Peoplework Profile: Todd Stonesifer and The Moving Experience

dotloop

May 28, 2013 | comments

Next up in our Peoplework Profile series is Todd Stonesifer, former President of the Delaware Association of Realtors^® and current owner/founder of The Moving Experience. Todd was influential in the introduction of dotloop to Delaware, and has taken his leadership a step further by implementing dotloop within his new brokerage.

Todd, tell us about how you peoplework.

Tell me a bit about your background. (Years with the firm? Current role?) Tell us about the company.
The Moving Experience is a brand new, independent, brokerage that was born because the industry is going through a revolution. I know the best way to stay ahead of the curve is by leading, rather than following. I have been licensed for 13 years and just opened The Moving Experience on April 15, 2013.

Walk me through your real estate transaction process before using dotloop. Have you used any other real estate technology tools throughout your career history in addition to dotloop? What necessitated a change?
Before dotloop, for many years I completed a transaction the traditional way, with paper and pen at the office or at my client’s kitchen table. When the iPad arrived on the scene, I knew there was a way to put it to work in real estate. I discovered some note taking apps and the ability to import PDF files into them to get signatures without having pen and paper. As I became more knowledgeable about the iPad, I discovered some digital signature apps. Then a few file sharing apps. Piece by piece I was building an online process, but the time it took to manipulate multiple apps for a single transaction drove me to look for a one-stop shop. Enter dotloop. And not to mention, the cost was perfect! You can’t beat free.

Are there any specific company strategies/goals/challenges that your company faces that you needed to address?
The Moving Experience is striving to become the best in communication, and dotloop is helping us realize that. We are already 90% paperless. I would love to dispose of all of the machines we have (copy, fax, printer, etc.) and find a better use of that space.

What were your top priorities in investing in dotloop dashboard?
The top priorities in the dashboard were convenience, organization, and time management.

Why and when did you choose dotloop (and dashboard) and how does it differ from other real estate technology tools that you’ve used in the past?
I was president of our state association in 2012. I discovered dotloop through Jared James at the NAR conference in Orlando in 2012. Between my experience with other platforms, a long conversation with the dotloop team and a personal referral from such an industry expert, I knew I wanted the association to partner with dotloop. We set up a meeting between the association board of directors and dotloop, and after a little bit of discussion, the board of directors voted unanimously to partner with dotloop. With everyone in the state having access to dotloop, the magic of embracing it from a brokerage level makes perfect sense.

How did you come across dotloop? What was your role in the selection process?
Jared James referred me to dotloop and, after meeting with a few dotloop representatives, I knew I needed to bring this technology back to my state association.

Who are the primary users of the system? What feedback have you received from them?
My entire brokerage uses dotloop, along with many of other local agents and brokerages, which streamlines the process when everyone is using the same system. It’s a thing of beauty when everyone is looped in together.

How has dotloop changed the way you work together with others? What is the impact of dotloop on your business?
In a word, it is magical. It definitely streamlines the process and makes for much cleaner negotiations with less opportunity for mistakes.

Are there any increases in productivity, deals made, new clients, etc. that you would attribute to your adoption of dotloop?
As a broker, my clients are not only Buyers and Sellers, but also sales agents. Being progressive and ahead of the pack has helped me attract sales agents to the company.

Have the number of completed real estate deals increased since adopting dotloop? If so, by what percentage and at what rate? (How much faster are your agents’ negotiation processes now that they’re using dotloop?)
I have not been able to track the speed of the negotiation process, but there wouldn’t be any change. My brokerage never used anything else because I knew dotloop was the right technology to use before we opened our doors.

What do your agents think about using dotloop? How many agents in your agency are using dotloop?
We all use it. Because we are in what I would call the infant stage, they are still weaning off the paper, but my agents are quickly learning to love it.

How have clients responded to using dotloop? Any anecdotes to share?
Most clients think the system is very cool and convenient. Some have a little bit of shock. But frankly, we’re in a geographic area where the average age is more mature and some are hesitant to trust eSignatures at all.

Would you recommend dotloop to another broker? Why or why not?
I’d recommend dotloop to every broker in the country.

Describe one way that dotloop has surprised you.
The communication and ability to listen to my feedback has been the most pleasant surprise. My account manager may be the best customer service representative on the planet.

What is the one thing you love most about dotloop?
Reaction time! I’ve never seen issues and questions resolved so quickly.

How do you see the future of real estate evolving? How do you see technology, like dotloop, changing the current buying and selling transaction process for agents and buyers?
It’s clear there is a revolution, and dotloop is leading the way.

What does peoplework mean to you?
Peoplework is the business we are in; it’s all about relationship building.

Is there anything else you wanted to tell me that we didn’t ask you about?
Keep up the fabulous work.