The Center for REALTOR® Technology, which provides technology leadership, guidance, and assistance for National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)  members, recently released its "2008 Report - REALTOR® Technology Survey".

Not being a statistician, I don't understand how 942 completed surveys out of 40,000 extended can be enough of a response to be representative of the group. Having said that, the survey left me with more questions than answers and I'm hoping you, dear Blog Readers, will engage in a discussion of these questions the survey didn't address:

• Apparently 48% of respondents work more than 40 hours a week and the same percentage said they completed 1-10 real estate transaction sides in 2007. Dear Blog Readers - how are you working smarter than these respondents to yield better results for your efforts?
• 12% belong to an office where the broker doesn't provide technology, which begs the question, why do they stay?
• 53% said that the internet is "very important" in generating leads but the survey didn't expand on the point. I wish it had asked "How many listings and/or completed transactions can you attribute directly to your internet efforts, and please detail those efforts?" but since it didn't, I'll ask you.
• And while it wasn't the job of the survey to address this question, I find it interesting that 53% of respondents are over 50 years old. Are they thinking of retirement? What plans and strategies do they have in place fund their retirement and to secure their financial future and that of their families - what's their "exit strategy"? What's yours?

I look forward to your comments.

Susan Harrison
Sr VP Web Development
EXIT Realty Corp. International