Sound Off What tech do you need for real estate?

A: Real estate today moves at the speed of information. This is especially true in San Francisco’s market, where both buyers and sellers are connected and on the go. To serve clients, success requires me to be fast and available.

Properties hit the Multiple Listing Service or are updated at all times of the day. Clients need to be aware of these changes as they happen. But I am not behind a desk. I’m in the city evaluating properties or neighborhoods with clients. A smartphone allows me to stay on top of changes.

Also, the advantage belongs to the person with clear command of the most relevant information. That may include square feet, number of bedrooms and days on market. There is so much more information, and smart agents and their clients know how to use this to their advantage.

My phone surpasses the most powerful desktop systems of 10 years ago, and I can find the smallest details about a property, including tax records, owner histories and comparable sales.

Finally, this is a customer service business, and my phone allows me to stay in contact with my client.

Jen Chang, Vanguard Properties, 415-900-4495, jenchangsf@gmail.com. A: As a new Realtor in 1990, I argued we didn’t need to acquire an office fax machine. I took the Luddite stance that it was better to write offers in ink, drive them across town and deliver them in person. (Within six months, I had a home fax machine.)

I now embrace new technology like a nonchalant Millennial. But if asked to pick my desert-island essential, I’ll grab my phone. Not because it’s smart but because the clarity and warmth of voice contact can’t be typed.

We Realtors rely too heavily on emails and texts. They’re often efficient, but they depersonalize a personal enterprise and can impair complex communications.

Just today, my texting with a painter, a plumber and a homeowner quickly disintegrated into chaos. So instead I called each of them and the wall behind the new toilet got painted in time for photography. Thank you, Mr. Alexander Graham Bell.

Cynthia Cummins, Kindred SF Homes,

415-713-8008, cynthia@kindredsfhomes.com. A: I’ve tried more than a few tech tools during 20 years of successfully delivering property transactions.

These are my top four at the moment:

 My XSMax iPhone: This lets me communicate with clients in the most expeditious manner possible and helps me get so much done with the right software tools and apps.

 DisclosureIO: This software provides an easy way to prepare, share and manage disclosure packages.

 Docusign: This technology is invaluable to letting people digitally sign documents on the go in a market where home sales average 10 days to go into contract.

 Supra-Ekey: This cuttingedge electronic lockbox system offers easy monitoring, alerts and listings tools.

Teresa Baum,

Compass, 510-219-3404, teresa.baum@compass.com.