty “ERA Key Cares” canvas bags to those who expressed interest in participating and collected them when they were filled with food.

The bags are 13 inches tall, 13 inches wide and 10 inches deep, so each bag holds about 36 cans of food or the equivalent in boxes or jars.

“The persistence and enthusiasm our agents use to buy and sell homes for their clients also benefits them when they are involved with charitable causes,” said Branch Manager Kevin Harris. “Both organizations were expecting only a few bags of food, so when we showed up three vehicles deep and stocked their shelves with more than 60 bags of food, they were beyond grateful.”

Agents who participated in the food drive divided the bags between themselves and delivered them to the food pantries Tuesday. The food pantries help feed needy people throughout the Marlborough and Hudson area.

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Kamaron Washburn Joins ERA Key’s Northbridge Office

ERA Key Realty Services of Northbridge announced today that Kamaron Washburn of Blackstone has joined ERA Key’s Northbridge office as a Realtor.

Kamaronn has more than five years of experience as a Corrections Officer and worked as a line cook at King Street Café in Franklin. He was also a pastry chef for Twelve Fine Food & Spirits, Bellingham; a line chef for Whole Foods Market, Bellingham, and a pastry chef for Let’s Eat, Inc. (3 Restaurant), Franklin.Kmaron Washburn

He has also been an assistant manager for Dunkin’ Donuts in Bellingham, in addition to working in the construction industry. He has won cooking awards from the National Restaurant Association’s ProStart program and from SkillsUSA.

He studied culinary arts at the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in Franklin and criminal justice at the Community College of Rhode Island, Warwick.

“I was attracted to ERA Key because of the agency’s reputation and the training ERA Key provides its agents,” Kamaron said. “It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to my new career in real estate.”

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