Showing posts with label Real Estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real Estate. Show all posts
Hot App Alert: Sandicor
Q/A Friday: 5 Ways to Enhance Your Open House With Tech
Q: I have an upcoming open house. How can I improve the experience for potential buyers by using technology?
A: That's a great question! These days, we have so many technological tools at our disposal to upgrade the entire customer experience from start to finish. Here are five ideas for you to implement at your next open house.
A: That's a great question! These days, we have so many technological tools at our disposal to upgrade the entire customer experience from start to finish. Here are five ideas for you to implement at your next open house.
1. Capitalize on video, before & after.
Virtually every home is posted online these days, an a virtual tour can help set your listing apart. Create a virtual tour video and use that to enhance your marketing (Craigslist, email, social media, etc.) Be sure to include information about the neighborhood and community in addition to the home itself. Your video will help familiarize people with the property, but it will also help people get to know you as a person. Check out this great example from Tom Koel:
Virtually every home is posted online these days, an a virtual tour can help set your listing apart. Create a virtual tour video and use that to enhance your marketing (Craigslist, email, social media, etc.) Be sure to include information about the neighborhood and community in addition to the home itself. Your video will help familiarize people with the property, but it will also help people get to know you as a person. Check out this great example from Tom Koel:
Post-open house, shoot a quick recap of the open house events, thank anyone who attended (either in general or specific), and if appropriate, let the viewers know that there was interest in the house and it won't last long.
2. Get connected.
If the home doesn't have internet access readily available, bring your mobile hotspot/stick and have your computer available. There are multiple benefits to having a computer with internet access at an open house:
If the home doesn't have internet access readily available, bring your mobile hotspot/stick and have your computer available. There are multiple benefits to having a computer with internet access at an open house:
- Enable visitors to email or share the property website with others who aren't at the open house
- Showcase the features of searching on your site and allow people to register
- If you have the time, set custom searches through your website or the MLS
- Give people directions to their next location or direct them to a restaurant or shop nearby
- If the opportunity presents itself, sign an Exclusive and write an offer
Bonus! There are many people who use devices, like tablets, but do not have a data plan and rely on WiFi to be connected. If you have the ability to share your network, let them know that there is free WiFi available. This is especially a bonus for tech savvy clients who use services like Evernote to keep track of homes and details.
3. Take attendance with your iPad.
I've never personally used the Open Home Pro app, but from what I've heard from people like Chris Smith, it's the best $3.99 you'll ever spend. This iPad app will allow you to take attendance & receive a visit report, share mobile-enabled listings to any mobile device, automatically send a thank you email & information on price reductions and more.
I've never personally used the Open Home Pro app, but from what I've heard from people like Chris Smith, it's the best $3.99 you'll ever spend. This iPad app will allow you to take attendance & receive a visit report, share mobile-enabled listings to any mobile device, automatically send a thank you email & information on price reductions and more.
*Note: An Android version is planned although no timeframe has been set.
4. Add a little mood music.
As we all know from the movies, music can make an experience truly magical. Did you know that CENTURY 21 Real Estate has created a Pandora online radio station specifically to enhance the atmosphere of your open house, office or special event. The music is a customized selection of contemporary songs and includes a custom skin (background) that features the Smarter. Bolder. Faster. theme:
Click here to access the station now. Add it as a saved station to access it on your mobile phone or tablet. Don't forget speakers!
Want to create your own custom radio station? Sign up for a free account with Pandora.
5. Follow-up in seconds (and in style).
The Postagram App for iPhone and Android provides a unique opportunity to connect with a potential client both at the open house and again a few days after:
Does your home have a great backyard or fireplace? Offer to take a family photo or couples portrait and collect their mailing address. Include a thank you message on the postcard and voila! You've created a unique memory, followed up with something tangible, and provided your contact information all in one quick, easy and cheap motion.
*Note: at time of this posting, Postagrams cost $0.99 each with discounted multi-packs available.
So tell us, how do you enhance your open house with technology?
Q/A Friday: What are 5 ways to use Pinterest in real estate?
Q: Everyone seems to be buzzing about Pinterest lately. What exactly is it and how might I capitalize on this latest boom in social media?
A: Ah, Pinterest! (Or as I like to call it, my nightly-wind-down-before-bed-routine). This great service allows users to create virtual "boards" with visual "pins" to gather ideas and inspiration. And this service definitely isn't just for college kids!
According to a February 2012 post on Mashable...
A: Ah, Pinterest! (Or as I like to call it, my nightly-wind-down-before-bed-routine). This great service allows users to create virtual "boards" with visual "pins" to gather ideas and inspiration. And this service definitely isn't just for college kids!
According to a February 2012 post on Mashable...
- 67.4% of Pinterest users are 25-54
- 68.2% are female
- 50% have children
- 28.1% have an annual household income of $100K+
Sound like a demographic that you might want to tap into? Not so fast! Pinterest is a social tool, and shouldn't be approached as a quick means to a paycheck. The good news? There are plenty of ways to showcase your knowledge and home prowess without creating a pin like this one:
Without further ado, I give you my 5 tips for Pinterest:
1. Pin your city. One of my favorite things about real estate is that being a good agent is so much more than negotiating a sale. Your clients depend on you for recommendations on the best places to eat, the bars with the best happy hour, the park with the best running trails, the gas station with the cheapest gas... Take that to the next level by creating a board dedicated to your city and the surrounding areas. Bonus points for using your own photos, videos and blogs to highlight why you love where you live! Need an example? Check out my NYC Favorites board.
2. Pin home improvement and DIY adjustments.
Hands down, one of my favorite things to find on Pinterest are unique and clever ways to make a space more organized/kid friendly/efficient. Check out these great pins:
3. Ask clients who are at the very beginning of the home search to create a "Dream Home" board.
That's right, my friend... it's not always about you! Encourage your "just getting started" clients to use Pinterest as a tool to visualize what they want in their next home, even if they venture a little into fantasy land. As you become more familiar with their desires, design style and dreams, you'll be able to preview homes with more accuracy, and maybe even pick out a home that might seem a little unlikely but includes features that they tend to pin. By the way, people are doing this already... you might as well be a part of it!
4. Follow your clients' boards in general.
Pinterest can help you get a feel for someone's personality, sense of humor, likes and dislikes and more, which can only help you with those long periods of togetherness that you'll experience during the real estate process. At the time of this writing, Pinterest is still in invite-only mode, but you can invite your clients if you have an account. Way to be with it, you social/tech genius :)
5. Showcase YOU.
Shared interests and connection points could very well be the reason why a client chooses you over another agent. Whatever your interests - amateur chef, the color pink, fond childhood memories, causes near to your heart - let your freak flag fly! A few of my favorites...
(Don't believe that this is ineffective to the point of counterproductive? Check out some of the comments.)
Without further ado, I give you my 5 tips for Pinterest:
1. Pin your city. One of my favorite things about real estate is that being a good agent is so much more than negotiating a sale. Your clients depend on you for recommendations on the best places to eat, the bars with the best happy hour, the park with the best running trails, the gas station with the cheapest gas... Take that to the next level by creating a board dedicated to your city and the surrounding areas. Bonus points for using your own photos, videos and blogs to highlight why you love where you live! Need an example? Check out my NYC Favorites board.
2. Pin home improvement and DIY adjustments.
Hands down, one of my favorite things to find on Pinterest are unique and clever ways to make a space more organized/kid friendly/efficient. Check out these great pins:
 | 
Source: curbly.com
| 
Source: thebaezablog.blogspot.com
| 
Source: kristanlynn.com
|
3. Ask clients who are at the very beginning of the home search to create a "Dream Home" board.
That's right, my friend... it's not always about you! Encourage your "just getting started" clients to use Pinterest as a tool to visualize what they want in their next home, even if they venture a little into fantasy land. As you become more familiar with their desires, design style and dreams, you'll be able to preview homes with more accuracy, and maybe even pick out a home that might seem a little unlikely but includes features that they tend to pin. By the way, people are doing this already... you might as well be a part of it!
4. Follow your clients' boards in general.
Pinterest can help you get a feel for someone's personality, sense of humor, likes and dislikes and more, which can only help you with those long periods of togetherness that you'll experience during the real estate process. At the time of this writing, Pinterest is still in invite-only mode, but you can invite your clients if you have an account. Way to be with it, you social/tech genius :)
5. Showcase YOU.
Shared interests and connection points could very well be the reason why a client chooses you over another agent. Whatever your interests - amateur chef, the color pink, fond childhood memories, causes near to your heart - let your freak flag fly! A few of my favorites...
From Katie Lance's "Owls" Board
 | From Julie Bernardi's "Fun Stuff" Board
 |
So, my friends, pin away!
Q/A Friday: What are 5 things you (probably) didn’t know about Broker/Agent Admin?
Q: Ok, I’m getting the hang of the new(ish) website and Broker/Agent Admin, but there’s a lot to know! What are 5 things that I may not be aware of?
A: Excellent question! Broker/Agent Admin (sometimes referred to as the Backend/Agent Backend) is where you have control over your Agent Website, can create searches/CMAs/One-to-Ones, find company news, and more. Here are 5 things that you might not have known before:
1. YOU CAN CREATE CRAIGSLIST-READY ADS IN THE MARKETING SECTION IN MINUTES
Hopefully you are already using the Marketing section of Broker/Agent Admin to create fast and professional printable fliers. But did you know that you can take these fliers and post them to Craigslist almost instantly? To do this, just copy/paste from the HTML pop-up box… or watch the short video tutorial below:
2. YOU CAN ADD ANY LISTING FROM YOUR MLS AS A FEATURED LISTING ON YOUR HOME PAGE
If you wish to add other listings to the featured listing section of your Agent Site homepage, you first have to change a few settings:
-Log into Broker/Agent Admin and click on My Website
-Click on “Settings” from the left hand menu and select the button for MANUAL. Click the SAVE button. Click OK on the popup screen.
A: Excellent question! Broker/Agent Admin (sometimes referred to as the Backend/Agent Backend) is where you have control over your Agent Website, can create searches/CMAs/One-to-Ones, find company news, and more. Here are 5 things that you might not have known before:
1. YOU CAN CREATE CRAIGSLIST-READY ADS IN THE MARKETING SECTION IN MINUTES
Hopefully you are already using the Marketing section of Broker/Agent Admin to create fast and professional printable fliers. But did you know that you can take these fliers and post them to Craigslist almost instantly? To do this, just copy/paste from the HTML pop-up box… or watch the short video tutorial below:
2. YOU CAN ADD ANY LISTING FROM YOUR MLS AS A FEATURED LISTING ON YOUR HOME PAGE
If you wish to add other listings to the featured listing section of your Agent Site homepage, you first have to change a few settings:
-Log into Broker/Agent Admin and click on My Website
-Click on “Settings” from the left hand menu and select the button for MANUAL. Click the SAVE button. Click OK on the popup screen.
-Click on “Featured Listings” on the upper right. Select the button for MANUAL. Click the SAVE button. Click OK on the popup screen.
-Click on “Listings” from the left hand menu and select the button for MANUAL Click OK on the popup screen.
-Click on OTHER MLS LISTINGS (top right) and select MANUAL Click OK on the popup screen.
-Now you may add the MLS number of a property into the text box below. Click OK. NOTE: You may only add listings in the MLS(s) you have linked to your Agent Site.
-Once you add a listing, click on ACTIVATE LISTING.
-Your added listings will now appear as FEATURED on your website and in your Listings section.
IMPORTANT! Doing this will no longer automatically pull your listings from the MLS. You will need to enter the MLS number for all listings you wish to appear on your site.
3. COMPANY SUPPORT IS FULL OF USEFUL FILES AND INFORMATION
Need a logo? Transaction documents? How about a referral form or letterhead? Notes from a Social Marketing training? All this (and much more) are waiting for you in the COMPANY SUPPORT section of Broker/Agent Admin. I highly recommend you take a few minutes to browse through the various sections and familiarize yourself with the resources available.
4. YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN DOCUMENTS AND FILES TO COMPANY SUPPORT
You can add your own documents/videos/etc into Company Support. These will only be available to you when you are logged into Broker/Agent Admin. Why would I want to do this? If you have documents that you frequently require outside of the provided documents in Company Support, you will be able to access them from any computer once you have uploaded them to Company Support.
TO UPLOAD
-Log into Broker/Agent Admin and click on COMPANY SUPPORT.
-Click CREATE MAIN CATEGORY (Upper right). Name your category and click OK.
-Your category will now appear in the left side menu. Click on your category.
-Click CREATE SUBCATEGORY and name a subcategory,
-Click on your subcategory in the left hand menu.
-You may continue to create another subcategory by clicking CREATE SUBCATEGORY again, or you may upload a file by clicking UPLOAD FILE
-TO UPLOAD A FILE: first select the type of file (Media- YouTube videos, Document, Image, or Link). Give your file a name and description. Follow the prompts provided. Acceptable file types include YouTube video URLS, PDFs, Word Documents, Excel Documents.
5. RECENT SALES ONLY PULL YOUR LISTINGS SOLD, NOT BUYER-SIDE SALES
To add your recent buyer-side sales:
-Log into Broker/Agent Admin and click on MY WEBSITE.
-Click on RECENT SALES from the left hand menu.
-Select MANUAL.
-Click ADD RECENT SALE (upper right)
-Enter the MLS number of the sale and click RETRIEVE
-Double check the pulled information, make any necessary changes, and click SAVE at the bottom.
-Click on “Listings” from the left hand menu and select the button for MANUAL Click OK on the popup screen.
-Click on OTHER MLS LISTINGS (top right) and select MANUAL Click OK on the popup screen.
-Now you may add the MLS number of a property into the text box below. Click OK. NOTE: You may only add listings in the MLS(s) you have linked to your Agent Site.
-Once you add a listing, click on ACTIVATE LISTING.
-Your added listings will now appear as FEATURED on your website and in your Listings section.
IMPORTANT! Doing this will no longer automatically pull your listings from the MLS. You will need to enter the MLS number for all listings you wish to appear on your site.
3. COMPANY SUPPORT IS FULL OF USEFUL FILES AND INFORMATION
Need a logo? Transaction documents? How about a referral form or letterhead? Notes from a Social Marketing training? All this (and much more) are waiting for you in the COMPANY SUPPORT section of Broker/Agent Admin. I highly recommend you take a few minutes to browse through the various sections and familiarize yourself with the resources available.
4. YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN DOCUMENTS AND FILES TO COMPANY SUPPORT
You can add your own documents/videos/etc into Company Support. These will only be available to you when you are logged into Broker/Agent Admin. Why would I want to do this? If you have documents that you frequently require outside of the provided documents in Company Support, you will be able to access them from any computer once you have uploaded them to Company Support.
TO UPLOAD
-Log into Broker/Agent Admin and click on COMPANY SUPPORT.
-Click CREATE MAIN CATEGORY (Upper right). Name your category and click OK.
-Your category will now appear in the left side menu. Click on your category.
-Click CREATE SUBCATEGORY and name a subcategory,
-Click on your subcategory in the left hand menu.
-You may continue to create another subcategory by clicking CREATE SUBCATEGORY again, or you may upload a file by clicking UPLOAD FILE
-TO UPLOAD A FILE: first select the type of file (Media- YouTube videos, Document, Image, or Link). Give your file a name and description. Follow the prompts provided. Acceptable file types include YouTube video URLS, PDFs, Word Documents, Excel Documents.
5. RECENT SALES ONLY PULL YOUR LISTINGS SOLD, NOT BUYER-SIDE SALES
To add your recent buyer-side sales:
-Log into Broker/Agent Admin and click on MY WEBSITE.
-Click on RECENT SALES from the left hand menu.
-Select MANUAL.
-Click ADD RECENT SALE (upper right)
-Enter the MLS number of the sale and click RETRIEVE
-Double check the pulled information, make any necessary changes, and click SAVE at the bottom.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
