9 Tips for Building Real Estate Emails that Get Results
Email — it's an important part of any real estate marketing strategy. Step one is knowing what type of email you want to send to your sphere. Last week, we highlighted three essential marketing emails that agents can leverage.
Next comes step two: building that email and figuring out what to include — and what to avoid. Fortunately, this (and much more) was covered in a recent webinar with Constant Contact. We've distilled the email-building wisdom shared in that event below. Read on for nine tips on building real estate marketing emails that get clicks!
Be mindful of short attention spans
It may come as no surprise to you that in our modern era of social media and online distractions, the average attention span is now only nine seconds long. That means that real estate marketers have a very short window to grab the attention of their audience and compel them to take action.
What does this mean in practical terms? Well, Constant Contact analyzed 2.1 million emails and found the messages that had the highest success had only about 25 lines of text overall — about a paragraph and a half. Consumers aren't taking the time to read long, complex emails. Instead, they're scanning and skimming those messages and looking for what's relevant to them.
So keep your emails short and to-the-point and avoid long walls of text. Don't be afraid to use bullet points to highlight your key points — they're great for readers who are quickly scanning your emails.
Use buttons
Want your email recipients to click on a link? Use buttons rather than a plain old link. Constant Contact notes that the most successful emails use buttons. Or, as webinar panelist Matthew Montoya puts it, "Buttons are advantageous because if you give people buttons to push, they're going to push your buttons."
Use three images or less
Here's another important way to cater to today's short attention spans: keep the number of images in your email to three or less (not including your logo).
That leads us to our next item…
NEVER use an image as your whole email
If you know that you should limit your images, you may be thinking, "Why don't I just make the entire email one big image instead?" Seems like a clever workaround, right?
Wrong! You should never, ever have an email be 100% image. Why? Because that's a favorite tactic of spammers. Today's spam filters have been trained to send all-image messages straight to the spam folder. "You don't want to do what spammers do," says Montoya.
Always link your images
Speaking of images, Constant Contact recommends that you link each image to wherever you want to send recipients to, whether that be a listing details page or a "Contact me" page. By linking your images, you make it even easier for consumers to click through to where you want them to go.
This best practice is great for your email success rates, too: messages with clickable images see a 650% increase in click-throughs. Don't forget to link your logo to your website, as well. "People have been taught to click on logos and images to make something happen, and so you want to make sure you're linking any image you use in your email," says Montoya.
Use classic email marketing structure
When creating your email message, keep this classic, tried-and-true structure in mind:
Headline: What are you offering? This is what your headline communicates — and it's also how you hook readers, e.g. You do not want to miss this amazing open house!
Body copy: Remember that paragraph and a half we talked about earlier? Here it is. Keep your message succinct and scannable. Need help creating this part? Constant Contact's built-in AI can write it for you. Learn more here.
Call-to-action: This is the part of the email that gets results. What do you want your readers to do? Learn more about a property? Schedule a showing? Contact you for more information? Whatever it is, be explicit about what you want email recipients to do (and put it on the aforementioned button).
Create compelling subject lines
A great email subject line compels readers to open your message. A poor line, on the other hand, results in ignored emails or worse — emails sent to the dreaded spam folder.
Here are some ideas for creating strong subject lines:
Try emojis. "Emojis are very visual, and if people are in their inbox really briefly, it captures their attention," says Montoya.
Employ questions. "Questions are really powerful because the only way the question can be answered is by opening the email," Montoya says.
Induce FOMO. That is, a fear of missing out. Make your audience worry that they're going to miss out on your great listing or open house.
Use lists. Readers love lists. They're easy to understand and highly scannable. Offer your audience three ways, five ideas, seven things, etc. "That's really beneficial because, one, everybody's in a rush, so you're basically saying, 'Here's a little bit of digestible information for you,'" says Montoya. "If you're doing an email where you're saying 'Seven curb appeal ideas,' only offer them three in the email. Make them click to read the rest."
Aim for alliteration. Alliteration is when you use words that start with the same sound. "The reason alliteration is powerful is it's kind of sing-songy, but it's also a pattern, and because it's a pattern, people in their busy lives looking at their inbox are going to notice that pattern before they notice all the other subject lines," says Montoya.
Be funny. Humor, especially puns and puns tied to pop culture, is very effective. People are busy and that pop culture reference or funny subject line is going to slow people down and make them notice your email.
What you don't say in a subject line is just as important as what you do say. Here's what to avoid in your email subject lines:
Spammy words. Words like "free," "weight loss" and "guarantee" earn you a trip to the spam folder. Unfortunately, "mortgage" and "property" do, too, but you can use those words in the body of your email. Just avoid them in the subject line.
ALL CAPS. Not only are all caps considered shouting in internet-speak (and just rude, honestly), but spammers use all caps, so make sure you capitalize words normally.
Too! Much! Punctuation! Didn't know this one? Neither did we until we watched the webinar. Limit yourself to no more than three pieces of punctuation in your subject line — and two is even better. Why? Because spammers routinely replace letters with symbols.
Target your emails
Ever heard of the "spray and pray" method of email marketing? It's where you send messages out to everyone in your database indiscriminately. In real estate, this may be sending property listings to those who aren't currently looking — or worse, to someone who just closed a transaction and who is definitely not going to buy again anytime soon.
Instead, take time to segment your contact database. The messages you send to those who want to buy or sell within the next few months should be different from those sent to contacts who are inactive on the market.
"Fifty-two percent of an audience will just abandon an email if it's not targeted," says Montoya. "That is something that hurts our top of mind visibility."
But when you segment your audience, research shows that you'll see an 11% increase in open rates and a 27% increase in clicks.
Monitor your click-throughs and follow up
Clicks are the biggest determiner of an email's success. They prove your email was delivered, opened and read.
Most email marketing platforms, including Constant Contact, will tell you what people clicked on. They will show you who read what and who looked at which property.
"How valuable is it to know somebody clicked on this one particular property instead of the others? Now you know something about them — they're interested in this property, they have this kind of price point in their head," says Montoya. "Savvy marketers take that information and do targeted follow-up."
Montoya notes that when email recipients take repeated actions like clicking on a specific property or look at a particular article, they are showing high interest. "You definitely want to reach out to somebody that does that," he says.
For more great email marketing tips, watch the full webinar here. Then see for yourself how easy building emails can be with the help of AI: try Constant Contact FREE for 60 days, no credit card required.
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Are Electronic Signatures Safe?
Yes, electronic signatures are safe, and in this post, we'll cover why an e-signature is more secure than a wet signature, how e-signatures work and the features that help keep them safe.
Why an e-signature is more secure than a wet signature
A common question people have is "Can my digital signature be forged, misused or copied?"
The reality is, wet signatures can easily be forged and tampered with. An electronic signature has many layers of security and authentication built in, along with court-admissible proof of transaction. An electronic signature helps you avoid tampering and impersonation in digital communications because it is unique to you.
Electronic record
Unlike wet signatures, e-signature providers may offer an electronic record that serves as an audit trail and proof of the transaction. For example, the audit trail may include the history of signature-related actions taken with the document, such as details on when it was opened, viewed and signed. Depending on the provider, and if the signer agreed to allow access to their location, the record will also show the geo-location where it was electronically signed. If one of the signers disputes their e-signature, or if there's any question about the transaction, this audit trail is available to all participants in the transaction and can resolve such objections.
Certificates of completion
More detailed certificates of completion can include specific details about each signer on the document, such as the consumer disclosure indicating the signer agreed to use e-signature, the e-signature image, key event timestamps and the signer's IP address and other identifying information.
Tamper-evident seal
Once the signing process is complete, some providers may digitally seal the documents using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), an industry-standard encryption management technology. This seal indicates the electronic signature is valid and that the document hasn't been tampered with or altered since the date of signing.
How electronic signatures work
The exact signing process varies depending on the e-signature provider that you use, but the underlying workflows of more robust solutions are similar.
Sending a document for e-signature:
Upload the document you need signed, such as a Word document or a PDF file
Tag the sections that require initials, signatures, phone numbers, etc.
Select the methods of signer authentication you want to use
Send the file via the service to your designated recipient's email
Signing a document:
Receive an email notification to review and sign a document
Verify your identity before signing (if the sender requires that option)
Read the disclosure documents and agree to use the electronic process
Review the document and complete any necessary fields, including attaching any required documents
Sign the document by clicking the signature button or applying an e-signature mark
Once all recipients have signed a document, they're notified, and the document is stored electronically where it can be viewed and downloaded. All of this is done safely due to the built-in security features and the processes that e-signature providers follow.
Methods of verifying signer identity
E-signature technology offers multiple options for verifying a signer's identity before they can access the document and sign, including:
Email address: signers enter their own email address, which is compared to the email address used in the invitation
SMS: signers must enter a one-time passcode sent via SMS text message
Knowledge-based authentication (KBA): signers are asked personal questions gathered from commercially available databases, such as past addresses or vehicles owned
Photo ID upload: signers are verified using their government-issued photo IDs such as passport, driver license or residence permit
Electronic or bank based IDs: signers can submit their login credentials for existing bank accounts or government accounts to prove their identity
For situations where additional levels of signature validity are necessary, some providers offer two additional levels of e-signature that comply with the European Union's (EU) eIDAS requirements:
Advanced: requires a higher level of security, identity verification and authentication to establish a link to the signatory; and includes a certificate-based digital ID (X.509 PKI) issued by a trusted service provider
Qualified: an even more secure version of an advanced e-signature that utilizes a "secure signature creation device" and is deemed a legal equivalent to a wet signature in the EU
The importance of a security-first approach to e-signatures
The level of e-signature security varies by provider, so it's important to choose a provider that has robust security and protection weaved into every area of their business. Those security measures should include:
Physical security: protects the systems and buildings where the systems reside
Platform security: safeguards the data and processes that are stored in the systems
Security certifications/processes: help ensure the provider's employees and partners follow security and privacy best practices
Physical security
Geo-dispersed data centers with active and redundant systems and physical and logically separated networks
Commercial-grade firewalls and border routers to detect IP-based and denial-of -service attacks
Malware protection
Secure, near real-time data replication
Around-the-clock onsite security
Strict physical access control with monitored video surveillance
Platform security
Data encryption in transit and at rest with TLS connections and AES 256-bit encryption
Data access and transfer via HTTPS
Use of Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), giving users the latest capabilities for Web-based authentication and authorization
PKI tamper-evident seal
Certificate of completion
Signature verification and unalterable capture of signing actions and completion status
Multiple authentication options for signers
Security certifications/processes
Compliance with applicable laws, regulations and industry standards, governing digital transactions and electronic signatures, including:
ISO 27001:2013: the highest level of global information security assurance available today
SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2: both reports evaluate internal controls, policies and procedures, with the SOC 2 report focusing on those directly related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy at a service organization
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): ensures safe and secure handling of credit card holder information
Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Security Trust Assurance and Risk (STAR) program: comprises key principles of transparency, rigorous auditing and harmonization of standards.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Privacy Recognition for Processor (PRP) System: comprises Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) and Framework to protect the privacy and security of personal information at rest and in transit
Ability to help support compliance obligations with specialized industry regulations, such as HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11 and specified rules from the FTC, FHA, IRS and FINRA
Security management processes and development practices, including business continuity and disaster recovery planning, employee training, secure coding practices, formal code reviews and regular, code-base security audits
So, to answer the question, are electronic signatures safe? Yes, electronic signatures are indeed safe, and Docusign maintains a security-first approach to ensuring the validity of e-signatures through enhanced signer identity verification, multiple layers of physical and platform security, and a robust compliance certification program.
To view the original article, visit the DocuSign blog.
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[Podcast] Refocus on Using Your Voice for Your Clients, Industry
In this episode of the Drive with NAR podcast, hear members explain why NAR's advocacy machine, which has never once slowed down, is reason number one to be a REALTOR®.
Amidst a tumultuous period in the real estate industry, NAR's massive advocacy machine has never stopped working for its members. Over the last year, REALTORS® secured a reduction in FHA mortgage insurance premiums, got the FHFA to rescind proposed hikes on upfront mortgage fees and protected real estate pros' status as independent contractors. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks with two members steeped in advocacy about the true value of being a REALTOR®.
Find facts about NAR's proposed settlement agreement at facts.realtor.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Libsyn
Visit the episode homepage for show notes and more detail.
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12 Essential Things to Include in Property Listings
Determining what details to include in a property listing can seem overwhelming. You have countless details about the home and neighborhood to highlight.
In this article, we discuss the essential elements every effective listing should contain – from descriptive overviews to amenities.
Let's start ASAP!
The Basics
1. Location
The location of a property is one of the most significant factors that determine its value and appeal. A property's proximity to amenities like schools, hospitals, public transit, shopping, and dining strongly influences its desirability. Being within walking distance or a short drive of such amenities is ideal for most buyers and tenants. Highlight the amenities near the listing and specify the travel time and mode of transport to reach them.
2. Neighborhood
Discuss the neighborhood the property is located in, including its availability of green spaces and recent developments. Mention any nearby landmarks or points of interest. If it is located in a trendy, upcoming neighborhood, highlight the potential for strong future growth. Discuss factors like zoning laws, and future residential and commercial developments that could impact the neighborhood.
3. Accessibility
Note the property's accessibility and convenience regarding major roadways, public transit, and airports. Discuss travel times to employment hubs and nearby cities. Proximity to public transit like buses, trains, and bike lanes appeals to many buyers and tenants and contributes to a property's value.
4. Lot Size and Exterior
Note the lot size, any outdoor spaces like a backyard, patio, or balcony, and details about the home's exterior such as architectural style, siding or facade, roof type, garage or carport, fencing, and landscaping. Provide the total square footage of the lot and building footprint.
5. Interior Layout and Features
Give an overview of the interior layout including the number of rooms and their dimensions and purposes. Discuss special features like high ceilings, crown molding, built-in cabinetry or bookshelves, fireplaces, balconies, attics, or basements. Mention if the property has central heating/cooling, and an alarm or security system.
6. Age and Upgrades
Specify when the home was built and the date of any major renovations. List any updates made within the last 5-10 years such as a new roof, siding, windows, plumbing, electrical, or HVAC system.
Room-by-Room Rundown
7. Kitchen
The kitchen is often the heart of a home, so include specifics on cabinetry, countertops, appliances, and layout. Note the dimensions, material, number of cabinets and drawers, and countertop square footage. List major appliances like the stove, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, and any other built-ins. Describe the flooring type and any accent features like an island, pantry, or eat-in area.
8. Living Room
In the living room section, list the room dimensions, main flooring types like hardwood or carpet, any focal points like a fireplace or bay window, and the number of entrances/exits. Note any built-in bookshelves or media centers and whether the space flows openly to other areas like the dining room. Describe the amount of natural light the room receives and its orientation in the home.
9. Bedrooms
For each bedroom, list the exact dimensions, number of windows and closets, flooring type, and any additional features like ceiling fans. Note the size of the closet(s) and whether walk-in or standard. Describe the amount of natural light, room orientation, and location relative to living areas or full/half bathrooms.
10. Bathrooms
In the bathroom sections, list the total number of bathrooms and the dimensions of each. Describe the flooring type, vanity, toilet, tub, and/or shower details like whether standard, garden, or walk-in. Note the countertop material and cabinet details. List any additional features such as double vanities, linen closets, skylights, or whirlpool tubs.
Financials
11. Pricing
For any property listing, the asking price is arguably the most important detail. When determining an asking price, you will need to consider the property's fair market value by evaluating recent selling prices of comparable properties in the local market.
12. Property Taxes
Local governments and school districts administer property taxes. The tax amount depends on the property's assessed value and the tax rates in that location. Property tax amounts can significantly impact a property's attractiveness to buyers, so you must provide an accurate estimate of the annual property taxes. It is also important to note that property tax amounts are subject to change each year based on fluctuations in property values and tax rates.
As you can see, each section of a property listing plays an important role in effectively showcasing the home. Just make sure everything is set and shown perfectly.
To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.
Related reading
How to Write Compelling Property Descriptions
10 Real Estate Photography Tips to Help Your Listings Shine
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Generating and Keeping Clients with Cloud CMA + Homebeat
Multiple Dates and times
Learn how to set your clients and leads to automatically receive live updates on where their home stands in the marketplace, with Cloud CMA and Homebeat.
In this webinar, you'll learn how to stand out and stay top of mind, by easily providing your contacts with the information they want and need.
Register now!
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The Importance of Personal Branding for Real Estate Agents: Standing Out in the Crowd
In the world of real estate, there are many, many talented agents out there. With the sheer amount of them, how can you ensure that your name stands out from the rest? Well, the answer lies in the power of personal branding.
By developing a strong and authentic personal brand, real estate agents can differentiate themselves and build trust with potential clients.
In this post, we'll explore the significance of personal branding for real estate agents and provide practical tips on how to create an impactful brand that sets you apart.
Authenticity breeds trust
Trust is crucial in the real estate industry. The agents that clients choose to work with must be trustworthy, knowledgeable, and sincere about serving their interests. By showcasing your distinctive personality, values, and expertise through personal branding, you can win over the trust and connection of potential customers. By being genuine in your branding, you will be positioned as a trustworthy and approachable professional, laying the groundwork for fruitful client-agent relationships.
Differentiate yourself from others
Differentiation is essential in a stacked real estate market. With the amount of talent in the real estate agent market, it is key to stand out from the crowd. You can carve out a niche and set yourself apart from the other agents in the market by using personal branding. Finding your distinctive strengths and values will help you stand out, whether it's through your unique selling proposition, specialized knowledge of a particular neighborhood, or a particular target market. By emphasizing these features in your branding, you establish yourself as the go-to authority in your field of expertise and make it simpler for potential customers to choose you.
Build a recognizable and memorable brand
A powerful personal brand leaves an impact. You can build a brand that potential customers will remember by devoting time and effort to developing a consistent visual identity, tone of voice, and online presence. People are more likely to remember your name, your area of expertise, and recommend you to others if you have a recognizable brand. Your network will grow as a result of this elevated brand recognition, which also encourages long-term success in the real estate sector by increasing referrals and repeat business.
Leverage social media and online platforms
Personal branding and having a presence online go hand in hand in the modern digital age. Real estate agents can use social media sites like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to share relevant content, highlight their expertise, and interact with their target market. You can position yourself as an industry thought leader and go-to resource by consistently delivering high-quality content that is consistent with your personal brand. Your credibility and visibility are further increased by actively interacting with followers, responding to questions, and taking part in industry discussions.
To conclude, in a competitive real estate landscape, personal branding is no longer optional, but a necessity. By developing an authentic brand that showcases your unique strengths, values, and expertise, you can stand out in the crowd and build trust with potential clients. Through differentiation, brand recognition, and an effective online presence, you can position yourself as a go-to expert, attracting more clients and opportunities. So, take the time to invest in personal branding and let your true colors shine. Remember, in the world of real estate, standing out is the key to success!
To view the original article, visit the Transactly blog.
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5 PR Hacks to Boost Your Brand and Your Business
Do you ever wonder why the same real estate agents in your market are quoted in the local news every time? Do you want to learn how that agent can be you? Kevin Hawkins, an award-winning communications consultant specializing in PR and media relations for the real estate industry, shares the power of PR in five PR hacks you can use immediately to help you grow your brand and your real estate business.
Understanding Public Relations and Its Value
Public relations, or PR, in its simplest form, is about storytelling and relationship-building. It's the art of communicating your brand's narrative to the right people at the right time, creating a rapport with your audience. For you, as a real estate agent, it's a pathway to position yourself as the local authority in your market and the go-to agent in your community.
The true value of PR lies in its ability to create credibility and trust with your target audience. Unlike paid advertising, PR offers a third-party endorsement that can be far more powerful in attracting and engaging potential clients.
Think of PR as your personal megaphone, not merely to amplify your voice but to fine-tune the message reaching your audience. Its value lies in its ability to shape perceptions, manage reputations, and cultivate a community presence that resonates with your client base.
Leverage local media
Local media outlets, such as newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations, are often interested in stories about real estate and typically seek out a real estate expert for their coverage. You can use PR to pitch your expertise or local market knowledge to media outlets and potentially secure coverage to reach a large and targeted audience.
Moreover, you can establish yourself as a go-to expert in your area by providing valuable insights and commentary on the local real estate market.
When crafting your pitch to reporters, consider the unique aspects of your local market and how your expertise can provide value to the media outlet's audience. For example, if your area is experiencing a surge in home sales, you could offer to give commentary on the factors driving this trend and what it means for buyers and sellers. Or, if you specialize in a particular type of property, such as luxury homes or eco-friendly buildings, you could pitch a story idea focused on that niche.
Consider what you can offer, such as insight on market trends, housing advice, or community insights. What are the local trends? What is happening with property values, a trend towards home improvements, or a new development proposed that will impact your community? Become the voice the media turns to when a housing story calls for a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and local expert.
Pro Tip: When pitching to local media, success requires a compelling story angle that offers unique insights that will capture the attention of journalists and their audience. Be prepared to offer statistics, anecdotes, and examples to support your news angle and demonstrate your expertise.
Utilizing social media
Social media platforms, particularly Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, can be powerful tools for sharing your knowledge and expertise with a wider audience. By regularly posting valuable content, such as market updates, home buying tips, and insight on local real estate trends, you can establish yourself as a thought leader in your market – and that can attract the attention of reporters who cover real estate.
To maximize the impact of your social media efforts, develop a content strategy that aligns with your brand and target audience. Test the types of content that will resonate with your followers, such as educational blog posts, inspiring success stories, or fun and engaging short videos. Use eye-catching visuals, such as high-quality photos and infographics, to make your posts more shareable and increase their reach.
Remember to share any news coverage you are included in on all your social channels, as media coverage often begets more media coverage.
Pro Tip: Remember to track your social media posts closely and engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages. Boost your most successful post, as a small ad spend of $50 to $100 can help attract a few thousand more eyeballs.
Networking with other professionals
Good PR isn't limited to creating publicity. Use the principles of good PR to build relationships with other professionals, such as mortgage brokers, investment planners, and attorneys, who can refer business to you. Networking and building mutually beneficial relationships can increase your exposure and reach new potential clients. Attend industry events, join local business associations, and consider hosting your own networking events to connect with other professionals in your area.
When attending networking events, come prepared with a clear and concise elevator pitch highlighting your unique value proposition and the types of clients you serve. Be genuinely interested in the people you meet and look for ways to add value to their businesses. Follow up with the contacts you make after the event to continue building those relationships and explore potential partnership opportunities.
Pro Tip: When networking, focus on building genuine relationships rather than simply trying to secure referrals. Establishing trust and credibility with other professionals will make you more likely to receive high-quality referrals in the long run. Consider offering reciprocal referrals to professionals who complement your services and share your commitment to excellent client service.
Participating in community events
Attending community events, such as charity fundraisers or local festivals, can be an excellent way to increase your visibility and build relationships with potential clients. You can demonstrate your commitment to the area and attract new business by getting involved in your community. Consider sponsoring a local event, volunteering your time, or hosting a booth to showcase your services and connect with potential clients.
Keep in mind that many high-profile events will earn media coverage. If you are involved in the event's organization, offer to support its PR outreach and act as one of its spokespersons.
When selecting community events, look for opportunities that align with your brand and target audience. For example, consider sponsoring a school-related event or team if you work with many families. If you focus on luxury properties, look for events that cater to high-net-worth individuals, such as charity auctions or golf tournaments.
Pro Tip: When participating in community events, have plenty of business cards. Better yet, learn how to share your contact information with your smartphone. Offer to email them your newsletter or monthly local market report: it's a great way to grow your sphere.
Utilizing online reviews and ratings
Online reviews and ratings can be a powerful source of PR for you, as powerful client endorsements can be priceless. As a service-centric agent, you must leverage your success by encouraging satisfied clients to leave positive reviews on platforms like Facebook, Google, Zillow – and even Yelp. These reviews can help you establish a positive online footprint and attract new business when others search online for local, reputable agents.
Provide satisfied clients with direct links to your profiles on various review platforms to make it easy for them to leave reviews. A best practice is to send a follow-up email immediately after closing a transaction to thank them for their business and request a review. You can even share examples of what others have said to help them get started.
To encourage them to participate, offer to make a small donation to a local nonprofit in their honor to show your appreciation for their feedback.
Pro Tip: Be sure to monitor your online reviews regularly and respond to any negative feedback in a professional and constructive manner. This will demonstrate that you value your clients' feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.
Unlock the secret power of PR
The hidden power of public relations can amplify your brand – an essential addition to your promotional activities. By engaging with local media, you can be the sage voice of your local housing market.
On the digital front, your social media can help showcase your local expertise and build trust with your followers. Networking—online or offline—isn't about handshakes or drive-by "liking" but connecting to create strategic alliances with like-minded professionals to extend your reach. Contact Tech Helpline for assistance if you have general questions about social media or any tech devices questions.
Participating in community events can help you deepen your local roots, showcasing a commitment that transcends transactions. Client reviews online provide concrete examples of why people like to work with you. Each of these takeaways doesn't just add a layer to your brand—they fortify it by strengthening your visibility, credibility, and genuine connection that only PR can provide.
By incorporating these PR strategies into your marketing activities, you can help grow your business and establish yourself as "the" trusted authority in your local real estate market.
To view the original article, visit the Tech Helpline blog.
Related reading
What Is Public Relations?
Collaborating with Media and Reporters for Brand Awareness in Real Estate
5 Surefire Ways to Keep Your News Releases from Being Used
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Serving Those Who Serve: 12 Resources for Helping Military Clients Find a Home
Saturday is Armed Forces Day. Unlike Veteran's Day, which celebrates those who previously served in the military, Armed Forces Day honors those who are currently serving. Though the needs of veterans and active personnel who want to purchase a home do have some overlap, those currently serving in the military have special needs of their own. How can real estate agents serve them better?
Today, we're going to highlight housing resources that you can share with these special clients. (But, first, a resource for you: Want to better serve those who serve? Consider earning a Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification to learn how to handle the unique needs of military personnel.)
Here are 12 housing resources you can share with active-duty clients:
VA Home Loan Program
1. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loan Program:
Website: VA Home Loans
Benefits: No down payment requirement, no private mortgage insurance (PMI), competitive interest rates, and limited closing costs.
Eligibility: Active-duty service members, veterans, and certain National Guard and Reserve members.
Financial Assistance and Counseling
2. Veterans United Home Loans:
Website: Veterans United
Services: Specializes in VA loans, provides educational resources, and offers 24/7 customer support.
3. Navy Federal Credit Union:
Website: Navy Federal
Services: Offers VA loans, mortgage calculators, home-buying education, and services tailored to the needs of active-duty personnel.
4. PenFed Credit Union:
Website: PenFed Credit Union
Services: Offers competitive mortgage rates, educational resources, and home-buying tools.
Homebuyer Education
5. HUD Housing Counseling:
Website: HUD Housing Counseling
Services: Provides free or low-cost housing counseling services, including pre-purchase advice and foreclosure prevention.
6. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):
Website: CFPB
Resources: Provides guides and tools for homebuyers, including specific information for military personnel.
Relocation and Deployment Considerations
7. Military OneSource:
Website: Military OneSource
Services: Offers comprehensive support for relocation, financial counseling, and home-buying resources tailored to active-duty members.
8. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS):
Website: DFAS
Resources: Provides information on military pay, allowances, and financial planning, which is crucial for home-buying decisions.
Local and State Programs
9. State Veterans Affairs Offices:
Website: National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs
Services: Many states offer additional benefits for military personnel, including property tax exemptions and state-sponsored home loan programs.
10. Local Community Programs:
Action: Check with local housing authorities and military bases for additional assistance programs tailored to active-duty service members.
Online Resources and Tools
11. Military.com Home Buying:
Website: Military.com
Resources: Articles, guides, and tips specifically for military homebuyers.
12. Homeownership for Military Personnel:
Website: Homes for Heroes
Resources: Discounts and benefits for military personnel in the home-buying process.
Practical Tips for Active-Duty Personnel
Pre-approval Process: Encourage them to get pre-approved for a VA loan to understand their budget and strengthen their offer.
Deployment Considerations: Help them plan for potential deployments and relocations by choosing flexible mortgage options and considering the resale or rental potential of the property.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Ensure they understand how their BAH can be used to help cover mortgage payments.
Credit Score Improvement: Advise on improving their credit score if necessary to get better loan terms.
Local Support: Connect them with local military housing offices and relocation assistance programs.
By providing these resources and practical tips, you can help current military personnel navigate the home-buying process effectively, ensuring they make informed decisions and use the benefits available to them.
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REALTOR® Grows Traffic by 700% by Leveraging Multiple .realestate Domains
Finding innovative ways to capture leads and drive business amidst the crowded digital real estate landscape is no easy feat. Our recent guest on the Tech Tips series, Marcus Reynolds, is a seasoned REALTOR® with a background in risk management and institutional transactions. Here, he shares his journey of success with diligence and strategic thinking.
Marcus's approach to carving out his niche in the market is centered around the power of domain selection. Opting not for one, but three, .realestate domains, he strategically targets multiple markets in Colorado. Marcus was able to fully customize his Premium Plus .realestate website with separate pages for each city and point all of his domains to one single easy-to-manage website platform. This strategy has amplified his brand visibility and expanded his reach across various markets.
The decision to utilize .realestate domains for these websites proved to be a game-changer for Marcus's business. Leveraging Google Analytics and incorporating Google Ads into his strategy, Marcus witnessed a significant spike in website traffic and lead generation. Within the first week alone, organic traffic soared by 600% to 700%, setting the stage for remarkable growth.
That increase in web traffic has had a tangible impact on his business. With a 40% increase in phone calls and a surge in website engagement, Marcus's investment in .realestate domains has paid for itself many times over already.
In addition to the increase in business, Marcus highlights the customization and support offered by the .realestate website platform. The seamless integration of MLS connections not only streamlines lead management, but also empowers his team of agents. With automated lead routing and round-robin distribution, Marcus ensures efficiency and transparency within his team.
On the front end of the website, customers love the information and user interface of the website. With an average website retention time of nine minutes, Marcus's clients are not just visitors but active participants in his ecosystem. The website's intuitive design keeps clients within the fold, facilitating meaningful interactions and ultimately driving business growth.
As agents and brokers seek to elevate their tech stack and differentiate themselves in the digital landscape, Marcus's success proves that by embracing and leveraging innovative technology, anyone can unlock new avenues for growth and solidify their position in the market.
Get your .realestate website now and watch your success soar!
Related reading
Streamlining Success: How Simple Tech and .realtor Websites Revolutionize Your Real Estate Business
Lead Gen for Every Career Stage: How to Scale Your Website with Your Business
Friday Freebie: Get a .realtor Website Domain for 1 YEAR
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3 Essential Marketing Emails that Real Estate Agents Can Send Today
Real estate's busy season is here — when's the last time you reached out to your database? While it's a best practice to stay in touch year-round, it's extra crucial to contact those in your sphere during the spring and summer selling season.
Not sure what to say? Stephanie Alfonso and Matthew Montoya of Constant Contact have your back. In a recent webinar, they shared a wealth of outreach tips, including three specific examples of emails you can send to your database.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at each of these emails. We'll also offer examples of the components that your message should consider, including subject line, call-to-action, desired business result, and send frequency.
Ready? Let's dive in…
1. Homeowner Tips
Homeowners spend an average of 10 years in their home, according to the 2024 NAR Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report. That means that they're only ready to receive sales-focused messages once every decade. So what should you send those contacts who are not ready to transact in the near future?
Enter the Homeowner Tips email. These friendly messages aim to offer homeowners something of value — in this case, advice on maintaining what's likely their biggest financial asset. You can write these yourself, hire a writer or service to create these, or tap into ChatGPT or a similar AI to help you get started.
Subject line: This is an easy one — you can use the title of whatever your tip-focused article is about for the subject line. That could be anything from "3 Tips to Get Your Yard Ready for Spring" to "Appliance Care 101: How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Household Appliances," for example.
Call-to-action: This email can be a great way to drive traffic to your website. Post the full article to your blog and include an excerpt in your email with a call-to-action like, "Read more tips here," or "Learn more about maintaining your home."
Business result: What do you want this email to accomplish for your business? Here are three results to keep in mind while crafting your message: Staying connected to clients, driving traffic to your website, reaching new clients when your email is shared or forwarded.
Send frequency: Once a quarter.
2. Share Your Listings
Have a new listing? Share it with your sphere. Here's the break down:
Subject line: New properties now available!
Call-to-action: See more details / Take a video tour / Schedule a viewing now / Share this listing with family and friends
Business result: Increase sales or interest in a property. Get new prospects via email sharing.
Send frequency: As needed as determined by your market.
3. Request Referrals
Let's close out with some good news: 90% of recent buyers and 87% of recent sellers would recommend their real estate agents, according to NAR. Despite these encouraging numbers, many agents feel uncomfortable asking for a referral.
You shouldn't let discomfort get in the way, however, because consumers are already primed to give reviews and referrals. "Anytime we get out of an Uber, what's the first thing that we're asked to do? Give that five star rating. Give that review. We're used to it," says Alfonso.
She recommends keeping a template that asks for referrals or testimonials ready to go in your email system. "Being able to shoot that out, automate that out, just makes it so easy. The power of referrals powers our business."
Here's what to keep in mind when drafting this email:
Subject line: We'd appreciate your referral!
Call-to-action: Refer a friend, family member, or colleague / Leave a rating or review on [platform of choice]
Business result: Acquire quality leads. Connect with other agents. Boost revenue.
Send frequency: Once a quarter to your general database. Immediately after closing to specific clients.
Building a Better Email
The above is just a fraction of the great advice we received in our webinar. Watch the full recording for more tips on everything from building an effective email to leveraging AI to help write your message.
Want an easy way to build and send these emails to your database? RE Technology readers can try Constant Contact FREE for 60 days, no credit card required.
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Trust Your Gut: 13 Red Flags to Avoid Hiring Bad Contractors
Helping a client undergo renovations for their home project is exciting, but it's also a huge undertaking. The contractor you choose can make or break the renovation – not to mention affect your client relationship and chance at future referrals.
Hire the wrong person for the job, and your go to market date could be pushed out much longer than you ever planned. In addition, the budget might double or triple, and you could still end up having to hire a second contractor to finish the project or fix the one that was botched. That's why you need to know when to walk—or better yet, run—from a contractor who is about to turn your listing into a money pit or burn a hole in your client's wallet.
We spoke with Michael Alladawi, CEO of Revive, a national company that helps real estate agents and homeowners maximize the value of their homes through guided renovations. He shared his insights on the 13 red flags that should have you running for the hills if you ever come across them.
1. The contractor wants a large down payment
No one expects contractors to work for free. On the other hand, your "spidey sense" should start tingling if they ask for a large down payment before they start doing any work. "It is typical to collect an advance toward securing large-ticket items such as cabinetry and countertops, but in certain states, it is illegal for a contractor to exceed a certain down payment cap," explains Michael. With or without those regulations, your client should expect to fork over a down payment of no more than 10% of the total project cost.
2. The contract is vague
The contract presented by your contractor should be detailed enough that you need to put your reading glasses on to view it. "Be wary of a contract that is devoid of details—or the language is vague at best—regarding the scope of work for the project, responsibilities, payment schedules, and start and stop times," says Alladawi.
In fact, he says the scope of work and every single detail must be included in your written agreements. Why is this so important? You don't want to make assumptions regarding what you thought you signed up for. And every time you say, "I thought you were going to…" Michael explains this is what's referred to as scope creep, a "change order," which will cost additional money. For example, you might assume that paint would be included in the cost of painting the home or debris removal is included in a demo, but if it's not in the contract, your client will be paying extra.
3. The contractor had bad or zero reviews
You can give the contractor the benefit of the doubt, but you still need to see if there's any dirt on them. These days, everything is online, and if you see bad reviews, take them seriously. The adage that you can't please everyone is true—but multiple bad reviews are usually a smoke signal. And where there's smoke, there's fire. "If you don't see any reviews at all about a company, chances are they have dissolved previous companies and reestablished under a new name," Alladawi explains. When contractors can't clean up their brand or reviews, they often start over.
4. The contractor doesn't have references
In addition to reviews, contractors should also have references. Also, if this person has great reviews for painting but they're offering to install a new kitchen, you need examples of the latter. Renovations are significant investments of both time and energy for homeowners. Alladawi explains, "The best way to understand a contractor's work is to review photos, reviews, and references from their work." Contractors should be eager to share the contact information of happy customers who can answer questions about their performance.
5. The bid or estimate is extremely low
Usually, consumers are concerned about prices being higher than necessary. However, Alladawi also warns about a low-ball bid. "Contractors know that homeowners will be fixed on costs and the bottom line, and unethical contractors will leave out some scope of work details just to obtain the job," he explains. "You need to review bids against your scope of work to ensure it includes everything you expect."
6. The contractor doesn't have proof of insurance
Don't just ask a potential contractor for insurance—ask to see a copy of it. You should also be sure it includes workman's compensation and general liability. "If the project is large in scope, you may want to also check and see that they are bonded," Alladawi recommends.
7. The contractor is a poor communicator
We're not saying your contractor needs to have a BA in communications. However, if they fail to return phone calls or address your concerns, Alladawi says this is a preview of what you'll get if you hire them—and he says they may end up abandoning the project. Written communication skills are also important. "When a contractor is hesitant to provide information in writing or engage in proper digital communication, this is a definite red flag that he or she doesn't want a paper trail of evidence or isn't legally licensed to do the work requested," says Alladawi, "A running paper trail is a normal expectation when you're dealing with a contractor."
8. The contractor doesn't mention permits or suggests the homeowner obtain them
"Each municipality has different ordinance requirements for various home remodeling projects, including outdoor spaces," Alladawi warns. "Many projects—including retaining walls, driveways, fireplaces, and outdoor kitchens—need to be permitted and engineered and require a substantial amount of expertise to execute properly." And he says your potential contractor needs to address this as it can affect timelines and costs to pull permits.
Even worse is a contractor who asks you to pull the permits. Alladawi says this usually means you're dealing with an unlicensed contractor or someone whose license has been revoked. "Never obtain the permit as an agent or homeowner because whoever obtains and signs for the permit is responsible for everything, including fines and fees when things go wrong," he explains. "You want the contractor to carry the burden of doing the work."
9. The contractor doesn't address materials or lien waivers
If the contractor is executing draws, and the project is large, Alladawi says you may want to ask about lien waivers. "This is an extra step that will ensure that nobody, including a contractor's supplier, can place a lien on the property," he says. "For example, if a contractor doesn't pay their dealer, the dealer can issue a lien directly on the homeowner, which must be satisfied to receive clean title or deed" if there is ever a sale. In other words, you can't sell your listing until this debt is paid.
10. You're unable to verify the contractor's license, or the names do not match
There's a reason you should always verify the contractor's license. Alladawi says this is how you can find out if the contractor is unlicensed and using someone else's license. It's possible this individual's license has been revoked, and they got someone else to apply for one. "It may even be a corporation, but the principals do not match the name of the contractor," he says.
11. The contractor asks for cash payments
If the contractor asks if you can pay in cash, it's quite possible this individual is trying to avoid paying taxes on the business or for employees. Alladawi says this is a sign that you're dealing with a dishonest person. But there's yet another reason why you shouldn't pay in cash. "It's important to have proof of payment using a canceled check, receipts, and lien releases upon payments made to the contractor in the event he or she claims they weren't paid," Alladawi says.
12. The contractor is under the influence
What people do on their time is their business—but what they do in your home is your business. It might go without saying, but "when it comes to deciding on who you want to work with, a major waving red flag that says, 'don't hire me,' is a contractor who shows up to the job site, and you suspect they are under the influence," Alladawi warns.
13. Bad gut feeling
Finally, if you get a bad feeling about a contractor, it's worth considering other options. Your intuition can be a valuable tool in making a decision.
Revive Real Estate partners with real estate professionals to provide the funding, guidance, and contractors needed to get strategic pre-sale renovations done fast and for maximum value. Discover more at www.revive.realestate.
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5 Script-Starters to Use When Clients Push Back
Does client skepticism have you scrambling for the right words?
When your expertise is questioned or your value proposition stalls the deal, it's tough to stay on track. But with RPR (Realtors Property Resource) in your toolkit, you'll always have data-backed answers to win them over.
Here are some common client pushback questions and statements, and how you can use RPR to reply to them…
Countering Online Estimates
"Wait a second, I know my home's worth _______"
This is one of the most common comments listing agents deal with day in and day out. Homeowners keep a close eye on their neighbor's home values and how much they sell for. They feel, often strongly, that their home is of equal (or more) value for a variety of reasons. But the truth is, they might be relying on outdated online estimates or have an emotional attachment inflating their price expectation.
Here's your scripted reply:
I understand you've looked at online estimates… and that's a great starting point. But I have a special resource that allows me to dig much deeper into the data. We'll look at recent sales of truly comparable homes, not just a computer algorithm. This ensures your pricing is both realistic and competitive.
RPR's CMA tools give you everything you need to pull comps and put together on-target pricing recommendations. If you haven't already done so, sign up and attend this free RPR CMA webinar.
"An online estimate told us our house is worth more than you're saying."
Many consumers seek out online home listing sites when they start to look for homes or do research on how much they think their home is worth.
And some have catchy names that homeowners really gravitate to. And who wouldn't want to see an inflated price for their home? However, online value algorithms can often be way off mark and very deceiving when it comes to making sound real estate decisions. It is a place to start when looking for homes, but it most certainly does not replace an experienced CMA or a professional appraisal.
Here's your scripted reply:
Yes, I understand that you may have seen your home online and you're happy with the number you saw. But are you familiar with how online AVMs work? They take the deed recordings in a geographic area to determine the number, and they don't include the condition of the home or any upgrades.
I will provide you with more accurate data, and I can show you recent sales in the area that paint a more accurate picture. I will build you a professional CMA using proprietary REALTOR® tools and data, and I will go even further by creating a Sales Comparison Analysis, which is an advanced, detailed valuation analysis. This will help us find the perfect way to price your home.
RPR's home pricing valuation tools and data are second to none. Coupled with your local market experience and insight, you'll be able to push back yourself on off-the-mark online estimates. To sharpen your skills even further, take RPR's advanced valuation webinar for tips and tricks on how to evaluate hard-to-price properties.
Emphasizing Market Expertise
"I can sell it myself…"
Just about every agent in the business has encountered at least one FSBO in their career. And although there are less FSBO transactions than previous decades, For Sale By Owners are still a stubborn bunch. They underestimate the complexities of marketing, negotiation and paperwork. And they fully subscribe to the "Put a sign in the ground and wait for the offers to roll in" philosophy of home selling. Here's how to handle one with an assist from RPR…
Here's your scripted reply:
Selling a home in today's market requires more than just putting up a listing or a sign. I constantly monitor local trends for things like median days on market and price adjustments. This lets us fine-tune your pricing and marketing as the market shifts and evolves.
The RPR Residential Market Trends are your go-to source for hyper-local housing market data. Don't miss out on the market insights that power smarter decisions. Here's how to conduct in-depth market analysis by looking at extended time frames as they pertain to housing market data. This video tutorial, RPR Market Trends, will show you how to track stats and metrics over months or years to see how the market has evolved. Hover over the trendlines to pinpoint specific data points and make informed decisions, and then easily share this information with clients and prospects with a click or two.
The Value of Time and Negotiation
"All REALTORS® are the same…"
Oftentimes, and even more so thanks to the recent buyer commission litigation and settlements, consumers do not understand or grasp what they're paying for. With this fee-focused mindset, they simply don't see the value in paying a commission and push back accordingly.
Both buyers and sellers may not understand the different levels of service, expertise and resources offered.
Here's your scripted reply for sellers:
While selling yourself is possible, my network and market insights help me identify potential buyers who may be a great fit for your home. Plus, I handle complex negotiations every day, aiming to get you the best possible terms, not just a quick sale.
Here's your scripted reply for buyers:
Negotiations can be tricky. I have access to in-depth market data to back up our offers. This means not just getting you a good price, but the right terms to save you even more in the long run.
Use these script starters to prove your value to buyers and sellers. To dig even deeper into everything that RPR offers REALTORS®, be sure to check out these video tutorials in the RPR Learning Center.
New neighborhoods
"You haven't sold any houses in our area."
New agents hear this one quite a bit, especially ones with zero to a few closed transactions. Even veteran agents when they venture outside their "regular" neighborhoods can hear this criticism. And although you might not be familiar with who teaches second grade at the local elementary school, you can learn and know a lot about an area thanks to RPR.
Here's your scripted reply:
I understand your concern. You'll be impressed by how quickly I've become an expert on your neighborhood. I have access to a special database with local neighborhood insights and pricing tools most people don't have access to—such as the area's walkability, vital metrics, and how neighborhoods stack up against each other. Let me show you how my expertise translates into the best possible outcome for your home sale.
The data from RPR can really help you in your rebuttal. RPR Reports, especially the Neighborhood and School Reports, give you a plethora of information about the area and its surrounding area. This includes school scores, walkability, points of interest, shopping and restaurant proximity, and so much more.
You can also utilize the RPR Market Trends ScriptWriter to give you some insight as to how the market currently stands by searching for the neighborhood's name or ZIP code. And here's a nice cheat code: choose the "conversational" tone and the "Create Video Script" for your search area, and you'll almost instantly be provided with a script that you can use to help craft your reply, as it gives you all kinds of stats that are local to this neighborhood. Use the video script created by AI to aid you in your scripted responses!
Prove your value and your worth using these script starters
Clients can be hesitant, nervous or apprehensive in just about every phase of a transaction. And it can be for a variety of reasons, both personal (employment, overall financial situation) and external (interest rates, recession fears). Sometimes, they're simply overwhelmed.
However, how you respond to the pushback is key to your success as a REALTOR®. It's your job to remain cool and calm, and provide some clarity amongst the chaos.
Having these script-starters at your disposal is a smart way to be prepped for all types of questions and stop signs.
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
Related reading
'How's the market?' Learn how to respond with RPR Market Trends
6 Real Estate Scripts (and When to Use Them)
Try This Expired Listing Script to Win More Appointments
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Friday Freebie: Let AI Power Up Your Marketing with this 60-day Trial
The average real estate agent is required to wear a lot of hats: sales guru, housing market expert, advisor, marketer, and more. Outside of hiring an assistant, how can agents take back some of their valuable time?
Enter artificial intelligence. Since late 2022, real estate agents have been leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to help them with a variety of tasks. Today, the power of AI has also been integrated into several top real estate apps.
Today, we're going to introduce you to one of those apps. Constant Contact is a name synonymous with email marketing, but did you know it also offers social media and SMS marketing all in one place? Even better, Constant Contact now offers an integrated AI assistant that can write campaign messages for you based on just a few keywords.
See it for yourself! RE Technology readers can try Constant Contact free for 60 days in this week's Friday Freebie. Read on to learn how to claim your free trial…
Free 60-day trial of Constant Contact's AI-powered marketing tools
Don't know what to say in that marketing email? Not sure if a subject line will catch your audience's attention? Let AI do the heavy lifting for you! Constant Contact's AI can even write variations of the same social post for each platform that you use.
Additionally, Constant Contact goes the extra mile to ensure that your emails are delivered. When Google and Yahoo implemented email authentication requirements in February, Constant Contact stepped up to assist their customers. Watch Constant Contact CEO Frank Vella explain:
Here's what you'll get in your 60-day free trial of Constant Contact:
Email and social media marketing management in one solution
Customizable automation workflows
Built-in AI marketing assistant
List-building tools and sign-up forms
Integrations with real estate tools like WiseAgent, Zillow, dotloop, BoomTown, and more
Pre-designed templates and a drag-and-drop email editor
Comprehensive analytics to monitor campaign performance and help you fine-tune your marketing strategy
And more!
Free up your time and make marketing your business easier than ever. Claim your FREE 60-day trial of Constant Contact today!
Related reading
8 Ways to Leverage the Magic of AI for Real Estate Marketing
[WATCH] Empowering Real Estate Professionals: Constant Contact CEO Shares Insights and Strategies
Recruitment and Retention Tactics: How Brokerages and Teams Can Leverage Constant Contact
[WATCH] AI Magic for Real Estate Marketing: Unlocking Real Estate Marketing Excellence with AI Innovations
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Which AI Chatbot Subscription Is Best for Your Business?
You've heard the buzz about AI transforming the real estate industry, but with so many chatbot options available, how can you find the one that best fits your business needs?
Here's a look at the strengths and weaknesses of five of the most popular AI chatbots: ChatGPT, Claude AI, Google Gemini, Perplexity AI, and Jasper – to help you make an informed decision about which subscription is worth your hard-earned dollars.
ChatGPT
Strengths: ChatGPT excels at creating high-quality content, assisting with analyzing research, and answering questions, saving real estate professionals significant time and effort. It can generate human-like responses, making it a valuable tool for drafting informative and engaging content. Personalization has been improved with the recent addition of memory storage.
Weaknesses: Despite its impressive capabilities, ChatGPT lacks integration with real-time data sources, which may result in outdated or inaccurate information. As news reports have shown, ChatGPT's outputs could include biased or insensitive content if not carefully monitored and filtered.
Real use case: A real estate agent can use ChatGPT to draft informative and engaging blog posts about local market trends, homebuying tips, or the benefits of buyers working with a real estate professional.
Pricing: A free account provides access to the ChatGPT 3.5 model via web, iOS, and Android unlimited messages, interactions, and history. Pro account: Access to GPT-4 and access to additional tools like DALL·E, Browsing, Advanced Data Analysis, and more: $20 per month per individual.
Claude AI
Strengths: Claude AI offers round-the-clock availability and highly personalized interactions. It provides valuable assistance with complex questions, making it a reliable resource for agents and clients. Claude's ability to learn from previous interactions enables it to improve its responses and adapt to individual user needs continuously. It is one of the best content creation bots available today.
Weaknesses: While Claude can handle many tasks and inquiries, it may struggle with complex, sensitive, or emotionally charged situations where empathy and understanding are crucial. Claude's AI data training has a cutoff date of 2021 and may lack the ability to provide the most current information to inquiries.
Real use case: A real estate agent can use Claude AI to create comprehensive and engaging neighborhood guides that showcase the unique features, amenities, and lifestyles of different areas within their market. These guides could serve as valuable resources for potential buyers, helping establish the agent as a local expert.
Pricing: A free account provides limited access to basic features, such as answering simple questions and providing general information. The free version also has restrictions on the number of interactions. Claude Pro: For $20 per month per individual, users get full access to all features, including advanced question-answering capabilities and higher usage limits detailed here.
Google Gemini
Strengths: Google Gemini can help agents enhance client communication and marketing efforts. Its ability to generate highly personalized content makes it a versatile tool for creating engaging marketing materials. Gemini's superpower as a chatbot is its integration with Google Search, which makes it able to provide real-time information. It's also great at summarizing content.
Weaknesses: As a more general-purpose AI, Gemini's responses to prompts tend to be shorter, limiting its ability to assist in creating blog posts that require more content. Also, Gemini raised ethical concerns, and its use requires extra caution within an industry that must adhere to fair housing rules and data privacy.
Real use case: An agent can use Gemini to create personalized email campaigns that provide valuable information about local housing markets, financing options, or the benefits of homeownership to their client base.
Pricing: Google Gemini offers a standard free version that reliably answers questions, summarizes text, and creates basic content (poems, scripts, etc.). Gemini Advanced, which requires a Google One AI Subscription, can provide coding assistance and debugging help, offer complex reasoning and logical problem solving, handle nuanced instructions for creative tasks, and provide longer and more in-depth content for $19.99 per month per individual.
Perplexity AI
Strengths: Perplexity AI stands out for its integration, providing in-depth, well-researched, and tight responses by drawing information from multiple online sources. It is also highly flexible, allowing users to switch between different AI models, such as ChatGPT-4 and Claude 2.1, to find the best fit for your prompt. Bonus: You can use Perplexity to search Reddit.
Weaknesses: Perplexity can be inconsistent with responses and does not handle problem-solving well. Moreover, while it may use search, it does not have the breadth of search coverage as a traditional search engine, as it is limited to the curated sources it has been trained on.
Real use case: Perplexity AI does well with math and can help agents better analyze their marketing tracking data. For example, agents can input the performance of different social media posts, providing the content and results for each post to Perplexity, which can analyze the data and provide a summary of interesting trends.
Pricing: A free individual account offers basic search functions with limited features. The Pro Plan is $20 a month for an individual (or $200 a year) and includes access to AI models like GPT-4.
Jasper
Strengths: Jasper is an AI marketing copilot. Its strength is its ability to create highly personalized content that helps real estate agents build their brand and drive engagement. It offers real estate-specific templates and creative writing support, enabling agents to produce social media posts, blog articles, and email campaigns. It does well in creating attention-grabbing content to help agents stand out.
Weaknesses: Although Jasper can create engaging content, it may need a deeper understanding of local market dynamics and nuances crucial for effective real estate marketing. As with all AI-generated content, agents must carefully review and edit to ensure accuracy and brand alignment.
Real use case: Jasper can help a real estate agent create compelling social media posts, such as showcasing a client success story, highlighting neighborhood or community features, or sharing details about local events to build brand awareness and engagement.
Pricing: Jasper offers a 7-day free trial, allowing users to test the platform's capabilities for any paid program during that time. Paid plans per seat start at $39/month (Creator – billed yearly) for one brand voice.
Building an AI toolkit
Choosing the right AI chatbot for your real estate business can significantly increase your productivity. By reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of each option – and testing out the free versions for yourself – you can find the best chatbot for your AI toolkit.
Don't forget that if you struggle with a chatbot or any technology, Tech Helpline analysts can help. This service is available to over 750,000 Realtors in North America as a member benefit from their MLS or association.
Whatever you choose – ChatGPT, Claude AI, Google Gemini, Perplexity AI, or Jasper – the key is to find the AI chatbot you will use daily. With the right AI tool in your tech stack, you'll have more time to focus on what matters most: building relationships and closing deals.
Related reads
From the Tech Helpline blog:
3 Best AI Prompts for Real Estate Agents
Best practices for AI in Real Estate Today
To AI or not to AI: What are the risks and rewards?
Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns both Tech Helpline and Form Simplicity.
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NAR Offers Update on Settlement and Pushes Back Deadline to Implement Changes
Big changes are coming to the real estate industry, thanks to the NAR settlement announced in March. Fortunately, real estate professionals now have more time to adapt to these changes.
Initially, these "practice changes" were to go into effect in July. However, the National Association of REALTORS® recently announced that policy changes related to the settlement won't go into effect until August 17.
So what should Realtors know about these changes before the deadline? NAR recently shared a summary of revisions to the MLS policy handbook, as seen below. A more detailed explanation of each practice change is available on facts.realtor. Realtors can also consult the NAR Settlement FAQ for more information.
Summary of policy changes
Pursuant to the requirements of the proposed Settlement Agreement, the MLS policies and model MLS governing documents were reviewed and updated with the key changes below:
Eliminate and prohibit any requirement of offers of compensation in the MLS between listing brokers or sellers to buyer brokers or other buyer representatives.
Retain, and define, "cooperation" for MLS Participation.
Eliminate and prohibit MLS Participants, Subscribers, and sellers from making any offers of compensation in the MLS to buyer brokers or other buyer representatives.
Require the MLS to eliminate all broker compensation fields and compensation information in the MLS.
Require the MLS to not create, facilitate, or support any non-MLS mechanism (including by providing listing information to an internet aggregator's website for such purpose) for Participants, Subscribers, or sellers to make offers of compensation to buyer brokers or other buyer representatives.
Prohibit the use of MLS data or data feeds to directly or indirectly establish or maintain a platform of offers of compensation from multiple brokers or other buyer representatives. Such use must result with the MLS terminating the Participant's access to any MLS data and data feeds.
Reinforce that MLS Participants and Subscribers must not, and MLSs must not enable the ability to filter out or restrict MLS listings that are communicated to customers or clients based on the existence or level of compensation offered to the cooperating broker or the name of a brokerage or agent.
Require compensation disclosures to sellers, and prospective sellers and buyers.
Require MLS Participants working with a buyer to enter into a written agreement with the buyer prior to touring a property.
The policy changes were reviewed by the MLS Emerging Issues and Technology Advisory Board and adopted by the NAR Leadership Team and will be effective on August 17.
Related reading
How to Talk About the NAR Settlement with Clients and Prospects
NAR Settlement Impact: What to Start Doing Today
100 Things Buyer's Agents Do for Their Clients
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Serving Disabled Homebuyers: A Guide for Real Estate Agents
We have a unique opportunity to support individuals with disabilities in achieving the significant milestone of homeownership. By understanding the unique challenges these clients face and leveraging specialized resources, agents can facilitate a smoother and more effective home-buying process.
Understanding the Challenges
When working with disabled homebuyers, it's crucial to recognize that their primary concerns often extend beyond the standard financial considerations. Accessibility is a significant factor — finding properties that meet specific physical needs or can be easily modified is essential. Additionally, maintaining eligibility for necessary assistance programs while managing the financial implications of buying a home can complicate decisions for these buyers.
Key Resources and Tools for Agents
DO Audiotours
Sometimes you may not recognize a person has a disability like hearing, or neurodiversity, which is where our software comes in. Utilize DO Audiotours to enhance how you communicate property features to your clients. This audio/visual tool includes Audio Description, Captions, Multi-Language support, and ADA-friendly components that bring properties to life. It capitalizes on your knowledge and personal insights, offering a competitive edge in your presentations.
Specialize as a Housing Counselor
Be the real estate professional who specializes in the intersection of disability and homeownership. You can provide valuable guidance on everything from the buying process to special accommodations and legal rights.
Financial Planning Tools
Introduce your clients to tools like ABLE accounts, which allow individuals with disabilities to save for their home without risking their benefits such as SSI or Medicaid. This can be crucial for accumulating a down payment or handling housing-related expenses.
Government and Non-Profit Programs
HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program: Also known as Section 8, this program not only assists in renting but also in homeownership. It provides vouchers that can help with buying a home and managing monthly homeownership expenses.
USDA and VA Loans: Inform your clients about the USDA's Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans for low-income applicants in rural areas, and the VA's home loan programs for veterans, including disabled veterans. These loans often offer favorable terms such as no down payment and no private mortgage insurance.
Local Initiatives
Explore local non-profits and governmental initiatives that provide additional support and financial assistance for disabled individuals buying a home. Many states and municipalities offer programs that assist with down payments, renovations to make homes accessible, and more.
Overcoming Obstacles
The challenges faced by disabled homebuyers are significant but not insurmountable. By leveraging these specialized resources and planning strategically, you can help your clients navigate the complexities of buying a home effectively. The key to success lies in preparation and seeking out the right support systems.
Conclusion
When planning to assist a disabled client in buying a home, consider how each of these resources might fit into their financial planning. From ABLE accounts to government loans and voucher programs, each tool offers unique benefits that can make homeownership more accessible. Always check for local resources and grants that might be available specifically in your area to provide additional support to your clients.
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Leveraging Milestones: New Ways to 'Wow' Customers Throughout the Transaction
What if you could make your real estate clients feel like VIPs every step of the way without spending countless hours on personalized gestures? The secret lies in leveraging your transaction management system to commemorate your clients' milestones and show your unwavering support, helping you create an extraordinary client experience.
As you know, a transaction management platform offers a myriad of benefits to streamline your business. It serves as a centralized hub for all deal-related information, providing you with a clear overview of each transaction's progress. Going digital means you can access critical documents anytime, anywhere, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. This saves you time, reduces stress, and allows you to provide prompt, accurate updates to your clients, instilling confidence in your ability to manage their transactions seamlessly.
Moreover, a transaction management system enables you to collaborate effortlessly with all parties involved in the deal, from clients and co-agents to lenders and title companies. This streamlined communication ensures everyone stays informed and on the same page, minimizing misunderstandings and delays. By leveraging the power of a digital platform, you can create a transparent, efficient process that enhances your clients' trust in your expertise.
What if you could take this a step further and use your transaction management system to celebrate your clients' journey at every milestone? By leveraging the power of timely, personalized communication, you can transform the client experience from ordinary to extraordinary.
Commemorating the milestones
Your transaction management system automatically tracks pivotal events as you navigate from contract to close. You can turn these events into milestones, as they represent significant moments in your client's home-buying or selling journey. Moreover, you can celebrate each one with a bit of special recognition.
How you inform clients about reaching a milestone is not as important as when. Sending a timely communication – via email, phone, or even a personalized note sent via mail – is vital to acknowledging these achievements and sharing in their excitement.
When you turn each of these events into a milestone to celebrate, you can "wow" your customers by exceeding their communications expectations:
Offer accepted
The moment an offer is accepted marks the beginning of your client's journey. Celebrate this milestone by sending a congratulatory message, expressing your enthusiasm for the road ahead. This simple gesture sets the tone for a positive, supportive relationship.
Escrow deposit confirmed
Let your clients know when the escrow deposit or transfer is confirmed. This milestone signifies a commitment to the process and reminds them that they're one step closer to their goal.
Title review complete
Upon receiving and reviewing the title, inform your clients of the progress. This milestone may seem minor, but it's essential to ensure a smooth transaction.
Homeowners insurance secured
Once your clients have secured homeowners insurance, take a moment to acknowledge this achievement. This milestone provides peace of mind and demonstrates their responsibility as future homeowners.
HOA documents shared (if applicable)
Sharing the HOA documents is crucial if your clients are purchasing a condo or a property within a homeowners association. When this milestone is reached, let your clients know and offer to review the documents together.
Inspection reports received
When the inspection reports come in, share the highlights with your clients. This milestone can be stressful, so provide context and offer guidance on any necessary steps moving forward.
Appraisal confirmation
Appraisal confirmation is a significant milestone, as it validates the property's value. Share the vital details with your clients and express your confidence in the transaction's progress.
Loan approval or asset verification
Whether your clients are financing their purchase or paying cash, the loan approval or asset verification milestone is cause for celebration. Let your clients know that they're getting closer to the finish line.
Closing date set
Share the exciting news with your clients when the closing date is set. This milestone signifies the beginning of the final stretch and allows your clients to plan accordingly.
Final walkthrough complete
After the final walkthrough, contact your clients to ensure they're satisfied with the property's condition. This milestone represents the last opportunity to address any concerns before closing.
Closing confirmation
When the closing is confirmed, celebrate with your clients. This milestone marks the end of their journey and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
Creating raving fans for life
Recognizing and commemorating each milestone demonstrates your commitment to your client's success. Your attention to detail and timely communication will set you apart from the competition and create a memorable, positive experience for your clients.
Remember, the goal is not just to complete a transaction but to foster a lasting relationship built on trust, support, and expertise – and to illustrate that you genuinely care. By leveraging your transaction management system – like Form Simplicity – to help celebrate your clients' journey, you'll create raving fans who will praise your efforts and refer you to their friends and family, possibly for years to come.
Embrace the power of milestones through your transaction management system and watch your client relationships flourish. Your transaction management system is more than just a tool – it's your key to unlocking an unparalleled client experience that will keep them coming back for more.
Related reads
From the Form Simplicity blog:
4 Ways Technology Can Help Real Estate Agents Achieve Work-Life Balance
Improve the Customer Experience – 4 Ways Transaction Management Software Can Help
3 Surprising Advantages of a Digital Transaction Management Program
Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns both Tech Helpline and Form Simplicity.
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What Buyers REALLY Want to See on Your Real Estate Website
What are prospective home buyers looking for when they come to your real estate website? NAR's 2024 Generational Trends Report sheds some light on the matter. The annual survey asked buyers who use the internet which website features they find most useful.
Today, we're going to dive into what the research shows. You can use this information when researching new website vendors or evaluating how your current site measures up.
Let's dive in! Below are website features that buyers rate as "very useful" during their home search process, ranked from most to least important.
Most important
More than half of home buyers rated these two features as very useful:
Photos - Unsurprisingly, photos are the most desired website feature. Ensure all photos that you upload to the MLS or add to your website are high quality, high definition images. While we recommend hiring a professional for your listing photos, if you're a determined DIYer, check out these tips. (And, if nothing else, step away from the smartphone!)
Detailed property information - Buying a home is a big deal, and buyers want to know as much information as they can before making a decision. Fill out every applicable MLS field when adding your latest listing, and don't be afraid to add more info about your listing to your website. Need inspiration for writing property descriptions? See 4 Real Estate Listing Description Examples that Increase Sales, or read ChatGPT Hacks for Real Estate Agents to learn how to leverage AI to craft property descriptions.
Important
More than 30% of home buyers said the following website features are very useful:
Floor plans - The floor plan is having a moment, and many MLSs are offering apps that capture floor plans, like CubiCasa, for free to their members. Additionally, many virtual tour providers include a floor plan in their standard offerings. If you're looking for a floor plan vendor, check out our Product Directory.
Agent contact information - We're amused that only 43% of survey respondents said this was very important. To you, the agent, it is 100% important! So make sure that, at minimum, your name, email and phone number are prominently displayed on your website so you never miss a lead.
Virtual tours - Today's virtual tours, which are typically 3D walkthroughs of a home, can help buyers with decision making, whether that's the decision to tour a home at all or to decide if it's the right property for their needs. Many virtual tour solutions also offer extra marketing tools you many not know about, and most also include photos and floor plans from one scan, so you get more bang for buck. You can find a virtual tour provider in our Company Directory.
Neighborhood info - We love when we come across agent websites with beautiful neighborhood pages. Create a page on your site for each neighborhood you serve and be sure to include information about nearby attractions and schools. Be sure to include a call-to-action to contact you for more information about homes for sale in the area.
Less important
More than 20% of home buyers rated the following website features are very useful:
Recently sold properties - It's one thing to get a listing; it's another thing to close a transaction. Show off homes you've recently sold so buyers can understand your track record of success. If your listings sold faster than the average DOM for your area or for over asking, mention that! Additionally, most MLSs now provide sold data in their IDX feeds, so you can use that to offer recently sold information about your entire local market on your site.
Interactive maps - Many IDX website vendors include map search functionality. If you're not sure if yours does, check with your site provider and ask how to turn it on.
Videos - While only 21% of buyers said videos were very useful to them on a website, that doesn't mean you should stop producing them! They're still extremely valuable on social media to help drive traffic to your website, and you can highlight the best on your site. Need help creating compelling videos? RPR's Market Trends ScriptWriter can write video scripts for you.
Upcoming open houses - Okay, so technically only 19% of buyers overall said information about upcoming open houses were very valuable. But that may be thanks to the oldest generation, which represents only 16% of buyers, bringing down the average. Younger generations care more about this info, with 31% of prime-age (34-43 years old) buyers expressing interest. So don't be shy about adding open house announcements to your website!
Take it or leave it
The final three real estate website features all ranked under 10% overall:
Virtual open houses - A lifesaver during the height of the pandemic, this feature is less important to home buyers now.
Virtual listing appointments - See above.
Real estate news and articles - Dedicated agent bloggers may be disappointed to see this, but this ranking shouldn't dissuade you from posting. While buyers may not show up explicitly for your blog, consistent content creation still works wonders for SEO and attracting leads. So if you love it, keep going!
Next steps
Read more articles about real estate websites and Internet Data Exchange (IDX)
Explore Website, IDX, and Virtual Office Website (VOW) solutions in our Product Directory.
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Your Guide to Real Estate Hashtags in 2024
In 2024, an estimated 3.2 billion people will use social media worldwide.
You know that using the right hashtags on social media can attract potential buyers and sellers. However, staying on top of the most effective real estate hashtags requires diligent research and savvy.
This comprehensive guide for 2024 provides the latest and trendiest hashtags for different agents/brokers. You'll learn which hashtags perform best for targeting local markets, property types, services, and more.
LET'S GO.
Why You Need to Use Real Estate Hashtags in 2024
BLAH-BLAH-BLAH, I don't want to waste your time, nine important WHYs are here:
Increased Visibility
Targeted Reach
Brand Awareness
Engagement Boost
Local Marketing
Trend Awareness
Community Building
Content Organization
Lead Generation
Choosing the Right Hashtags for Your Target Audience
Identify Your Target Clients
To choose effective real estate hashtags, first, determine who your ideal clients are. Are you focused on buyers, sellers, investors, or all of the above? Identify the locations and property types in which they would be most interested.
Monitor Popular Hashtags
Once you know your target audience, monitor popular real estate hashtags to see which ones generate the most engagement.
Tools like RiteTag, Hashtagify, and Keywee can show you the top real estate hashtags. Look for those that are most relevant to your business and clients.
Test and Track Different Hashtags
Try out different hashtags to determine which ones drive the most traffic and engagement for your social media posts. You may need to experiment with a mix of broad appeal and niche hashtags.
Track the performance of different hashtags over time using analytics tools provided by the social networks themselves or third-party services like Sprout Social or Hootsuite.
Stay Up to Date with Trends
Real estate is an industry that is constantly changing, so the popularity of different hashtags will evolve. Pay attention to real estate social media influencers and see which new hashtags they are using.
Check real estate industry reports on the latest social media trends. And reevaluate your hashtag strategy at least every six months to make sure you are up to date with the latest best practices.
Measuring the Performance of Your Real Estate Hashtags
To determine if the hashtags you are using are effectively promoting your real estate business, you need to track their performance.
Impressions
Impressions refer to the number of times your hashtags were seen on social media. A higher number of impressions means more visibility for your brand and listings.
Engagements
Engagements measure how many people interacted with your hashtags by liking, commenting, sharing, or clicking on them.
Strong engagement shows your hashtags are resonating with your target audience. Aim for an engagement rate of at least 1-3% of your total impressions. If engagements are low, you may need to tweak your hashtags or content strategy.
Conversions
The most important metric is how many conversions your hashtags drive, such as website visits, lead captures or property inquiries.
If your hashtags aren't generating conversions, they aren't achieving your ultimate business goals.
The BEST and TOP real estate hashtags
Now the best part!
Remember, by millions, I mean total posts on social media.
General real estate hashtags:
#realestate (27.8M posts)
#realestateagent (27.8M posts)
#realestateinvestor (8.9M posts)
#realestatelife (8.7M posts)
#property (18.7M posts)
#realty (9.2M posts)
#housingmarket (5.4M posts)
#homedesign (27.2M posts)
#realestatetips (2.3M posts)
#homeownership (4.2M posts)
#broker (4.9M posts)
#investment (42.1M posts)
#luxuryrealestate (13.7M posts)
#makememove (1.2M posts)
#mansion (7.4M posts)
#interiordesign (47.2M posts)
#architecture (42.1M posts)
#firsttimehomebuyer (6.4M posts)
#fixandflip (3.2M posts)
#foreclosure (1.8M posts)
Real estate hashtags for buyers:
#firsttimehomebuyer (6.4M posts)
#buyeragent (2.1M posts)
#homebuyer (7.9M posts)
#dreamhome (29.2M posts)
#findahome (4.2M posts)
#househunter (17.8M posts)
#makeahouseahome (5.9M posts)
#newhome (21.3M posts)
#realestatebuyers (1.1M posts)
#relocation (4.7M posts)
#preapproved (786.2K posts)
#mortgage (13.2M posts)
#closingcosts (421.1K posts)
#homeinspection (1.3M posts)
#movingday (3.9M posts)
#firsttimehomeowner (2.4M posts)
#openhouse (11.2M posts)
#walkthrough (1.2M posts)
#neighborhoodvibes (1.4M posts)
#commuterfriendly (786.2K posts)
Real estate hashtags for sellers:
#homesforsale (13.8M)
#realestateforsale (11.1M)
#househunting (8.1M)
#newlisting (7.9M)
#forsale (7.4M)
#dreamhome (6.9M)
#sellingmyhome (2.9M)
#movethemomin (1.3M)
#nextchapter (1.2M)
#propertyforsale (538.9K)
#justlisted (489.5K)
#openhouse (440.3K)
#realestateseller (299.7K)
#sellingfast (208.3K)
#location [Location Type] (e.g. #lakehouse, #beachfront)
#moveinready (182.5K)
#motivatedseller (132.1K)
#sellingmy [Property Type] (e.g. #sellingmycondo, #sellingmyranch)
Real estate hashtags for renters:
#apartmentforrent (5.8M)
#rentals (4.2M)
#rentalproperty (2.7M)
#renterlife (1.7M)
#forrent (1.5M)
#houseforrent (1.2M)
#apartmentliving (982.4K)
#newrentals (681.2K)
#renting (598.2K)
#availablenow (421.1K)
#nobrokerfee (168.2K)
#petfriendly (162.9K)
#inunitlaundry (138.5K)
#cityliving (121.3K)
#studioapartment (105.2K)
#luxuryapartments (89.4K)
#basementforrent (29.2K)
#rentinghouse (18.7K)
To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.
Related reading
How Many Hashtags to Use and 6 Other Instagram Tips for Real Estate Agents
9 Ways to Use Social Media to Make Your Website a Better Lead Engine
Mastering Instagram: Best practices for real estate agents
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Tips for Effective Networking in the Real Estate Industry: How Agents Can Make More Connections
Networking plays a vital role in the success of real estate agents.
Building a strong network can lead to valuable connections, referrals, and new opportunities. However, effective networking requires more than just handing out business cards at events.
In this post, we'll share some practical tips to help real estate agents make more meaningful connections in the industry.
Be Authentic and Approachable
Authenticity is important when networking with others. Being genuine and letting your personality shine will help you to connect with people. Make others feel at ease in your presence by approaching conversations with a friendly and approachable demeanor. Maintain eye contact, smile, and pay attention to what others are saying. Being interested in the person you're speaking with rather than just selling yourself will help you establish a genuine connection, which is what it takes to build relationships.
Attend Industry Events
Conferences, trade shows, and seminars related to real estate are excellent venues for networking with professionals in the field and potential customers. Find local events, and make it a point to attend them. These events are great for gaining insights into the industry, growing your network, and staying current with trends. Take advantage of networking breaks, cocktail hours, or after-parties to strike up conversations and establish connections with like-minded individuals.
Leverage Social Media
Social media platforms present tremendous networking potential in the current digital era. By consistently publishing interesting content about the real estate sector, you can establish a powerful online presence. Participate in discussions by joining groups on websites like LinkedIn that are dedicated to your industry. Share your expertise, offer insightful comments, and interact with other people's posts. Connecting with people outside of your immediate circle using social media can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.
Build and Maintain Relationships
Networking isn't just about collecting business cards; it's about building and nurturing relationships over time. When you meet someone who could be a valuable connection, follow up with them promptly. Send a personalized email or connect with them on LinkedIn, reminding them of your conversation and expressing your interest in staying connected. Take the initiative to schedule coffee meetings or attend industry events together. Remember, a strong network is built on trust and mutual support.
Provide Value to Others
It takes two to tango when networking. Instead of concentrating on what you can get out of a relationship, think about what you can give. Give advice, assistance, and value to others in the sector by sharing your knowledge. You could offer to speak at industry events or write guest articles for blogs about real estate, for instance. By presenting yourself as a knowledgeable and helpful professional, you'll establish yourself as a reliable source, and people will come to you naturally.
Collaborate with Other Professionals
Networking doesn't always have to be about direct competition. In fact, working with experts in related fields can be very advantageous. Get in touch with mortgage brokers, property inspectors, interior designers, and other professionals who provide real estate services. You can broaden your network by working together on projects or referring clients to one another!
Remember, cooperation often leads to new opportunities that can benefit everyone involved.
To conclude, networking is a powerful tool for real estate agents to expand their professional reach and uncover new opportunities. By being authentic, attending industry events, leveraging social media, building and maintaining relationships, providing value to others, and collaborating with professionals, agents can make meaningful connections that can enhance their success in the real estate industry. So, put these tips into practice, step out of your comfort zone, and watch your network grow along with your career. Remember, every connection you make could be a stepping stone toward achieving your goals. Happy networking!
To view the original article, visit the Transactly blog.
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[Podcast] 'Is This a Safe Neighborhood?' Don't Answer That
Giving your opinion on the safety of certain areas can lead to fair housing violations. Listen as two pros try to answer the question the right way.
Let's say you have a buyer who heard about a mugging a block away from the home you're touring, and that buyer asks whether she "needs to worry about that kind of thing around here."
Pause and use your situational awareness skills. What kind of neighborhood are you in? Depending on the circumstances, the client's question could be a loaded one. And if you're not thoughtful and careful about how you respond, you could easily introduce a fair housing problem. Listen as host Tracey Hawkins helps two real estate pros role play the scenario to come to the right answer.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Libsyn
Visit the episode homepage for show notes and more detail.
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Tech Helpline: 8 Unexpected Ways They Can Help Agents and Brokers
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the relentless wave of new technology designed to enhance both your work and home life?
As a real estate agent, where the boundaries between work and home blur, you are often at the forefront of adopting cutting-edge tools, including artificial intelligence.
However, navigating today’s digital landscape can be daunting. What may surprise you is that Tech Helpline, the No. 1 real estate tech support service, offers a broad scope of assistance to help you set up, fix, and troubleshoot not only hardware and software technology related to your work but also your home.
From ensuring your family's digital safety to streamlining property showings with the latest smart home devices, comprehensive tech support offers you a lifeline to harness the full potential of these innovations.
Let's look at eight unexpected ways Tech Helpline can help you maintain a harmonious balance in your digital life.
Parental guidance for safety
Balancing your career as an agent and your role as a parent can be challenging, especially when monitoring your children's tech use. You can contact Tech Helpline, which can provide valuable guidance on setting age-appropriate boundaries for all electronic devices. You then can make more informed decisions about the apps and games your children use, even when you're busy with work.
Family privacy and social monitoring
Keeping your children safe on social media is a top priority, but staying on top of privacy settings and monitoring tools can be time-consuming. Tech Helpline can offer expert advice on effectively monitoring your child's social media activity while respecting their privacy, ensuring that you can protect your family's online safety without compromising your real estate responsibilities.
CarPlay and Android Auto support
When you're constantly on the road, having a seamless connection between your smartphone and your car's smart system is essential. These apps allow you to remain safely connected to email and text. But if you encounter any issues with setting up or using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, reach out to Tech Helpline, and you’ll be guided through the process, which will help you stay connected and productive while on the go.
Smart garage doors
Smart garage doors offer security and convenience, but they can sometimes be tricky to install and maintain — especially if they ever need to be reset. Knowing you can get things connected again by calling the Tech Helpline can give you peace of mind and one less thing to worry about in your busy schedule.
Help with AI prompts
Chatbots like ChatGPT have become go-to tolls for many agents. Chatbots are handy tools for generating content, answering questions, and providing inspiration for your real estate property descriptions and social media posts. However, crafting effective prompts that yield the best results can be challenging. The analysts at Tech Helpline have you covered and can offer guidance on creating prompts that will help you get the most out of these powerful AI tools, streamlining your workflow and boosting your productivity.
IoT appliances in the home
You likely have encountered sellers with homes featuring smart appliances. However, setting up and troubleshooting these IoT — or Internet of Things — connected items can be complex and time-consuming. By connecting with Tech Helpline, a friendly, patient analyst can assist you with configuring smart home appliances, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. This frees up your time to focus on your clients and listings.
Smartwatches – and now rings
Many busy real estate agents rely on wearable technology to stay connected and monitor their health on the go. But if you've never owned a smart watch or ring, getting them synchronized and set up initially can be tricky. If you need help getting started and making the most of these powerful tools, Tech Helpline is available to provide the support you need, ensuring that you're always connected and informed every day.
Smart home devices
Setting up and troubleshooting smart home devices can be time-consuming and complex. Contacting Tech Helpline can help you navigate the setup process for a wide range of smart home devices, from smart speakers to thermostats and doorbells, ensuring everything works properly.
Help is available
As a real estate agent, technology is integrated into almost everything you do to promote and manage your business. Tech support is no longer an option — it is essential. Your time is valuable, and your tech needs extend far beyond your professional life. Tech Helpline's team of analysts has you covered for your work and home tech needs.
If your MLS, state or local association does not currently offer Tech Helpline as a member service, consider reaching out to them and sharing how this valuable benefit could help you balance your professional and personal life while staying on top of the latest technology trends.
Tech support can help you balance your professional and personal life while staying on top of the latest technology trends. With Tech Helpline's assistance, you can focus on what matters most: serving your clients and growing your business.
Related reads
From the Tech Helpline Blog:
10 Things You Can Call Tech Helpline About
7 More Ways Tech Helpline Can Help You
5 Ways Busy Agents Can Ensure Their Children’s Safety in a Digital World
3 Best AI Prompts for Real Estate Agents
Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns both Tech Helpline and Form Simplicity.
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RE Technology Launches Tech Titans Series Celebrating Individuals Who Deliver Outstanding Technology Solutions to the Real Estate Industry
This month, RE Technology launched the Tech Titans series. This series of executive interviews celebrates individuals who are delivering outstanding technology solutions to the real estate industry.
In the inaugural Tech Titans session, we celebrate Constant Contact CEO, Frank Vella. He shares how Constant Contact is committed to their mission of leading the real estate industry with the best solution for bulk email. Constant Contact is pioneering the integration of AI technology to overcome the blank page challenge and provide powerful and customizable tools for digital communications and marketing for all sizes of companies. The end result is improvement in bulk mail deliverability and reader engagement.
In the Tech Titans series, Marilyn Wilson Lund, CEO of WAV Group and RE Technology, interviews visionary leaders in real estate technology, including Annie Ives, CEO of VestaPLUS and The MLS, as well as Dustin Gray, CEO of Milestones, to list a couple. Listen to their inspiring stories and experiences and learn how new solutions can solve the everyday problems you and your clients face. Capture the vision of where real estate is going, why it is going there — and in some cases, where we should try to take it instead.
Check out the first Tech Titans article here.
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Work Smarter AND Harder: Time Management Techniques for Real Estate Professionals
Having strong time management, especially in the endlessly fast pace of the real estate industry, is a crucial skill to master. It's what helps you know where to focus your efforts, prioritize your tasks effectively, and gives you the free time you need to do what you do best: serving your clients.
Prioritizing Tasks and Setting Realistic Goals
Believe it or not, no matter how swamped, overwhelmed, or hectic your schedule is, effective time management is within reach. As the old saying goes, you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time. To have effective time management, you have to start small with your goals. First, ask yourself what you want to accomplish in the 24 hours you're currently in. You can also zoom out a bit more and ask what you want to accomplish in the week.
Once you have an idea of what you want — and need — to accomplish, grab a pen and paper or open up your favorite note-taking app. Jot every task down that comes to mind. After you complete this brain dump, it might look a little overwhelming when it's all down on paper. But this is the purpose of the exercise: it's setting the stage for you to use actual time management techniques.
Now that you have a bird's eye view of your day or week, you can prioritize your task list based on urgency, less important tasks, and what can be reprioritized to a later date so you're more freed up in the present moment. By grouping your tasks and ordering them from most urgent to least urgent, you can quickly get a grasp on where you should focus your time first. Start with completing tasks labeled as most urgent, then assign a timeframe for completion to each of the tasks as you go down your list.
Implementing Time-Blocking and Batching Techniques
The timeframe you assign to complete each task is critical to actually achieve effective time management. To make this even easier, you can implement time-blocking and batching techniques. With time-blocking, you set aside dedicated time for each and every task on your list in order of importance and urgency. You can put this in action by blocking out chunks of time on your work calendar, so you won't be disrupted by meetings and have designated, heads-down focus time.
For batching, you'll group tasks together by their similarity. This is a good technique to use after you've completed the more urgent, time-sensitive tasks. Let's say the bottom half of your task list has things like replying to emails, updating your social media profiles, and reviewing some reporting. Because these are more digital-oriented, where you'll be spending time in front of the computer, you can group them together and dedicate a block of time to knock these similar tasks out.
As a bonus, if you find yourself having a hard time getting your tasks completed, you can use another time management tactic known as the Pomodoro technique. With this technique, you spend 25 minutes focused on work, then take a five-minute break. Once your break is up, you repeat the 25 minutes of focus, then another five-minute break. This is a great technique to pull out of your back pocket if you're struggling to focus (which is totally natural), or if you have more simple, straightforward tasks you can quickly tackle.
Tools and Apps to Streamline Workflows and Increase Productivity
Having solid time management skills is key to maximizing each hour you have in your day. It's also the key to unlocking the ability to work smarter, not harder. Thankfully, nowadays we have a vast variety of digital tools, apps, and software to streamline current workflows and give productivity a boost, all while saving even more time than ever. While browsing, researching, and shopping around for the right tools is common as a real estate professional, you can make your time management even easier by investing in a single, centralized solution that does it all for you. Doing so can help you get more free hours to get back to doing what you love most.
By taking the time management techniques we've recommended and partnering them with smart, intuitive tools designed specifically for real estate professionals, you can get countless hours back in your day, work smarter and not harder, and have the peace of mind your business is keeping up with the market.
To view the original article, visit the Inside Real Estate blog.
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[Podcast] Selecting the Right Brokerage to Start Your Career with Victor Lund
Victor Lund is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WAV Group. For two decades, they've provided consulting services to leading brokerage firms, franchises, MLSs, associations, and the technology industry that serves them.
In this episode of Real Talk with Realtors, hear how to select the right brokerage when starting your career as an agent, the importance of good training and a good mentor, whether to get on a large team or join a small brokerage, what the current lawsuits mean for new agents, and the state of the brokerage business.
This episode covers everything from brokerage firms to teamwork. Here's a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:
How did Victor get into real estate?
Should you join a big team or a small brokerage?
How does the recent lawsuit affect agents?
Is it getting harder to become a real estate agent?
What's the state of brokerage businesses?
Is the broker business a good business?
How do you select which brokerage to work at?
What is Acquiring More Profit about?
Connect with Victor on LinkedIn and check out his book, Acquiring More Profit.
Listen on:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Visit the episode homepage for show notes and more detail.
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The Hybrid Agent: Balancing Digital and Traditional Real Estate Practices
In the dynamic world of real estate, where traditional meets digital, a new breed of professional is emerging — the hybrid agent.
As technology continues to reshape the landscape of the industry, savvy real estate professionals are finding the sweet spot by seamlessly integrating both traditional and digital practices into their approach.
Embracing the Digital Wave
Gone are the days when real estate transactions were solely dependent on yard signs and word-of-mouth referrals. Today's market demands a digital presence, and the hybrid agent is quick to adapt. Social media platforms have become virtual showrooms, and websites serve as the modern storefronts. Embracing this digital wave is not just about staying relevant; it's about thriving in a rapidly evolving landscape.
The hybrid agent leverages the power of online marketing to cast a wider net and connect with a broader audience. From eye-catching property listings on Instagram to targeted Facebook ads, these tech-savvy professionals understand the importance of meeting potential clients where they spend their time — online.
Navigating the Digital Toolkit
In the world of the hybrid agent, a well-rounded digital toolkit is a must. This arsenal includes high-quality photography and videography to showcase properties in the best light. Drones capture stunning aerial views, and virtual tours transport potential buyers into the heart of a home from the comfort of their screens.
Moreover, staying ahead in the digital game means mastering social media algorithms, understanding SEO strategies, and cultivating a strong online brand. The hybrid agent is not just a real estate expert; they're also social media maestros, crafting engaging content that tells a story and builds connections with their audience.
The Human Touch in a Digital World
While the digital realm is a powerful tool, the hybrid agent recognizes that real estate is fundamentally a people-centric business. Despite the convenience of online interactions, nothing can replace the value of a personal connection. The human touch is what sets the hybrid agent apart — a warm handshake, a friendly smile, and the ability to truly listen to the client's needs.
The hybrid agent understands that emotions play a significant role in real estate transactions. Buying or selling a home is not just a financial transaction; it's a life-changing experience. By combining the efficiency of digital tools with genuine human connection, these agents create a balanced and holistic approach that resonates with clients.
Bridging the Gap Between Generations
One of the unique strengths of the hybrid agent is their ability to bridge the generation gap. In a diverse market where preferences vary across age groups, this is no small feat. Baby boomers may prefer face-to-face communication, while millennials and Gen Z are digital natives, relying heavily on online research.
The hybrid agent effortlessly navigates between these preferences, offering a tailored approach that appeals to everyone. They understand that effective communication is about meeting clients where they are comfortable, whether it's a traditional phone call or a quick message on a messaging app.
Adapting to Market Trends
Real estate is a dynamic industry, and the hybrid agent is always one step ahead of the game. By staying attuned to market trends, they can adapt their strategies to capitalize on emerging opportunities. Whether it's incorporating 3D virtual reality tours during a pandemic or utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze market data, these agents are on the cutting edge.
The ability to embrace change and adopt new technologies positions the hybrid agent as a forward-thinking professional. This adaptability not only benefits the agent but also ensures that clients receive the best and most innovative services available.
The Future of Real Estate
As we look ahead, the hybrid agent is undeniably the future of real estate. The ability to seamlessly blend digital and traditional practices creates a powerful synergy that caters to a diverse and ever-changing market. While technology will continue to evolve, the human element remains at the heart of successful real estate transactions.
In conclusion, the hybrid agent is not just a real estate professional; they are a strategic blend of the old and the new. By combining the efficiency of digital tools with the warmth of personal connections, these agents navigate the real estate landscape with finesse. As the industry continues to evolve, the hybrid agent stands tall — a testament to the harmonious balance between tradition and innovation.
To view the original article, visit the Transactly blog.
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Real AI: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly side of AI, headlines, fast facts, and AI quote of the week
Real AI is a 100% human-created weekly roundup of all things AI in real estate and emerging AI innovations in other sectors likely to impact real estate.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly side of AI
The title of this 1966 Western film provides a fitting description of this week's AI developments.
First, the Good.
Who would have thought that using AI to create art could be a good thing? Case in point: Former New Orleans Saints artist and ALS activist Steve Gleason is using AI to generate art, issuing his first releases since losing the ability to move his limbs.
This report by Axios New Orleans' Chelsea Brasted tells the beautiful side of AI and is chock-full of goodness.
It also notes this fresh take on AI and art:
"While there are detractors, some artists have likened AI to the invention of the camera, a cultural game-changer that eventually became just another medium in an artist's toolbox."
Steve's new collection, "Resilient Spirit," debuted at a private showing this week and will be on display in NOLA at The Nieux on St. Charles Avenue.
Now, the Bad.
At TED2024 this week – dubbed "The Brave and the Brilliant – an AI-related talk stood out.
Mustafa Suleyman, DeepMind cofounder and newly anointed Microsoft AI chief, suggested we consider AI "a new kind of digital species."
He argued that we need to better understand the AI we are building and that our current mental models fall short. So, he offered, "I think AI should best be understood as a new digital species."
Is this AI comment hyperbole on steroids? Or is it prophecy? Time will tell, but the thought of this? The timing seems very, very bad.
It's hard to imagine how these types of comments will foster innovation and instead contribute to those trying to do a hard pull on the safety break to slow down the development of AI.
Finally, the Ugly.
This week, an AI-generated movie debuted from low-budget TV maker TCL.
The trailer for the rom-com Next Stop Paris is so bad, so fake, and so poorly executed in so many ways – it's 100% ugly AI.
A press release calls it "a short romance movie, featuring professional voice actors and an original script, but brought to life with the latest AI animation technology, a leap forward in romance storytelling. Next Stop Paris will make its debut this summer online…"
TCL could only debut this "movie" online because the studio would have to pay people to see this mess on the big screen.
But don't take it from us. Here is the trailer for Next Stop Paris:
AI Fast Facts
46% of U.S. adults think AI technology is being developed too fast – Ispos
Two-thirds of Gen Zers surveyed said they would be interested in an AI assistant that walks them through a website or product feature – Survey Monkey
Only 5% of marketers rely entirely on AI to write content for them – HubSpot
Three out of every five senior sales and marketing executives interviewed believed the impact of AI on lead identification would be significant – McKinsey
44% of businesses are planning to use ChatGPT's translation capabilities to write content in other languages – Forbes
Source: WPForms
AI Headlines – Take 5
AI Automation is Coming to Housing Development Finance | 4/14/24 - PropmodoAI may soon streamline the financial aspect of multifamily housing development.
How to be a better leader in the age of AI | 4/17/24 - Fast CompanyLeaders must embrace new strategies in the wake of AI advancement.
Stellar MLS extends its partnership with AI provider Lundy | 4/12/24 - HousingWireThe new Finding HomesPro uses voice activation to locate property listings.
Demand from AI and Crypto Firms Are Straining the Country's Data Grids | 4/16/24 - Commercial ObserverAI's rapid growth is pressuring buildings to become more energy efficient.
20 Essential Steps for Ethically Leveraging AI In Your Business | 4/16/24 - ForbesForbes Business Council members share how business leaders can ethically use AI.
AI Quote of the Week
To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.
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Real Estate Backlinks: A 2024 Guide
Backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors for search engines. Essentially, backlinks are inbound links to your website from other external sites. The more relevant, high-quality backlinks you have, the higher your site might rank in search results.
This article provides valuable information and strategies for real estate agents and brokers to build and optimize backlinks in 2024.
Why Backlinks Are Crucial for Real Estate Websites
Credibility and Authority
Backlinks from authoritative industry sites and influencers establish credibility and authority for real estate websites.
The more high-quality backlinks a site has, the higher rank it can get in search engines.
Higher Rankings and More Traffic
Studies show that the majority of home buyers start their search online, so higher rankings and more traffic mean more opportunities to connect with motivated buyers.
Brand Awareness
Backlinks also help increase brand awareness for real estate websites. When an authoritative industry publication or influencer links to a real estate agent's website, it exposes the brand to its audience.
Referral Traffic
High-quality backlinks drive referral traffic to real estate websites. When a site links to a real estate agent's website, visitors to that site may click the link to visit the agent's site. This free referral traffic provides new opportunities to capture leads and make sales.
The Best Types of Backlinks for Real Estate Agents
High-Quality Directory Links
Submitting your website to real estate directories is an easy way to build authoritative backlinks. Look for highly relevant directories, regularly updated, and have a high domain authority.
Guest Blogging on Industry Websites
Writing guest posts for popular real estate blogs and websites is one of the most effective link-building strategies. Studies show that guest blogging can increase referral traffic and brand awareness in addition to earning high-quality backlinks.
Sponsoring Local Events
Sponsoring events in your local community, like charity fundraisers, networking mixers, or real estate seminars, provides an opportunity to build relationships and get your name and website in front of new potential clients.
Creating Unique and Engaging Content
Consistently publishing helpful content on your blog or website, like neighborhood guides, market reports, home tips, or real estate news, builds authority in the eyes of search engines and potential clients. Embed links within your content to pages on your website to improve internal linking.
You should also promote your new content on social media to increase backlinks, referral traffic, and brand visibility. Creating a content calendar can help keep you on track.
6 Tips to Build Quality Real Estate Backlinks
Focus on High-Value Sites
Seek out links from authoritative sites in your industry like national real estate organizations, reputable media publications, and influential blogs. Links from these sites carry more weight with search engines and establish credibility.
Build Relationships
Develop relationships with other industry leaders by engaging with them on social media, commenting on their blog posts, and promoting their content.
When the time comes to ask for a backlink, a pre-existing relationship increases the likelihood of success. Offer to write a guest post or provide an interview in exchange for a link. Reciprocity and mutual benefit are key.
Create Linkable Assets
Publish high-quality content on your site like blog posts, videos, research reports, and statistics that other sites will want to link to. Content that provides real value to readers and offers a unique perspective is more apt to be linked and shared.
Diversify Anchor Text
Use a mix of anchor text in backlinks pointing to your site. Over-optimization of anchor text looks unnatural to search engines and can negatively impact rankings.
Use your main keyword, brand name, and generic text like "click here" or "read more" as anchor text. Use keyword tracking tools to find the best anchor for your link.
Build Internal Links
Link to pages on your site to pass authority between pages. This is an easy way to give pages a rankings boost and improve the user experience.
When creating content, look for opportunities to link to related evergreen content on your site. Also, make sure your website's URL structure is fine.
Monitor New Link Acquisition
Track where your backlinks are coming from to ensure link quality. Look for unnatural patterns that could indicate a link scheme and take action to disavow those links.
Keeping a close eye on new links helps avoid potential penalties and protects your site's reputation. Review links regularly using SEO tools like Ahrefs, Moz Link Explorer, or Majestic.
Monitoring and Maintaining Your Real Estate Backlinks
You need to monitor your backlink profile regularly to ensure maximum SEO benefits. It is recommended to check your backlink profile at least once a month. Some of the key things to check include:
New backlinks acquired from high-authority domains. These can significantly boost your search rankings and traffic.
Check for any broken backlinks and try to get them replaced or removed. Broken backlinks can negatively impact your search rankings.
Look for any unnatural backlink patterns.
Check the anchor text distribution of your backlinks. The anchor text should appear natural and not over-optimized.
Check backlinks from low-quality spammy domains. These provide little to no SEO value.
Backlinks from domains with a high page rank but irrelevant content. Although high PR, these links provide no contextual relevance and you might decide to remove them.
While backlinks remain crucial for real estate SEO success, focus on serving your audience above all – not just search engines. Provide true value, and the links will follow.
With a smart strategy and consistent effort, your backlink profile can become a powerful asset fueling your real estate business in the years ahead.
To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.
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Second Century Ventures Announces 8 Tech Companies for 2024 REACH Scale-Up Program
Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of Realtors®, announced the acceptance of eight companies to the 2024 REACH program. Launched in 2013, this marks the 12th cohort focused on accelerating technology solutions for the U.S. residential real estate sector.
"Through the REACH scale-up program, we're catalyzing transformative advancements at the intersection of technology and real estate," said Mark Birschbach, NAR's senior vice president, strategic business innovation and technology. "Our aim is to push the boundaries of what's possible, equipping agents who are Realtors® with tools and insights that foster exceptional client service and operational efficiency."
Companies selected for the 2024 program represent a diverse range of solutions across the entire transaction life cycle, from pre-contract to post-close. Collectively, these companies have raised more than $55 million in funding and employ more than 300 individuals worldwide.
"The eight companies selected for the 2024 REACH program are at the forefront of the industry's greatest challenges and opportunities," said Ashley Stinton, managing partner, NAR REACH. "Supporting real estate professionals and the clients they serve has never been more important and we firmly believe this group of innovators will have an immeasurable impact throughout the real estate, finance, title, mortgage and home services industries."
Companies accepted to the 2024 REACH program are as follows:
Chirpyest: a social commerce marketplace that empowers real estate professionals to earn cash back when they shop and share their curated finds.
Final Offer: a consumer-facing, agent-driven negotiation platform for residential real estate, delivering clear, real-time offer alerts to all interested parties.
Kukun: a real estate data, analytics and applications platform for homeowners and the industries that serve them.
Notable: simple pay-at-close financing for everything a client needs to prep their home for sale and get the most out of it.
Purlin: AI tools that convert client conversations into transactions by simplifying business dealings among real estate agents and settlement service providers.
Scout: helping agents find and engage homeowners with AI-driven automated personalized email outreach.
Trackxi: a collaborative deal and task tracker for real estate agents, teams, clients and consumers.
Unlock: helping consumers unlock the power of home equity without interest charges or monthly payments.
"These companies are poised to significantly advance the real estate landscape in the year ahead and for many to come," said Dave Garland, managing partner, Second Century Ventures. "By scaling solutions through the REACH program, we are providing real estate agents with promising new tools and technologies, empowering them to better serve their clients and stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry."
REACH offers a robust curriculum including education, mentorship, exclusive networking opportunities and significant exposure to the global real estate marketplace. To learn more about REACH and how you can get involved, visit narreach.com.
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Empowering Real Estate Professionals: Constant Contact CEO Shares Insights and Strategies
The role of effective communication and marketing cannot be overstated, especially for small businesses. One company at the forefront of empowering small businesses to maximize their marketing capabilities is Constant Contact. In a recent interview with Marilyn Wilson, President of RE Technology, Frank Vella, the CEO of Constant Contact, shared valuable insights and strategies aimed at helping real estate professionals thrive in today's competitive environment.
Frank Vella's journey into the world of technology and small business empowerment is one fueled by passion and purpose. With a background that includes stints at Microsoft and a deep-rooted connection to small business through his upbringing, Frank brings a unique perspective to his role as CEO of Constant Contact. The vision he brings to Constant Contact is clear: to help small businesses stand tall and succeed in their endeavors.
Real estate professionals face unique challenges, especially in today's dynamic market. Through tailored solutions and a deep understanding of the industry's nuances, Constant Contact aims to empower real estate professionals to effectively market their services and connect with their clients.
Constant Contact is best known for its email marketing platform, but they offer far more than just email marketing. It serves as a comprehensive digital marketing solution, designed to simplify the complex process of marketing for small businesses. By integrating things like social media and event planning and promotions into the platform, busy agents can maximize their marketing time by accomplishing several tasks without switching platforms. This also leads to deeper personalization and automation options based on user interactions across different media.
Sometimes the hardest part of any marketing effort is simply getting started and getting past the blank page. Understanding that challenge, Frank explained how they have built AI-driven content creation to alleviate the burden of marketing content generation. With a few simple prompts, their AI engine will create anything from an open house invite to just sold messages.
In times of economic uncertainty, Frank offers invaluable advice for real estate professionals. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging existing networks, staying present, and being responsive to client needs. Despite market fluctuations, the fundamental need for housing remains, presenting opportunities for those who are adaptable and proactive in their approach.
As the real estate industry continues to evolve, Constant Contact remains committed to providing innovative solutions and unwavering support for real estate professionals to thrive in a competitive landscape. Watch the full interview with Frank Vella in our ongoing Tech Titan series:
Get a free trial of Constant Contact for your business. Gain 100% access today. FREE TRIAL. No credit card.
Related reading
8 Ways to Leverage the Magic of AI for Real Estate Marketing
Recruitment and Retention Tactics: How Brokerages and Teams Can Leverage Constant Contact
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Digital Marketing Strategies: 5 Ways to Boost Your Online Presence
In today's digital era, establishing a strong online presence is essential for real estate agents to thrive in a competitive market.
With the majority of potential buyers and sellers turning to the internet for property-related information, having a robust digital marketing strategy is crucial. In this post, we will explore effective digital marketing strategies that can help real estate agents boost their online presence, attract qualified leads, and ultimately close more deals.
Build a Professional Website
Your online presence is built on the basis of your website. It ought to be search engine optimized (more on this in the next section), aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly. Be sure to include client testimonials to foster trust on your website, showcase property listings with top-notch photos and videos, and provide detailed information about your services. As more people use mobile devices to access the internet, use a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. Incorporate lead capture forms throughout the website to gather important contact information from potential customers.
Leverage Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
For your website to gain more visibility and organic traffic, search engine optimization, or SEO, is essential. Perform keyword research to find pertinent terms that potential customers may type into search engines to find real estate services in your locality. Include these words naturally in the titles, headings, and meta descriptions of your website. Update your website frequently with new, educational, and interesting content like blog posts, neighborhood guides, and market trends. To raise your search engine rankings, promote inbound links from reliable websites.
Embrace Social Media Marketing
Real estate agents have access to effective social media platforms that let them connect with their ideal clients. Make professional profiles on well-known social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and frequently share interesting real estate-related content. Showcase real estate listings, share triumphs, provide market insights, and interact with your followers by promptly answering comments and messages. Use social media advertising to reach a larger audience. To grab potential customers' attention, use captivating captions and eye-catching images.
Implement Email Marketing Campaigns
One of the best digital marketing techniques for real estate agents is email marketing. By exchanging contact information for valuable content like e-books, market reports, or exclusive property listings, you can build an email list. Send out regular newsletters with updates on new listings, advice for buyers and sellers, and helpful information about the neighborhood market. Segmenting your contact list based on interests and preferences will help you personalize your emails. To increase traffic and conversions, add compelling calls-to-action and links to your website or particular property listings.
Utilize Virtual Tours and 3D Walkthroughs
Use virtual tours and 3D walkthroughs in your digital marketing strategy to give potential customers an immersive experience. Make interactive and accurate virtual tours of your property listings using cutting-edge technology. This enables potential customers to look around the property online and get an idea of its layout and features. In addition to saving time, virtual tours also generate more qualified leads because people who have already seen a property virtually are more likely to be sincere about scheduling an in-person visit.
Digital marketing is a game-changer for real estate agents aiming to establish a strong online presence. By building a professional website, optimizing it for search engines, embracing social media, implementing email marketing campaigns, and incorporating virtual tours, agents can effectively reach their target audience, generate leads, and boost their business in the competitive real estate market. Stay ahead by adapting to evolving digital marketing trends and technologies.
To view the original article, visit the Transactly blog.
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8 Ways to Leverage the Magic of AI for Real Estate Marketing
The world of artificial intelligence (AI) may sound like something out of a science-fiction novel, but you are probably engaging with AI on a daily basis and not even realizing it (hello, Alexa!). And, although AI may seem like a new phenomenon, it was actually developed in 1956 and has evolved ever since to be the learning, planning, problem-solving tool it is today.
Imagine This Scenario:
You are an agent in Miami, Florida specializing in first-time home-buyers. A prospect creates a property search profile on your website, providing general criteria details and price point. Your website provides a set of search results based on their data, which continues to be refined as they engage with those results. Your website's chatbot pops up and invites the prospect to connect with you directly, and invites them to attend an upcoming open house for one of the properties that fits their search criteria. Your prospect continues to receive relevant, timely emails and SMS based on their registration for your upcoming open house, as well as other helpful information related to the first-time home buying process such as links to budget calculators, finance options and local lenders. All of this communication is delivered to your prospect in either English or Spanish, depending on their preferred language. Your prospect is highly engaged with the fact that YOU are delivering valuable resources every step of the way, while YOU aren't lifting a finger to deliver this value. THIS IS THE MAGIC OF AI, AND IT'S AVAILABLE TODAY.
In the world of business, AI has a wide range of uses that help manage and streamline the day-to-day, and busy real estate professionals that understand how to leverage this powerful tool basically have the advantage of a free personal assistant at their disposal. Although marketing is just ONE of the ways to take advantage of AI, it can save busy agents tons of time and energy in delivering time-sensitive outreach, such as our scenario above.
At Constant Contact, we've taken AI marketing to the next level with our soon-to-be-released, multi-level marketing Campaign Builder, and following are eight unique ways that busy real estate agents can enlist this tool as their personal marketing assistant. Move over, Alexa!
1. Delivering Personalized Communication
As consumers, we've all experienced the frustration of engaging with AI chatbots and marketing communication that lead us down rabbit holes without delivering the results we want. Using Constant Contact's pre-built and/or customizable automation workflows, it's easy to build personalized user journeys that deliver marketing messaging based on user actions and behaviors. In a business that requires immediate attention to inbound leads, the ability to send an email or text message ASAP (regardless of your availability) can be the key to securing the opportunity to continue the conversation.
> Want to check out over 15 templated automation workflows or create your own? <[ Create Your Free Constant Contact Account Today for Full Access ]
2. Keeping People Informed
With the recent spotlight on commission lawsuits, it's more important than ever to position yourself as the expert educator in your market. The Constant Contact AI marketing assistant will help you write meaningful email newsletters, social media content and text messaging speaking to current topics. An integration with Canva helps search, suggest and select appropriate imagery to accompany your communication. And, behavior-based AI learning will continue to streamline your ongoing marketing by understanding your desired tone of voice, color schemes, desired layout and more. Whether or not you fancy yourself a good copywriter, your AI marketing assistant will provide you with amazing suggestions that only require you to customize and/or edit to your desired outcome, which is a HUGE time-saver in developing marketing messaging!
> Create a message using your AI marketing content assistant today…100% FREE <[ Gain 100% access today. No strings. No credit card. ]
3. Promoting an Upcoming Event
Whether it's an upcoming open house, continuing education classes at your brokerage, conferences, client events, or webinars, Constant Contact's new Campaign Builder will provide an intelligent campaign workflow for promotion via email, SMS, landers, event registration management, and social media. Here's how simple it is:
Select "Run an upcoming event" from your guided options inside of the Campaign Builder.
Input a handful of details related to the event, including date, time and description.
Allow the Campaign Builder to generate your pre- AND post-event marketing campaign framework. This will typically include four weeks of pre-event marketing, management of the actual event day, and your post-event outreach. Your plan will include email, SMS, website landers / event registration, and social media (with pay-per-click advertising coming in the near future).
Customize the marketing workflow as desired, leveraging the AI tools to hone copy, images and more.
Sit back and let Constant Contact's AI run your entire campaign.
In the past, real estate agents would need to hire a marketer to build out this type of detailed workflow, but not anymore!
> Give Campaign Builder a try for your next event. <See the power of Constant Contact's AI TODAY!
4. Showcasing a Partner Product / Service
Real estate agents have an entire network of professional products and services that bring value to past, present and future clients. Constant Contact offers a great way to create and deliver communication around this network. You can create individual or multi-level marketing campaigns, inputting a handful of details and allowing your AI marketing assistant to suggest snappy subject lines, witty or serious copy, and call-to-actions that are 100% trackable. Imagine how much value you could provide your lending partners by providing them a list of consumers that clicked through to their websites from your marketing campaign!
> Promote a professional partner or product today! <Send emails to up to 100 contacts at NO COST.
5. Promoting a New Listing
Ensure you have happy sellers by offering digital marketing services as part of your listing presentation. Have a list of 20 potential buyers looking for a three bedroom, two bath in Los Olivos? Leverage your AI marketing assistant to create a set of marketing drips to that specific audience promoting that hot new listing, and don't forget to send it to your partner network AND past clients who may have referrals for you. Constant Contact's smart analytics will let you know who's engaging, who's forwarding and provide insight into who's registering for that upcoming open house. And your AI marketing workflow will automatically move people into personalized touchpoints once they've actively engaged with your key call-to-actions.
> I've got a listing to promote! <Create your free Constant Contact account today and start promoting!
6. Requesting Referrals and/or Reviews
We always intend to ask for that referral or kind review, but with such a busy day-to-day, it's easy to forget or allow too much time to pass. What if all you had to do was assign that happy customer to a contact list that would automatically launch an outreach campaign asking for those kind words, prompting your customer to your Google Reviews? All you need to do is build out that initial campaign workflow (leaning on your AI marketing assistant for copywriting and workflow suggestions), and then each time you assign a customer to that contact list, the campaign will automatically launch and run on your behalf. It couldn't be easier to ensure that you are capturing all of the positive reviews you deserve.
> I'm ready for five star reviews. <It takes less than five minutes to create your FREE account.
7. Increasing Site Traffic
You've invested in that gorgeous website. It's full of lead capture forms (courtesy of Constant Contact) and helpful resources. Searching listings and creating an account has never been easier for your consumers. Now it's time to promote, promote, promote to all of your prospects, partners and past clients. You guessed it! Constant Contact's AI Campaign Builder will assist you in building out a multi-level, long-term marketing campaign designed to drive awareness and traffic to your website. All you need to do is provide some general information, a handful of screenshots of your website, and provide guidance on the "tone" of voice you want to use, or allow your AI marketing assistant to make suggestions to help you each step of the way. The more traffic to your website, the more leads!
> I want more traffic to my website…and more leads! <Create your FREE account and start importing your contacts today.
8. Providing Multi-language Translation
Over 53 million U.S. citizens speak Spanish as their primary language, with 9.2 million in home ownership roles. More and more real estate agents service multilingual communities and need to deliver marketing and communication in English and Spanish, as an example. Now you can save time by allowing your Constant Contact AI marketing assistant to automatically translate all of your communication for you in ANY language, running simultaneous campaigns based on language specifications within your contact lists. No more busy work for YOU having to create separate campaigns, your AI assistant will happily do that busy work for you!
> Empezar hoy! Create multilingual communication. <Put your AI marketing assistant to work and save valuable time.
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Friday Freebie: Get a .realtor Website Domain for 1 YEAR
We've highlighted many extended free trials in this column over the years, but this week's is the longest by far: one whole year.
NAR members can get a .realtor™ website domain name, including a professionally designed website, free for your first year. That means 12 whole months to try something new: a lead generating website that brands you as a trusted REALTOR®.
Read on to learn how to claim this deal!
Free .realtor™ website for one year, courtesy of Get.realtor
Want to improve your online presence? Moving your site (or building a new one) doesn't have to be a painful process. In fact, when you get a .realtor™ website domain, you also get a free Professional Website that can be up and running in just minutes.
Each Professional .realtor™ website includes:
A single-page lead generation website
Built-in SEO and mobile optimization
A lead contact form
Dashboard with visitor stats and reports
Client testimonials
Online support, including how-to guides and video
And more!
Dot com alternatives are a great way to differentiate yourself from the .COMpetition. And with a well chosen .realtor™ domain name, prospects immediately know that they can come to you with their real estate needs.
Try it for yourself and see! Get a .realtor™ domain name and Professional Website FREE for one year.
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From Clicks to Closings: Supercharge Your IDX SEO Game
In the fast-paced and highly competitive world of real estate, having a strong online presence is crucial for success, and in today's market, the battle for online visibility is fierce. As highlighted in "Website Wizardry: 7 Secrets to Keep Clients and Prospects Hooked and Coming Back for More," one of the most effective ways to achieve having a strong online presence is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO), especially for IDX real estate websites.
IDX (Internet Data Exchange) allows real estate agents to display real-time property listings on their websites, providing valuable information to potential buyers. However, without proper SEO, these listings might not reach the right audience.
Here are essential SEO best practices for IDX real estate websites to ensure they rank well in search engine results and attract the right leads.
1. Keyword Research
Keyword research forms the foundation of any successful SEO strategy. For IDX real estate websites, focus on real estate-specific keywords such as "homes for sale in [your target market(s)]," "real estate listings in [area]," or "property for sale near [landmark]." Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or others to identify relevant keywords with high search volumes and moderate competition.
2. Optimize Meta Titles and Descriptions
Meta titles and descriptions are what users see in search engine results, so they need to be attention-catching, compelling, and informative. Include target keywords in meta titles and descriptions, keeping them concise and relevant to the property listings. For example, a meta title could be "Luxury Condos for Sale in Downtown Miami | Your Real Estate Agency," while the meta description could highlight unique selling points like "Explore our exclusive listings of luxury condos in the heart of Miami's vibrant downtown."
3. Create Unique, High-Quality Content
Content is king in the world of SEO – Google's algorithm is entirely based on content. Create unique and informative content around your property listings, neighborhoods, real estate trends, and buying/selling tips. This not only provides value to your audience but also helps search engines understand the key value you are providing from your website. Consider writing blog posts, neighborhood guides, market reports, informative property descriptions, and value-driven content for your readers.
4. Optimize Images with Alt Text
Real estate websites are image-heavy, showcasing various properties and their features. Optimize these images by adding descriptive alt text that includes relevant keywords discussed in tip number one. Alt text not only improves accessibility for visually impaired users, but also helps search engines understand the content of the images. For instance, "Luxury waterfront condo with panoramic views | Downtown Miami Real Estate."
5. Mobile-Friendly Design
With the majority of internet users now browsing on mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly website is non-negotiable. Over 60% of visitors scroll your site from their phone versus a desktop or tablet. Ensure that your IDX website is responsive and optimized for different screen sizes. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its search results, so this step is truly non-negotiable.
6. Local SEO for Real Estate
Local SEO is especially important for real estate agents targeting specific geographic areas. Claim your Google My Business profile and optimize it with accurate business information, including address, phone number, and business hours. It's free, and can make a tremendous impact on how your site ranks locally. After you have a successful transaction, encourage your satisfied clients to leave reviews on your Google profile, as positive reviews can help boost your local search rankings significantly.
7. Improve Website Speed
A fast-loading website not only provides a better user experience but also ranks higher in search results. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix any issues that might be slowing down your website. Compress images, enable browser caching, and consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to improve load times.
8. Build Quality Backlinks
Backlinks from reputable websites are a strong signal to search engines that your website is trustworthy and authoritative. Reach out to local businesses, industry partners, and real estate-related websites for opportunities to guest post, contribute content, or exchange backlinks. Focus on quality over quantity, as backlinks that appear to be spam or irrelevant can harm your SEO efforts.
9. Monitor and Analyze Performance
SEO is an ongoing process, and it's essential to monitor your website's performance regularly. As Peter Drucker said, "What gets measured gets improved." Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track traffic, user behavior, keyword rankings, and website errors. Analyze this data to identify areas for improvement and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Implementing these SEO best practices for IDX real estate websites can significantly improve visibility, attract qualified leads, and ultimately drive more sales. By optimizing your website for search engines and providing valuable content to users, you can establish your online presence as a trusted resource in the competitive real estate market. People do business with those they know, like, and trust, and creating this trust starts with how you portray your business online.
To view the original article, visit the IDX Broker blog.
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Do This One Thing to Stand Apart from Other Real Estate Agents to Win the Listing
Imagine you're a home seller, and you've just finished interviewing three real estate agents to help you sell your home. Each agent presented a similar array of services: a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), home value estimates, market analysis, marketing plans, and home preparation tips.
As you review your options, you find yourself struggling to differentiate between the agents. They all seem capable, but none of them truly stands out. This scenario is all too common in today's competitive real estate market, where tight inventory makes winning listings more challenging than ever.
To rise above the competition and secure more listings, agents must update their listing presentations to include unique, memorable ways to significantly increase their client's home listing price before putting it on the market.
Creating a more modern listing presentation
What case can you make to sellers to make your listing presentation memorable? Use storytelling to explain the value of "market readiness" and how move-in-ready homes are appealing to more buyers.
Ask your sellers to imagine themselves in their buyers' shoes. Think of a younger couple, millennials, eagerly searching for their first home. They've saved diligently for their down payment and are excited to start this new chapter in their lives.
However, as they tour, they find themselves disappointed by homes that need updating. They don't have the time, skills, or desire to take on significant renovations.
This couple represents a vital characteristic among millennials, who now comprise one of the largest groups of home buyers. According to a survey by TD Bank, 71% of millennials want a home that requires little or no renovation or repairs. Less than 20% would buy a house that needs a lot of love. By emphasizing the importance of market readiness and appealing to this significant demographic, agents can make a compelling case to sellers during their listing presentations.
Your new secret sauce for your listing presentation
How can you make your listing presentation stand out when, according to RPR, nearly every agent includes a CMA (86%), a home value estimate (80%), local market analysis (77%), agent marketing plans (73%), and tips for sellers to prep the home (69%)?
You need to hit sellers in their most vulnerable place: their pocketbooks.
What is the number one driver for most sellers? Getting the highest sales price for their home, right? But as a savvy agent, you know that setting false expectations for a sales price and trying to win a listing by offering to list it at a higher price than what you see the market will bear is a bad strategy.
But what if there was a way to help a seller maximize their home's value to attract the highest sales price? You need look no further than what home flippers have been doing for decades. Your newest, most modern addition is a discussion about presale renovations.
Home flippers have utilized the concept of presale renovations to boost a home's value before putting it on the market. Many individual agents have also been offering presale renovation-type services for years.
Then, in 2018, this strategy was formalized brokerage-wide by Compass Real Estate. Today, Concierge Service or Presale Renovation firms have made this approach more accessible and scalable than ever before.
Agents no longer need to be house flippers or have extensive financial resources, construction, and design knowledge to help their sellers significantly increase the value of a home before listing it. These services have leveled the playing field, allowing agents to offer their clients a turnkey solution that maximizes their profits without the stress of managing a renovation.
Revive your listings, elevate your earnings
Presale renovations offer a wealth of advantages for both sellers and agents. Homes that undergo presale renovations typically sell faster than as-is homes that can potentially languish on the market. On average, renovated homes sell for more. With strategically chosen upgrades, presale renovations can return an impressive 160% on the cost of the renovations, according to internal research from Revive, a firm specializing in presale renovations. For sellers, these home improvements can translate into significantly more profit, with an average increase of over $150,000, Revive finds.
The turnkey process offered by a presale renovation firm reduces mental and financial stress for sellers. There are no upfront costs for sellers as the renovation is paid for at closing. Expert designers create proven layouts and select finishes that maximize returns, with the goal of making every dollar invested in the renovation yield the highest possible return.
For agents, helping sellers net a higher sales price is a win-win. Many sellers with homes that need significant improvements often have the most to gain and can realize a massive increase in what they net from selling their homes with a presale renovation. Higher sales prices usually allow agents to increase the income earned from the sale.
Why it's your new "must have" listing presentations
Having a presale renovation conversation as part of your listing presentations is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity. Why? Because too many presentations fail to differentiate agents from their competitors. But when you explain how a presale renovation works and review the benefits to your sellers, you'll capture the attention of potential clients. Your listing presentation becomes more memorable, and you'll win more listings.
Remember that more than half of American homeowners currently live in homes that are 30 years or older. According to a recent study, many of these homeowners admit that they have never renovated.
If your sellers want to reach Millennial home buyers, embedding a presale renovation strategy into your listing presentation can help them do that. By offering this new service, you demonstrate your value – and commitment to maximizing your clients' profits and ensuring their success in the market.
Your best first step is to contact a presale renovation firm to learn how they work and how they will support you and your client throughout the process. Working with a presale renovation firm simplifies the renovation process for both agents and their clients.
Elevate your listings, differentiate your brand
Incorporating a presale renovation conversation into your listing presentations is a powerful way to differentiate yourself from the competition, help clients maximize their profits, and ultimately grow your business. By partnering with a presale renovation firm, you can simplify the renovation process for both yourself and your clients, leading to faster sales, greater income, and, most importantly, contributing to what can be life-changing financial outcomes for your sellers.
Embracing this new, game-changing approach is not just a smart move – it's the key to elevating your listing presentation to win more listings and set your brand apart. You don't want to be just another agent; you want to be the one who leaves a lasting, positive impression on every client you serve.
Jessica Morrow, a seasoned real estate veteran, is Revive Real Estate Chief of Staff. Revive's mission is to help home sellers maximize their profits by providing access to presale renovation services without upfront costs, allowing them to transform their homes into move-in ready condition that sells for a higher price.
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Streamlining Your Workflow: Tools and Techniques for Efficient Real Estate Agents
In the fast-paced world of real estate, efficiency is crucial for success.
Real estate agents juggle multiple responsibilities, from finding leads and managing client relationships to handling paperwork and closing deals. To stay ahead of the competition and maximize productivity, it is essential to streamline your workflow.
In this post, we will explore some valuable tools and techniques that can help real estate agents optimize their processes and achieve greater efficiency. Read on!
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
Building and maintaining strong client relationships is one of the key components of being a successful real estate agent. CRM software has the potential to revolutionize this field. Agents can use these platforms to track interactions, centralize and organize client data, and streamline communication. For instance, agents can automate email campaigns, set follow-up reminders, and track client engagement using programs like Salesforce and HubSpot. Real estate agents can also improve customer service, make time savings, and foster ongoing client relationships by utilizing CRM software.
Virtual Tours and 3D Visualizations
The days of prospective buyers physically touring each property are long gone. The real estate industry has undergone a revolution, and clients now have access to more immersive experiences thanks to virtual tours and 3D visualizations. Agents can create virtual tours that enable buyers to browse properties remotely using tools like Zillow. These tools give clients a realistic view of the layout of the property so they can picture themselves there without having to leave their homes. Real estate agents can save time, work more efficiently, and serve a wider clientele by minimizing the need for numerous in-person meetings.
Electronic Document Management Systems
There is a lot of paperwork involved in real estate transactions, and it can be time-consuming and error-prone. Adopting electronic document management systems can accelerate and increase efficiency in this procedure. Agents can send, sign, and store documents electronically thanks to services like DocuSign and Adobe Sign. Physical paperwork is no longer required, which decreases delays and improves teamwork. To ensure a quick and efficient workflow, agents can securely share documents with clients and other parties involved in the transaction.
Project Management Tools
Real estate agents must maintain organization and effectively manage their workload as they manage multiple properties and clients at once. Agents can manage their workload better by using project management tools like Trello. Users can create and assign tasks, set due dates, and monitor progress using these platforms. To assign tasks to team members and track the progress of each project, agents can create boards for each property or client. Real estate agents can prioritize tasks, streamline teamwork, and guarantee the timely completion of crucial activities by using project management tools.
Social Media and Marketing Automation
Social media is a potent tool for real estate agents to reach a wider audience and generate leads in the current digital era. Agents can advertise properties, share market updates, and interact with prospective clients by using social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Additionally, agents can schedule and automate social media posts by using marketing automation tools, which save time and guarantee consistent content delivery. Real estate agents can effectively market their services, draw leads, and maintain contact with their target audience by utilizing social media and marketing automation.
Compliance Systems
Compliance system software, such as Dotloop, offer real estate agents a streamlined workflow by simplifying and automating compliance processes. With features like document management, digital signatures, and transaction tracking, Dotloop centralizes all transaction-related documents and tasks in a secure online platform. Agents can easily manage contracts, disclosures, and addendums, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Additionally, the software's automation capabilities help agents save time by generating standardized documents, tracking deadlines, and providing audit trails. By leveraging compliance system software like Dotloop, agents can enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and maintain a high level of compliance throughout their real estate transactions.
Transaction Coordination Systems
Transaction coordination (TC) software plays a vital role in streamlining the workflow of real estate agents, as it automates and centralizes transaction management, simplifies task management, enhances communication, ensures compliance, and provides performance analytics. By utilizing TC software, agents can efficiently manage and access transaction-related information, automate repetitive tasks, communicate effectively with all parties involved, maintain compliance with regulations, and gain valuable insights into their performance. With the integration of TC software, agents can streamline their workflow, save time, reduce errors, and focus more on building client relationships and closing deals.
In conclusion, streamlining your workflow as a real estate agent is crucial for maximizing productivity, improving client relationships, and staying ahead of the competition. By adopting the right tools and techniques, such as CRM software, virtual tours, electronic document management systems, project management tools, and social media automation, agents can optimize their processes and achieve greater efficiency. Embracing technology and automation not only saves time but also enhances the overall client experience.
As the real estate industry continues to evolve, it is essential for agents to adapt and leverage these tools to streamline their workflow and achieve sustainable success.
To view the original article, visit the Transactly blog.
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Real AI: Chatting with the ChatGPT app, real estate agents and Chatbot privacy dilemma, headlines and an AI Quote of the Week
Real AI is a 100% human-created weekly roundup of all things AI in real estate and emerging AI innovations in other sectors likely to impact real estate.
Chatting with the ChatGPT app
A splash screen inside my ChatGPT app on my iPhone 14 recently popped up, inviting me to select a "voice." Its prompt was that I could converse with ChatGPT rather than a text search.
So, I went into Settings, which is a little tricky to find. First, go to the top left of the screen and tap the two uneven bars. Then look at the bottom left of your screen and tap on the three dots across from your account icon—that's the one with the two large letters and your name—and it will display your ChatGPT Settings.
Under the "SPEECH" section in Settings is "Voice" – give it a tap.
Currently, there are five voice choices to choose from, all with object names: Breeze, Sky, Juniper, Cove, and Ember. Touch to play the voice, pick the one you want, and touch the "Confirm" button on the bottom to save.
Close out and tap the ChatGPT logo at the top left, and you will be back on the main "Prompt" screen. To enable a conversation, look at the bottom right corner of your screen, next to where you usually type a prompt and tap the headphones icon to begin your chat with ChatGPT.
From personal use and observations, like all things AI-related today, we are in the very early stages. There's quite a bit of lag time when processing a conversation, which I am sure will improve. The lag is annoying because when you talk to other talk-to-text or translation apps—like Otter or Google Translate—the response is instant and in real-time.
Clearly, ChatGPT is still perfecting this feature, which is probably why the setting to turn it on is so hard to find. I imagine the app also does a lot of behind-the-scenes processing to use the chat feature. At times, it feels like I may be able to enter the same prompt by text and get a faster result. I am sure that's just a perception because we are in an "I want it now" phase when using tech.
Regardless, the impact for real estate agents on the go could be massive. This feature will be wickedly valuable when it is ready for prime time. We wrote early about how we knew that voice commands would replace text, and now we are getting closer.
Think about the potential value of being able to Chat with ChatGPT at will, and not just on your phone, but your desktop and smart devices. Imagine if ChatGPT was built into CarPlay. How much more productive could you be when driving? Agents still spend a lot of time in their cars, and having the power of chatting with ChatGPT, well, that will be just the beginning.
The chatbot privacy dilemma
Axios, our favorite all-things-AI news source, published a follow-up story this week on the challenge employers continue to face: keeping confidential information out of ChatGPT and other chatbots.
The problem is it's a catch-22: Employers benefit when workers use AI, as it can significantly boost productivity and save their staff time. That can quickly add up to a huge increase in profitability for firms. But when employees share confidential information about their company, it could potentially expose employers to tremendous risks—both competitively and financially.
Techopedia also points to a study from 1Password that "found 92% of security professionals have concerns about generative AI, citing issues like employees entering sensitive data, using AI trained with malicious data, and falling for AI-driven phishing attempts."
The study also found that 22% of employees said they used generative AI despite violating company rules.
This brings us to real estate agents and their brokerages. Nearly all agents are independent contractors, which means they get to pick and choose the tech they want to use, including generative AI like ChatGPT.
It's nearly impossible for brokerages to put guardrails in place to protect them from the use of Gen AI by their agents, just like it's almost impossible for them to fully regulate the use of their brand (think brokerage logo, colors, and designs of promo materials) by agents.
But now the risk isn't just to the brokerage's image: it could also potentially affect the brokerage's pocketbook.
Think about the publicly traded brokerages, the thousands of independent agents who hang their licenses with them, and the risk of confidential information being input into ChatGPT.
Some may argue that agents are not privy to inside information, and while that may be true, they do know about many things a brokerage does not—and does not want to—share publicly.
If regular companies face a dilemma controlling the use of Gen AI among employees, consider an industry that has been among the first to broadly adopt this new tech, which is staffed almost entirely by independent contractors.
How risky is that, and what will brokerages do about it?
AI Fast Facts
Only 22% of customer service providers have adopted generative AI to their business – Amdocs
Among "AI high performer" companies, 25% say their complete system is equipped with an AI monitoring and alerting system, compared to 12% of other companies – McKinsey
Less than a third (28%) of organizations are extensively using AI cybersecurity measures – IBM
46% of business and cyber professionals say that their biggest concern about the impact of generative AI on cybersecurity is the increased capabilities in phishing, malware, and deep fakes – Statista
39% of companies surveyed said automation and generative AI is the most relevant investment for business growth, with 33% saying flexible and hybrid work is the most important – Dell/IDC
Source: Atera
AI Headlines – Take 5
Zillow exec talks using AI to optimize home buying process | 4/4/24 - The GW HatchetHyperbolic claims by Zillow exec on its use of AI, including Zestimate error rate now at 2%
Recruiters turn to AI in their quest to lure top agents | 4/2/24 - HousingWireTech-based vendors are utilizing AI to streamline recruiting for real estate firms.
Business Schools Add AI to Curriculum | 4/3/24 - PYMNTSMore top-tier universities like American University and Duke are teaching students to use generative AI.
NYC's AI chatbot was caught telling businesses to break the law. The city isn't taking it down | 4/3/24 - APThe darker side of AI is revealed when a faulty AI language model is utilized.
Using data science and AI to answer the need for speed in uncertain times | 4/2/24 - Altus GroupOne of the many key sessions at the New York Urban Land Institute spring meeting next week.
AI Quote of the Week
To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.
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Website Wizardry: 7 Secrets to Keep Clients and Prospects Hooked and Coming Back for More
In today's bustling digital landscape, a captivating website is not just a luxury — it's a necessity. Whether you are an agent, broker, or team, your website is the first point of contact for potential clients and prospects, it serves as the digital storefront for your business, and is crucial to your success. But in a world where attention spans are fleeting, how do you ensure that visitors not only visit your website but stay and, ultimately, keep coming back for more?
Along with the challenges of keeping visitors' attention, many real estate professionals become frustrated with their website if it provides little to no lead capture or engagement. The solutions to these problems lie in the art of "Website Wizardry" — the magical formula that transforms casual visitors into loyal clients and offers an abundance of lead capture opportunities.
Here are seven secrets to mastering this digital sorcery that will act as an impactful checklist of elements that your website should include to increase brand awareness, provide better information and a better experience for your visitors, capture more leads, and keep prospects hooked and coming back for more.
Tip #1: Incorporate IDX for a Mystical User Experience
Whether you are a new real estate professional or have been growing your business for years, you've likely heard the term IDX. IDX (Internet Data Exchange) is what your website needs if you want to allow your website visitors to search for MLS properties on your website. Hint: YOU DO WANT THIS!
Without IDX, your visitors will likely leave your site pretty quickly to spend their time searching for properties on other sites such as Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com, or even another agent's website that does have IDX functionality. Incorporating IDX into your website is an easy and seamless way to offer more value to your prospects and clients. Explore more benefits of incorporating IDX into your website here.
Tip #2: Work with the Pros to Create a Spellbinding Design
The visual allure of your website is the first enchantment visitors encounter. A clean, intuitive layout with eye-catching visuals draws them in like a magnet. Invest in a professional design that reflects your brand's personality and values. Aesthetics are not just about beauty; they are about creating an experience that resonates with your audience.
Along with the aesthetic benefits of working with a pro, there are a few steps to properly incorporating IDX into your website that they can help with. IDX feeds are tied to rules and regulations overseen by your MLS and can be slightly challenging to navigate. A strong website developer can help ensure all IDX regulations are followed along with other website requirements so that you deliver a compliant and engaging website experience.
Tip #3: Deliver Consistent, SEO-Driven Content
Content is the potion that fuels engagement. Craft compelling, relevant content that speaks directly to your audience's needs. Whether it's spellbinding blog posts, captivating videos, or enchanting infographics, each piece should add value and keep visitors coming back for more. A static website won't rank well in the search engines, so it's important that you update your website regularly with fresh content that is rich in keywords. A great idea is to have a built-in blog that features listing updates (pulled automatically from your IDX feed), relevant lifestyle content, and hyper-local information that speaks to the needs of home buyers and sellers in your local area.
Tip #4: Enchanting Engagement and Social Strategy
Syndicate all of the great content you post to your website across all of your social channels. The average American spends over two hours per day on social media, so you need to make sure your content is easily visible to them when they are scrolling their social feeds. Linking your website and social media together makes it even easier for prospective clients to find you on whatever online platform they may be using and, vice versa, make sure that the content you post on social media is linked back to your website. This is a winning strategy because it keeps prospects and clients engaged with you consistently.
Tip #5: Build in Lead Capture with Secret Passageways (CTAs – Calls-to-Action)
Guide your visitors along the path of conversion with strategic calls-to-action. These magical buttons and links should be strategically placed throughout your website, inviting visitors to take the next step — whether it's subscribing to your newsletter, scheduling a meeting with you, or inquiring about a property. Additional things to consider having on your website to allow for more intentional lead capture are calculators, value-driven downloads, or other helpful resources.
Tip #6: Make It Easy and Personable
Ensure your website loads at lightning speed to prevent visitors from vanishing into thin air. Optimize images, leverage caching, and invest in reliable hosting to keep the magic flowing smoothly. Visitors should be able to find what they are looking for quickly and easily. Statistically, the average person spends less than a minute searching a site, so the initial moments a visitor experiences your site are extremely crucial. Keep your homepage simple with the most relevant information for home buyers and sellers easily accessible. Back to tip #2: this is another reason why having IDX is so important – it offers your site visitors a quick and effective way to find the property information they need.
Tip #7: Make Your Personality and Brand Shine
Humans are social creatures, seeking validation and connection. Showcase testimonials and reviews to demonstrate your credibility and to build trust. Foster a sense of community through social media integration, forums, or user-generated content, where visitors can engage with each other and your brand. People want to work with those they know, like, and trust and your website offers the initial opportunity to create this connection. Make sure your website reflects your personality and showcases your strengths, specialties, and expertise to establish credibility and build rapport.
Website Wizardry: 7 Secrets to Keep Clients and Prospects Hooked and Coming Back for More
In the realm of Website Wizardry, these seven secrets hold the key to captivating your audience and weaving a spell of loyalty. The magic lies in the meticulous crafting of every detail. By infusing your website with these seven secrets, you'll create an irresistible allure that keeps clients and prospects hooked, eagerly returning for more.
To view the original article, visit the IDX Broker blog.
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The Difference Between Electronic and Combo Lockboxes
Just like real estate agents who have achieved the title of REALTOR®, there are certain lockboxes that are held to a higher standard and can be a game-changer for agents. Lockboxes might not always get the spotlight, but they're incredibly important. They serve as the gatekeepers to your listings, and they not only protect your client's interests and help facilitate successful showings, but they can also help establish the important element of trust between clients and agents.
But here's the thing – with so many lockbox choices out there, it can be tough to spot the ones that truly bring something special to the table. Let's explore the different lockbox options and explain the most important features to look for when investing in a lockbox.
Combo boxes vs. Electronic Lockboxes
Real estate lockboxes can essentially be boiled down into one of two basic categories: combo box or electronic. A combo box refers to the simple, manual devices agents can use to secure the keys to gain entry to a listing. These types of lockboxes typically operate with a code entered into a numeric keypad or padlock that opens a door to reveal a house key inside.
Combo boxes have multiple disadvantages
Added Risk: Once set, the code will open the lockbox until the agent visits the property to change it, costing the agent valuable time.
Less Control: Agents also have no control over access hours or knowledge of who visited the property.
Not Secure: Many combo boxes are known to be easily breached with hand tools, posing further vulnerabilities to the security of the home.
How Electronic Lockboxes Are Changing the Game
Enhanced Security: Where combo boxes rely solely on physical keys or combinations, electronic lockboxes offer additional security features such as encryption, unique access codes, and audit trails, all of which provide greater protection against unauthorized access.
Real-time Activity Tracking: Real-time activity tracking and reporting features allow agents to monitor who has accessed the property and when.
Remote Access: Grant access to the property from anywhere, at any time, with remote access. With electronic lockboxes, there's no need for physical presence. This flexibility is especially valuable for agents managing multiple listings or conducting showings outside regular hours.
While electronic lockboxes often cost more than their mechanical counterparts, agents will quickly recoup this investment in the time and energy saved by not having to visit properties to change manual access codes, allowing them to focus their efforts on selling.
Choosing the Best Electronic Lockbox: 3 Key Features to Consider
1. Battery Life
While clearly a more advanced and secure option, electronic lockboxes have their own set of challenges. A dead battery could cause major issues since it needs power to open the door. That's why the SentriGuard® lockbox from SentriLock offers the longest-lasting battery on the market, which is easily replaceable by the agent and supported by a backup battery, just in case. Unlike other lockbox solutions available, these batteries are replaceable so that the lockboxes can last for years.
2. Durability and Weather Resistance
Your lockbox is going to spend a lot of time outside. Make sure it can handle whatever the weather throws at it—rain, heat, cold, you name it. A tough, durable design is a must. The best electronic lockboxes will come with credentialed security and durability.
3. Access Control
Being able to track who accesses the box and when is super useful, too. Look for lockboxes that let you create custom access codes or use an app to control entry. Through the SentriConnect® app or FlexCodes™, you can provide temporary access to authorized guests. It's safe and convenient, allowing you to focus on selling. Need to control access around showing schedules? Easily set up appointment times to restrict when properties can be accessed.
Lockboxes perform an incredibly important task by securing access to what is often clients' largest asset. Likewise, it's well worth agents' careful consideration to do their homework and select the best tool for the job. This is not only for the safety and security of their listings, but also to ensure they can focus their full attention on achieving success in the hyper-competitive real estate industry.
To view the original article, visit the SentriLock blog.
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Navigating the Real Estate Wave: A Guide to Mastering Market Research for Agents
In the ever-changing landscape of real estate, success hinges on riding the wave of market dynamics.
Quick shifts in everything from property values to financing options demand that real estate agents and brokers stay in the know.
Welcome to our guide on the indispensable art of market research!
Today, we'll talk all about how mastering market research not just keeps you in the game, but ahead of it — read on!
The Dance of Market Dynamics: Why Market Research Is Your Best Partner
Real estate markets are like lively dance floors, where rhythm changes unpredictably. To stay in step, agents must be market maestros, attuned to consumer preferences, trends, and fresh opportunities. Market research becomes the spotlight, helping agents find new ways to cater to clients and stand out from the competition. In this dynamic arena, spotting market gaps and potential expansions is not just a skill but a necessity.
Furthermore, market research is the compass for accurately valuing properties. Without a deep understanding of local market intricacies and factors influencing home prices, pricing homes becomes akin to a shot in the dark. Comprehensive market research ensures agents have the right information to provide precise property valuations.
Conducting the Symphony: How Agents Can Rock Market Research
So, how do agents conduct effective market research? Let's dive into the rhythm:
Analyzing MLS Data: Think of the multiple listing service (MLS) as your backstage pass to real estate insights. Analyzing MLS data unveils trends in home prices, days on market, and the inventory of available homes. It's the pulse of the market that every savvy agent should master.
Monitoring Local Economic Trends: The real estate market is a dance influenced by economic beats. Keep an eye on local economic trends to understand factors impacting home prices, such as job and population growth, and interest rates. Your ability to suggest the perfect time for clients to buy or sell will become music to their ears.
Analyzing Comparable Sales: Finding the right note for property valuations involves studying nearby homes with similar characteristics. By comparing size, location, and other crucial factors, agents can accurately gauge a property's fair market value.
Conducting Surveys and Focus Groups: Break out the solo act by using surveys and focus groups to understand consumer preferences and emerging trends. Uncover insights like a hidden melody, such as the rising interest in energy-efficient homes, and use this knowledge to guide clients in enhancing their home's market appeal.
Attending Industry Events: Join the grand symphony of real estate by attending conferences and trade shows. Networking with fellow professionals and immersing yourself in educational sessions unveils the future of the market and opens doors to new growth opportunities.
In Harmony with Success: The Grand Finale of Market Research
In conclusion, market research is not an optional dance move; it's the rhythm that guides every step in the real estate industry. By staying informed, agents and brokers can offer superior advice to clients, precisely value properties, and discover new avenues for growth. Dive into the melody of market research using tools like MLS data, local economic trend monitoring, comparable sales analysis, surveys, focus groups, and industry events. Be the conductor of your success, always ahead of the curve, and delivering exceptional service to your clients. It's not just about staying on top; it's about leading the way.
To view the original article, visit the Transactly blog.
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How to Write Compelling Property Descriptions
You know that writing compelling property descriptions is essential for attracting buyers.
But where to start?
This step-by-step guide walks you through the process of creating stunning property descriptions that capture attention and drive engagement.
You'll be ready to write listings that showcase properties in the best possible light.
Why Writing a Good Property Description Matters
Because: An engaging property description allows you to highlight the best features of your listing and attract interested buyers. With a well-written summary of the key details, you'll capture the attention of more potential buyers browsing online listings.
Because: A compelling description paints a vivid picture of the property in the reader's mind. This leads to more viewings as interested parties want to see the place in person. The more viewings you get, the higher the chance of receiving an acceptable offer.
Because: With a robust description emphasizing the property's best qualities and unique attributes, you'll elicit emotional reactions from readers. This often translates into a faster sales process at a higher selling price as buyers get into a bidding war to obtain their dream home.
Because: A thoughtful description provides an accurate sense of what the property is like. This avoids disappointment upon viewing and ensures that only genuinely interested parties will schedule a showing. It also reduces the risk of low offers from buyers with unrealistic expectations.
Elements of an Effective Property Description
Precise Language
When writing a property description, use concise yet compelling language to capture the reader's attention. Be specific about the key features and amenities.
For example, instead of saying the kitchen has "nice" appliances, specify that it has stainless steel or granite countertops and high-end appliances. Use precise language and an enthusiastic tone to help readers visualize the space.
Evocative Imagery
Help the reader experience the property through vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses. Mention the beautiful hardwood floors, the spacious bedrooms flooded with natural light, the private backyard oasis perfect for entertaining, or the open-concept living area ideal for relaxing. Using sensory language helps readers connect emotionally with the property.
Key Features and Specifications
While imagery and language are important, a property description must also include the key features, facts, and specifications about the space.
Provide details on the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, lot size, garage spaces, storage areas, and so on. Also specify any recent upgrades like a new roof, HVAC system, windows, or flooring. These important details give readers a comprehensive understanding of what the property offers.
Call the Reader to Action
End the property description with a strong call to action to schedule a showing or submit an offer.
For example, say something like "This stunning property won't last long—contact us today to schedule your private tour!" or "Don't miss this rare opportunity—submit your best offer now!" A compelling call to action motivates interested readers to take the next step.
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Property Description
1. Describe the Property Type and Location
To begin, specify whether the property is residential or commercial and its precise location. For residential properties, note the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. For commercial buildings, specify the property type, such as retail, office, or industrial space. Provide the street address and general neighborhood information.
2. Highlight Key Features and Amenities
Discuss the most appealing features of the property, such as spacious rooms, high ceilings, natural light, storage space, or outdoor areas.
Note any amenities like parking, security systems, or recreational facilities
Mention recent upgrades like new flooring, painting, or appliances.
Keep descriptions concise while highlighting why the features and amenities would be attractive to potential buyers or tenants.
3. Specify Dimensions and Include Relevant Measurements
Provide exact or approximate square footage for the overall property and individual rooms.
Note ceiling heights. For commercial properties, include specifications like the number of parking spaces, electrical capacity, or loading docks.
Residential listings should mention lot size and dimensions. Precise measurements allow potential buyers or tenants to easily determine if the space will suit their needs.
4. Proofread and Edit for Clarity
Carefully proofread your property description to ensure there are no errors or inconsistencies.
Get feedback from others to identify any areas that could be clearer or more compelling.
Make necessary edits to create a polished, impactful description that will motivate viewers to take the next step.
Property Description Template and Examples
Here are some short examples that incorporate the tips above:
Residential Property
This four-bedroom, three-bathroom single-family home offers 2,500 square feet of living space. The open floor plan features high ceilings, hardwood floors, and an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The spacious master suite includes a walk-in closet and remodeled en suite bathroom.
The large fenced backyard has a deck, swimming pool, and jacuzzi, perfect for entertaining. The home is located in the desirable Hillcrest neighborhood, close to downtown shops and restaurants, walking trails and public parks. It is within walking distance to top-rated schools and minutes from the freeway.
Office Space
This 1,500-square-foot office suite is located on the ground floor of a two-story commercial building. The open layout has nine-foot ceilings and is divided into four individual offices, a reception area, and a large conference room. Amenities include on-site parking, a break room with a kitchenette, and WiFi throughout.
The property is situated in a central business district, providing convenient access to hotels, banks, restaurants and other businesses. The location is minutes from the freeway and public transit center, offering employees easy commutes. The building has 24/7 security and an on-site property manager for additional support.
Villa
This newly constructed four-bedroom villa offers over 4,000 square feet of luxurious living space. The open-concept floor plan features high ceilings, marble floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the living areas with natural light. The chef's kitchen comes fully equipped with top-of-the-line appliances.
The master suite includes a private lounge, his and hers walk-in closets, a soaking tub, and a separate shower. Additional amenities include an outdoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym, a golf simulation room, and a home theater. The villa is nestled in a secure and gated community with 24-hour security and access to resort-style amenities such as tennis courts, jogging paths, and a clubhouse.
How long should a property description be?
Property descriptions should be concise yet compelling, typically ranging from 175 to 350 words. Keep paragraphs and sentences relatively short, around two to three sentences for each. Longer, more detailed descriptions may be suitable for unique or high-end properties. As a general rule, shorter descriptions tend to be more impactful.
The ability to showcase properties in their best light is an invaluable real estate skill. Use this new knowledge to create property descriptions that engage readers and get results.
To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.
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Real AI: AI's sophomore slump, 5 great ChatGPT party tricks, headlines, fast facts and AI quote of the week
Real AI is a 100% human-created weekly roundup of all things AI in real estate and emerging AI innovations in other sectors likely to impact real estate.
Welcome to AI's sophomore slump
Last week, the headlines warned, "It's not just you: ChatGPT is down for many worldwide." For those who rely on ChatGPT for work assistance, having your AI offline can be frightful. It's sort of like misplacing your iPhone: you go into a panic until it is found.
How many times do you refresh your browser when this happens?
Overloaded AI servers, slow responses, and system errors are becoming more common.
Yet these troubles pale compared to what is happening as generative AI enters its "mushy phase" – a term consultant Chetan Sharma used to describe it, according to Axios.
AI is in what's akin to a sophomore slump. Remember, ChatGPT has only been around since November 2022.
That slump is fueled by the collision of hyperbole and the fact that AI makes mistakes. Sometimes, colossal ones.
Generative AI is in its overpromising and underdelivering phase, and people are taking notice. Business Insider reported this week that Goldman Sachs found that more than a third of S&P 500 companies mentioned AI in their fourth-quarter earnings reports.
Overpromising can be costly. The SEC charged two investment advisory firms with making false claims about their use of AI. They agreed to pay nearly a half-million dollars in fines. It turns out they were not using AI to predict hot new companies and trends.
Many companies are finding that when they try to scale AI, they run into accuracy and reliability problems. AI isn't where they need it to be—yet.
But let's be clear. Despite these issues, generative AI is not a fad that will eventually disappear or stall out like Web 3.0. It may get worse before it gets better, but it will get a lot better.
Patience pays in the case of Generative AI, and ChatGPT-5 is coming, maybe this summer or by fall. But you can bet that when it does arrive, it will be better—a lot better.
5 Great ChatGPT Party Tricks
While Generative AI struggles through its sophomore year, we want to share some cool things you can do with ChatGPT-4 that you may not know about, but should.
Here are five party tricks that can help you be more productive now with ChatGPT:
Turn a PDF into text: Yes, there are other ways of doing this but using ChatGPT seems faster – and better. Plus, you avoid the bizarre formatting issue that plagues some PDFs when you attempt to cut and paste. Attach your PDF file and give the prompt, "Please turn the attached PDF into a readable text file." It not only perfectly displays the text allowing you to cut and paste, but also creates a downloadable text file.
Extract numbers interspersed with text: Let's say you keep track of your expenses in a note file that says, "Thurs. Dinner $54.25, Sat. Lunch $22.71, Taxi to Airport $65, Tip to Bell staff $5, and Tip for Maid $3, etc." You can copy and paste this text into ChatGPT and ask it to give you your total expenses. ChatGPT can also break it down by the expense categories you need. No more entering things into a spreadsheet as ChatGPT can analyze your numbers and run any calculation you need, despite text being interspersed with numbers.
Translation wizard: Forget Google Translate, use ChatGPT as you're going to get a better result. Writing an email in French to a GM at a hotel in Paris, the quality of the output was fantastic – according to the GM, who did not know it was created by ChatGPT. Attempts in the past to use Google Translate yield responses of "Did you use Google to write this?" ChatGPT understands the context of the communication and that gives it a huge advantage. Stunning fact: it can assist with translations for more than 100 languages, and is highly efficient and effective with English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, and many more.
Best poems and limericks for celebrations, ever: If you want to have a little fun in recognizing a colleague winning an award, celebrating a milestone, graduation, or retirement, use ChatGPT to help you create a poem, haiku, or limerick for the occasion. The key to a fantastic result is to give it as many details as you can about the person/people you want recognized. The more specific information you provide, the better the verses will be.
Data analysis from a survey: You don't have to pay Survey Monkey extra to find statistical trends and interesting data points. Just upload an Excel file of all your survey results and ask ChatGPT to do the analysis. It can do cross-tabulation to find relationships between multiple variables. It's how Delta Media found in its annual brokerage leadership survey that female-led brokerages, particularly those with medium to large agent teams and high transaction volumes, are the most likely to use AI, and that the youngest and oldest male leaders, overseeing smaller brokerages, are less inclined to integrate AI. Let ChatGPT do the hard math for you at no extra charge.
We'd love to hear about your ChatGPT party trick.
AI Fast Facts
46% of U.S. adults express concerns that AI systems are being developed too quickly – Ipsos
75% of consumers surveyed said they are comfortable with chatbots handling routine customer service tasks. However, only 33% approve of chatbots managing complex inquiries – Authority Hacker
More than half of online shoppers in the United States employ voice assistants to aid in product research, and over a third use them to add items to their shopping lists – Oberlo
82% of business leaders surveyed believe AI enhances job satisfaction and performance – Forbes
Nearly 80% of CEOs have already made or plan to make changes in how they utilize conversational AI technologies to manage client engagement – Accenture
Source: Master of Code Global
AI Headlines – Take 5
The next phase of AI is here — and it's not looking pretty | 3/26/24 - Business InsiderCould AI be reaching its era of struggle?
ASU in Tempe to begin offering graduate degree in business AI this fall | 3/27/24 - KTAR NewsThis new degree comes in the wake of ASU's collaboration with OpenAI.
AI Is Learning the Secret Language of Pipes to Detect Water Leaks | 3/24/24 - PropmodoAI-powered tech is revolutionizing water management, saving money, and reducing environmental impact.
As AI booms, land near nuclear power plants becomes hot real estate | 3/25/24 - The RegisterDatacenter operators are taking an interest in nuclear-powered AI.
AI is about to change the homebuilding process, from start to finish | 3/25/24 - FortuneCompanies like Compass and JLL are utilizing AI tools that simplify homebuilding for agents.
AI Quote of the Week
To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.
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5 Tips for Realtor Safety and Security in the Digital Age
In a time where transactions and client interactions are primarily conducted online, the safety and security of REALTORS® and their clients have never been more critical. With a mix of traditional security concerns and new digital threats, safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining secure property access are top priorities. Here are five simple yet effective tips to help REALTORS® stay safe in this digital age:
1. Leverage Technology with Security in Mind
In a world where online threats are common, keeping your digital interactions safe is essential. Strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and secure Wi-Fi networks helps protect your digital space and client information. Keep your devices and software up-to-date — it's like giving your tech a regular security check-up. Also, think about using a VPN for online transactions. It adds an extra protection layer, like a digital safety net.
2. Verify Client Identities
With more digital interactions, it's harder to tell who's genuine. Use video chats for first meetings to understand better who you're dealing with. These virtual face-to-face interactions offer a more personal connection, allowing you to pick up on nuances and details often missed in emails or phone calls. They allow you to see the person, gauge their reactions, and establish a more solid understanding of who they are. Combining this with traditional ID checks helps make sure your clients are who they say they are.
3. Store Sensitive Information Securely
It's super important to keep your client's data safe. For online information, using encrypted digital storage is a smart move. It's like having a secure digital locker for all that vital information. And for physical papers, keep them locked up, too. It's all about ensuring only the right people can get to this stuff.
Also, it's a good idea to check who can access this information regularly. And don't forget to help your clients understand how to share their details safely. Teaching them about secure sharing means they're less likely to give their information to the wrong person accidentally.
4. Conduct Safe Property Showings
When it comes to showing properties, safety is paramount. Start by organizing your showings in advance and setting up a reliable check-in system. This keeps things organized and ensures someone always knows your location for added safety. Consider the power of virtual tours, too; they're convenient and reduce the need for in-person visits, keeping you and your clients safe.
When conducting in-person showings, have a clear plan in place. Discuss the safety protocols you'll be following with your clients, such as limiting the number of people during the showing. Remember, clear communication is key – it ensures everyone is on the same page and comfortable with the process. Have you thought about how these practices could enhance your own showing routines?
REALTORS® often have to be in unfamiliar situations with unfamiliar people every day, which is why the SentriKey® Real Estate App is the first and only lockbox to have a built-in agent safety feature. During an active showing, the app will periodically check in with the REALTOR® and will automatically alert emergency contacts if the REALTOR® does not or cannot confirm they are safe.
5. Count on SentriLock for Enhanced Security
Choose SentriLock for that added security you need. Our lockbox systems and services come with top-notch encryption and security. This means only people who should have access can get into properties and see important information.
Navigating the complexities of today's property market means having the right support, especially in terms of safety and security. SentriLock is more than just a provider of lockbox solutions; we're your partner in ensuring secure and efficient operations.
Wondering how our systems can improve your security practices? Have questions about digital safety measures? Reach out to us. Let's explore how we can work together to make your operations safer and more secure, ensuring you're well-prepared to meet the demands of the modern property market.
To view the original article, visit the SentriLock blog.
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How the New Generation Is Changing Home Buying
A new generation of home buyers is beginning the house hunt not by searching online listings or participating in virtual tours and open houses. Instead, young buyers are connecting with REALTORS® and researching properties and neighborhoods on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. (On TikTok, the hashtag #realestate has over 5 million posts.)
These platforms are popular avenues for Gen Z and millennials to consume information in general. One report found that a whopping 80% of Gen Zers spend their time on YouTube, another 75% on Instagram and about 60% on TikTok. And 35% of all Gen Zers spend over four hours each day on social media.
But Gen Zers and Millennials aren't the only ones using social media platforms as their primary source of finding information. According to one forecast, approximately 11.3 million baby boomers will purchase a product via social media. Another study found that 83.9% of baby boomers say they feel like social media has improved their lives.
What does this mean for real estate professionals? Now more than ever, establishing an online presence across a wide variety of media platforms is incredibly important to having a successful business.
The Importance of Building a Digital Brand
Having active, up-to-date profiles on all social media platforms will give practitioners a much better chance of reaching their target audience. Social media can help you position yourself as an expert and make important connections with other leaders in the industry. You can also use social media as a tool to educate buyers who may not be familiar with all the ins and outs of purchasing a home, further boosting your credibility.
Perhaps the most powerful opportunity in social media is generating referrals and driving traffic to your website. When people discover you and are ready to take the next step in their homebuying journey, that's when they visit your website. And that's where you can convert them into leads.
Standing Out in the Digital Age
Where do you even begin in setting up a high-quality, intentionally crafted online presence, especially across multiple platforms? Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Make sure you have a website that you can link to in your social media "bio" section. Often, people will look at your social media profiles as a preview of what you do and who you are, and they'll want to visit your website for the bigger picture. You'll need to make sure that your website is simple, professional, easy to use and includes multiple reminders to contact you via email or phone. You can quickly create a sleek, professional website with a .realtor™ domain, which is one of your exclusive benefits as an NAR member.
Build up content that you can spread out over the week, and consider using an automation tool to schedule and publish posts. Find a day where your workload is a little lighter than usual and create as much content as you can in one go. Once you've created and edited this content to your satisfaction, you can schedule them to post on certain days of the week, taking the timing pressure off. Many platforms have free built-in tools that allow you to schedule the posts to publish ahead of time.
Set aside time to respond to messages and comments. While you want to try and respond to audience interactions as quickly as possible, sometimes there will be comments or questions that require more thought. Depending on the growth of your following, you may also have an overwhelming amount of interactions on your profiles. Set aside an hour or so each day to go through and reply to messages and comments.
Leveraging the .realtor™ Domain and Website
NAR members can claim their .realtor™ domain (free for the first year), which includes a professional website with a number of templates to choose from. You can even choose to pay for concierge services that will help you register your domain, connect your social media, add a photo gallery and more.
Having a .realtor™ domain immediately tells customers that you're a trustworthy, reliable real estate expert. It tells people what you do in an instant. Your website will help you stand head and shoulders above the competition, all while providing potential clients an easy and effortless way to access your accomplishments, the areas you service, and your digital portfolio.
Social media is here to stay. The digital world is rapidly changing the way that people approach home buying, and it will continue to create trends that impact the real estate industry. So, don't miss out! Get started with your .realtor™ domain so you can begin building your digital brand and guarantee future business growth.
Related reading
Elevate Your Visibility Online With a Lasting Digital Brand
The Top 10 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand Online, from REALTORS® Who Know
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How Smart Home Technology Is Reshaping Real Estate Opportunities for Agents
In the dynamic world of real estate, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage; it's a necessity.
One of the most significant game-changers in recent years has been the integration of smart home technology.
From intelligent thermostats to security systems that rival those in high-security facilities, the impact of these innovations on the real estate market is nothing short of transformative.
For savvy real estate agents, this presents a golden opportunity to not only embrace change but to leverage it for success.
The Smart Home Advantage
Smart homes are no longer the stuff of science fiction; they're a tangible reality, and buyers are taking notice. Imagine walking into a house where the lights adjust to your mood, the temperature is always perfect, and your favorite music plays softly in the background. Smart home technology offers a level of convenience and comfort that resonates with today's homebuyers.
Real estate agents who understand and can showcase these features have a distinct advantage. Being able to highlight a property's smart capabilities can set a listing apart in a crowded market, making it more appealing to tech-savvy buyers.
Energy Efficiency Sells
In an era where sustainability is at the forefront of many minds, smart home technology aligns perfectly with the growing demand for energy-efficient living spaces. Smart thermostats, lighting systems, and appliances can significantly reduce energy consumption, leading to lower utility bills and a smaller carbon footprint. For real estate agents, this is more than just a selling point; it's a compelling story to tell potential buyers.
Homes equipped with smart technology not only appeal to environmentally conscious individuals but also to those who appreciate the long-term cost savings associated with energy-efficient living. Agents who can weave these benefits into their property pitches are likely to find a receptive audience.
Security and Peace of Mind
Safety is a top priority for homebuyers, and smart home technology provides a range of solutions that cater to this concern. From advanced security cameras with real-time monitoring to smart doorbell systems that allow homeowners to see and communicate with visitors remotely, these features enhance the overall sense of security.
Real estate agents can use these features as a selling point, emphasizing the peace of mind that comes with a smart home. Knowing that a property is equipped with cutting-edge security measures can tip the scales for potential buyers, especially those with families or a strong focus on personal safety.
Simplified Living, Greater Appeal
The modern homebuyer values simplicity and efficiency. Smart home technology offers just that – the ability to control various aspects of a home with a single device, often from anywhere in the world. Whether it's adjusting the lighting, setting the thermostat, or monitoring the security system, the convenience of smart living is a powerful draw.
Real estate agents can showcase this streamlined lifestyle to prospective buyers, emphasizing the time and effort saved through automation. Highlighting the simplicity of managing a smart home can make a property more attractive, particularly to busy professionals or those looking for a low-maintenance lifestyle.
The Rise of the Smart Neighborhood
As smart home technology becomes more widespread, a new trend is emerging – the development of smart neighborhoods. These communities are designed with connectivity and automation in mind, offering residents a seamless, integrated living experience. For real estate agents, this opens up a unique niche market with its own set of opportunities.
Agents can specialize in these smart neighborhoods, becoming experts in the technology and amenities they offer. This expertise can be a valuable asset in marketing properties within these communities, attracting buyers who specifically seek the benefits of a fully integrated smart living experience.
The Future of Real Estate is Smart
As smart home technology continues to evolve, its impact on the real estate market will only intensify. Real estate agents who embrace this shift and adapt their strategies to highlight the benefits of smart homes will undoubtedly position themselves for success.
In conclusion, the integration of smart home technology presents a myriad of opportunities for real estate agents willing to step into the future. From energy efficiency to enhanced security and simplified living, the advantages are clear. As the smart revolution unfolds, those who leverage these innovations will not only thrive in the competitive real estate market but will also play a pivotal role in shaping the way we define home in the digital age. So, dear agents, it's time to get smart about smart homes and watch your opportunities multiply!
To view the original article, visit the Transactly blog.
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Introducing Yourself as a New Real Estate Agent on Social Media
You're a new real estate agent ready to dive into the world of social media marketing, but you're not quite sure where to start.
Building your online presence can feel overwhelming, but it's an essential step to growing your business.
The key is crafting an introduction across platforms that captures who you are, what you offer, and why potential clients should work with you.
In this article, you'll learn how to introduce yourself as a new real estate agent on social media.
Choosing the Right Social Platforms to Promote Yourself On
Facebook
As a real estate agent, Facebook is a must. Create a professional business page to build your online presence. Share listings, post community updates, and engage with followers by commenting on their posts. Also, use your profile to connect with friends and family and spread the word that you're now in real estate.
Instagram
Instagram is ideal for visually showcasing properties and your community. Post eye-catching photos of homes you have listed or neighborhoods you serve. You can also share behind-the-scenes shots of what it's like as an agent. Follow other real estate accounts and engage with their posts to raise your visibility.
LinkedIn
Don't underestimate the power of LinkedIn. Build a strong profile highlighting your experience and credentials. Join real estate groups to connect with others in the industry. Share blog posts or articles you've written to establish yourself as a knowledgeable resource. Endorse your colleagues and ask them to endorse you in return.
YouTube
Creating video content is a great way to build trust and share your expertise. Post vlogs, property tours, tips for home buyers, and neighborhood overviews. Keep videos short, around two minutes. Then promote your channel on the other social networks. Video is engaging and helps people connect with your friendly, helpful personality.
Remember! Social media is a marathon, not a sprint. Stick with it and keep putting out quality content and those connections and listings will start flowing your way!
Optimizing Your Social Media Profiles
Once you've chosen which social media you want to work on, it's time to optimize your profiles to establish your credibility and connect with potential clients. Focus on choosing a professional profile photo and cover image, crafting a compelling bio, and posting regularly.
Profile Photo
Your profile photo is the first impression people will have of you, so make it a headshot where you're smiling and dressed professionally. A high-quality, well-lit photo can go a long way in building trust and making you appear more established.
Cover Photo
On platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn that allow cover photos, choose an eye-catching image that conveys your experience and expertise. For example, you might use a photo of a scenic view from a listing you've sold or an aerial shot of your city's skyline. Just be sure any text on the image is still readable when uploaded.
Bio
Your bio is a chance to share your background, skills, and passion for the work in a personable way. Mention your relevant credentials and experience, but focus on why you love helping people buy and sell homes. Share some personal details and your mission to connect clients with properties that perfectly suit their needs. A few sentences are all you need to make a good first impression.
Post Regularly
The key to building an engaged social following is posting frequently and consistently. Share listings you have available, tips for homebuyers and sellers, market reports, community events, and behind-the-scenes footage of what you do. Engage with your followers by replying to their comments and messages and re-sharing their posts. Staying active and visible on social media is the best way to gain new clients through word-of-mouth and online referrals.
Engaging Followers With Value-Driven Content
Now that you've built up your following, it's time to keep them engaged. Posting valuable and consistent content is key. Share neighborhood guides, tips for home buyers, insights into the latest real estate trends, and advice for selling a home.
Educate Your Followers
Your followers want to learn from you, so teach them something new! For example, do a series on different architectural styles, like Craftsman versus Colonial. Explain the pros and cons of each and share photos of homes for sale in those styles. You can also tackle common questions, like “How much does it cost to sell a home?” Break down all the fees and provide an estimate for your area.
Share Local Insights
As an agent, you know the ins and outs of your community. Share details about new businesses opening up, community events going on, and developments in the works. For example, posts about a new park being built or restaurants coming to town. Mention open houses for some of the new construction. Your followers will appreciate tips on the best places to eat, shop, and explore where they live.
Inspire and Entertain
While education and information are important, don't forget to mix in some inspirational and fun content as well. Share gorgeous home interiors and exteriors you come across. Repost photos of dreamy backyards and home libraries. Include humor and lifestyle content like memes or a peek into your own home life. Varied and engaging posts will keep your followers interested and build connections.
Post 2-3 times a week to stay top of mind without overwhelming your followers. Respond to comments and questions, and consider doing live Q&A sessions. Engaging with your community will turn followers into loyal clients and word-of-mouth marketers. Keep providing value and soon your social media will be driving new business!
Responding to Leads and Inquiries Professionally
Once your social media profiles are set up and you start gaining followers, the leads and inquiries will start coming in. How you respond to these potential new clients can make or break your ability to gain their business.
Respond Promptly
As a new agent, you have to be on the ball. Respond to any messages, posts, or emails within 6-12 hours. People today expect fast responses and quick access to information. Don't keep them waiting or they may move on to another agent.
Be Personal and Polite
Address people by name in your response and maintain a friendly, professional tone. Thank them for reaching out to you and let them know you're excited to help them in their home search or sale. Politeness and good manners will take you far.
Provide Value Right Away
In your first response, give them a taste of the value you provide. For buyers, this may be a list of available homes that match what they're looking for or tips for getting pre-approved for a mortgage. For sellers, provide data on comparable properties currently for sale or recently sold in their neighborhood. Educate them on the home selling process and tips for maximizing their sale price.
Ask Good Questions
To fully understand their needs and priorities, ask open-ended questions about what they're looking for in a home or their motivations and timeline for selling. Let the conversation evolve naturally from there. People will appreciate your genuine interest in their unique situation.
Set up a Call or Meeting
As the conversation progresses, suggest setting up a phone call or in-person meeting. This allows you to establish rapport, gain a deeper understanding of what they need, and share details about the services you provide. Be prepared to walk them through the steps that lie ahead in their journey towards a new home or successful sale.
Conclusion
So there you have it. A few simple tips for introducing yourself on social media as a new real estate agent. Remember to be authentic, share your personal story, highlight your expertise, and engage with your followers.
Post consistently but don't overdo it. Focus on building genuine connections, not just gaining followers. Most importantly, have fun with it!
Social media is all about personality. Let yours shine through. The more comfortable you are just being yourself, the more successful you'll be at winning over clients and establishing your brand as a trustworthy, knowledgeable agent.
To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.
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Trend Alert: These Features Help Homes Sell Faster and for More Money
Home buyers are willing to pay more for a backyard decked out with all the bells and whistles. New Zillow research finds homes equipped with an outdoor TV command 3.1% more than expected — or $10,749 on a typical U.S. home. That's the highest sale price premium of all 359 features Zillow analyzed across nearly 1 million home sales in 2023.
Homes with other desirable backyard features such as an outdoor shower, pizza oven and bluestone patio also fetch higher-than-expected sale prices when those features are mentioned in a listing description. Six of the top 10 features that help homes sell for more are outdoor features, signaling that the pandemic-era demand for functional outdoor space remains.
Certain trendy or viral features can attract more competing buyers, contributing to a speedier sale. Rounded corners, popular in contemporary furniture design and now architecture (hello, curvy kitchens), can help a home sell six days faster than similar homes. #Plantparents snap up homes that mention a plant ledge in their listing description more than five days faster than expected. Statement terrazzo tile can help a home stand out and sell nearly four days faster.
"When certain home features or design styles are highlighted in a listing description, they serve as a signal to a buyer that a home is appealing and up-to-date. As a result, those features can help a home sell faster and for more money," said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow home trends expert. "On the flip side, certain features can suggest a home is dated and needs work, and can lower a home's sale price. Features like laminate or tile countertops can hurt a home's value by at least 1% when mentioned in a listing description."
In with the new
Modern features that signal a home is either brand new or recently remodeled contribute to higher sale premiums. The current look of contemporary homes often incorporates matte black finishes and white oak flooring, which can boost a home's sale price by 2.9% and 1.6% respectively.
Soapstone now outperforms quartz as the countertop material of choice, contributing to a sale premium of 3% versus 1.7%. And a beverage center is the new wine fridge. Beverage centers can help a home fetch a 2.4% sale premium, compared to 0.9% for wine fridges. These undercounter refrigerators offer different temperature settings for different types of beverages, not only wine.
If you've got it, flaunt it
Homeowners looking to sell for top dollar this spring will want to highlight these home features if they've got them. However, installing an outdoor shower or any of these individual features solely for resale may not deliver these kinds of returns. Instead, these keywords should be viewed as signals about everything else a home has going for it. For instance, if a home has an outdoor shower, it probably has a pool or is close to the beach, which is what buyers are ultimately willing to pay more for.
Sellers should also keep in mind that features that help homes sell in one neighborhood may not resonate with buyers somewhere else. An experienced local real estate agent with extensive market knowledge can help sellers highlight the right features, and will likely have other creative pricing and marketing strategies to help maximize a home's sale price.
Affordability curbs features' price premiums
Price premiums for individual features were lower across the board in 2023 compared to previous years, as buyers' budgets were constrained by higher mortgage rates. Affordability remains the biggest hurdle for home buyers, particularly first-time buyers, who must prioritize "need to have" features over "nice to have" features.
Home shoppers will face similar affordability challenges this spring home shopping season, along with more competition for homes that have sought-after features. Affordability calculators can help buyers set a budget, and buyers can then search for homes by monthly cost instead of by purchase price. With attractive homes flying off the market in only 17 days, prospective buyers should get pre-qualified for a mortgage first, so they can act quickly when the right home comes along — with or without an outdoor TV.
Top 10 features that sell a home for more than expected
Top 10 features that sell a home faster than expected
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Elevate Your Visibility Online With a Lasting Digital Brand
Use a .realtor™ domain to establish instant credibility and top search results. Content sponsored by get.realtor.
Building your digital brand is one of the best ways to increase awareness of your business and the services you offer. A powerful online presence will help you drive leads through your website, generate referrals and grow your network.
There's no better way for a potential client to gauge what it's like to work with you—whether they're buying or selling—than to visit your website for a sense of your expertise and personality. That's why your website is the best place to start when you're ready to invest in your online presence.
Tapping the Power of the REALTOR® Brand
A great option for REALTORS® is the .realtor™ website, which comes as an exclusive benefit of your National Association of REALTORS® membership. As a REALTOR®, you get a .realtor™ domain name for free for one year (and $39.95 annually after that). In addition to your .realtor™ domain, you get access to a free website with a variety of ready-to-launch templates.
A .realtor™ website immediately signifies credibility and high quality to potential clients. Plus, the .realtor™ website is easy to set up and intuitive to use, says REALTOR® Julia Uberty says. "The website was an easy way to integrate my buyer and seller systems into my website so my potential clients can get a look at what it would be like to work with me. The website has good flow, and having a .realtor™ website has helped with SEO when people are searching my name or for a real estate professional in Utah."
Whether you choose a .realtor™ website or another option, it's important to keep SEO best practices in mind. Learning the basics of optimizing your site for search engines like Google will help drive more traffic to your website, generate inbound leads for your business and grow your brand awareness.
Watch this free Google Training webinar to get started.
Your Digital Brand Is a Long-Term Investment
Investing in your online presence isn't just about short-term rewards, though. You can expect significant long-term benefits when you take the time to curate a digital brand.
Your online marketing strategy boosts your visibility and accessibility to clients. As you continue growing your relationships, you'll increase trust and credibility and position yourself as a reputable leader within the industry.
You'll have more flexibility to engage with your audience across a variety of platforms. Staying engaged on the social networks your clients and peers use the most will help you adapt more quickly to emerging customer preferences.
You can take advantage of robust insight tools that typically come with social business profiles. This gives you a deeper understanding of what content is resonating with your clients so you can provide more.
Staying engaged online is crucial to your success. It not only expands your audience reach but also gives you valuable insights into what people are responding to. Those insights are difficult to capture when using more traditional, offline methods. These data points are the building blocks of long-term career growth; you can create a sustainable path to success and not just a one-off moment of virality.
If you want to launch or revamp your real estate website, claim your free .realtor™ domain and website and get started today.
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The Top 10 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand Online, from REALTORS® Who Know
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Friday Freebie: One Month of a .realtor™ or .realestate Premium Website
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Spring Cleaning Your Tech: 6 Dos And Don'ts
Would you host an open house with fingerprints on the bathroom mirrors, a dirty carpet, or un-swept floors? Not if you want it to sell!
But how clean is the tech you rely on every day? If you don't take care of your tech, your tech won't take care of you.
The debris buildup on your smartphone screen can cause scratches and cracks. Dirt and crumbs that get caught in your computer's keyboard can cause keys to stick and render it useless. Or worse, debris inside your earbuds can create bacteria or mold, leading to ear infections.
Tradition calls for spring to be the perfect time to clean and tidy your tech.
Follow these six dos and don'ts to spring clean fingerprints, dirt, and grime off your tech.
Wipe down screens gently but thoroughly.
Do use a microfiber cloth designed expressly for screens. The tiny fibers grab and lift away dirt, skin oils, and other gunk without leaving streaks or scratches behind. Dampen your new or clean microfiber cloth with distilled water and wipe down your phone, tablet, laptop, and smartwatch screens.
Don't use paper towels or tissues. Paper products break down and can leave tiny scratches or lint on the screen's surface that may clog ports. Never use cleaning sprays or other harsh chemicals. For example, glass cleaners often contain alcohol or other chemicals that, with a single use, can ruin many laptop screens, like an Apple MacBook. In other screens and monitors, chemicals in sprays also gradually break down anti-glare and oleophobic (fingerprint resistance) coatings.
Blast away debris between keyboard keys.
Do use a can of compressed air to blow out the crumbs and dust accumulated between keys, which can cause keys to stick. First, turn off the device completely. Then tilt the laptop at an angle and spray short blasts of air across the keyboard, and repeat from different angles to lift and blow away all the debris.
You also can use a new soft-bristled toothbrush to gently dislodge crumbs, dust, dead skin cells, and other grime from between the keys of your keyboard without causing damage. Or opt for a toothbrush that's designated solely for cleaning your tech devices. This ensures it's clean and free from contaminants. Brush in one direction to collect and remove any residue effectively, then use a can of compressed air to blow away loosened debris.
Don't use cotton swabs or toothpicks to dig out debris, which can break off and cause a bigger problem if they are dislodged deeper inside. Don't use a hard-bristled toothbrush, as aggressive scrubbing can scratch the surface of your keys or, worse, dislodge them. Also, avoid holding canned air upside down, which releases a liquid that may damage electronics.
Keep your connections clear and clean.
Do check your charging ports on phones, tablets, wireless earbuds, and smartwatches for compacted pocket lint and debris. Carefully scrape out all residue with a plastic or wooden toothpick. For stubborn debris, use canned air to help blast it free. Clean the plug end of your cords, too.
Don't jam any metal tools or items into ports, as they could break delicate interior pins. This also can gradually ruin the ability of devices to connect and charge properly.
Shake, shake, shake: your wireless mouse and keyboard.
Do turn off Bluetooth keyboards and mice and gently shake them upside down over a wastebasket to empty out crumbs, dust balls, hair, and other debris that can interfere with the optical tracking sensor.
Don't attempt this kind of cleaning while devices are still powered on and connected, which could lead to accidentally pressing buttons and commands!
Soak and scrub smartwatch bands.
Do mix a few drops of mild hand soap into a bowl of warm water. Dip your non-metal sport bands and gently scrub away to remove sweat, skin oils, and dirt buildup with a soft bristle toothbrush or even rub between your fingertips. Rinse thoroughly and air dry.
Don't submerge the smartwatch body itself in water, which can damage internal seals and electronics.
Refresh earbuds with disinfecting wipes.
Do use a disinfecting wipe containing alcohol to sanitize earbuds after workouts and periodically. The wipes can kill bacteria and prevent the spread of germs when sharing earbuds with others. Also, wipe down the hard plastic body and the squishy ear tips, using a cotton swab inside the ear tips to clean and remove earwax.
Don't get moisture into any openings of your earbuds, which could damage internal components. And never, ever immerse earbuds in cleaners.
Spring into action: Get a 'Computer Health Check'
Remember to handle all your devices with extra care while cleaning, and ensure they are completely turned off. A little effort goes a long way.
Keep in mind, that when cleaning your tech, if you encounter an issue, reach out to Tech Helpline for assistance. Better yet, contact Tech Helpline for a Computer Health Check: it's your free member benefit. It's also the fastest way to be sure your computer is at its best. Tech Helpline will verify system updates, identify and remove malware, optimize for better internet connections, and more!
A Computer Health Check helps you prevent expensive repairs by identifying issues early, reducing your downtime, improving your productivity, and limiting your risk of a cybersecurity attack.
Like a squeaky-clean open house, taking time to care for your tech this spring – and throughout every season – will make them look good, work well, and last longer.
Related stories:
5 Ways You Can Spring Clean Your Tech
Best Tech Tip: Doing This One Thing Fixes a Majority of Your Device Glitches
5 Common Tech Mistakes Real Estate Agents Should Avoid
To view the original article, visit the Tech Helpline blog.
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4 Must-Have AI Mobile Apps to Level Up Your Real Estate Game
Want to leverage the power of artificial intelligence while you're on the go? You're in luck — there are several AI-powered mobile apps available to help you do everything from research to crafting social media posts. Today, you'll learn about four of them.
In this video, Jimmy Burgess and Rajeev Sajja highlight four mobile apps that put the power of AI right in your pocket. Check out brief descriptions of each below, and click the links to download each app. For a more in-depth explanation at how to leverage each app, watch the video above.
Perplexity - Need to research something? This app does it for you — complete with sources and none of the counterfactual "hallucinations" that some AI chatbots have been known for. (iOS, Android)
ChatGPT - Everyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the past year knows what ChatGPT is. The mobile app lets you interact with the AI on the go. Jimmy and Rajiv recommend it for creating engaging social media posts, especially Reel descriptions. (iOS, Android)
Co-Pilot - One downside of ChatGPT is that it's not connected to the internet. Co-Pilot to the rescue! This app combines the power of OpenAI models with Bing search so you can search smarter. (iOS, Android)
Captions - Use this app to look and sound your best in videos. Captions can generate, well, captions — but it does a whole lot more, too. Use it to remove filler words like "um," create voiceovers, edit clips, and much more. (iOS, Android)
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Real AI: How current are the chatbots, facts, headlines and an AI quote of the week
Real AI is a 100% human-created weekly roundup of all things AI in real estate and emerging AI innovations in other sectors likely to impact real estate.
How current are the chatbots ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Pi?
A client recently asked what seemed to be a pretty straightforward question about AI chatbots: "What is the most accurate and up-to-date AI engine available for content?"
The truth is there is no easy answer to this question.
First, the leading chatbots continually improve through iteration and new training data. Second, there really are two parts to this question: 1) how current is the training data that the content a chatbot creates is based on, and 2) how current is the data the chatbot provides to answer a general question?
How current are the leading chatbots? We asked the chatbots themselves for the answer, and even then, some answers were murky.
ChatGPT 4 – April 2023
Our prompt: "How current is your information?"
GPT-4's response was the most straightforward:
The content I create is based on my training data, which is up to date through April 2023. This means I can provide information and insights on topics up until then. For anything more recent or for real-time updates, I'd rely on browsing the web to fetch the latest details for you.
Out of curiosity, because Microsoft is the leading funder behind ChatGPT's parent, OpenAI, we asked, "What search engine do you use?" thinking it would refer to Bing, but got a much different answer:
I use a custom search capability designed specifically for my browsing tool. It's not directly comparable to publicly available search engines like Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo, but it's designed to efficiently retrieve information from across the web to answer your questions with the most relevant and up-to-date results. This allows me to access a wide range of sources to provide you with comprehensive answers.
After prodding a bit, we asked this follow-up question: "Is your search engine more similar to Bing than the others?"
ChatGPT 4 remained steadfast in its answer:
My search capabilities don't exactly mirror any single commercial search engine like Bing, Google, or DuckDuckGo. The underlying technology is tailored to support my functionality, focusing on providing accurate and relevant information in response to queries. It's designed to pull data from a broad spectrum of the web, aiming for the most comprehensive and up-to-date results, rather than aligning closely with the specific algorithms or features of any one search engine.
Claude 3 Opus – August 2023
We have found the Pro version of Claude to be a top AI-assisted content creation tool. We gave it the same prompt – "How current is your information?" – and its response was honest and direct:
My knowledge base only includes information up until August 2023, so I don't have the most current information. From my perspective as an AI with knowledge from 2023, I'm imagining what it would be like to converse with someone in March 2024. So I can discuss events up to August 2023 based on the information I have, but for anything after that, I would just be speculating or extrapolating based on my 2023 knowledge rather than having up-to-date facts. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Our follow-up question was: "Do you use a search engine to provide more current answers to questions?"
Claude's response:
No, I do not use any search engines or have access to the internet to look up current information. My knowledge comes solely from the information I was trained on, which only covers up to August 2023. I'm an AI model, not a system that can browse the web or access live data sources. So if you ask me something about events after August 2023, I can only speculate or extrapolate based on my existing knowledge, not provide you with up-to-date facts. Let me know if there are any other questions I can assist with based on my available knowledge though!
Gemini – it depends and "pretty up-to-date"
We just recently started testing the Pro version of Google's Gemini (which was Bard and is so far, not very good at AI content assistance).
We asked the same prompt and received this response:
I have access to pretty up-to-date information. Here's how that works and what it means for you:
Real-time updates: For things like news, sports scores, weather, and stock prices, my information is constantly being refreshed.
Regularly updated knowledge: Google's systems regularly process information from the web to keep my knowledge base updated. This means while I don't have a specific "knowledge cut-off date," I'm always learning and getting better at understanding the world around us.
Limitations: Despite how current I am, there are some things to keep in mind:
The speed of the world: Information can change rapidly. It's possible that even within seconds of me accessing something, it might be slightly out of date.
Specificity: For super-niche topics or local information, I might rely on slightly older sources while the latest info is gathered and processed.
Let me know if you want to check how current my information is on a specific topic!
Our follow-up: "Is this true for the content you create?" and Gemini responded:
Yes and no. Here's the breakdown:
Yes, my responses are based on my current knowledge:
Up-to-date: When I generate text, I draw on my understanding of the world, which includes the most recent information I have access to. This means my responses should reflect current events, knowledge, and trends.
Not fixed: My responses aren't pre-written. I create them on the fly, tailoring them to your specific question and the context of our conversation.
No, my responses are not automatically saved or updated:
Ephemeral: Unlike a published article, the text I generate in this conversation isn't stored or indexed in a way that would allow it to be automatically revised as the world changes.
Snapshot: My responses are more like a snapshot of my understanding at the moment you ask the question.
Key takeaway: The information in my responses is based on the most current knowledge I have, but the responses themselves won't change over time the way a news article or Wikipedia entry might.
We wanted to know what search engine Gemini used, and once again, it gave a "it depends" answer but admitted that it "can often access up-to-date information directly through Google's internal systems, rather than needing to perform an external web search…" and added, "There are cases where I may still use Google Search," including when you ask it to search the web or "when I need to verify a fact or get the most recent perspective on something."
Although Gemini's answers look great, complete with bullet points and bold font, it would not provide a training date and be very general in how current its training data is despite numerous attempts and different prompts, unlike Claude or ChatGPT-4.
Pi.ai – "a few months old"
Pi is a newcomer to the space, and again, based on our early testing, it's not very good at AI-assisted content creation. We asked Pi, "How current is your training data?" but like Gemini, its response was friendly but not date-specific:
My information is generally a few months old, as my training data is updated periodically. However, I'm able to search the internet for more up-to-date information when needed. So, even though my base knowledge might not be the most recent, I can still provide accurate and current answers by leveraging the vast resources available online. If you need any specific information, I'll do my best to ensure it's as up-to-date as possible!
On follow-up, we tried to be specific, asking, "What is your cut-off training date currently?"
Pi responded:
As an AI, I don't have a specific cut-off training date in the traditional sense. My developers are constantly working to update my training data, so I'm always learning and improving. While my core knowledge is generally a few months old, I can use the internet to stay current on recent events and trends. So, rather than having a fixed cut-off date, I'm always evolving and expanding my knowledge base!
Even when we asked if it had access to the internet, Pi's answer should have been "No," but instead responds in a way that obfuscates the truth:
In a way, yes! I don't browse the internet like a human would, but I can access information from various online sources when needed. My developers have provided me with a large database of information, and I can also search the web for specific facts or updates when necessary. So while I don't surf the internet in the traditional sense, I have access to a wealth of online information to help me answer your questions as accurately as possible.
Pushing back to clarify and see if Pi would admit it can't connect to the internet, it acknowledged that was correct, adding, "I can only provide an answer based on the information I have in my existing database, which is updated regularly but may not be completely real-time."
Final thought
Through this exercise, we learned that sometimes, getting a straight answer takes a bit of effort when it comes to chatbots and that the bot's "personality" can get in its own way of providing a straightforward answer.
AI Fast Facts
Around 46% of U.S. companies have saved between $25,000 to $70,000 by using ChatGPT – Statista
96% of companies hiring in 2024 say candidates with AI skills will have an advantage – Resume Builder
88% of marketers stated they need to increase the use of automation and AI to meet customer expectations and stay competitive – Mailchimp
More than one-fifth of Generative AI users are 25 to 34 years old – Insider Intelligence
56% of companies surveyed say "inaccuracy" is the biggest risk of adopting generative AI. However, less than one-third of those companies have systems in place for mitigating such inaccuracies – McKinsey
Source: Semrush
AI Headlines – Take 5
14 indispensable AI tools for real estate agents | 3/13/24 - HousingWireEditors pick AI tools for lead gen, marketing, CRMs, chatbots, and more.
AI is not ready for primetime | 3/13/24 - CNNAI still has a ways to go in fixing its flaws.
Scammers Use Agent Deepfakes to Fool Buyers, Sellers | 3/7/24 - Realtor MagazineAI is making it challenging to determine legitimacy in a real estate transaction.
Redfin rolls out new AI assistant tool that answers homebuyer questions | 3/7/24 - GeekWire"Ask Redfin" is the latest AI copilot that can understand user questions and produce answers.
Why AI Is the Key to Nvidia's $2 Trillion Valuation | 3/1/24 - WSJLearn more about AI's role in Nvidia joining the $2 trillion market cap club.
AI Quote of the Week
To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.
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