neighborhood search
When it comes to investments, Real Estate is No. 1
After years of struggling with bad news, Gallup just conducted a poll which should be taped to the proverbial refrigerator of every real estate broker and agent.
In a survey conducted in April, Americans said they consider real estate to the be best place for them to invest their money.
It was followed by Gold,... Read More
According to a recent study, parks are perks more than ever
Sometimes it can be just difficult to sell a home.
But there is one old neighborhood amenity that has a new reason to be considered as a great marketing tool, according to a recent study in Britain.
What’s this marketing phenomena? Green spaces.
According to the results of a five year study, people who live near green spaces tend to have better mental health.
Simply put, green spaces are something you want to promote when showing properties and there is a tool, SpatialMatch, which enables you to show MLS listings on a map, alongside... Read More
Real estate data is valuable. Explaining the data is priceless.
One of the beauties of real estate data is not the data itself.
It’s the interpretation.
And for the savvy real estate broker and agent their analysis of data can be rewarding. And it can be kind of fun.
Let’s face it. Raw data is basically numbers.
The real value is in... Read More
Don’t just add big real estate data, add “better” data.
Right now one of the buzzwords in real estate is the use of big data.
Data about home prices, market trends, taxes, etc.
There are providers such as Home Junction that can easily and quickly supply this data to any real estate broker or agent.
But one way to look at adding any data to your site is to not only consider big data, but “better” data.
For example, say you have a listing of local schools on your site.
That’s basic data.
What if you had more detailed information?
– School enrollment
– Number of... Read More
What a difference a boundary makes – use tools to show them
“You need boundaries…even in our material creations, boundaries mark the most beautiful of places, between the ocean and the shore, between the mountains and the plains, where the canyon meets the river.” – Wm. Paul Young
Borders are important. Borders have impact. And borders are everywhere.
Home buyers would be smart to research the boundaries surrounding any property they may consider.
One tool real estate brokers and agents can use to assist their clients in this search is the geo-spatial neighborhood map tool... Read More
Realtors can use “big data” without a big risk
The world of technology and big data took a big leap backwards recently when a group of hackers stole millions of pieces of credit... Read More
Use hyper-local data to counteract the low-ball offer
In real estate, one thing that is as inevitable as people putting on their shoes in the morning is the arrival periodically of a buyer with a low-ball offer.
Here you got Mr. Thinks He’s A Tough Negotiator looking at homes with interest while tucked in the back of his mind is a conspiracy to come in with a... Read More
How to use a mouse to promote a property
Many seasoned real estate professionals will tell you they’ve seen it all.
But they probably never saw a marketing plan built around using a mouse as a promotion.
That’s exactly what the Tuscany Preserve project plans to do.
Of course, this is not any ordinary mouse. It’s Mickey Mouse.
Most mice are repellent. This particular rodent has incredible drawing power.
And what Tuscany Preserve developers are promoting is the fact that a new highway and rail line are going to be built near their property which will allow easy access to... Read More
Sometimes a condo doesn’t come with $50MM in amenities
When you look at the breath-taking photos of the Faena House Penthouse located in Miami Beach, you see how the property could virtually sell itself.
It’s a 18,253 sq. foot, two-story modern-day palace with a 70- foot infinity pool.
As for location, the penthouse offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian... Read More
Data can bring home buyers back to reality
When it comes to reality real estate shows such as Million Dollar Listing New York you wonder how much reality is actually involved.Does your real estate website answer these consumer questions?
When creating or modifying a real estate website, one approach to take is for agents and brokers to get out of... Read More
Use landmark marketing to add spice to any property
Get the right perspective on leads to generate more leads
The term “lead” seems to have developed a negative connotation over the years.
No consumer wants to be labeled as somebody’s “lead.”
And the thought of generating leads for some real estate agents and brokers may seem to be detestable or unprofessional.
Nothing could be further from... Read More
A very popular word is the word “fitness.” Use it in real estate.
One of the most popular words in the English language has got to be the word “fitness.”
Look at any magazine rack. The word fitness or words related to fitness cover every cover.
“Top 10 Ways To Lose 10 Pounds”
“Cut Inches Off Your Tummy With This Simple Trick”
People eat this stuff up. (Too bad they eat up other stuff as well).
Why not market a property the same way? And with the right neighborhood map search tool designed specifically for real estate agents and brokers,... Read More
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
The Big Three gain ground but so can any agent with the right tools
“Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” – Leroy “Satchel” Paige
Fight type fatigue with easy-to-create maps
Can you imagine the number of words typed every day in America?In some places it’s easy to obtain a real estate license, but not easy to be effective
How a Realtor can help a family grow a child’s talent
There’s a new Olympics commercial from Procter & Gamble that is bound to prompt nearly all of America to tear up and reach for the tissue box.The plus and minuses of great locations
When it comes to preferred locations – waterfront, golf courses, rural areas, wooded backyards, there are many positives that home buyers and seller prefer.
But perhaps you have a home buyer who cannot afford a home on a river or looking over the 18th hole or adjacent to an enormous woodlands.
There’s a way to put a positive spin on any location.
And it helps to have the ultimate location tool embedded on a real estate website – the map-based neighborhood search widget SpatialMatch.
Here’s what a savvy agent or broker can do with... Read More
The glory of alternative traffic routes
This was the situation this past holiday season. You still had to buy gifts for family and friends.
So you think, well, I’ll just hop in the car and stop by the mall to pick up a few things after I drop off my dry-cleaning and wash the car.
Thirty minutes later, as you are inching towards the intersection,... Read More
What are you doing to upgrade your real estate site in 2014?
How often has this happened? You do your research and you buy what you believe is the best smartphone/tablet/laptop on the market.
After you have the device at home for a few days, you notice a headline on a news site “Introducing the BEST new smartphone/tablet/laptop on the... Read More
Overcome neighborhood eyesores with a tool to point out all the positives
If you look hard enough, every neighborhood has it flaws.
Stores go out of business. Buildings get abandoned. Lawns and yards get messy.
There’s always something.
And there’s always the Murphy’s Law probability that when your home buyers tour the neighborhood, they will come across those flaws.
They might love the home. They might have the financing. They might be ready to buy.
But it’s inevitable they will stumble upon one or more negatives that could sour the deal.
That’s where a map-based neighborhood search data... Read More
Walking is free and easy benefit to home buyers
Put this on your trends-to-watch list.
They say sitting is the new smoking.
In this age of incredible technology,... Read More
How to use new tools to sell old homes
One day the phone rings and your marketing efforts pay off. An older couple is interested in possibly listing their home with you.
Even if they are older, they probably still found you through your website, where hopefully you displayed your SpatialMatch real estate neighborhood search tool complete with MLS listings... Read More
Women are from Venus but men like golf courses
There’s a real estate reality show on TV called “Love It or... Read More
Protecting the environment appeals to multi-generations of home buyers
Gen Y and Gen Gray.
It might be hard to believe that Boomers and Gen Yers have much in common.
Gen Yers might like Classic Rock, but you won’t find many Boomers tuning in to Rap.
Or Vampires. Or Zombies. Conversely, you probably won’t the... Read More
Shopping, just like education, is a big factor for home buyers
“We’re doing it for the children.”
That phrase has almost become a cliche. And it’s a cliche you can’t argue against. Come on, who doesn’t care about kids?
And as a real estate professional, when it comes to kids, it’s all about schools.
Where they are located. How they rank. The student/teacher ratios.
But, here’s a hint, don’t put all your eggs in the school basket.
Because in a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, there was... Read More
What’s the value of a house in terms of the real estate around it?
Big data is here, why don’t you have it on your website?
Yea, the weathermen and women certainly get a lot of abuse.
They predict sunshine. You head out to the beach. Sit down on your towel. And it starts raining.
They predict rain. You don’t make plans for the weekend. And you sit on your couch all day looking out at the sunshine.
It’s almost comical sometimes. And certainly the subject of many comedic routines.
But when it comes to hurricanes, the humor goes away.
In the past two decades hurricanes have wreaked nuclear-bomb type havoc on cities from Homestead, Fla. to New Orleand, La. to NYC, NY... Read More
Geography, not people, shaped history
Traditionally, the way we learn about history is through the characters involved.
Genghis Khan, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte, George Patton, etc.
But one writer, Sir Barry Cunliffe, argues that it wasn’t characters that shaped history, it was geography.
Geography was incredibly... Read More
Enhance the excitement when you land a new listing
Know your neighbor’s shopping habits
Let’s face it, shopping is a big deal with Americans. It’s like eating. Or entertainment. It’s a crucial part of our everyday lives. Sometimes it can be fun and sometimes in can be a chore.How important is mapping technology? Just ask Waze
Sometimes you see one of the big tech heavyweights like Yahoo, Facebook or Microsoft snatch up a... Read More
Location is everything to this aboriginal tribe
It’s amazing how in this modern age we tend to take location for granted.
But if you were... Read More
Mother Nature will help you sell more homes
When it comes to working in the real estate business, many agents and brokers might not realize they have a great ally by their side who can help them add extra appeal to any property.
And with the powerful map-based real estate search tool SpatialMatch, you can promote... Read More
It’s a seller’s market and here’s a tool to land more sellers
There are few sweeter words in real estate than the words “seller’s market.”
Sure, a seller’s market has its drawbacks. But one factor, people are buying, makes up for lots of drawbacks.
A seller’s market presents a challenge for brokers and agents and that’s another reason why you should consider adding the SpatialMatch real estate map search technology to your website.
First consider the numbers involved. You’ve got a lot of buyers who are willing to spend money, but you don’t necessarily have a lot of sellers. So... Read More
“One” thing can make a big difference all year
There’s a new book that is making the rounds and is apparently striking a chord with real estate agents.
It’s called “The One Thing” and written by Gary Keller with co-author Jay Papasan. The subtitle – “The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary... Read More
With SpatialMatch search, you can compete with “10 Best Neighborhoods” in the country
Realtors in some cities must be salivating over a recent article in USA Today about “10 Best Neighborhoods That Tourists Haven’t Found Yet.”
Imagine being an agent with listings near Austin’s East Side or Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill or Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village.
Show a buyer the article and the homes... Read More
If Superman can reinvent himself, so can you
Believe it or not, get ready for the hype. There is another Superman movie coming out in... Read More
Some homes need a boost from the surrounding neighborhood
Buyers are back. Bargains are out there. That’s the good news.
But there’s one ugly variable that could make life difficult for real estate agents and brokers.
The condition of those hot homes for sale.
That’s where using a tool like the SpatialMatch real estate map search can come in real... Read More
The power of social proof
You have to snicker at those TV commercials where they have good-looking people rant and rave about how much they love the product.
Then at the bottom in barely readable type it says: “paid endorser.”
Ahh, the power of euphemisms. Paid endorser means actor.
An actor is someone paid to pretend to... Read More
Real estate buyer sums it all up in one sentence
I read an interesting blog the other day from an agent who said he landed one new client because she told him: “I could have called the other company but you provided better information.”
This is a truism we have emphasized since we first started writing a blog about the FREE SpatialMatch map-based neighborhood and lifestyle search engine for real estate professionals.
Heck, this is why SpatialMatch was created.
“You provided better information.”
If you sit back and think about it, there’s quite a... 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
As real estate agents become neighborhood specialists, they need the best neighborhood search tools
With the rise of the big real estate portals, it’s becoming very obvious to the local real estate broker or agent that listings are just not enough.
As the developers of the SpatialMatch lifestyle and neighborhood search engine, we’ve been saying this for years.
Consumers can find listings anywhere. What are you doing that separates you from the pack?
Now other people are saying it as well. Here’s what the New York Times mentioned in a recent article: “while agents are still featured prominently on most sites,... Read More
“Infill” homes: Trend you can jump on with SpatialMatch search
One of the more popular trends taking place in real estate is the concept of “infill housing” and the many benefits it provides to home owners
Essentially, infill means what it says, filling in a vacant spot in a neighborhood, town or city with a housing unit – either a townhome, small apartment complex,... 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
The big real estate demographic is in childless couples
Kids. Kids. Kids. Schools. Schools. Schools.
When it comes to neighborhood data, that always seems like the first thing Realtors want. Give me that good, old-fashioned educational information.
At SpatialMatch, we’re passionate about data.
We gather tons of it in every form –... Read More
The secret to keeping new year's resolutions
It’s a new year and you got your resolutions all set to go.
You plan to increase your real estate business, lose weight, exercise more, spend more time with the family or a friend, travel, paint the house, whatever it may be.
Now we all know where most of these resolutions end up. Sometimes you think, geez, I might as well throw in finding a cure for cancer and ending all wars.
Resolutions are tough.
But the folks at Self magazine have some smart suggestions.
First of all, limit the number of resolutions. The fewer goals, the more likely you will hit... Read More
The secret to keeping new year’s resolutions
It’s a new year and you got your resolutions all set to go.
You plan to increase your real estate business, lose weight, exercise more, spend more time with the family or a friend, travel, paint the house, whatever it may be.
Now we all know where most of these resolutions end up. Sometimes you think, geez, I might as well throw in finding a cure for cancer and ending all wars.
Resolutions are tough.
But the folks at Self magazine have some smart suggestions.
First of all, limit the number of resolutions. The fewer goals, the more likely you will hit... Read More
December: the "tenth" month and end of a long year
It is so incredibly fitting that the holiday season comes at the end of the year.Think about it? Wouldn’t you want to end the year on a high note? Celebrating with family and friends?
If the world isn’t weird enough with all this talk of such strange words such as iPads, Nexus’ and... Read More
December: the “tenth” month and end of a long year
It is so incredibly fitting that the holiday season comes at the end of the year.Think about it? Wouldn’t you want to end the year on a high note? Celebrating with family and friends?
If the world isn’t weird enough with all this talk of such strange words such as iPads, Nexus’ and... Read More
Even the Internet can be clunky at times like an old typewriter
I can’t think of how many times I’ve sat down with people and discussed adding content to their website only to find out, they really can’t.
Know why? Their sites are clunky. You might think you are tech-savvy with a website that is five years old, but guess what, in terms of Internet technology, your site... Read More
When someone hands you a gift, use it!
If you’ve been on the planet a few years, you notice there are two types of people in the world.
Doers and semi-doers.
The semi-doers drive to work, do what they’re told or what they’ve always done, drive home, eat dinner, pass out.
The doers, on the other hand, can’t stand 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
The power of comparison
There’s an interesting study which shows the effectiveness of comparison in decision-making.
After all, people don’t generally make a decision in a vacuum.
They research. They need a reference point to compare one item to the next.
In this study, the subjects were asked how much they would pay for a dictionary with 20,000 entries with a torn cover and how much they would pay for a 10,000-entry dictionary with an intact cover.
They said they would pay $20 for the larger dictionary but would be willing to pay $24 for the dictionary with the intact cover but... Read More
One item that will help you with the Silver Tsunami
Oh, it’s coming all right. Seventy-seven million baby boomers are getting ready to retire. Currently, 10,000 retire every day.
Just like the Woodstock era, the dot.com boom and the housing boom, this giant bubble will create a profound effect on retirement in America.
What does this mean for... Read More
How ready are you when a company opens or relocates?
One major discussion that has taken center stage in this presidential election concerns jobs.
And one thing that real estate professionals do well is to keep their ears to the ground for the sound of economic development in their area.
When a new manufacturing plant opens up (they are in some southern states) or when a company relocates their headquarters it means one thing to a broker or agent – people are going to be buying homes, quickly.
There is a battle going on between states, even counties, for economic development. They have departments devoted solely to... 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
WordPress gains in popularity with real estate pros
By now, real estate agents have gotten the message about networking with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
These sites have really become part of the mainstream, I guess you could say, media or marketing.
You have something to say – you put it up on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
But there are some new platforms rising as well.
One of those is WordPress and it’s rising like a space shuttle.
For example, in a recent study, more than 15% of real estate agents now market themselves using WordPress. More than YouTube at... 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 glow when "Googled"
I read an interesting blog the other day from a real estate agent who held an open house.
She met a nice young couple who toured the house and then came back and spoke with the agent.
“Yea, we Googled you,” they said, apparently happy with what they found.
Googled... Read More
How to glow when “Googled”
I read an interesting blog the other day from a real estate agent who held an open house.
She met a nice young couple who toured the house and then came back and spoke with the agent.
“Yea, we Googled you,” they said, apparently happy with what they found.
Googled... Read More
When it comes to personalization in real estate, how "sick" is your website?
I thought about this the other day while I downloaded an app on my smartphone. There’s a major underlying shift taking place with consumers.
Take iPhone apps for example. Okay, you might enjoy photography apps, someone else might like games and someone else might prefer weight loss... Read More
When it comes to personalization in real estate, how “sick” is your website?
I thought about this the other day while I downloaded an app on my smartphone. There’s a major underlying shift taking place with consumers.
Take iPhone apps for example. Okay, you might enjoy photography apps, someone else might like games and someone else might prefer weight loss... 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
What would you do to get a $100 million listing?
Everybody has fantasies.
For real estate professionals, we imagine they lay in bed at night dreaming about a listing for a $100 million penthouse.
That’s a sweet deal. And an 8,000 sq. ft. penthouse at that price is for sale right now in Manhattan.
It went on the market after a $90 million penthouse (a measly 6,000 sq. ft.) went under contract.
Apparently there are buyers out there for these types of properties – part II of that fantasy.
Prudential Douglas Elliman has the Manhattan... 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
Why WordPress is great for real estate in one word – speed
How fast are you?
No, I’m not talking about a foot race. There comes a point in your life where your own kids or the neighborhood kids can outrun you and your days as a sprinter are over.
But that doesn’t mean you can slow down.
If you are in business, especially the real estate business, speed... 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
Offer something positive to sellers under pressure to cut prices
When I watch the HGTV show “Real Estate Intervention” it makes me think of another show, the WWE Raw Wrestling.
That’s because in the mind of the home seller, the pricing suffers a major beatdown.
But does it all have to be about reducing the price?
What about approaching... 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
Data is "lighter these days" so load it up on your real estate website
While there is always the usual amount of bad news going around, there was one major bit of great news recently that few people seemed to notice.
And this bit of news has implications for anybody who owns a website.
IBM just announced the launch of their Sequoia BlueGene Q supercomputer and its stature as the fastest... Read More
Data is “lighter these days” so load it up on your real estate website
While there is always the usual amount of bad news going around, there was one major bit of great news recently that few people seemed to notice.
And this bit of news has implications for anybody who owns a website.
IBM just announced the launch of their Sequoia BlueGene Q supercomputer and its stature as the fastest... Read More
Is WordPress just for private bloggers? Just ask GM, EBay, Forbes and CNN. It’s also perfect for real estate
If you are in the real estate biz, there may be a misconception floating around about the web platform WordPress.
Because it’s free and used by some 500,000 bloggers, first impressions might be that users are mostly moms sitting in kitchens venting about husbands and kids and sharing their feelings.
That perception could be detrimental to you.
Because, WordPress is more than a personal blog site. There’s a major reason why there are 74 million WordPress-powered Web sites out there, many used by major businesses.
For proof consider this:
Several... 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
Facebook is everywhere and you should be too
Here’s a parlor game.
Try to name all the things that have become “ubiquitous” in your life.
Ubiquitous is defined as “seeming to have the ability to be everywhere at once.”
Cell phones – sure. Starbucks – almost. Facebook – definitely.
You got to admit, every company would love to have the incredibly free promotion of its product that Facebook enjoys.
Companies that pay top dollar to advertise on the web, in newspapers and magazines AND on television are all adding a note that says something to the effect... 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
Your secret weapon to land more FSBOs
Sure, we know the real estate business is tough. And continues to get tougher.
We hear it from our clients all the time – banks have gone overboard on loan requirements, consumers have let their credit scores go and some buyers have lost their minds when it comes to making a realistic offer.
You have our sympathies. We’re here to help.
For there is a silicon lining to every cloud and when it comes to FSBOs, nowadays smart real estate agents have a huge advantage. They possess a very compelling argument they did not have before.
You can thank Google for... 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
ReMax agent makes sure he has his area covered from river to bay
How unique is your real estate site compared to the other 3 billion?
Have you conducted a search lately on Google for the keywords “real estate?”
I wouldn’t suggest it.
Because just when you think you got yourself a really cool site, you might be a little disappointed to find out there are 3.7 billion other real estate-related sites out there competing for the same phrase. That’s a 3 followed by three 7s and 6 zeroes.
Now of course, this example is an exaggeration.
Naturally, your web site will have less competition for local searches in your local market.
But still, there’s a ton of... 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
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