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Got Real Estate Questions? TruliaVoices Answers.

By: NikNik · Posted on July 14, 2007 · 11 Comments

Trulia launches answers to your questions with “Trulia Voices”. The Trulia community provides a place where anyone can ask real estate questions and get real answers from homeowners, real estate pros or anyone with an opinion on your local market.

To get started, visit Trulia online. Click on the “Trulia Voices” tab up top, then type your real estate question in the provided field. Update with your area info and submit. You will be prompted to register, if you haven’t already. Within seconds, your question is submitted to their online question/answer forum. You can view questions/answers that may be similar to your inquiries. If there are no like answers found, then just sit back, relax, and soon other community members from your area will begin commenting and answering your specific real estate question.

I asked the question, “Where do you find the school scores for your area?” Now, I already have a few favorite resources when it comes to that question (see past article: School Scores & More), but I wanted to test the Trulia forum to see if I would really get some quality answers. And within 10 minutes of submitting my question, I had some fabulous results. The first real estate pro who answered my question provided me with list a great list of websites. Two of which, I use and recommend frequently (GreatSchools.net & NeighborhoodScout.com). And the following 3 real estate pros also recommended GreatSchools.net, among others.

Trulia Voices makes it easy for anyone with almost any kind of real estate question get knowledgeable answers quickly. It’s quite a helpful forum, really. And, it was nice to see some familiar Trulia Voices: Pat Kitano, Kevin Boer, Brian Brady, Tyler Moxley, Maureen Francis, Trang Nguyen.

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Real Estate Bloggers Connect in San Francisco

By: NikNik · Posted on July 9, 2007 · 2 Comments

Are you going to Bloggers Connect?

Just a reminder that the Inman Bloggers Connect Conference is fast approaching, so don’t miss this opportunity to meet and connect with real estate bloggers from around the globe! The main conference portion of this event takes place August 1 from 8:30-3:00 (Palace Hotel, SF), with topics including Finding Your Voice, Monetizing Your Blog, Show Me the Leads, Blogs and Social Networking, and more. You will also hear tips from top bloggers, as well as find out Project Blogger winners. So if you haven’t marked your calendars yet, you will undoubtedly do so to attend the party of the summer, Beer with Bloggers, July 31. Don’t miss this fabulous networking occasion where you’ll finally be able to meet your fellow bloggers face to face, and enjoy some refreshing beverages. So, will we see YOU there?

Click here to register.

TUESDAY, JULY 31

5-7 pm – Beer with Bloggers

WEDESDAY, AUGUST 1

8:30- 9:15 – Finding Your Voice
9:15-10:00 – Monetizing Your Blog
10:00-11:00 – Keynote: Sitting in the eye of a media storm: The Inside Story
11:00-11:45 – Show Me the Leads
11:45-12:30 – Blogs & Social Networking: Creating Virtual Communities
12:30-1:00 – Lunch Break
1:00-1:45 – Pump Up the Volume with Widgets, Blidgets & other Doo-Dads
2:00-2:15 – Project Blogger Winners Revealed
2:15-3:00 – 10 Tips from Top Bloggers

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Happy 4th of July from MyTechOpinion

By: NikNik · Posted on July 5, 2007 · 1 Comment

Normally, we stick to straight tech talk here, but we couldn’t help sharing our 4th of July rafting excursion! Our fellow blog contributor and great friend, Chad Johnson, celebrated his 34th birthday aboard the “Grey Goose” raft, as we called her. We spent the day floating down a local river with 16 other rafting enthusiasts and conquered the water wars! Chad took on the role of river guide extraordinaire and bucket bomber. Reggie led us into battle with his super commando sneak attacks. As for me, I got a great tan and made sure that everyone was well hydrated. BTW-A Water Cannon beats a Super Soaker any day….and a bucket beats ‘em all! Hope you enjoy the pics!


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Yugma Online Meetings for Real Estate Agents

By: NikNik · Posted on June 28, 2007 · 5 Comments

After posting a recent article on 6 different Online Meeting resources for real estate agents, I was introduced to Yugma. Yugma is a FREE web collaboration service that enables people to meet online using any application or software. The Yugma platform is compatible with Windows, Mac, or Linux computers. When it comes to real estate technology, we rarely find FREE offerings. So check out this new online meeting resource and let me know what you think. Here is a quick overview:

  • Price: Packages range from FREE (up to 10 attendees) to $69 a month for up to 100 attendees (check out their tiered premium services)
  • Download the basic version for FREE (for up 10 attendees) or 15 day trial of Premium Service
  • Host online meetings for up to 500 attendees
  • Features Include: real-time desktop sharing and collaboration, mouse and keyboard sharing, whiteboard and annotating tools, session recording and playback, real-time private and public chat, built-in file sharing, free teleconferencing, embed Yugma into your website or application( Yugma Widgets)
  • Click here for the Yugma Demo

Yugma is focused on providing an easy, secure, and inexpensive solution. But don’t take my word for it, check out what others are saying about Yugma .

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Online Meeting Solutions for Real Estate Agents

By: NikNik · Posted on June 20, 2007 · 10 Comments

Online meetings have become quite a fabulous technology solution for those real estate agents who present, train, or meet with clients abroad. Much time and money can be saved when cutting out travel. And for real estate agents working with clients from nearby cities to across the country, online meetings can prove to be highly efficient. There are several online meeting solutions out there, 2 of my favorites options for real estate agents being iLinc and GoToMeeting. Check out my expanded list below:

GoToMeeting

  • Price: $49.00 a month or $468.00 a year (unlimited meetings)
  • Free 30 day trial
  • Host unlimited online meetings for up to 10 attendees
  • Features Include: desktop viewing, share keyboard & mouse control, email & instant messaging integration, chat, free voice conferencing, application sharing, drawing tools
  • Easy 2 minute automatic set-up
  • For large seminars & events check out GoToMeetingCorporate

iLinc: MeetingLinc & ConferenceLinc

  • Price: Contact Sales @ 1-800-767-7145
  • Free 15 day trial download
  • Personalized guided tour
  • Host online meetings for small groups to large events
  • Features Include: voice over IP, audio & video conferencing, application & desktop sharing, interactive whiteboards, synchronized Web browsing, breakout groups, floor control to anyone in session, text chat, electronic hand raising, feedback, Q & As, recording & playback, etc.
  • Invitations and reminders linked to Microsoft Outlook

iVisit Plus

  • Price: $49 for 1 year of unlimited use
  • Host live conferencing for up to 16 attendees
  • Features Include: video conferencing, voice calls, instant messaging, AVMessaging, file sharing and web co-browsing for richer online meetings with family, colleagues or customers for live video chat.
  • iVisit™ Lite FREE (try out video conferencing)

Microsoft Office Live Meeting

  • Price: Varied, contact sales
  • Free 14 day trial
  • Hosting for groups of all sizes (from one on one meetings to an audience of a 1,000)
  • Attendees receive personalized invitations with a unique meeting URL and password.
  • Demo

Voxwire Web Conferencing

  • Price: Varied (from 3 person room @ $17 per month to 200 Person Room @ $417 per month)
  • Free 7 day trial
  • Host online conferencing between 2 or hundreds of participants
    Features Include: moderator controls, visual tools, new presentation & whiteboarding tools, instant text chat
  • Room owners can modify their capacity any time they wish Online Meeting Invitations by iBizGrams.com

WebEx MeetMeNow

  • Price: $49 / month no commitment ($39 / month with annual commitment (20% discount)
  • Free 14 day trial
  • Host unlimited online meetings for up to 10 attendees
  • Features Include: desktop sharing, control granting, rich annotation, email & instant messaging integration, private chat, conference calling, conduct remote support.
  • Easy 2 minute automatic set-up
  • Trial
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vFlyer Adds New Image Editing Features to Enhance Your Real Estate Photos

By: NikNik · Posted on June 12, 2007 · Leave a Comment
vFlyer releases Watermark Plus, a new tool for editing and enhancing your real estate photos. This beta service allows you to add colorful graphics and text to your real estate pictures, as well as your own custom images. You can also protect your images by adding visible watermarks and logos. Use these enhanced images on flyers, online classified sites, print marketing, and in email messages. vFlyer brings you this service for FREE, and does not require registration for use. Watermark Plus will offer additional editing features and benefits when it comes out of beta. Perhaps they will find a solution for the agents that continue to use their high school photo or Glamour shot from 82’. Check out this tutorial to learn more.
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Real Estate Agents In Style

By: NikNik · Posted on May 20, 2007 · 1 Comment
For those real estate agents who like to add a bit of “sass” or “edge” to your personal style, you can now apply it to your technical items. Acme Made brings you laptop bags, business totes, iPod wallets, digital camera cases and more, with the design and style that most boring bags lack! Whether you prefer a tote, slim laptop case, or messenger style, Acme Made has created a variety of functional bags made with quality materials. You’ll find they’ve chosen high-impact plastic inserts and forged metal hardware to protect your precious technology. And, of course, the bags look amazing. I can’t tell you how many clients of mine have asked where I obtained my pink polka dot laptop case. Guys…they have plenty of edgy designs that are sure to interest you as well.

Acme Made also takes the guesswork out of “Will my laptop fit?” by providing a sizing chart for all items. Additionally, their customer service is superb if you have any questions that require a timely response before purchasing.

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On Your Mark, Get Set, Go to SellsiusRealEstate.com!

By: NikNik · Posted on May 5, 2007 · 1 Comment
Last week Sellsius launched their new community for all things real estate. This inclusive site boasts features such as listing promotion, discussion forums, blogger community, one heck of a niche search and more!

After touring the site and talking with the ever popular Sellsius boys, I was intrigued to learn more about the site’s real estate “inclusivity”. Because the site is open to all things real estate, the community is up for open adoption! The usual suspects are welcome (residential, commercial, Real Estate related businesses), but also the not so usual. For example, the Getaway section features vacation rentals, timeshares, B & B’s and more! Searching classified Real Estate ads to find your next home or Real Estate professional, planning your vacation, and social networking has just been ultra-organized for the taking people….so who shall it be?

As a former teacher, it was always hard to see kids become “clicky” and exclude others from their playground club! But when it comes SellsiusRealEstate.com, I have to give them an “A+” for community spirit!