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Goog-411: Free Local Info

By: NikNik · Posted on April 26, 2007 · 4 Comments
Next time you find yourself on the road and in need of local information, try Goog-411 (Google’s Voice Local Search). It may be in it’s experimental stage, but I found it to be easy to use, and on target. You can try this service by dialing 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone. Oh, and it’s free!

When your call is answered, the service asks your city and state (only US business listings), after which you are asked, “What business name or category?” I searched a specific business name in my city. After being provided with the address and phone number, I could choose to be connected directly, or get the details by SMS if using a mobile phone by saying “text message”.

I called the service a 2nd time to search by category and asked for “restaurants”. This time I was provided with a list of top restaurants in my city (#1: Excellent Restaurant, #2: Great Restaurant, #3: Really Good Restaurant, and so on). At any time, I could choose to go back to a specific restaurant by selecting its number. And all their choices for my city were surprisingly right on!

Google says they are “fine-tuning the service to get better at recognizing your requests”. Even still, it’s worth a try! 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411)

If your business information is not available, click here. You can add and update your business info. You can even add a coupon. (i.e. Great place for marketing ideas like Free Home Valuation, Home By Email feature etc.)

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7 Ways to Syndicate Your Real Estate Listing

By: NikNik · Posted on April 22, 2007 · 30 Comments

With so many buyers turning to the Internet to shop real estate, getting your listings in front of them couldn’t be easier. There are many website solutions to choose from when it comes to posting your listings online. Many of these sites provide a comprehensive suite of products and services in order to better market your listings online (i.e. listing flyers/ads, virtual tours, mini-websites, blogs, etc.). Spend less time recreating everything, when you can create it once and share it in several formats while also getting the info you want in front of your potential buyers! But don’t take my word for it, check out a few of the following ways you can syndicate your listings for yourself. Keep in mind that not all aggregated websites reach the same audience, so be wise before posting your listing. Are you really reaching out to the right demographic?

As of the CAR 06-07 Internet Vs. Traditional Buyer Report, the share of Internet Buyers (those who use the Internet as a significant part of the home buying process) reached 70% in 2006. Many have estimated this percentage closer to 90%.

vFlyer.com
A one stop shop for creating, promoting, and distributing classified real estate listings. Their easy-to-use interface allows you enter information in quickly and get your listings out to Google Base, Edgeio, Oodle, Vast.com, Trulia, PropSmart and others! Other highlights include: Built-in tracking for ads, cut and paste ready to use HTML into Craigslist and eBay, embed your ads into your blog or website via their slick widget, and generate PDF files you can email or print. vFlyer also includes social bookmarking and Yahoo maps. Example Example Widget

Postlets.com
Postlets make it fast and easy for just about anyone to create a real estate ad like a pro. Utilize drop down menus of standard features to walk you through the process of creating your elegant listing ad. Your listings will be automatically sent to Oodle, Google Base, Trulia, Backpage, Propsmart, Edgeio, Vast, and other classifieds search engines. Postlets also includes a small Google Map for aerial and satellite views. Once your ad is complete Postlets will generates HTML code for posting ads on Craigslist and LiveDeal. You can also use the code for your blog or email newsletter (although it’s not quite as slick as vFlyer’s widget). Example

RealBird.com
RealBird, known for their map based-search, will syndicate your listing to Google Base, Google Blog Search, Edgeio.com, Oodle.com, Lycos, IceRocket, Vast and Technorati when you make a listing flyer using RealBird Publisher. RealBird also has built-in support for cross-marketing your blog and your other listings on your virtual tours. Once you enter your blog’s RSS feed in your RealBird profile, your virtual tours will show the latest blog posts in the footer. Your listing flyers are also optimized for search engine indexing and include social bookmarks. Example

Tourfactory.com
Tourfactory can give your real estate presentations and virtual tours the professional look they need in this competitive market. In addition, your real estate listings will be delivered to millions of potential buyers via Move.com. Realtor.com, Google, Yahoo, Home Debut, Sprint, and the Dupont Registry. Example

Classifiedflyerads.com
ClassifiedFlyerAds.com is a simple solution for creating full color, eye catching real estate ads, rental ads, auto ads and items for sale ads that will automatically be posted to top classified directories and live data feeds (Craigslist, Google Base, backpage, edgeio, Propsmart, Syndic8, Realty Feed Search, Oodle.com, Lycos, Trulia, LiveDieal, FindHomeRentals, hotpads.com, geebo, Vast, Realty Feeds, and more). Example

PostYourListings.com
Postyourlistings.com provides a suite of products and services, including: listing syndication, agent/broker websites (design & hosting), and print marketing flyers. Your real estate listings are transmitted to major portals every night: Yahoo, Cablevision 12, LongIsland Press, Google, vlshomes.com, HomeSeekers.com, Home Gain, MLS.com, Real Estate Espanol, Lycos, oodle.com, Craigslist, Real-Estate.com, ListingMania.com, Trulia, Propsmart. Their designs may not be among the best, but they sure get creative when it comes to their syndicated partners. Example

reallyo.com
reallyo is a free tool for real estate agents and brokers to create great looking flyers with video tours, photos, floorplans, Google maps and descriptions. Point interested buyers to your reallyo flyer, link it on blogs, forums, emails and other classifieds sites and embed video. Create impressive real estate mini sites in minutes and reach thousands of buyers via Syndic8, Google Base, oodle.com, edgeio, backpage, Local.com, Lycos, Realty Feeds, Vast and Livedeal. Example

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Is an Apple Smart Real Estate Technology?

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on April 21, 2007 · 10 Comments
Last year’s introduction of the first Intel powered Apple computer added a new option for the real estate professional in the way of computer choices. Now that Apple computers are running on the same processors as the Windows-based computers, an Apple can actually run the Windows operating system and in turn, Windows software. This brings up the question, “Is an Apple computer a smart choice for the real estate professional?”

I have given this question quite a bit of thought. Apple certainly builds a quality product and their pricing has become more competitive with comparable Windows PCs, but does running Windows on Apple hardware or within the Apple operating system make sense? In my opinion, the answer is yes to a very small percent of real estate agents and no to the majority.

If you are an Apple enthusiast who happens to be a real estate agent, this new technology is a blessing. You are familiar with the Apple operating system already. You only need Windows for those programs that don’t have an Apple compatible counterpart (as is the case with most real estate specific applications). Since the Apple environment is where you feel most comfortable, an Apple computer running either Apple Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop is a smart real estate technology choice.

Most real estate agents fall into one of 2 groups. The first group is those who have yet to feel comfortable using computers and only use them as needed. The second group is comprised of agents who have been working in a Windows environment and feel some level of familiarity with the operating system. For those real estate agents in either of these groups, an Apple is not a smart real estate technology choice for you for the following 2 reasons.

The first reason has to do with the learning curve involved in becoming proficient in 2 operating systems. By purchasing an Apple computer for real estate, you are in essence saying that you are going to learn how to work the Apple operating system and the Windows operating system. That is real time commitment that will take away from your main goal of selling houses. Most agents that I work with have a hard enough time with one operating system, much less two.

The second reason has to do with the hardware. Although Apple runs on the same processor as a Windows machine, the other hardware is not the same. The drivers for such things as printers, scanners and video cards may not be completely suitable for Windows running on Apple hardware. This will only add frustration to your computing life and I don’t know of any real estate agents who want more frustration stemming from their computers.

Keep you life as simple as possible. If you don’t have a history with Apple computers, stick to the operating system that real estate applications are written for, Windows. You will be thankful that you did.

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Cingular’s Wireless Connectivity Speeds Finally Catch Up

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on April 14, 2007 · 2 Comments
I have spent quite some time on MyTechOpinion touting wireless Internet connectivity as a valuable real estate technology. The ability to access the MLS, Winforms Online and email from anywhere truly redefines the term “mobile real estate agent”. I just hit one year anniversary of my adding a Cingular wireless connection to my laptop bag. It really has changed the way I do business. While the impact has been good, a recent discovery by a friend has completely changed my opinion of the service.

Up until last week, I have been running on Cingular’s EDGE network. The EDGE network is slow. My download speeds topped out at 150 Kbps. For those unfamiliar with download speeds, imagine a hair above dial-up speeds. This made for a true test of patience and made downloading anything of significant size impossible. While I was well aware that this network was much slower than Sprint and Verizon’s EV-DO networks, Cingular provided better coverage in my area.

The discovery that I mentioned is that of a firmware update and Communication Manager software update that enabled the Sierra Wireless Aircard 860 to access Cingular’s HSDPA, also known as 3G, network. This new network is amazing. I am now up to EV-DO speeds. I am now topping out at 1.5Mbps, which is similar to DSL speeds.

On the HSDPA (3G) network, you’ll browse the web just as if you were in the office or at home. Now that all 3 major cell phone networks can provide DSL-like speeds, add a wireless card to your laptop and see how real estate technology can really catapult your business.

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Jott: Voice to Text Service

By: Reggie · Posted on April 8, 2007 · 3 Comments

Does your Real Estate business keep you moving? If you’re like most real estate agents, you could use an assistant for recordkeeping alone. Although often times the expense is too big of a barrier. Introducing a new FREE service by Jott Networks! Jott allows anyone to send email messages to themselves, colleagues, customers or groups by voice. Registered users simply dial 877-568-8486, 24 hours a day. Once the system answers, say the name of the person or group you want to email. Jott will then confirm the name back to you. Then simply speak your message and Jott will use a combination of machine and human transcription to convert your voice to text. Jott records in 30 second clips.

Interested in the technology, but still wondering how this can really help your business? Imagine going through your day, calling Jott from your mobile speed dial as you need to record important expenses, create to-do lists, set goal planning ideas, or send important emails. You may even record a personal memo as you preview a home, commenting on specific features your buyers will appreciate. How about logging the FSBO you drive by and create a reminder for follow up later that day. Maybe even write your next blog article as you are stuck in traffic.

If you would like to review a previously recorded Jott message, simply access the “JottBox” by calling 866-JOTT-BOX. From there, you can listen to all recorded messages and forward them out to your contacts as needed.

If you‘re a frequent reader of MyTechOpinion.com, you’ll remember an article we covered on a similar technology called E.V.A. The EVA system uses pure human translation via a dedicated transcriptionist. However the service has a monthly cost, similar to a cell phone. For those that do not want to undertake another reoccurring bill, Jott is worth looking into!

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HouseFront Helps Real Estate Agents with Mobile Access to Property Information

By: Reggie · Posted on April 7, 2007 · 5 Comments

Today’s Real Estate agent is mobile or at least beginning to move in that direction. Meaning the real estate agent has the ability to conduct their business wherever they are. Take for example Handheld MLS. This is the idea that you bring your MLS everywhere you are so that you can access it from your mobile device. After all, you never know when you may need access to property information. Just ask the buyers agent who is previewing properties with their client when suddenly from the back seat the client points and says “How about that home…how many square feet is that?” If you are not prepared or properly equipped, you may need to return to the office and conduct a search for the property details. Well now you have a FREE option that works with any text enabled cell phone. Introducing HouseFront mobile access system.

Using the free HouseFront system you will simply text any address to 46873 (which spells HOUSE) and the HouseFront system will respond within seconds listing an estimated value range, square feet, bedroom and bathroom count, year built, lot size, owner name(s), date sold, sale amount, and a few area trends over the last year. HouseFront will even catalog the homes you searched while on your mobile device; allowing easy retrieval back at the office.

I found the HouseFront service easy to use and it provided a quick turnaround of property information. With today’s younger consumers and real estate agents growing up with text messaging this type of technology is sure to be a part of tomorrow’s core essentials. I’m also interested to see how real estate agents who walk their geographic farm area will start using HouseFront and similar tools to access information as they need it!

By the way, Zillow also has property information via text messaging. Although I found their system did not provide owner name or area trends.

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Let’s Talk Google Apps

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on April 1, 2007 · 4 Comments

After posting my article on the benefits of Outlook Exchange hosting for the real estate professional, I got a great comment asking, “Why not use Google Apps?” This question really made me think. We here at MyTechOpinion.com are huge Google fans. I have become addicted to my personalized Google homepage and love my Gmail account. While these tools have improved my personal computing life, let’s take a look at Google’s offerings from the perspective of a real estate agent’s business needs.

Google is in the first stages of a new push towards becoming a leading business applications provider. In fact, they have recently announced a partnership with IBM to develop enterprise applications starting with an intranet search tool.

Google Apps is a compilation of several existing Google applications with the addition of some new offerings. These applications include Gmail (email), Google Talk (text and voice calling), Google Calendar, Docs & Spreadsheets (a Microsoft Word and Excel alternative), and Google Page Creator (web page publishing). Google has also added domain name hosting, allowing you to use the Gmail application without an @gmail.com email address.

Google Apps is a very impressive package. Yet, I am not convinced that this is a great option for a real estate agent. While Gmail and Google Calendar have some great functionality, they fall short on contact management and smart phone synchronization is limited. I have played around with Google Docs & Spreadsheets and am amazed at what Google has accomplished with this application, but it isn’t robust enough to replace my beloved Microsoft Office (think of functionality like mail merge). Google Page Creator does make web page creation easy, but are you a real estate agent or a webmaster? Focus on selling homes and pay a professional to build your website.

Feature comparisons aside, the most important issues are that of reliability and support. InfoWorld.com ran an article here this past week discussing problems with service outages. According to their article, Prudential Preferred Properties, a Chicago based real estate firm with about 500 agents, experienced a several hour period recently where email service was unavailable. That type of service disruption can prove to be quite costly to a real estate agent or in this case, the entire brokerage.

With regards to support, phone support and uptime guarantees are only available to Premier Edition users. Premier Edition accounts cost $50 per user, per year. Standard Edition (free) users are limited to online support that includes user discussion groups, email and knowledge base access.

Relying solely on online applications adds another potential problem. If your Internet connection goes down, you are in the dark. With no access to your calendar, you could miss an important appointment.

When it comes to my business, downtime means lost opportunity. I would much rather spend a little bit more to have tools and services that I can rely on. Until Google Apps or another alternative can prove themselves over time, I am going to continue to use Outlook Exchange hosting, Microsoft Office applications, and a dedicated web host and recommend this for real estate professional, as well.