Sharpie has invented a new kind a pencil, one that writes as smooth as a pen, can be erased, and becomes permanent after 3 days. Whether you use a pen or pencil in your real estate business, their new liquid pencil could replace both of them. Blog photo by BryanMcDee
The Sharpie Liquid Pencil contains an “ink” made from liquid graphite and lays it down just like a pen. Once written, you have three days to think on the validity and weight of your words. During this period you can erase it just like pencil-marks. After the three days is up, the pencil lines will turn to ink and remain inscribed forever. Via Wired
Sharpie’s new liquid pencil might be the perfect pencil for the real estate appraiser. Real estate appraisers not only take a lot of notes while appraising a house they also measure and sketch the house they are appraising. With this new pencil you can take notes without having to worry about making mistakes because they can be erased.
Appraisers have to keep all of their notes, sketches, and market research for each appraisal for 5 years. The liquid pencil makes a great writing utensil because the ink becomes permanent after 3 days. You don’t have to worry about your notes being erased once you file them.
A game changing liquid graphite that eliminates broken pencil leads forever. Via Shapie’s Blog. Have you ever been sketching a house or taking notes and the pencil lead kept breaking? It is very frustrating. You don’t have to worry about broken pencil leads with the the liquid pencil.
According to Sharpie, the new pencils will be available in stores in September. You can order the pencil now if you want to. You can buy one pencil from Amazon for $3.59 or two for $5.68. You can also buy the pencils from Grainger and Office Depot.
Do you use a pencil or a pen?
Just for Fun: Do you know how old the mechanical pencil is? According to Wikipedia, the first patent for a refillable pencil with lead-propelling mechanism was issued to Sampson Mordan and John Isaac Hawkins in Britain in 1822.
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I very rarely use pencils. I’m more of a pen guy. Thanks for the pencil tip. I don’t think I’ve ever read a post on pencils. Good stuff, Bryan.
I can’t wait for them to come out! I use to use pencils all the time but changed because of the broken lead like you mentioned. So I went to pen, but as you pointed out you can’t erase that, so this is the best of both worlds. Thanks for the heads up on this, this is the first I have heard about it.
Thanks for the comments! I was pretty excited about this like Tom since I would rather use a pencil than a pen.
Ryan, Now that you mention it, I think the news on the new liquid pencil might have been the first blog post about pencils that I have ever read. There is rarely any new pencil news, technology and pencils don’t usually go together. Pretty funny Ryan! Thanks.
Living in Minnesota, I use a pencil because a pen can freeze in the winter. All of my work files are scanned and saved to my computer (and backed up online of course) so I don’t worry about the notes fading over time.
Ben, I never thought about the pen ink freezing in the winter. What kind of scanner do you use? I use a Fujitsu SnapScan to scan my appraisal files.
I just use a Canon printer/fax/scanner. It isn’t easy to write with anything when you’re wearing huge gloves in -50°F. On those days I question why I chose the appraisal profession. :-)
As a real estate junkie and office supply junkie, I love your post.
We’ve recently moved to using an iPad for sketches, but you can bet we’ll add a bunch of these pens to our tool kits, too.
Waaaaay cool innovation! And your photo for the post is funny, too. Looks just like what we have crammed in our files.
BTW, although I “found” you a while ago via a comment you left on some other blog, I was happy to see your blog listed on Real Estate Appraiser Tips list of the top 8 appraisal blogs.
http://www.realestateappraisertips.info/real-estate-appraisers-tips/the-top-eight-real-estate-appraisal-blogs/
Keep it coming!
Oh, and @Ben . . . 50 below? Ouch. Move to Texas, then you can be melting in the heat at 100 above . . .
Thanks Alison! How do you like the iPad for sketches? I have played around with an iPad but never used the sketching software on it. Do you use a protective case so the iPad doesn’t get damaged while you are out in the field?
And I’m glad you liked the photo for the post!
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