Life Lately · December 2026
I've been having a funny realization lately. When you've been in real estate as long as I have—since 1999, to be exact—there are moments when you wonder whether you're starting to become a little outdated. Technology changes practically overnight, and sometimes it feels as though the rest of the world got a head start.
But after everything I've been working on this past month, I'm beginning to think that maybe I'm not outdated at all. Maybe the things I've always believed about taking care of people are exactly what customers still want. I'm simply learning some new ways to deliver them.
When did communication get so complicated?
I'm old-school about one thing: I like to pick up the phone.
Don't get me wrong. I text. I email. I use technology constantly. But somewhere along the way, our industry seems to have confused being easy to reach with being truly available.
Some agents will send ten texts when a five-minute phone call could clear up the entire conversation. And sometimes, when a client really needs to talk, the phone just doesn't get answered.
A text message is convenient, but it can't always communicate tone, concern, humor, or intention. Those things matter—especially when you're discussing a purchase or sale that may be one of the biggest financial decisions of someone's life.
If you've read my earlier articles or worked with me, you already know how I operate. I stay involved from the first conversation through closing. I want to hear the question behind the question. I want my clients to feel comfortable calling me. And I don't intend to give that up just because an app can do something faster.
Then November happened.
This past month, I've spent an extraordinary amount of time learning new technology. We moved DavidDorman.com away from WordPress and onto a more flexible website platform, where I can work with AI tools to help design pages, revise content, and make updates much more directly.
I'll admit it: I approached the idea with some skepticism. I've been a little standoffish about certain uses of artificial intelligence. And I still have questions about how much of the creative process should be handed over to machines.
But I have to give credit where credit is due. The new tools are pretty amazing.
For years, updating a WordPress page could feel like pulling teeth. Move one image, and suddenly something else was out of alignment. Change a headline, and the whole layout seemed to have other ideas. Now I can explain the result I'm trying to achieve and work through the design in a much more hands-on way. It's not magic, and the technical pieces still need checking, but it has given me more control and room to experiment than I ever had before.
And anyone who's ever helped me with marketing knows that I can be a little particular. All right, maybe I'm a control freak. I know what I want things to look like, and my expectations are pretty high. Being able to shape the finished product myself has been both exciting and a little addictive.
A home deserves more than a piece of paper.
I've also been creating new real estate commercials and working on interactive digital property brochures. Instead of asking someone to imagine a home from a few printed photographs, I can bring together imagery, video, tours, useful information, and—in some presentations—an AI guide that helps visitors explore the material and ask questions.
Watch: Your Home Is Not a Piece of Paper
Here's one of the commercials I've been working on. It's called “Your Home Is Not a Piece of Paper,” and it gives you a look at why I'm excited about this direction.
Watch the commercial directly on YouTube if the player below doesn't open in your browser.
Want to try an actual example? Take a look at the interactive presentation for 2068 Roberts Point Drive. Browse through it at your own pace, and explore the available video, page-navigation, or AI features. It's a good example of how different a digital property presentation can feel from a traditional printed brochure.
Part of me still worries about technology taking work away from talented people. I don't dismiss that concern. But I also recognize that learning to use new tools allows me to do more for my clients and take a more active role in the details of my marketing.
The part I won't automate
I've come to a pretty simple conclusion: technology should make service better, not replace it.
If AI can help me build a better website, create a more useful brochure, or explain a home in a more engaging way, that's fantastic. But if a buyer is nervous about an inspection, or a seller is anxious about an offer, I don't want them talking to a machine when they need me. I want them to hear my voice, understand my advice, and know that I'm paying attention.
Maybe that's what I'm learning as I get a little older. Being current doesn't mean giving up the things that got you here. Sometimes it just means finding a smarter way to keep doing them.
So I suppose I'm an old-school Realtor learning some pretty impressive new tricks. And I'm having more fun with it than I expected.
A little less screen time, a little more holiday time
Now, as December approaches, I'm looking forward to slowing down a bit. I love this time of year—the lights, family and friends, big dinners, shopping, and all those little traditions that make the season feel special. I'll still be working, of course, but I plan to put some of these projects aside long enough to enjoy the people around me.
Whatever the holidays mean to you, I hope you find time to celebrate, reconnect, and enjoy a little peace and laughter. And here's to 2027: another year to learn, adapt, and perhaps remember that sometimes the best technology is still a good old-fashioned telephone conversation.
Happy Holidays!
David
When you hire David Dorman, you GET David Dorman.
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