|
This
list will be a little eclectic. Most of the items here
are specific to Real Estate. Some are not directly related,
however, they make our lives better. If that works,
then it is directly related to Real Estate, in an indirect
sort of way. Wouldn't you agree?
As
for all the pages in this section, if there is something
that should be in here, please let us know about it.
We'll research it and if it appears worthwhile, we'll
add it. Just use the Contact
Us form to send us an eMail. We hope you find lots
of value here.
Imprev
This
is a highly regarded site that provides many design
templates for various media. They have a lot of flyer
templates for you to customize and they look really
top notch. However, the real buzz is their multimedia
templates. They have Flash based Virtual Tours and commercials
that present you in a great light. You can get a discount
by going to Allen Hainge's site and look under top
products for Realtors®.
We don't use this, but maybe we should. Unfortunately,
we try to do everything in house. Yes, there is a cost
in lost business. Actually, we like to think of creating
all this stuff as a relaxing
hobby. 
Visual
Tour
This
could be under software as well. We started with this
company several years ago. It is a little more work
to create you own. There is that other company that
does 360 degree tours for you and if an agent uses that
and competes with us in a listing presentation, we will
win every time. This just produces better, more flexible
tours. They have a new pricing model that is probably
more appealing at $29.95 a month. Good product.
Settlement
Room
We
do not use this service yet, however, it is under investigation.
We'd prefer to do this on our own, but that probably
isn't going to happen soon. So, this looks like a viable
alternative. The idea here is that all activities in
an escrow are handled here so the other side and the
clients can all come here to get any updates. This should
make the transaction run more smoothly.
Guru
NETworks
Guru NET has many different offerings. This listing
refers to the Transaction Management they offer. We
don't use this, but like the entry above, we are investigating
it. It is here to provide you an alternative when comparing
services. Hope this helps.
SOAR
Solutions
This
review is specific to Soar e-MLS. This product is pretty
cool, however we went with a competing service. We may
revisit this if our web traffic gets to a point where
this is more beneficial. Basically, this allows web
visitors to sign up for an automatic MLS search. It
searches an IDX database located on SOAR's servers.
As we understand it, the web sign up form is automated,
which is a real benefit. The pricing of $97 a month
for unlimited searches seemed a little high. BTW, HouseValues
just bought out SOAR, so they may stop offering this
service outside HouseValues. Time will tell.
Real
Estate Cartoon
OK,
let's have a little fun. This site can take a picture
you provide and turn it into a cartoon. If there is
ever a time when you are particularly happy with your
manager (or unhappy) you could do this as a fun gift.
They'd get a kick out of it. There are many different
options and a few different styles. We have often considered
having something like this done to give us a little
different look in our marketing pieces. They have another
option where they can take a photo of one of your listings
and make a pencil drawing or a watercolor out of it.
We have seen this used very effectively in marketing
upper end homes. They can also be framed for a cool
closing gift.
Internet
Crusade
This
company provides several web related services. They
are a web hosting company that specializes in working
with Realtors. They also have some advanced eMail services
that are very important for anyone that relies on eMail
as an important part of their business. We use them
for these services. Their prices are on the high end,
but are backed up with good service and high reliability.
They also host the RealTalk listserv (see below).
Allen
Hainge Cyberstar® Network
Right
at the top of the page you will find a link to "Join
the Stars". This is a referral oriented group of
agents that have a similiar cyber background... if that
is really possible. It is a small enough group that
has a common affinity that could be an effective avenue
for business. We are not members yet (Sept. '03), but
should be part of the group in the very near future.
It might fit your business model... give it a look.
Howard
Briton's HomeAgent® Network
This
is very similiar to the listing just above. It is a
little more money and there appears to be very little
overlap between the two lists. The price for this is
$300 per year at this time, 9/5/2003. We just talked
to them and they can't say what the referral numbers
are, but they do offer two compelling points to consider
in the decision making process. First, they say they
have never had anyone fail to renew. That's not verifiable,
so take it for what it's worth. Second, they have a
satisfaction guarantee that if you are unhappy for any
reason you can get your money back. I asked if that
means I'm unhappy after 11 and a half months I can get
a refund. They said yes. Really? Well, that makes it
a lot more interesting.
RealEstateABC
This
is an interesting site. You could spend a fair amount
of time here and pick up some valuable information.
The reason it is on this list is the content you can
use to "deepen" you web site. The have broad
content and a very reasonable price. As you can see
from this site, we've created most of our content. But,
there is only so much we can do. We felt this was a
very good price for the amount of content we got.
Mortgage
101
This
also falls in the valuable content category. We use
them for a couple of our sites. They have a lot more
information that we have linked to. We like their calculators
and some of their informational content. And, one feature
we are really happy with is the price. It's free. Not
bad, eh?
Realty
Times
We
really like the content provided from Realty Times.
Several different options. We just choked on the price.
Check the site for current pricing. Our viewpoint is
that a few hundred dollars a year here, a few hundred
there and pretty soon, we're talking real money. It
is quality content, no doubt. So, maybe it will work
for your business plan.
Inman
News
This
is another higher quality content provider. Their prices
reflect that. They are even more expensive that Realty
Times, although Realty Times seems better.We thought
the pricing was close to ridiculous. Of course, they
won't agree. And you might think it is worth it. That's
why we put it here. They do have a free daily newsletter
that is insightful. we'd say you should try that out.
The price is right.
Gooder
Group
This
company has some interesting products. They have a selection
of reports to offer on your web site and management
tools to measure effectiveness. They also have a very
high price point. We've seen some use of this service
as we surf the competition, however, it is not widespread.
The price point will keep us from adding it. Too bad,
it does look attractive. Maybe when we are filthy rich.
You may not be as tightfisted as us, so look into it.
Gary
Hall's AgentTools
Gary
has been putting his list of Agent Tools together for
a long time. He says there are over 700 links (I'm not
counting 'em!) to a very wide range of tools. I go to
this site instead of playing Freecell, to look around
and see if there are any cools things I've missed. I
may never make it all the way through the list, but
I always find interesting things.
RealTalk
Listserv
This
is a Real Estate specific listserv with about 7000 members.
The traffic is pretty heavy, sometimes reaching 200-300
messages a day. Don't hold us to that, we didn't count.
The topics are all over the place. We have gotten very
good responses to most of the questions we have posted.
There are "personalities" that you may identify
with or rile against. But, it is lively. We'd recommend
the individual eMails and set up a "rule"
in your eMail program to put them in their own folder
as they come in. It's a little easier to skim them this
way.
Mr.
Internet e-Newsletter (Free)
Michael
Russer writes about technology and how it impacts us
in this profession. You can subscribe for free and get
an interesting monthly e-Newsletter that has some interesting
ideas and trends. The price is good.
Mike's
List e-Newsletter (Free)
This
is an offbeat irreverent computer nerds e-Newsletter.
Mike covers some really odd things. Not much technical
stuff here. Mostly just fun, but you will see some things
that will make you think.
Fred
Langa e-Newsletter (Free)
This
is a computer geek's dream. Fred also talks in a language
a real human could understand. When I (Mark) am stuck
on a computer problem, I start with a search of his
website. That will usually get me started in the right
direction, if not solve the whole problem. He has been
a round a long time and has a very reasonable voice,
yet still keeps you informed of all the really good
stuff. There is a paid version that is something like
$10 or $15. We do that version to help support him in
his efforts, but the free edition is packed full of
stuff too.
Tiny
URL
This
is a web tool where you can enter one of those really
long URL's that you know will wrap and people won't
be able to figure out how to get to the page you intended.
You enter the long messy URL and this site gives you
a really short site that you can post in your eMails
and other sources. Very cool. They also have a "button"
you can drag onto your browser, so when you are surfing
and you run across a site you want to share, you simply
hit the TinyURL button on your toolbar. It generates
the new short URL. I just started using this feature
and it works great! Nice tool.
|
