lifestyle search
Millennials have a whole new mindset when it comes to real estate
Funny how things change. One generation dressed in “mod” clothing you might see the Beatles wearing.
The next group wore nothing but sharp disco duds like John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever.”
And then there was the group that went the other way and to them, “grunge” became the... Read More
Use SpatialMatch neighborhood search tool to overcome buyers’ remorse
While there are a barrage of articles and blogs flying around the web every day about real estate, it’s rare you see one which mentions one of the core actions taking place around every transaction.
A person has to make a decision to buy a house.
That’s a huge decision. As we know, the biggest ... Read More
Agents can break out of the pack with WordPress for real estate
Ask any real estate broker or agent and they would naturally say they want to control their own destiny.
But if this is the case, why don’t more of them have control over their own websites?
That’s the beauty of WordPress for real estate. You control the site, you own the site, the content is ALL yours.
Think about it. If you are a real estate pro using a convenient company website with your own few pages, how much control and independence are you really able to display?
Your pages look pretty much like every other agent’s page on the... Read More
News Alert! Home Junction announces you can now get their popular SpatialMatch Lifestyle Search App for FREE
Sometimes I think we tend to forget that the incredible allure of the Internet is that it offers so many items for no cost at all.
You can search for free, listen to music for free, watch funny videos for free, play games for free, talk to your friends for free, read the news for free, etc. and etc.
Then there are all the plug-ins and widgets and what-nots you can add to your site for free.
With all this free stuff, the real challenge is in choosing which feature to download and which to ignore. Because many of the items turn out to be worthless or something you never,... Read More
Be thankful for uptick in real estate outlook
If you can cut through all the noise out there – politics, taxes, jobs – there are some promising indicators in real estate that make this Thanksgiving a time to stop and appreciate the signs of hope.
First of all, speaking of noise, the election is finally... Read More
In the blink of an eye, what do people think of your real estate site?
It’s no great revelation that things move fast today. Real fast.
People surf the world on the web in seconds. You send letters in a snap. When you call a friend, you don’t look up his number, your virtual phone assistant does that for you.
A few weeks ago, we talked about Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “The Tipping Point.” He wrote a follow-up book, “Blink” that has some very interesting observations with valuable implications for real estate professionals.
In “Blink,” Gladwell... Read More
How to market properties in today's coupon economy
It’s no secret this country has gone through some tough economic times and is on the slow road to recovery.
A few years ago, jobs disappeared. Housing dropped. Wallets and pocketbooks shrunk.
Things appear to be getting better – the unemployment rate is declining and the demand for real estate listings in... Read More
How to market properties in today’s coupon economy
It’s no secret this country has gone through some tough economic times and is on the slow road to recovery.
A few years ago, jobs disappeared. Housing dropped. Wallets and pocketbooks shrunk.
Things appear to be getting better – the unemployment rate is declining and the demand for real estate listings in... Read More
What's the "tipping point" when it comes to hyper-local real estate?
It’s not often you are credited with creating a new or popular phrase in the English language.
Writer Malcolm Gladwell took the term “tipping point” to a whole new level with his book of the same name published in 2000.
He pointed out there are three characteristics of a tipping point – one... Read More
What’s the “tipping point” when it comes to hyper-local real estate?
It’s not often you are credited with creating a new or popular phrase in the English language.
Writer Malcolm Gladwell took the term “tipping point” to a whole new level with his book of the same name published in 2000.
He pointed out there are three characteristics of a tipping point – one... Read More
This grade school subject is critical for real estate pros today
Back in the days of our youth, most of us probably thought geography was just another one of those obscure classes, like algebra, or chemistry that we would never use in real life.
Then you grow up and you realize, whoa, maybe those teachers were right after all.
As an adult, you can’t help but see the... Read More
Forced registration improves conversion rate by 300%
Nobody likes to be forced into anything.
But as you know, on the Internet, the rules are different.
Web users are now becoming more accepting of “forced registration.”
It makes sense. Sites are better at providing useful information.
But if you want that information, you need to give a little too.
That request could be just an email address. Or a name. Something simple.
SpatialMatch, the IDX and Lifestyle search engine platform, provides a simple registration form that you can tweak to your preferences (see below).
Don’t be afraid to... Read More
WordPress themes for real estate are like a new suit of clothes
Themes are fun.
Take parties for example.
In an instant you can transform mild-mannered suburbanites into crazed Parrott Heads or 40-year-olds into little Halloween-loving kids.
We don’t know if you noticed, but WordPress is like that.
We don’t mean it will turn you into a Margaritaville maniac.
What we are referring to are the WordPress themes.
It’s an amazing advancement in web design.
When you created a site in the old days, it was a ton of back and forth with the web designer. What goes where, what color... Read More
Use “hidden gems” to increase your Facebook followers
We were sitting around the other day with a bunch of friends who lived in our area for quite a while.
I mentioned a funky and delicious restaurant we checked out recently.
They had never heard of it.
And they were quite impressed with our local knowledge.
This got me thinking about how real estate brokers and... Read More
Use "hidden gems" to increase your Facebook followers
We were sitting around the other day with a bunch of friends who lived in our area for quite a while.
I mentioned a funky and delicious restaurant we checked out recently.
They had never heard of it.
And they were quite impressed with our local knowledge.
This got me thinking about how real estate brokers and... Read More
How to walk the talk when it comes to value-added selling
Do you consider yourself to be a value-added real estate broker or agent?
Naturally, if you ask this question to those in the business, they will all respond, “Heck yeah.”
Let’s first look at the definition. Here’s one we like from Tom Reilly: “Value-added selling is a proactive philosophy of seeking ways to enhance, augment or enlarge your bundled package solution for the customer.
“It’s promising a lot and delivering more, always looking for ways to exceed the customer’s expectations.”
... Read More
To get the gold, be like Gabby and go outside your comfort zone
By now, everyone is probably familiar with the Gabby Douglas story.
How at 14 years of age the American Olympic gymnast moved from Virginia Beach to West Des Moines in Iowa and changed coaches.
There’s more to it than that.
Not only did Gabby move, but the teenager moved halfway across the country... Read More
Location is more important today than ever in terms of a home as an investment
You may have noticed the headlines recently about how in 2010 the net worth of the American family dropped by nearly 40%.
Of course, it’s not surprising considering we were coming off the Great Recession.
But you can imagine how this has changed the mindset of most Americans.
When it comes to buying a house, more than any time in history, Americans are very concerned about the value of their home as an investment.
And you know how location plays an enormous role in that investment.
There’s an interesting article in... Read More
Get your free booklet on how your real estate website can compete on Google
Remember the old days when people tried to manipulate their search rankings on Google?
They would put a certain phrase at the bottom of their site perhaps 100 times.
Munchkinville Real Estate… Munchkinville Real Estate… Munchkinville Real Estate… Munchkinville Real Estate…... Read More
Competing against the big boys of real estate
There’s a strategy in the military that says when you are battling a larger army, don’t fight them head on. Find their... Read More
Are you still cruising the information highway in that same old clunker?
You know sometimes a website can feel like car.
For example, if you’ve been driving the same old bucket of bolts for the past several years, you’re probably getting tired of it.
It’s getting worn around the edges – coffee stains on the seat, leather cracked on the door handle, air doesn’t blow cold.
The darn thing just doesn’t seem to have the same pep it had when you bought it.
Then, you see the new cars that are out there. Bluetooth embedded in the dashboard for taking calls in your car. Pre-installed XMSirius radio providing every conceivable... Read More
Agents on "Million Dollar Listing" emphasize "lifestyle" and you should too
Have you ever watched Million Dollar Listing? It’s a show on the Bravo network where three 30-somethings sell real estate in Malibu and Hollywood.
With their luxury cars, weird haircuts, and super-wealthy clients, this almost seems like a fantasy reality show.
Their names are even trendy – Madison, Chad and Josh (what, no Biff?).
I watched it the other day and almost fell off the couch when one of the young men proudly declared, “I don’t sell just real estate. I sell a lifestyle.”
Like nobody, including the rich, has ever... Read More
Agents on “Million Dollar Listing” emphasize “lifestyle” and you should too
Have you ever watched Million Dollar Listing? It’s a show on the Bravo network where three 30-somethings sell real estate in Malibu and Hollywood.
With their luxury cars, weird haircuts, and super-wealthy clients, this almost seems like a fantasy reality show.
Their names are even trendy – Madison, Chad and Josh (what, no Biff?).
I watched it the other day and almost fell off the couch when one of the young men proudly declared, “I don’t sell just real estate. I sell a lifestyle.”
Like nobody, including the rich, has ever... Read More
Some say give sellers a reality-check to secure listings
Real estate professionals Liz and Bill Spear have a point about getting real when it comes to prospective listing clients.
Basically they say, don’t necessarily count on us, or any one listing agent to get you the right buyer, Mr. and Mrs. Home Seller. The reality is, they will probably... Read More
There are winning features for your site and then there are truly WINNING features
I read a few words the other day in an article on Realtor magazine that just popped out at me like a geyser gushing from a broken water main on a seller’s front yard.
The title of the article was “Winning Features For Any Real Estate Website.”
Now, I know the writer used the words in a broad sense to make a point about how to improve your web pages.
But as Mark Twain said, the difference between the right word and the almost right word is like the difference between lightning and lightning bug.
Before I tell you the... Read More
You can now be the source of custom maps for home buyers
The deejays on the radio posed an interesting question the other day: “What are some of the items you used five years ago that you don’t use today?”
The pay phone is one. I challenge you to find one. They’re all gone. Phone books are going by the wayside. Record stores are rare these days. Video rental places like... Read More
How promoting local business will get you business
I don’t know if you noticed lately, but there seems to be this new obsession with an old commodity.
I’m not talking about oil or gold. I’m talking about bacon.
People are crazy over this pork delicacy. There’s bacon ice cream, bacon wrapping paper, bacon-flavored candy necklaces.
So how would a savvy Realtor take advantage of this trend? Or any trend for that matter? Or any subject of intense interest?
Put a local spin on it. Tie it into your blog.
Follow me here.
For example, say you found a local restaurant that just makes the best bacon,... Read More
Win the battle for buyers and sellers with the latest real estate technology
If you watch the History channel about famous battles, you might notice that many times it isn’t who has the most troops who wins, but it’s some form of new technology that actually makes the difference.
Crossbows could fire an arrow 350-400 yards, better than a conventional arrow.
Chain mail could lessen a deadly blow from a... Read More
Tools for dealing with Google’s real estate search dominance on smartphones
Have you participated in a conversation lately and someone asks, “Who was that guy who played in the movie (insert title here)?
“You know who I’m talking about, the guy with the (insert unique character traits here).”
After a few minutes of everyone wracking their brains, someone finally pulls out their smartphone and finds the answer in nanoseconds.
Are you taking a close look at what is occurring here?
Your smartphone is no longer just a phone. It’s an information device. And you might take a closer look at how this is changing the... Read More
Tools for dealing with Google's real estate search dominance on smartphones
Have you participated in a conversation lately and someone asks, “Who was that guy who played in the movie (insert title here)?
“You know who I’m talking about, the guy with the (insert unique character traits here).”
After a few minutes of everyone wracking their brains, someone finally pulls out their smartphone and finds the answer in nanoseconds.
Are you taking a close look at what is occurring here?
Your smartphone is no longer just a phone. It’s an information device. And you might take a closer look at how this is changing the... Read More
Retirees make shorter-distance moves; want services close by
The American Dream used to be: find a decent job, raise some kids, support your community, fix up your house and then when you retired, dump it all and move to Florida.
Retirees are still moving to Florida, but surprisingly not so much.
According to US Census data, in 1990 one of... Read More
Turnquist Partners shows high-tech commitment to agents and clients
Some real estate companies say they support their agents with the latest technology and some real estate companies put it right in their mission statement.
And right on the home page of their web site.
Turnquist Partners, based in Austin, TX., is one of those real estate companies that walks the talk.
“Our business philosophy embodies a commitment from our associates to provide the highest degree of knowledge and expertise needs to meet our clients’ real estate needs,” states their web site. “Sales associates are provided with state-of-the art computer... Read More
Home buyers can automatically stay informed of real estate marketplace changes with SpatialMatch new Alert feature
I don’t know about others, but I had an experience once where a real estate agent just kept bombarding me with home listings.
Hundreds and hundreds of new listings. It was overwhelming. Took me forever to wade through all the info. In fact, it turned me off to the whole process and I never bought a house in that area.
SpatialMatch introduces a new feature that prevents losing customers by overloading.
This home Alerts feature makes it easier for buyers to follow the market for particular homes they want and easy for Realtors to... Read More
Are you addressing home buyers concerns about how those miles add up?
In economics, we are taught the magic of compounding is a beautiful thing.
Right now interest rates are unusually low for certain financial instruments. But even today, you could get 5% interest on a 10-year corporate bond.
Buy the bond for $1000 and 10 years from now with compounding interest, that money magically grows... Read More
When selling real estate, are you obeying the "law of geography?"
There seem to be a bunch of very unique laws out there. I’m not talking about regulations against speeding or stealing.
But laws concerning big ticket items – Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, or the Law of Large Numbers.
There’s one law that everybody in the real estate profession should be familiar with: The Law of Geography.
It was developed by a brilliant American-Swiss doctor of geography, Waldo Tobler (not that other Waldo, although, you could make a connection because it does involve places).
The First Law of Geography states:... Read More
When selling real estate, are you obeying the “law of geography?”
There seem to be a bunch of very unique laws out there. I’m not talking about regulations against speeding or stealing.
But laws concerning big ticket items – Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, or the Law of Large Numbers.
There’s one law that everybody in the real estate profession should be familiar with: The Law of Geography.
It was developed by a brilliant American-Swiss doctor of geography, Waldo Tobler (not that other Waldo, although, you could make a connection because it does involve places).
The First Law of Geography states:... Read More
When a development provides ‘no amenities,’ use a positive spin
It makes sense that real estate would be booming in a city that never sleeps – NYC.
Believe it or not, some experts say those insane housing prices in New York City are a bargain.
Sure, they are high, but they are not hysterically high like in Tokyo or London or Paris.
There are other factors causing the boom – super low interest rates in the US, inquiries from overseas investors and a scramble by Wall Street wonders who now apparently have more faith in real estate than in the stocks they sell.
This has caused some interesting trends, including a rush to... Read More
When a development provides 'no amenities,' use a positive spin
It makes sense that real estate would be booming in a city that never sleeps – NYC.
Believe it or not, some experts say those insane housing prices in New York City are a bargain.
Sure, they are high, but they are not hysterically high like in Tokyo or London or Paris.
There are other factors causing the boom – super low interest rates in the US, inquiries from overseas investors and a scramble by Wall Street wonders who now apparently have more faith in real estate than in the stocks they sell.
This has caused some interesting trends, including a rush to... Read More
Is your approach to real estate stuck in the dark ages of 2001?
I just love those commercials where the two mobile phone users seem to know everything that is going on at a football game or in their office before anybody else does.
Their saying is: “Oh, that was so 17 seconds ago.”
The commercials are amusing. And Read More
You can enhance the traits of what it takes to be a successful Realtor
Business philosopher Jim Rohn once said, “Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.”
Everyone knows the old sports adage, when things go wrong, it’s time to get back to the fundamentals.
Steve Gutstein, a certified... Read More
Vague resolutions are worthless, specific action is priceless
Here we go again. A new year. A time to reassess where we are and where we want to be.
It’s funny how we as humans all seem to come up with the same resolutions every year.
I’m sure you’ve seen the list.
1) Quit smoking
2) Get fit
3) Lose... Read More
How the newest tech trends in 2012 will affect your real estate business
The tech gurus at Mashable came out with their 10 trends to watch in 2012 and savvy Realtors will pay close attention to the list.
It’s rather obvious that most new trends coming up make it is easier for web users to reach out to each other.
As a result, you are going to see much more... Read More
Tis' the season for real estate agents to take pride in the service they provide
As families gather in their homes for the holidays, if you are a real estate professional, you’ve got to have some feeling of pride knowing you found the right home for many of these families.
Many times in our professional lives we get caught up in the numbers – how many sales, how many... Read More
Tis’ the season for real estate agents to take pride in the service they provide
As families gather in their homes for the holidays, if you are a real estate professional, you’ve got to have some feeling of pride knowing you found the right home for many of these families.
Many times in our professional lives we get caught up in the numbers – how many sales, how many... Read More
Old-fashion mortgage rates combined with the latest technology can make home sales happen
When my father sold the home I grew up in, he told me an amazing fact.
“You know, when I bought this house back in the 60s,” he said with a grin, “The interest rate on my mortgage was only 4%.”
Ah, the good old days. If only life was that simple again. Better times. Lawrence Welk. Ed... Read More
Real estate broker calls SpatialMatch his 'Magic Map'
Everyone in business knows, you don’t always get feedback from a satisfied customer. Many times they are just too busy.
But when one of your clients refers to your product as “magic,” well, you just gotta listen.
That’s what happened at Team X Real Estate in Los Angeles.
Broker Emmanuel Xuereb wrote in his blog that he has added the SpatialMatch IDX and lifestyle search engine to his web site.
It is “the most incredible new technology for searching properties,” Emmanuel writes. “And we are the... Read More
Real estate broker calls SpatialMatch his ‘Magic Map’
Everyone in business knows, you don’t always get feedback from a satisfied customer. Many times they are just too busy.
But when one of your clients refers to your product as “magic,” well, you just gotta listen.
That’s what happened at Team X Real Estate in Los Angeles.
Broker Emmanuel Xuereb wrote in his blog that he has added the SpatialMatch IDX and lifestyle search engine to his web site.
It is “the most incredible new technology for searching properties,” Emmanuel writes. “And we are the... Read More
Search tool condenses real estate data into one simple image
Read MoreUse lifestyle marketing post cards to dig out more listings
It’s a great feeling. As a real estate broker or agent, you are in a market where buyers are swarming to your door. Picking up houses as fast as you can list them.
To get more inventory you send out a postcard to a neighborhood you are farming. The mailing declares: “We have buyers. It’s a seller’s market in your neighborhood and people are generating top dollar for their homes.”
Sweet, right? Well, as a seasoned real estate professional, you realize it’s not Christmas every day of the year. Things change. The market fluctuates.
The pros know... Read More
What Realtors can do to create their own personal brand to sellers
You are a brand.
Every business has a brand identity, whether they know it or not.
And as a real estate broker or agent, basically, that brand is you.
You’ve probably heard the term “branding” tossed about by the big marketers like McDonald’s, Nike or... Read More
How to cash in on the “walkability” craze
The term “walkability” is a hot new buzzword in real estate circles.
Most of you have a rough idea of what it means just by the word itself. But walkability involves more than just putting one foot in front of the other.
Basically, the term concerns how-user friendly a certain part of a community is designed. It asks the basic question: how easy is it for people to not only walk but shop, visit, mingle, enjoy or spend time in an environment? How “pedestrian” is it?
Factors to consider include sidewalks, bicycle paths, traffic, road conditions, safety... Read More
How to cash in on the "walkability" craze
The term “walkability” is a hot new buzzword in real estate circles.
Most of you have a rough idea of what it means just by the word itself. But walkability involves more than just putting one foot in front of the other.
Basically, the term concerns how-user friendly a certain part of a community is designed. It asks the basic question: how easy is it for people to not only walk but shop, visit, mingle, enjoy or spend time in an environment? How “pedestrian” is it?
Factors to consider include sidewalks, bicycle paths, traffic, road conditions, safety... Read More
How to sell a home with a glass of milk
You know, for all the talk about lifestyle marketing – locating near a golf course, or choosing a Bordeaux from a home with a wine cellar or soaking in that Jacuzzi, there’s one very simple and fundamental item Realtors definitely don’t want to overlook.
Grocery stores.
According to... Read More
With SpatialMatch you can make nearly any property "family-friendly"
There is probably no more appealing phrase to a person looking to buy a house than “family-friendly community.”
It just has a nice, wholesome ring to it, doesn’t it? Conjures up an image from “The Beaver” with mom inside the house cooking and kids playing... Read More
With SpatialMatch you can make nearly any property “family-friendly”
There is probably no more appealing phrase to a person looking to buy a house than “family-friendly community.”
It just has a nice, wholesome ring to it, doesn’t it? Conjures up an image from “The Beaver” with mom inside the house cooking and kids playing... Read More
House Hunters International is a very revealing show
If ever there was a voyeuristic show for those in the real estate business, it has to be House Hunters International.
Even if you aren’t in the business, the show is addictive.
The ratings prove this to be true – recent Nielsen ratings show House Hunters... Read More
Know what is now important to home buyers
There are different ways you can look at negative statistics.
And nobody is better at this than real estate professionals who periodically have to cope with negative news stories.
But it’s the savvy broker or agent with an optimistic outlook who knows how to find that... Read More
How to start your own hyper-local LinkedIn group
I guess the first question to ask regarding starting a hyper-local LinkedIn group is, should you?
Many people are not familiar with LinkedIn. A simple description would be – it’s like Facebook for business people.
Most members are business people. You can create a Profile, join and form Groups, Network... Read More
Show visitors how to use search tools and find data on your site
Did you ever buy something that was a tad complex – e.g. a digital camera, plasma TV or sound system, only to discover later there were these cool features you could have been using all along?
Tools and data on real estate sites are the same way.
In today’s stimuli-swamped environment, you just can’t assume your clients/visitors are going to get the most out of all those search tools and data you loaded onto your site.
These people have other things on their minds, you know, like bills, kids, careers, their favorite sports team and who will win the next Dancing... Read More
How real estate brokers and agents can offer added value
Read MoreHyper-local networking ideas for mortgage companies
(This is the... Read More
How hyper-local search tools can help mortgage lenders
Mortgage brokers can greatly benefit from the same hyper-local social media strategies that Realtors use to attract customers.
But hyper-local does not mean hype. If you are going to be a successful mortgage blogger you need to provide... Read More
WordPress – the NEXT big thing for real estate agents
Notice how things have changed in the past few years?
Remember when cell phones were huge, the size of a clunky home telephone?
Then they got smaller and smaller.
Then they got bigger – because you could shoot video with them; record video with them; and watch a live video with them. Wow!
Facebook just added live video chat. Oh, Google+, Google’s new alternative to Facebook, already has video chat. In fact, they have video Group chat.
Technological changes are coming so fast, they’re almost too subtle to notice.
But what about your web site?... Read More
This year’s top real estate movie award goes to….
Isn’t great to see a low-budget film make it big?
Independent movies like “Little Miss Sunshine” or “Sideways.”
Movies that don’t have overpaid movies stars and cost a gazillion to make and make you wonder after two hours, wouldn’t all that money have been better spent, say, rebuilding a country.
Our nomination for independent Real Estate Movie of the Year has to go Mark Richert’s film titled “I Want to Live Near a Starbucks.”
It’s only 2:13 minutes long. But it touches the lives of nearly every... Read More
This year's top real estate movie award goes to….
Isn’t great to see a low-budget film make it big?
Independent movies like “Little Miss Sunshine” or “Sideways.”
Movies that don’t have overpaid movies stars and cost a gazillion to make and make you wonder after two hours, wouldn’t all that money have been better spent, say, rebuilding a country.
Our nomination for independent Real Estate Movie of the Year has to go Mark Richert’s film titled “I Want to Live Near a Starbucks.”
It’s only 2:13 minutes long. But it touches the lives of nearly every... Read More
How to take your web site to the next level with WordPress and SpatialMatch
On the web, it can be argued that either someone is trying to reach you, or you are trying to reach them. It’s the case of the hunter and the hunted.
As an Internet surfer you are bombarded with advertisers as they try to hunt their way into your wallet.
As a business promoter, you are the hunter trying to get that surfer to do business with you.
How is your hunting going? As you know, the internet landscape is constantly changing. Are you adjusting your tactics to go or do you hunt the same way every time?
Good hunters understand the winds of change and... Read More
Smart Realtors will factor in the advantage of short driving distances
You are going to freak out when you read this. I did.
We now live in a time where paying $3.50 to $4 per gallon at the gas pump is commonplace.
Do you realize, that only two years ago, in July, 2009, the national average for gas was just $2.50 per gallon?
Only 10 years... Read More
Stay competitive: How to make your web site relevant again (part 2)
(Note: This is the second part of a series on HJ Websites – Home Junction Inc.’s new service that creates real estate web sites using WordPress integrated with SpatialMatch’s neighborhood and lifestyle search engine. This gives agents and brokers a more dynamic web site with hyper-local content and SEO enhancements.)
Integrating into the WordPress site is the map-based SpatialMatch search engine tool with its huge volume of properties, schools, businesses and other community information which immediately provides content that has more breadth and... Read More
Stay competitive: How to make your web site relevant again (part 1)
Similar to how the Internet has evolved these past few years, the way a Realtor’s web site needs to perform has changed dramatically as well.
Take search engine optimization for example. Google is now the first place consumers turn to for property searches.
Shouldn’t your site be... Read More
How to position yourself as a true relocation specialist
Attracting people looking to relocate has always been an essential part of any real estate agent’s job.
But there is one major factor that has changed how people relocate to another city — it’s called the internet.
Instead of calling a few agents at random (and hoping they... Read More
Let's give them something to Tweet about
Everyone knows that famous Bonnie Raitt song “Let’s give them something to talk about.”
For real estate brokers and agents in 2011, it should be “Let’s give them something to Tweet about.”
Yes, a site that amazingly only... Read More
Let’s give them something to Tweet about
Everyone knows that famous Bonnie Raitt song “Let’s give them something to talk about.”
For real estate brokers and agents in 2011, it should be “Let’s give them something to Tweet about.”
Yes, a site that amazingly only... Read More
Realtors: if you give something away for free, make sure it has value. Try this.
There is no more powerful word in marketing than the word “free.”
And if you are going to market yourself online, you had better be prepared to offer something to consumers for free. They expect it.
Today’s web users are used to free... Read More
Customizing the search process orgranizes the "chaos" and keeps consumers returning
The real estate industry has clearly lagged other industries in customization possibilities for “real estate search and display.” Think about it.
On the web you can customize everything – my song playlist, my favorite videos, my bookmarks, my news, my friends, etc. etc. etc.
Customization exists in order to recognize individualism and make things personalized and relevant to each person.
But to... Read More
Customizing the search process orgranizes the “chaos” and keeps consumers returning
The real estate industry has clearly lagged other industries in customization possibilities for “real estate search and display.” Think about it.
On the web you can customize everything – my song playlist, my favorite videos, my bookmarks, my news, my friends, etc. etc. etc.
Customization exists in order to recognize individualism and make things personalized and relevant to each person.
But to... Read More
Secrets on how Realtors can use Facebook search to find new clients
You might not know this, but with about 500 million searches per month, Facebook is becoming one very, very popular search engine.
(The founders of Google know this all too well and it’s giving them major agita. And any time there’s something that’s of concern to a billionaire, you... Read More
“Farming” techniques are changing. Do you have the right tools?
It used to be that America’s farmland was made up of small farmers with moderate acreage. Today, the small farmer is complaining that they are being put out of business by the mega-farm corporations.
How did that happen? The simple answer is that efficiencies were made to the... Read More
"Farming" techniques are changing. Do you have the right tools?
It used to be that America’s farmland was made up of small farmers with moderate acreage. Today, the small farmer is complaining that they are being put out of business by the mega-farm corporations.
How did that happen? The simple answer is that efficiencies were made to the... Read More
Realtors now have a tool to effectively use the persuasive technique of “scarcity” in any market
By now most of you are familiar with Groupon. It’s a company that cuts a deal with a local advertiser, say a restaurant, to offer a sizable discount of 50% or more.
The catch is, consumers have ONE day to buy the deal.
Does this work? Well, Groupon had $750 million in sales last year... Read More
Realtors now have a tool to effectively use the persuasive technique of "scarcity" in any market
By now most of you are familiar with Groupon. It’s a company that cuts a deal with a local advertiser, say a restaurant, to offer a sizable discount of 50% or more.
The catch is, consumers have ONE day to buy the deal.
Does this work? Well, Groupon had $750 million in sales last year... Read More
Tips on how brokers and agents can effectively use SpatialMatch to give them an edge in their markets
(Note: This the second part of an article which recently featured SpatialMatch, the Lifestyle and IDX search engine technology for broker and agent web sites).
Here are some of the ways brokers and agents can promote the SpatialMatch map-based platform on their web sites:
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New IDX and Lifestyle Search Engine gives brokers and agents an edge in their marketplace
(The following is an excerpt of an article about SpatialMatch written for a major online real estate magazine.)
The real estate industry recently took a giant leap forward into the 21st century.
Real estate brokers and agents can now embed into their web sites a lifestyle search engine that... Read More
Generating high-quality real estate leads requires a "give"
On the Internet, if you want to get something, you’ve got to give something.
It is old fashioned Internet behavior to expect me to fill out a contact form before I can even see what you have to offer.
Real estate marketing is no different.
It’s ironic that more than 80% of home buyers start their search for a home on the web, yet, most real estate sites offer users very little or at times nothing in return for their contact information.
SpatialMatch gives agents and brokers a very effective tool to capture leads. Using our... Read More
Generating high-quality real estate leads requires a “give”
On the Internet, if you want to get something, you’ve got to give something.
It is old fashioned Internet behavior to expect me to fill out a contact form before I can even see what you have to offer.
Real estate marketing is no different.
It’s ironic that more than 80% of home buyers start their search for a home on the web, yet, most real estate sites offer users very little or at times nothing in return for their contact information.
SpatialMatch gives agents and brokers a very effective tool to capture leads. Using our... Read More
How to use a lifestyle search engine to impress home sellers
Marte Cliff is an expert on real estate. She instructs home sellers on how to grill real estate agents to find the right one to sell their most valuable possession.
She tells them to ask “Does the agent just take your MLS information and stick it on a flyer?”
Or does the agent go the extra mile and write descriptions and take photos that “make prospective buyers dream at the thought of living in your home?”
Okay, reasonable old school but necessary advice. We know you’ve heard it before.
Now, let’s fast forward this approach into the modern age of... Read More
SpatialMatch IDX feature results in dozens of new clients
Comey and Shepherd Realtors
Now that we added our IDX real estate listing technology, dozens of brokers and agents are embedding the SpatialMatch neighborhood and search engine tool into their web sites to offer consumers... Read More
Put some muscle in those real estate links
There are links…and then there are links.
Imagine you are talking to a seller. He or she wants to know how you are going to promote their property.
Sure, you can send a prospect a link from your listings showing the usual beds, baths, blah, blah, blah.
Or you can tell the seller, that when you interview a prospect, you are also going to find out their neighborhood preferences and coordinate all this listing and neighborhood data together on your neighborhood and lifestyle search engine.
Then when you send that prospect a link, that... Read More
How Realtors can provide their own customized search engine
Few people know this story.
In the mid-1990s, two bright young men from Stanford University approached the founders of Yahoo and offered to sell them this cool new Internet search program they had created working late at... Read More
How to generate new ideas for your hyperlocal real estate blog
They call it “Death by blogging.”
It’s the unfortunate time when a blogger drops their head on their keyboard in frustration because they have just run dry of ideas. In fact, studies show only 4% of people who start a blog are still... Read More
SpatialMatch adds IDX real estate listings to lifestyle search engine
Today is another huge milestone for SpatialMatch in particular and the real estate industry overall.
SpatialMatch now features IDX real estate listings along with our 104 consumer information layers of lifestyle search engine data.
How does this appeal to home buyers?
Follow these... Read More
How to create “buzz” about your real estate business
People who take the time to research products online are not only a great segment of the market because they tend to buy big-ticket items at a higher rate than other adults.
They also like to talk about it.
According to BIGresearch,... Read More
How to create "buzz" about your real estate business
People who take the time to research products online are not only a great segment of the market because they tend to buy big-ticket items at a higher rate than other adults.
They also like to talk about it.
According to BIGresearch, about half (47%) will give advice to others on what they found, compared to 29.4% of all adults who might tell others.
“Consumers who research products online appear to be more knowledgeable and eager to share information,” said Gary Drenik, of BIGresearch. “Because they are likely to tell a... Read More
How Realtors can use a neighborhood lifestyle search tool to enhance their SEO rankings
Eric Hempler is a smart guy.
Whenever anybody searches in Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, Crystal or New Hope and surrounding towns in Minneapolis for a school, Eric wants them to find him.
He’s not a teacher, administrator or school... Read More
Home buyers want more control over information and your job is easier when you give them the right tools
Have you ever read an article online, got riled up, and looked for a way to leave a comment, only to discover that 6,014 people already posted their opinion on that subject.
It’s hard to imagine the old days when the most... Read More
Location, location, location is being redefined by today’s lifestyle search driven buyers
What do short distance, safety, and time savings, all have in common? Answer: they are rewards of selecting the right location that meets my lifestyle for my next home search, and my last one. Let me explain:
This is going to sound strange. But the best thing I liked about my old house was not the architecture, or the swimming pool, or the atrium in the kitchen.
It was the fact that the house was located 1/2 mile from a movie theater.
Hey, I love the... Read More
Location, location, location is being redefined by today’s lifestyle search driven buyers
What do short distance, safety, and time savings, all have in common? Answer: they are rewards of selecting the right location that meets my lifestyle for my next home search, and my last one. Let me explain:
This is going to sound strange. But the best thing I liked about my old house was not the architecture, or the swimming pool, or the atrium in the kitchen.
It was the fact that the house was located 1/2 mile from a movie theater.
Hey, I love the... Read More
When providing real estate information to home buyers, half the equation is how you present it
I’m sure by now you’ve heard the phrase kids use when their friends are telling them the intricate details of what happened last night, or whose boyfriend did this, or what was contained in that text message.
They’ll turn their heads away and say, “Whoa, TMI.”
If you think kids are suffering from Too Much... Read More
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