realtor tips
Why you should be thinking about Gen Y
You think the earth’s plates have enormous tectonic shifts when earthquakes occur?
Wait until you get hit with the demographic shifts that are about to take place in your real estate market.
We talked before about the “silver tsunami” of baby boomers who are retiring, an estimated 77 million of them... 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Deloitte designates “Geospatial Visualization” as one of the top Tech Trends this year…and we’ve got it
Remember all those years of... Read More
Deloitte designates "Geospatial Visualization" as one of the top Tech Trends this year…and we've got it
Remember all those years of... 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
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
How to truly motivate agents in your office in 2012
Have you ever dragged your employees to listen to a motivational speaker?
Or tried to pump them up with lunch or some other promotion?
And then got frustrated because after a few days it didn’t seem to work?
There’s a new year coming and everybody naturally wants to do better in... Read More
Taking IDX search to the next level in push technology
When it comes to search technology today, it reminds me of the Rolling Stones’ lyrics, “You can’t always get what you want.”
Now, I appreciate the wonders of search engines such as Google and Bing as much as anybody.
But, it’s been a few years now and frankly, it could be better.
For... Read More
Add this lifestyle checklist to impress buyers…and sellers
Let’s face it, people love lists.
Take David Letterman’s Top Ten List from the Late Show.
That feature has been a mainstay on the show, get this, since Sept. 18, 1985.
That means the show’s writers have been creating that list every work day for 26 years (not including reruns,... 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 position your market area as a candidate for the list of "Great Neighborhoods"
If you watch the hit NBC show, Parks and Recreation, you probably cringe every... Read More
How to position your market area as a candidate for the list of “Great Neighborhoods”
If you watch the hit NBC show, Parks and Recreation, you probably cringe every... Read More
Google wants to see "stickiness" – here's how SpatialMatch will improve your site
You may have noticed a while ago how your searches on Google were starting to produce an inordinate amount of sites that were not exactly what you were searching for.
Instead of real estate information, you found bogus pages with nothing but Google links on them.
While the folks at Google had... Read More
Google wants to see “stickiness” – here’s how SpatialMatch will improve your site
You may have noticed a while ago how your searches on Google were starting to produce an inordinate amount of sites that were not exactly what you were searching for.
Instead of real estate information, you found bogus pages with nothing but Google links on them.
While the folks at Google had... 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
Home buyers want to drive less; Show them how they can do that
What’s better, a bigger, secluded house or a smaller house closer to lifestyle amenities such as restaurants and train stations?
According to research recently conducted by the National Association of Realtors, more home buyers are indicating a preference for walkable, transit-served communities.
Basically, they want... 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
Use lifestyle marketing as one more tool to land valuable FSBOs
How to market to FSBOs
Every so often something ironic/amusing happens that puts a smile on your face and makes you appreciate just how fortunate you are to be a real estate professional on... 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 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
Marketing guru tells real estate agents to quit now. Here’s how to fight back.
If anything is apparent today, it is that nothing stays the same. Look at search engines. Remember Alta Vista? Lycos? Yahoo as the place to start searching on the web.
Not any more. While technology is providing us with incredible devices, it also has a nasty edge to it. It disrupts the status quo.
This is very... Read More
Marketing guru tells real estate agents to quit now. Here's how to fight back.
If anything is apparent today, it is that nothing stays the same. Look at search engines. Remember Alta Vista? Lycos? Yahoo as the place to start searching on the web.
Not any more. While technology is providing us with incredible devices, it also has a nasty edge to it. It disrupts the status quo.
This is very... Read More
How Realtors can dominate a niche with SpatialMatch technology
SpatialMatch continues to integrate IDX listings with lifestyle search across the US, including the latest in St. Louis area
Hundreds of brokers and agents continue to add the SpatialMatch® IDX with Lifestyle Search Engine to their websites.
SpatialMatch just integrated the IDX listings in the St. Louis market and the response from real estate agents is very, very positive.
“As soon as I saw it... 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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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 featured in major US newspaper
You know the feeling you get when your name is mentioned (for positive reasons) in the newspaper?
Maybe the local paper wrote a story on you. Or printed your letter to the editor. Or took a photo of you.
Come on, admit it. That recognition is sort 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
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
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
Your lifestyle is what I say it is! Oh really?
Did someone ever tell you about this great, must-see “art” exhibition appearing at the local museum? So you traipse all the way down there, pay your admission, look at the piece and think: ‘Wow. This really is a piece of garbage. What were they thinking?”
We all know that “Art” has a different meaning to everyone. So do other... 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
