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David Barr (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty)

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Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I am self-taught, as well. If I have a minute, I'm always happy to help. But I don't see helping someone as giving them an excuse not to think for themselves.

Nov 21, 2015 08:14 PM
Rainmaker
1,661,936
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good grief..... Your question just reminded me that I was 'suppose' to go help my Mom get her email working AGAIN.  

Nov 21, 2015 10:22 AM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

David, that assumes they know what Google is.  

Oh!  And you better watch the "elderly" stuff around here!  Lots of geezers are sitting toward the top of the ActiveRain leaderboard!

Nov 21, 2015 10:07 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

My Dad is 86 and he uses Google!

Nov 21, 2015 11:44 PM
Rainmaker
530,966
Gary Coles (International Referrals)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

I would not refer them to something that they probably can not use for help  -- I would not want someone to treat me that way.  And I know many people much younger who are computer illiterate.

I would however ask them to respect my time since I will be doing a big favor for them.

Nov 21, 2015 09:06 AM
Ambassador
6,393,494
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Depends on whether you want this fellow to like you or help you ever again

Nov 21, 2015 08:57 AM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

First do they have to be elderly? I learned how to use Google a long time ago and help "people" almost everyday with it.

Nov 21, 2015 07:49 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I would show them how to solve issues using google...

Nov 21, 2015 06:41 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

David Barr I would help them even if I had to go to Google.

Nov 21, 2015 10:11 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Nov 21, 2015 07:06 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Yes, agreed. A perfectly legitimate answer to some questions is to Google It.

Nov 21, 2015 06:16 AM
Rainer
150,416
Michael Thacker - Re/Max Real Estate Center - Louisville
Re/Max Real Estate Center - The Thacker Group - Louisville, KY
Your best friend who just happens to be a Realtor

If I help them, I do it like Apple does when you are in their stores. I don't do it for them, I have them do it, while I instruct. That way they learn how to do it.

What I find though, it more often they want you to DO it for them, and I have even had people get up and leave the room, or take a call while I am doing it. That doesn't happen anymore, no way!

Nov 22, 2015 08:45 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Nope!  I used to know a site that would show how to type the search query into google.  It was a fun way to tell people to google it.  :)

Nov 22, 2015 03:31 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It depends.  If you snarkily say "Google it" you would be considered rude but if you showed them how to research something online -- it could be good.

What's that about teaching a man to fish?

Nov 22, 2015 01:03 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I always respect the elderly and would stop to show them how to do it. They may not be comfortable using computers.

Nov 22, 2015 12:47 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Might give them some hints and show Google by example. Depends on my time constraints.

Nov 21, 2015 08:10 PM
Rainer
68,845
Sandra Graves
Keller Williams Realty - Folsom, CA
Realtor

Most people who have asked me for help are not elderly, and in fact, some are younger than me. I help them. It doesn't bother me at all. 

Nov 21, 2015 02:28 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Only is no one ever helped you when you needed it.  Otherwise it is pretty nice to help someone else who needs it.  You reap what you sow.

Nov 21, 2015 01:19 PM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

I stop and get them on the right track.  If I do it, they won't know how next time. 

Nov 21, 2015 12:41 PM
Rainer
279,354
John Crosby
Real Property, Inc. - Marblehead, MA

Did someone ever take time out to show you how to do something you didn't know how to do or did you know how to do everything?  PS I'm a testy elderly person.

 

Nov 21, 2015 11:23 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

The standard answer around my office is...Google it. 

Nov 21, 2015 10:51 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

If I had time I would help, otherwise refer them to Google.

Nov 21, 2015 10:14 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I wouldn't say it is wrong but I would probably offer a little personal assistance. I think some people just don't know where to get started.

Nov 21, 2015 10:04 AM
Rainmaker
2,362,977
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Just remember ...... Sum quod Eris.  

Nov 21, 2015 08:44 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

If the person is computer illiterate, it is unlikely that they know what Google is and/or how to access Google.  Many people, including many elderly people, have never used computers.

Nov 21, 2015 08:35 AM
Rainmaker
637,434
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

I advise they take a computer course, webinar, hire someone or whatever. From long experience, I don't teach or touch anyone else's computer. And, yes, GOOGLE your problem and chances are there will be an answer.

Nov 21, 2015 06:43 AM
Rainer
231,224
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

elderly? how old... illiterate in computers? we all learn sometime..or... we hire someone.... or dont use it, so know its not wrong

Nov 21, 2015 06:37 AM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

David - I would probably help that person, and then suggest to them that they can Google questions like this to find the answer on their own.

Nov 24, 2015 10:20 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

David,
If you are in an office your broker should have a protocol everyone knows to follow if they need help.  Either agents ask the salaried staff, have a help line to call or if “designated” agents are fair game to be asked there should be some type of compensation for those agents such as a free private office, extra relo deals, etc.

Nov 23, 2015 09:33 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,139
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I would be nicer to teach them how to use Google.

Nov 21, 2015 09:45 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Of course it is not wrong and I encourage such response. To reject a request for help for an elderly illiterate...."how dare them to ask!

One's response is revealing of the light within.

So. I say, everyone should feel empowered to 'Let their little light shine' or the lack thereof.

Nov 21, 2015 09:10 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good Sunday morning David. Show them! That everybody learns the same way.

Nov 21, 2015 05:19 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

There are plenty of search engines. Baidu(2nd largest), Bing, Yahoo, Excite, Ask...

Market share changes constantly....

Nov 21, 2015 12:26 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

David,

I am with William Feela on this one.  There are also great videos.  A

Nov 21, 2015 07:42 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

Wrong is not a word I would use.  I learned a long time ago that just because I can do something, doesn't mean others should. My Mom, a really bright woman, was so dense about and afraid of the computer - the elderly have all adopted modern technology at a different pace. 

Nov 21, 2015 07:30 AM