Why You Need to Say 'Yes' to Multifactor Authentication
Purchasing a home is typically the largest and most significant investment of our lives. It's a milestone interwoven with personal dreams, aspirations, and an immense amount of confidential information.
Real estate agents, brokers, and their MLSs are more than just facilitators of a home purchase – you are stewards of trust, responsible for managing, protecting, and maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and security of sensitive information on behalf of buyers and sellers.
Trust remains the core reason most people select a real estate agent. According to research from the National Association of Realtors, 97 percent of consumers said honesty and integrity were the most important traits for a real estate agent. Agents, brokers, and MLSs must ensure that their clients' personal details, financial records, and other sensitive data are kept secure and confidential.
When clients choose to work with you, they entrust you with the most personal and confidential information they will ever share in a purchase transaction. In our digital era, where anyone can access data from anywhere at any time, you must actively protect personal information.
Real estate in the crosshairs
Security company Astra reports an average of 2,200 cyberattacks per day in the U.S. across all industries, and real estate is fast becoming a preferred target. According to leading cyber security firm Octiv, bad actors were responsible for 75 real estate industry breaches last year, including well-publicized ransomware incidents that delayed some property closings for weeks, costing the industry more than $50 million. The experts at Octiv recently warned at a CoreLogic conference of MLS executives that real estate is becoming a bigger target for hackers than ever.
The problem with passwords
Security experts say the challenge for real estate is that the passwords we use to protect access to our systems and the personal information of clients on those systems are not enough. Research by NordPass documents the widespread use of poor passwords in every industry, not just real estate. However, real estate is particularly vulnerable because of the size of these transactions, the wiring of large amounts of funds, and the disclosure of buyers' and sellers' deep financial and personal details.
Multifactor authentication offers a solution
Despite efforts to strengthen password use, NordPass research shows that these efforts are a massive failure overall in the U.S.
The growing solution to our password problems is multifactor authentication. Multifactor authentication (MFA) requires users to provide two or more forms of identification to access an account. These factors can include something you know (like a password), something you have (like a smartphone), or something you are (like a fingerprint or biometric scan). MFA ensures that even if one of your credentials is compromised, unauthorized access to your account is still blocked.
By requesting multiple forms of identification, MFA makes it significantly harder for hackers to gain unauthorized access to your accounts. Requiring more than one form of identification provides vastly more robust security protection than using even a complex password.
How MFA works
Think of MFA as adding a deadbolt lock to your door – even if someone has the key (your password), they still can't get in without the second one, and that additional form of authentication is your added protection.
Common steps to an MFA process:
Step 1 – You enter your email address or mobile number.
Step 2 – You are sent a one-time link to access your account.
Step 3 – After you click on the link, you are prompted to enter a one-time numerical code (with a short expiration) sent via your account registered email or mobile number.
Step 4 – You enter the code provided and get access to your account.
Another MFA approach begins with prompting you for your username and password. Once verified, you are taken to a page requiring you to enter a one-time code, either to your registered email or mobile number associated with your account. The code has a short expiration, so you must enter that code quickly to obtain access to the account.
A little pain for a lot of gain
While MFAs are quickly becoming standardized in real estate, this has not been without resistance. MLSs and brokerages don't like the idea of "forcing" their users to change. Change is hard, especially when the behavior you are trying to change is among independent private contractors.
Overall, many agents don't like the idea that they might have to take extra steps to log in and would rather use a password. Again, the problem tech companies face is that password strength is abysmal overall. In fact, the Nordpass study found that "123456" and "password" are still among the most commonly used passwords in America.
Our weak password culture is a ticking time bomb, waiting to be exploited by hackers. Multifactor authentication creates a layer of security that solves the password problem by requiring additional forms of identification, making it exponentially harder for unauthorized users to gain access.
MFA is your digital bodyguard
Yes, multifactor authentication may occasionally require a little more work to access your accounts, but its extra protection is more than worth it. Consider the potential consequences of a security breach: lost client trust, financial losses, and damage to your professional reputation. Verifying your identity takes only a few extra seconds. Think of it as an investment in the long-term security of your business.
Imagine this scenario: A hacker gains access to your email account and starts sending fraudulent messages to your clients, requesting sensitive information or funds. The damage to your reputation and client relationships could be irreparable. Now, consider the same scenario with MFA enabled. Even if the hacker obtains your password, they won't be able to access your account without the second form of authentication, effectively stopping the attack in its tracks.
The minor inconvenience of an extra login step – or two – pales in comparison to the potential consequences of a breach.
Artificial intelligence is improving MFA
One valuable and practical benefit of artificial intelligence is that it is making the MFA process less frequent. Known as "adaptive authentication," it uses built-in AI and machine learning to selectively decide and deploy MFA only when it determines it is required.
CoreLogic recently rolled out adaptive authentication as part of its Clareity security offering to deter unauthorized users, bots, and deceptive login attempts in real time. By learning your behavior patterns, it can instantly spot potentially nefarious activity.
For example, if you normally log in from Miami but MFA sees you are attempting to log in from Moscow, it will deploy MFA. Otherwise, when it recognizes you accessing your Single Sign-On dashboard from the same place, you will be able to sign in without additional authentication.
Better to be safe than sorry
Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the real estate industry. Embracing multifactor authentication is no longer a choice but a necessity.
Keep in mind that whenever you struggle to use any new 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.
Saying "yes" when asked to opt into MFA helps uphold the trust your clients place in you, safeguarding the very foundation of your business – and our industry.
Related reads
From the Tech Helpline Blog:
4 Ways to Improve Your Cybersecurity
6 Reasons Not To Use Similar Passwords And The Best Alternatives
Is Your Computer Protected from All The Newest Cyber Threats? A Quick Checklist
Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns both Tech Helpline and Form Simplicity.
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RPR's Data Partners: Your Secret Weapon in Commercial Real Estate
RPR (Realtors Property Resource) offers commercial real estate practitioners a wealth of listing and property data, plus access to an array of analytical and ROI-focused tools.
With over 800K listings, 57 million off-market property records, site selection tools, consumer demographic research, trade area data, traffic counts, POIs (points of interest) and more, RPR Commercial is basically a one-stop-shop for all things CRE.
However, one question we hear over and over is: where does RPR get all of this commercial data and information? As an aggregator of data and resources, RPR is the ultimate commercial hub for REALTORS® to conduct commercial real estate business.
In this article, we'll present our impressive list of commercial partners by what category they fall under and how our partnership can help you in your daily commercial duties.
RPR Commercial partnerships can help power your business
RPR has collabs, partnerships and affiliations with some of the biggest names in commercial real estate. Here's a list, by category:
For Sale/For Lease Data Partners
Brevitas: Brevitas is a national commercial listing platform that is integrated into RPR. Their real estate marketplace provides REALTORS® a turn-key marketing solution and an instant competitive edge by offering a robust collection of property search and marketing tools.
CREXi: CREXi offers a database of commercial listings, including more than 48 million property records. It also provides RPR with daily updated data, which helps commercial real estate professionals quickly manage deals and close them faster.
TotalCommercial: TotalCommercial.com has been providing commercial real estate listing information online since 1995. TotalCommercial.com shares its listing information through RPR to offer REALTORS® more listings and more property research resources.
Land Broker MLS: LandBrokerMLS.com was formed in 2018 by real estate brokers and agents to assist rural real estate professionals in their ability to view land listings. LandBrokerMLS contributes listing data to RPR's commercial platform.
Biproxi: Biproxi's new public marketplace is called Officespace.com and it provides powerful listing capabilities for "for sale" and "for lease" properties. Biproxi's Officespace.com provides listing information for RPR's commercial real estate users.
Catylist: Moody's Analytics Catylist offers a commercial property listing and marketing solution to numerous REALTOR® associations and CIEs (Commercial Information Exchanges). It helps RPR receive licensed commercial listing content from many markets across the country.
CompStak: CompStak is a nationwide crowdsourced commercial comp database that offers RPR users to receive 500 free credits to search and share commercial comparables. Get started by clicking on the CompStak logo in the Additional Resources section of any RPR commercial property page.
Officespace.com: See BiProxi above.
ICSC: ICSC, The International Council of Shopping Centers, has a special agreement with RPR to offer retail and commercial real estate data, which contributes significant insight relevant to the shopping center industry and broader commercial sectors.
Off-Market Properties
Black Knight: Black Knight is the backbone of RPR property data. It provides RPR users with quick access to public records including tax details, zoning, ownership information down to the corporate level, and much more, including Assessment and Recorder datasets.
Site Selection Data
Esri: Esri is RPR's main source of consumer data. It supplies RPR with economic, demographic, and spending data, as well as tapestry segment profiles. This particular data fuels RPR analytical tools such as Trade Area Reports and Site Selection Analysis.
Financial Analysis
Valuate: Valuate® is a web-based financial analysis and marketing tool for the purchase and sale of commercial and residential investment properties. From RPR, users can easily access the platform to perform real-time, interactive ROI analyses in a collaborative work environment.
Traffic Counts
Kalibrate: Kalibrate powers the traffic counts found on RPR's commercial maps. They provide this data quarterly from various sources, including governments, transportation departments, and Kalibrate's own field verifications.
Tenant Data
SMR Research: SMR works with RPR to provide a proprietary database of 25 million U.S. companies, schools, and other institutions for commercial property insights, and the data is updated quarterly.
ClimateRisk Assessment and Mitigation
Climate Check: ClimateCheck®, available in the RPR "Additional Resources" section, offers an assessment of a property's climate risk. It will rate a property's future risk of climate change-related hazards and assign a rating from 1 to 100, with 100 representing the highest risk.
Risk Factor: Also available in the RPR "Additional Resources," Risk Factor provides climate and environmental risk data for real estate properties, helping REALTORS® understand and communicate potential risks related to climate change.
Existing Businesses (POIs – Points of Interest)
Data Axle: Known for its robust business databases, Data Axle provides detailed company profiles and other commercial real estate-related data to enhance the commercial offerings on RPR.
Esri: Supplies RPR with economic, demographic, and spending data, as well as tapestry segment profiles.
RPR: Commercial listings, data and tools–all under one roof
As you can see, RPR brings a vast amount of commercial resources and data and puts them all in one place so you can search listings, conduct research and tap into resources that help your clients make data-backed decisions. And if you're a REALTOR®, there's no extra charge to use as part of your membership in The National Association of REALTORS®.
However, if our impressive list of commercial partnerships doesn't convince you, listen to what Dave Ferro, Managing Broker and Vice President of Watson Realty Corp in Gainesville, Florida, has to say about RPR Commercial: "I go to RPR Commercial to save time and simplify. That perfectly sums it up for me. I don't have to go to each individual's website for listing info. I can see all my properties and deals in one location. It's such a great place to search, every commercial agent should try it."
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
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What Can Real Estate Software Learn from the Gaming Industry?
We like to joke that whenever we need to talk about something particularly technical, we're speaking geek. Usually, that means we're going to dig into integrations, or protocols, or even infrastructure. We've even used it to dip our toes into the nerdy side of things with blog posts about comic franchises before.
But today, let's speak a different sort of geek: Gamer.
It might not be the first industry you'd think of as being relevant for real estate, but the gaming industry does hold a lot of potential for those of us on the real estate software side.
After all, it's not the niche hobby that it once was—as a whole, it boasts over 3 billion users and over USD$240 billion in annual revenue these days. Its demographics span generations and all kinds of interests, from the most casual of idle games made to let players relax to the most intense eSports leagues where professional players battle it out for fame and glory.
Because of the nature of the gaming industry, and because it depends so heavily on its users for success, it's learned a thing or two about giving the people what they want and need—and those are lessons that real estate software should take to heart, too.
Lesson 1: People should come first.
Think about it. If you were to pick up a video game, whether or not you knew anything about it, and you couldn't figure out how to move your character around or do anything you needed to, would you keep playing? No, because you don't have to.
Video game developers need to consider their players first and foremost because if they don't, they don't succeed. They need people to be able to understand and use and even enjoy their work, or they will founder.
What we can learn: Unlike a game, what we build isn't something people choose to use. People don't use real estate software because it's fun, or they want to—they need to use it for their livelihoods. And if they have to use it, why shouldn't they expect the same intuitive and straightforward experience as they could get with optional software?
Lesson 2: People should be involved.
For decades, game developers have offered their users a way to have their say in how a game works before it ever hits the market through early access and alpha and beta testing. These programs let players get into games while developers were still working on them, so they could help identify bugs, missed opportunities, and new ideas to improve the game for when it launched.
Though it was at first a tool used to build excitement for an upcoming game—because players got invested in the bragging rights that came with seeing a game before anyone else—it became standard procedure over time as developers saw the value in letting players put their work through its paces.
Games came out sturdier, more functional, and sometimes, even with a few new details the designers hadn't considered before.
What we can learn: We've said before that the future of real estate software is collaborative—and that extends to users, too. After all, it's something that our founder, Lorne Wallace, did with Lone Wolf software from day one, and what better way is there to make sure people come first than to let them show you how they operate?
Lesson 3: Hype isn't as important as doing it right.
I won't name any names here, but let me give you two scenarios.
One video game, a somewhat niche title from a little-known publisher that barely advertises itself, runs an extended beta test period for players, slowly introducing new features and fixing the bugs players found.
Another video game, an A-list title from a massive publisher that blows a huge budget on marketing, runs a beta test period that lasts about three weeks, and focuses on keeping interest through that period.
At launch, one finds huge success, topping the charts for weeks on end and making headlines even now, months later. One fell off the charts quickly, and rarely comes up outside of search queries for tech support. I'll let you guess which was which.
What we can learn: Though the same length of extended beta test period wouldn't really be reasonable in real estate software, the clear moral of the story is that you've got to do things right—because once you launch, you need to deliver on what you promised, and people will see right through a gimmick.
The bottom line
If there's one thing the gaming industry has gotten right, it's how it connects with the people who use its creations. And that's ultimately what all the lessons we've discussed here come down to: How software, and the people who build it, interact with the people who use it.
Though there are plenty more lessons that we could include here, this is what matters. How we think about real estate software is due for a shift, and lessons like these are what will get us there. By thinking about how software directly works for the people, we can define the future of real estate software—how it grows and evolves over the coming years.
To view the original article, visit the Lone Wolf blog.
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Who is a Real Estate SEO Expert? And What Do They Do?
A real estate SEO expert is a professional who specializes in optimizing websites for search engines to improve organic rankings. They have a deep understanding of search engine algorithms and use their expertise to increase visibility and drive targeted traffic to real estate websites.
These experts utilize a range of strategies, including conducting thorough keyword research, implementing on-page optimization techniques, creating compelling content, building high-quality links, and optimizing technical aspects of websites. By implementing these tactics, they assist real estate professionals in dominating search engine results and surpassing their competitors.
In today's fiercely competitive online environment, the inclusion of a real estate SEO expert on your team can have a profound impact. Their knowledge and skills can assist you in attracting qualified leads, generating a higher number of conversions, and ultimately expanding your business.
The importance of SEO for real estate businesses
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). For real estate businesses, it is an essential component of their digital marketing strategy. The higher a real estate website ranks on search engines like Google, the more visibility and exposure it gets, leading to increased traffic, qualified leads, and conversions.
SEO is particularly crucial in the real estate industry because competition is fierce. With so many real estate businesses vying for the attention of potential customers, it's essential to stand out from the crowd. A real estate SEO expert can help your business achieve this by using their skills and expertise to improve your website's visibility and search engine rankings.
What does a real estate SEO expert do?
What does a real estate SEO expert do?A real estate SEO expert is a professional who specializes in optimizing real estate websites for search engines. They deeply understand search engine algorithms and use their expertise to improve organic rankings, drive targeted traffic, and increase conversions. Here are some of the things that a real estate SEO expert does:
Keyword Research
Keyword research is the process of identifying the words and phrases that potential customers use when searching for real estate properties, agents, or services. A real estate SEO expert will use various tools and techniques to conduct thorough keyword research and identify the most relevant and high-traffic keywords for your business. They will then use these keywords to optimize your website's content, meta tags, and other on-page elements to improve your search engine rankings.
On-Page Optimization
On-page optimization is the process of optimizing the content and structure of a website to improve its relevance and visibility to search engines. A real estate SEO expert will use various on-page optimization techniques, such as optimizing meta tags, headers, images, and internal linking, to improve your website's relevance and visibility to search engines. They will also ensure that your website is mobile-friendly, has a fast loading speed, and is user-friendly to improve user experience and engagement.
Off-Page Optimization
Off-page optimization is the process of improving a website's visibility and authority through external links and mentions. A real estate SEO expert will use various off-page optimization techniques, such as link building, social media marketing, and content marketing, to improve your website's visibility, authority, and reputation. They will also ensure that your business is listed in relevant directories and citations to improve your visibility in local search results.
Technical Optimization
Real estate SEO experts should have a strong understanding of technical SEO, which is the process of optimizing a website's technical aspects to improve its visibility and ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). Some of the key technical SEO tasks that a real estate SEO expert should be able to perform include:
Local SEO for Real Estate Businesses
Local SEO is the process of optimizing a website for local search results. A real estate SEO expert will use various local SEO techniques, such as optimizing your Google My Business profile, building local citations, and getting positive reviews, to improve your visibility and relevance in local search results. This is particularly crucial for real estate businesses that serve a specific geographic area.
Tracking and Measuring Success in Real Estate SEO
A real estate SEO expert will also track and measure the success of your SEO efforts using various tools and metrics, such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and keyword rankings. They will use this data to refine their strategies, identify opportunities for improvement, and demonstrate the ROI of their SEO efforts.
Now, we are going deep through each one of the real estate SEO expert responsibilities:
Keyword research for your website
Keyword research is the process of identifying the keywords and phrases that potential customers are using to search for products or services like yours online. It is an important part of SEO (search engine optimization), as it helps real estate SEOs to create content and optimize your website so that it ranks higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Here are some of the important things in the keyword research process:
Brainstorm a list of relevant keywords
RESX (Real Estate SEO Experts) start by brainstorming a list of keywords and phrases that are relevant to your business and the products or services you offer. They consider the different types of properties you sell or rent, the locations you serve, and the types of buyers and sellers you work with.
Use keyword research tools
There are a number of keyword research tools available that can help you identify relevant keywords and phrases, as well as their search volume and competition level. Some popular keyword research tools include Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, and SEMrush.
Identify long-tail keywords
Long-tail keywords are more specific and less competitive than short-tail keywords. They are also more likely to be used by potential customers who are closer to making a purchase decision. For example, real estate SEO experts, instead of targeting the keyword "real estate agent," might target the long-tail keyword "best real estate agent in [city]."
Use keywords throughout your website
Once they have identified a list of relevant keywords, they will be sure to use them throughout your website, including in your title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and body content. This will help Google to understand what your website is about and rank it accordingly.
If you are interested in the keyword research process for your business, check out the best real estate SEO keywords for 2023.
On-page optimization for your website
On-page optimization is the process of optimizing the individual pages of a website to improve their ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). It involves optimizing a variety of factors, including the website's content, structure, and metadata.
For real estate websites, on-page optimization is especially important, as it can help to ensure that potential buyers can easily find your website and learn about the properties you have for sale. Here are a few key things that real estate SEO experts will do:
Use relevant keywords throughout your website, including in your title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and body content.
Create high-quality, informative content that provides value to potential buyers.
Optimize your images by sizing and compressing them properly and using descriptive alt text.
Improve your website's structure by using clear and descriptive URLs, creating a logical hierarchy of pages, and using internal links to connect your pages together.
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
Off-page optimization for your website
Off-page optimization is a crucial aspect of real estate SEO. It involves strategies that are implemented outside of the website itself to improve its search engine rankings. One of the most important off-page optimization techniques is link building. Real estate SEO experts understand the significance of building high-quality backlinks to a website.
Backlinks act as votes of confidence from other websites, indicating to search engines that the website being linked to is trustworthy and valuable. Real estate SEO experts use various tactics to acquire backlinks, such as guest posting on relevant industry websites, reaching out to influencers for collaborations, and leveraging social media platforms to promote content and acquire links.
In addition to link building, real estate SEO experts also focus on other off-page optimization techniques, such as social media marketing and online reputation management. By utilizing social media platforms effectively, they can broaden the reach of real estate websites, engage with the target audience, and drive more traffic. Online reputation management involves monitoring and managing the online presence of real estate businesses, ensuring that their reputation remains positive and trustworthy.
Technical optimization for your website
Here are some technical things that your SEO expert should have to do for your website:
Optimizing website speed
Improving website structure
Fixing broken links
Creating a mobile-friendly website
Using relevant keywords throughout the website
Optimizing images (Want to know more about it? Learn a few tips in SEO Tips for Images: Real Estate Edition)
Submitting the website to search engines
Monitoring website performance and making adjustments as needed
Note that not all of the above items should done alone by SEO experts; for some of them, SEOs need help from a developer or website admin.
Local SEO for real estate businesses
Local SEO is a vital component of real estate SEO, as it focuses on optimizing websites for local search results. Real estate professionals operate within specific geographic areas, and it is crucial for their websites to appear in local search results when potential clients search for real estate services in their vicinity.
Real estate SEO experts employ various strategies to optimize websites for local search, such as optimizing Google My Business profiles, creating location-specific landing pages, and obtaining local citations. By implementing these techniques, they help real estate businesses increase their visibility in local search results, attract more qualified leads, and ultimately drive more conversions.
Local SEO for real estate businesses also involves optimizing websites for mobile devices, as a significant portion of local searches are performed on smartphones and tablets. Real estate SEO experts ensure that websites are mobile-friendly and provide a seamless user experience across different devices. This optimization helps real estate businesses capture mobile users and enhances their chances of converting them into clients.
Tools and resources used by real estate SEO experts
Real estate SEO experts use a range of tools and resources to conduct keyword research, analyze website data, and optimize websites for search engines. Here are some of the most popular tools and resources used by real estate SEO experts:
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free web analytics service provided by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Real estate SEO experts use Google Analytics to track website traffic, user behavior, and other key metrics to improve their SEO strategies.
Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool provided by Google that helps website owners monitor and maintain their website's presence in Google search results. Real estate SEO experts use Google Search Console to track website performance, identify technical issues, and submit sitemaps.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a popular SEO tool that provides data and insights on backlinks, keywords, and website traffic. Real estate SEO experts use Ahrefs to conduct keyword research, analyze competitor backlinks, and monitor website performance.
SEMrush
SEMrush is an all-in-one marketing toolkit that provides tools for SEO, PPC, content marketing, and social media marketing. Real estate SEO experts use SEMrush to conduct keyword research, analyze website data, and optimize websites for search engines.
Tracking and measuring success in real estate SEO
Measuring and tracking the success of your SEO efforts is crucial to improving your website's search engine rankings and achieving your business goals. Here are some metrics that a real estate SEO should track to measure the success of their SEO efforts:
Organic Traffic
Organic traffic refers to the number of visitors who come to your website through search engine results pages. Tracking organic traffic can help you understand how well your website is ranking on search engines and how effective your SEO efforts are.
Keyword Rankings
Keyword rankings refer to the positions your website ranks for specific keywords on search engine results pages. Tracking keyword rankings can help you understand how well your website is optimized for specific keywords and how competitive your industry is.
Conversions
Conversions refer to the number of visitors who take a specific action on your website, such as filling out a contact form or making a purchase. Tracking conversions can help you understand how effective your website is at converting visitors into customers and how well your SEO efforts are driving qualified leads.
Backlinks
Backlinks refer to the number and quality of external links pointing to your website. Tracking backlinks can help you understand how well your website is building authority and reputation in your industry and how competitive your industry is. Learn a bit more about Backlinks for real estate.
How to evaluate a real estate SEO expert for your business
If you're looking for a real estate SEO expert for your business, there are several things to consider. Here are some tips for finding the right real estate SEO expert for your business:
Look for Experience and Expertise
When choosing a real estate SEO expert, it's essential to look for someone with experience and expertise in the real estate industry. They should be familiar with the unique challenges and opportunities of the industry and have a deep understanding of search engine algorithms and best practices.
Check References and Reviews
Before hiring a real estate SEO expert, it's essential to check their references and reviews. Look for reviews and testimonials from previous clients, and ask for references that you can contact directly to hear about their experience working with the expert.
Ask About Their Strategies and Tactics
When interviewing potential real estate SEO experts, ask them about their strategies and tactics for improving your website's search engine rankings. They should be able to explain their approach in clear and understandable terms and provide examples of their success in the past.
Evaluate Their Communication and Collaboration Skills
Effective communication and collaboration are crucial when working with a real estate SEO expert. Look for someone who is responsive, transparent, and easy to work with, and who can collaborate effectively with your team to achieve your SEO goals.
At Realtyna, we have some best Real Estate SEO Experts who are professional in Real Estate marketing. if you care about your website's performance in search results, you can hire us to do Search Engine Optimization for your website, if you are interested or want to know more about our SEO plans for your business, check out the Realtyna SEO packages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a real estate SEO expert is a crucial component of any real estate business's digital marketing strategy. They use their skills and expertise to improve website visibility, drive targeted traffic, and increase conversions. By conducting thorough keyword research, implementing on-page and off-page optimization techniques, and tracking and measuring success, they can help your business dominate search engine results and surpass your competitors.
To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.
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RPR Commercial: Traffic Data You Can Count On
When it comes to advising commercial real estate investors and business owners on site selection, it's a smart move to factor in traffic count data.
In this article, we'll show you how RPR (Realtors Property Resource) provides easy access to traffic data to help you crunch those numbers, gauge potential and guide your clients to optimal locations.
The RPR-Kalibrate data partnership can really benefit a business
Through its partnership with Kalibrate, RPR Commercial offers comprehensive traffic count data to help REALTORS® make informed decisions when assisting clients in site selection. Providing valuable traffic count insight into the potential footfall (the number of people entering a store or shopping area in a given time) and site visibility can be make or break for a new business. The more people who see a business or are exposed to its signage, the more likely they are to visit!
Although counting cars and commuters, and determining annual average daily traffic is not a new idea, many commercial specialists don't utilize the data to properly advise their clients. Here's how to do it in RPR.
Accessing Traffic Count Data in RPR Commercial
Log in to RPR (narrpr.com)
Select Research, and then Commercial Map Insights
Enter a geographic area or zip code or specific address
Select Driving (the car icon to the right) and then Traffic Counts
Choose the range, or simply chose Select All and Apply
Customize the view by zooming in or out and toggling traffic count layers
The traffic data will appear on the map in different colored triangles
Click on specific count points (the triangles) to view the detailed traffic data
Accessing Traffic Count Data in RPR Commercial
Now that we know how to access traffic count data, let's spend a little time on the why. Obviously, the more cars that drive by a business, the better the chances for success. Using this info as a site selection analysis tool can help you and your client(s) in:
Assessing footfall and visibility potential
Identifying prime locations for specific business types
Analyzing trends in traffic flow (morning commutes vs weekend)
Aiding in the decision-making process for clients
Assessing historical data to track growth
Design better delivery routes, if applicable
Speaking of visibility from bullet number one, here's a real world example: perhaps you're familiar with the TV show Bar Rescue, where hospitality consultant Jon Taffer gives bars and restaurants a complete remodel and rebranding. He also often makes it a point to give their signage a facelift, and regularly quotes traffic count data in his reasoning. If 10,000 cars go by each day, they need to be able to see and read your business signage. As a commercial retail specialist with access to RPR, you too can make these recommendations!
Map out your commercial recommendations with RPR traffic counts
With the powerful data layers in RPR's Commercial maps, you can supply your clients with accurate and up-to-date traffic count information. The data will display actual historical counts as well as Kalibrate's projected counts, which are based on the last published traffic count, local area trend data and up-to-date demographic information.
We encourage you to do a search and take our map Driving icon for a spin! This can be a helpful way to give retail businesses an idea of how many people will drive by their business each day and position you as an insightful business advisor.
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
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Here's How to Help New Agents Become Profitable, Faster
We've all had our first day on the job and remember how it felt to be the "new kid." Any agent that joins your team must undergo the inevitable learning curve on their way to closing their first deal and proving themselves as a powerful — and profitable — addition to the business.
Building a strong foundation through solid, consistent training can help new agents and up-and-coming teams:
Boost their productivity and motivation
Build stronger loyalty and sense of self
Require less supervision from leadership
Encourage growth and innovative thinking
Avoid frustrating — or even costly — errors
A Two-Phase Approach
While it might be tempting to throw new agents into the deep end, taking a beat to train them properly can make a world of a difference. You don't want to cut corners or skip hands-on, dedicated training — you want to set them up for success.
It's important to keep in mind that speed isn't always an indicator of success, and that forcing a newcomer to jump right in and figure it out as they go can actually lengthen that pesky learning curve. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Don't double back to correct mistakes or undo bad habits that could have been prevented with solid training from the start.
Once an agent has joined your team, it can take months before they close a deal. By investing the time to offer intensive, strategic, and involved training from the start, you can help shorten this timeframe.
We like to take a two-phase approach to training: Initial Onboarding and Ongoing Refinement. Both are equally important in their own right, and we'll break down the ins and outs of each.
Free Checklist: 20 Daily Activities for Profitable Agents
Phase One: Initial Onboarding
Consider this phase of training to be the building of the foundation for your new agent. Just like a house needs a strong foundation to withstand the test of time and the elements, your agent needs a solid start to ensure they'll have long-lasting, enduring success in your business.
It is imperative to ensure your new agent learns and becomes deeply familiar with the systems your team uses, has a deep understanding of and alignment with your vision and goals, and is up to speed with how things work within your business from a day-to-day perspective.
Taking the time to invest in phase one can set the stage for your new agent to shine.
Hands-On, Thorough Systems Training
This is absolutely critical. Focus here first.
Do we have your attention?
Excellent.
The technology your business uses, like a CRM, lead generation software, or transaction management tool, all requires hands-on training. Your agents must know how to use your systems, and how to use them effectively.
Technology is a critical investment to stay competitive in real estate, and getting your agents on board and actively using your technology is key to driving the success of your business. Failing to train agents to use your systems can cost you in both time and ROI.
Pro Tip: If you're not sure where to begin, dig into what your software company can offer. Oftentimes, they'll have training materials and resources on their website, or even a hands-on team of experts to train your agents one-on-one. It's also a good idea to stay on top of system updates, new training courses, and regular refreshers to ensure you maximize your investment in software and use it to its fullest potential.
Lead with Purpose
As the leader of your business, you are the captain of the ship. Your team looks to you and your vision.
As such, the responsibility of training — whether you do it yourself or select your top performers to do so — falls on you. To help speed up your agent's ride along the learning curve, you should:
Enforce that they take every opportunity for training and resources that the software company has available.
Develop and implement an accountability system across the business to make sure your agents are properly and accurately using the technology.
Make it a priority to hold regular check-ins with your team to address and discuss any questions, concerns, or issues they may face with your technology, or share any new features and updates that may have been rolled out by the software company.
Dedicating this much time to training may seem overwhelming or counterintuitive. We get it, time is money. But think of it like putting together Ikea furniture. You could skip the manual and spend two hours putting it together blind… or spend 10 minutes reading the manual and build it in half an hour.
Internal Operations
Internal operations, or the day-to-day activities, of your business are also key for a new agent to be immersed in as they are trained.
These operations can be both formal and informal in how they are documented, so spending time training your new agent from the very start on how things work within your business can help prevent numerous interruptions down the line.
No matter how you run your team or manage your business, be crystal clear about protocol, processes, and practices. Give your new agent an in-depth rundown of every detail, even allowing them to shadow other agents for a week or more and document questions or curiosities that arise as a result.
As an added benefit, these questions can also help you develop a training manual and process if you plan to expand and hire more agents.
Align with Business Goals and Mission Statement
Odds are, you've sussed out the quality of talent in your agent during the interview process, including how they align with the goals and mission of your business.
Regularly communicating your team's goals and having a crystal-clear mission statement is important: taking your compelling vision and infusing it into regular training will help keep everyone on the same page and motivated to deliver their best work.
Continual Refinement
Now that your new agent has gotten their feet wet and is settling into their groove as a team member, phase two of continual refinement can begin.
Think of this as continuing to smooth out any rough edges as their integration into your team becomes more and more seamless. Continual refinement looks like having ongoing training sessions, maintaining regular check-ins, and even pairing your new agent with a mentor.
Not only will this second phase help keep agent performance on par, it will also help them build upon their strong foundation and develop their own flair and strengths as a real estate professional. Making regular training a part of your company culture helps foster teamwork, and also ensures that any new agents can join the business with minimal friction and quicker pipeline to success.
What are some other ways to continue to refine your agents' success?
Stay Up-to-Date
The real estate industry is constantly changing. There's always something new to learn and transformations taking place. In the last three years alone we've seen a tremendous shift in real estate, all of which means it's more important than ever to stay ahead of the curve and afloat of new changes.
Some different ways to help your team stay fresh in their industry knowledge include:
Downloading industry reports
Monitoring market trends
Signing up for real estate newsletters and blogs
Watching webinars or virtual training
Attending seminars and conferences
Give Your Marketing Strategy a Refresh
Your online presence is everything, and technology is also constantly changing. Best practices for online lead generation are always shifting, and staying ahead of trends to promote your business is key.
Consider implementing a social media strategy, search engine marketing best practices, or investing in online marketing campaigns. Keep your eye on the ROI to ensure your refresh is maximizing your dollar spend.
Fine-Tune Sales Skills
Are you sensing a pattern here? Training isn't a one-and-done event, it should be a constant. This is how you ensure greatness on your team, and keep innovation and collaboration alive in your business. From brand new agents onboarding to industry veterans that need a nudge to adopt new trends, refining sales skills through sales training is critical.
Consider investing in a real estate coach, implementing a mentorship system, or requiring your agents to attend annual trainings or conferences, and even earn certifications.
To view the original article, visit the BoomTown blog.
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Multi-Family ROI Analysis in RPR Commercial
RPR (Realtors Property Resources) offers commercial practitioners access to an array of business-building tools: Site Selection and Trade Area Reports that utilize Esri consumer segmentation data, and recently added commercial comps from CompStak.
Not to mention 846K listings, 57 million off-market properties, traffic data, points of interest and climate risk assessment. However, one capability is flying a bit under the radar: BOTE (back of the envelope) ROI analysis for multi-family properties.
This helpful resource enables commercial specialists to quickly vet and qualify multi-family investment opportunities before undertaking a full, detailed analysis. The ability to evaluate a project's potential in minutes rather than hours is a time-saving, efficient move.
Here's how to do it in RPR…
RPR BOTE: Back of the envelope ballparking and guesstimating
Before we dive into the walkthrough, and in case you're not familiar with the term, here's the definition of Back of the envelope: a rough calculation, typically jotted down on any available scrap of paper such as an envelope. It is more than a guess, but less than an accurate calculation or mathematical proof.
It's basically a ballpark figure, based on some starting numbers, that when run through a quick formula, lets agents and investors know if a project or purchase is worth the investment.
To find the BOTE assessment calculator in RPR, go to the site, toggle to Commercial, and search for a property.
Once you have your property, you will see the commercial Property Details and Property Information for that address. Scroll down a bit to find the Additional Resources section on the right hand side of the page. Then click Valuate® to Analyze investment potential, and then the continue button.
An RPR/Valuate®/BOTE walkthrough
The numbers for your potential deal are actually crunched using Valuate®, one of RPR's service and data partners.
Note: When clicking over to the Valuate® site, you are leaving RPR and accessing Valutate® as a third party additional resource. Therefore, there is an important disclaimer that Valuate® is provided as a free benefit to RPR users. RPR is not responsible for information or conclusions that may be reached using the tool. Also note that RPR passes through to Valuate® only the data needed to perform this analysis.
Once you're in Valuate®, you can assess a commercial investment in land development for multi-family dwellings or buildings. To get to the back of the envelope calculators, you will want to hover over the File tab, then the option of New, and finally click on BOTE, which stands for Back of the Envelope.
There are multiple options for you to choose from, including Office, Apartment, Condo and Industrial Developments. The quick load screen will change slightly based on your selection, but they all function the same way.
Make your choice based on your chosen property, then enter in the property name, scenario, and basic details of the development, such as the number of units, square footage, income and expenses from the property, etc. Be sure to plug in any areas necessary. Then select Submit.
Back of the envelope calculator
You'll be redirected to the calculator where you can fill in the rest of your assumptions. Build out your timelines, use of funds, project cash flows, as well as expenses, and ultimately determine what the current stabilized Net Operating Income Yield on Cost is for your potential development.
The analysis also reveals the cap rate, and the cash on cash rate. (You typically want your cash on cash rate to be higher than your cap rate.) You can play with the numbers to find out where your purchase price needs to be to get right side up on your deal, etc.
If you want to take it to the next step, you can also look at profit ratios should you sell this development project once it is fully leased and is creating a stable cash flow by filling in the fields in the Analysis for Sale upon stabilization section with your projections.
BOTE note
Quick back of the envelope run throughs are great for preliminary research and opportunity quests. You can basically rule out a potential investment before you commit too much brain power to a more thorough analysis or a fully developed pitch to an investor.
Take advantage of RPR Commercial and its partnership with Valuate® by plugging in some rough estimates to see if your multi-family property opportunity gets a thumbs up or a thumbs down.
And if you have time, watch this video for a demonstration: Investment Analysis With Valuate®.
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
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WAV Group Releases Homeowners Under Management White Paper
Was it Mark Twain or F. Scott Fitzgerald who originally wrote, At first you go bankrupt slowly, then all at once? I'm not sure, but I often share that quote to illustrate how change happens in culture or in an industry. Today, I believe that we are on the precipice of an all-at-once moment that will have a profound impact on real estate portals. We see the emergence of homeownership portals happening now. We anticipate that homeownership portals will replace or transform property search portals and real estate CRMs. The move in this direction has happened slowly, but this year, we believe that it is happening all at once. We see enterprise brokers, franchise brands, state associations, and large MLSs implementing these tools today. It's a big shift.
There are a number of signals in the market that express context that supports the development and adoption of homeownership portals. The first and longest running streak trend among consumer portals is becoming parcel-centric. If you look at the success of Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin and Movoto, the differentiating factor that drives consumers to those sites is that they have data on every property, ergo every parcel. It shocks me that real estate brokers have not woken up to the reality that their IDX website or VOW website will never compete with a portal that has all the listings. Consumers want to know what their home (and their neighbor's home) is worth, when it last sold and for how much. These are table stakes today.
The next signal is that consumers do not want to be "leads." This has been a trend for a long time that was epically characterized by 1000watt in their video about becoming a lead. I could not find the video, but Marc Davidson did write a nice piece about the broken experience of being a lead – it simply sucks. When a consumer wants to get information, they desire to look it up. When they have a question, they want to talk to someone that they know or trust. Portals that sell leads to real estate agents are going to die. The consumer experience is unsatisfactory and the real estate agent is overwhelmed from lead fatigue – leads that close 1 out of 100 – or a warm lead that closes 5 out of 100.
The next signal is related to concierge services. Like it or not, Compass crushed the competition with their concierge service that allows consumers to get home repairs done before the sale (and proceeds from the sale pay for them). Same is true of moving concierge. Consumers do not want the hassle of moving, so Updater, MooveGuru and MoveEasy have delivered solutions.
RESPA crushed the idea of integrated services that consumers want for combining a real estate transaction with a mortgage, title, and insurance transaction. I totally understand the need to dispel the bribe-like revenue sharing between these business services, but geez – haven't we gone too far? The consumer wants these service providers to deliver an integrated service.
When you take these signals and you mix them together, you recognize that real estate has emerged beyond search. However, two major problems exist. The first is that there is no one-stop shopping portal where all of my service providers collaborate. The second is that nobody is providing consumers with a portal to help with homeownership.
Perhaps the only portal that sees the confluence of services coming together is Zillow. They announced the Super App, but outside of the idea they shared, we do not recognize it as having been executed yet. There are a number of companies that are developing super apps for brokers.
There is a race happening right now to get the most consumers on a super app. Only a few contenders are in the race. The finish line is to give consumers an app that supports their entire lifecycle of homeownership – search, transact, move, own, sell. Once a consumer adopts a homeownership portal for their home, it's game over for today's one-dimensional search portals. Much in the same way that we have a portal for managing our health, our car, our education, there will be one app for managing your home.
In this white paper, we explore the key steps to breaking away from the transactional cycle and maximizing the lifetime value of each client you work with. Whether you're an individual agent or part of a brokerage, the strategies outlined in this paper will help you establish long-lasting, meaningful connections with your clients.
Please download this whitepaper to learn more about homeowners under management.
To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.
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Democratization of House Flipping
Modern house flipping can be traced back to the autumn of 1960, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) into law. Believe it or not, the legislation creating REITs was tucked into the Cigar Excise Tax Extension Act.
For the first time ever, a broad base of investors could now pool resources for real estate projects, specifically commercial real estate development. In effect, REITS gave birth to the democratization of real estate investment.
Everyday investors could now participate in a huge asset class that was previously exclusive to wealthy corporations.
REITS provided increased attention on real estate as an overall investment, expanded the investment opportunities, and had a knock-on impact on residential real estate.
The Bob Father
Jump ahead to the 1980s, which gave rise to a home improvement frenzy. The man behind the craze was Bob Vila. In 1978, he won the Better Homes and Gardens "Heritage House of 1978" award for restoring a Victorian Italianate-style home.
Because of his impact on our culture at the time, it's not far-fetched to consider Bob the father of house flipping. In 1979, the PBS television show This Old House debuted with Vila as its first-ever host. Focusing on home renovation—typically of older houses of modest size and value—the popular program involved homeowners participating by providing work assistance, or "sweat equity."
The program popularized the idea of home improvement, exposing millions of consumers to an "under the hood" look at home renovation. In addition, This Old House spawned dozens of imitations and other related home-improvement shows on cable and network TV.
It's no coincidence that the summer before the show began, the first Home Depot opened the doors of its first two stores. By 1989, it was the largest home improvement store in the U.S., bypassing Lowes (operating since 1921). The popularity of the home improvement projects that fueled Home Depot's growth forced Lowes to change to a big-box model to survive.
Foreclosure Fuel
The 1980s gave rise to 18.5% mortgage rates and a huge spike in foreclosures, which offered capital-enriched investors the ability to purchase a home at well under its after-repair value (ARV). The industry rule-of-thumb for house flippers was to pay no more than 70% of a home's ARV.
When buying a home to flip, investors estimate what they believe the property will sell for after renovating it. To calculate the purchase price target, flippers multiply the anticipated sales price by 70%, and then subtract renovation costs.
Recessions often cause a spike in home foreclosures and result in significantly increased house flipping activity. That's not to say home flipping occurs solely during recessions or when foreclosures are plentiful. On the contrary, home flipping can—and does—occur during all real estate cycles.
For example, in 2019, the U.S. foreclosure rate hit a record low of 0.36% of all U.S. housing units. However, that still represents nearly a half-million units in foreclosure.
More importantly, it is not just foreclosures that have untapped value. Most homes being sold often have the potential for a higher price—and a higher return—after proper repairs and renovations.
Internal research at Revive indicates that when a home is sold "as is," some 15% to 20% of the value remains on the table. If the house were renovated, our research also shows that the average homeowner could increase their net proceeds by an average of $186,000. In higher-priced markets such as California, average net proceeds are significantly higher. That's a huge amount of money that most homeowners leave on the table.
But flipping is not for everyone—at least not yet. Without experience, the risks are significant, and even the savviest flipper can find themselves upside down from forces beyond their control.
House flipping is a stressful, intense, hands-on investment that takes capital and liquidity, the ability to endure delays, and the skills (or ready and reliable access to the skills) required for the remodeling. It also needs the project management skills, tech, and perfected processes to succeed financially.
House Flipping for All
In Southern California, entrepreneur Michael Alladawi (Revive co-founder) helped his family diversify their investments from banks into the safe haven of real estate when the U.S. financial crisis hit in 2008. An abundance of foreclosed single-family homes were auctioned off on courthouse steps and Michael saw an opportunity to fix and flip.
In 2009, he teamed up with former Blackstone employees and created a real estate investment fund that targeted value-oriented real estate investments and development projects in Southern California. He ended up flipping more than 1,000 homes in Southern California.
After watching his friends and family struggle with home remodeling projects, he saw a huge gap in the home renovation industry and decided to do something about it. Michael knew that average homeowners desired the benefits of flipping their own homes, but many lacked the knowledge of what features to improve, the experience and skills, or access to the required capital.
It wasn't until 2019 that Michael believed that he could democratize house flipping with the right technology. That's when we connected. Michael wanted to see what it would take to create the technology infrastructure to scale his home flipping business model. He tracked me down and after showing him what was needed, I eventually offered to partner with him and grow Revive to take his house flipping mainstream.
Building Upon a Trend
Both iBuyers and the newer Power Buyers category have proved they are not fads. By the end of 2021, iBuyers accounted for almost 120,000 transactions, or 1.3% of the market. Likewise, Power Buyers are growing exponentially, with leading firms reporting 200% to 500% growth in their business in 2022. But there's another even more compelling way to sell.
In October 2018, Compass launched a "concierge" program in the 22 markets it served. A year earlier, Redfin had debuted a similar concierge service in Los Angeles and DC.
Compass' revolutionary concept was the game-changer: Compass would provide the funds for home staging and improvements, getting paid back only when the house is sold—just like a house flipper.
But the Compass strategy focused on the financial part. The harder challenge was replicating the tenacity and grit of flippers, which is required to hire contractors and manage their work, while handling the delays and surprises that come with flipping houses.
Still, Compass' move to fund seller improvements spawned today's fast-growing solution for expanding options for sellers: the Concierge or Listing Concierge category. Also known as presale renovations—allowing sellers to renovate now and pay later—the potential for growth in this new sector is massive.
We envisioned a solution that would expand what Compass did so that any brokerage, agent, and homeowner could emulate the home flipper model: Maximize the property's value to get the home's highest price possible. That solution became Revive—and it doesn't put a cap on the renovation amount. If a $300,000 renovation of the right improvements will bring in the best return, then that's the right spend. It's what a house flipper would do.
Democratizing the Flip
Two words will drive the growing popularity of presale renovations: wealth creation. Like a house flipper, sellers can reap all the benefits of maximizing the value of their home, but with none of the hassles or risks.
When people think of presale renovations, they may think of it as a limited market segment that only includes homes valued at $1 million or more. While that is not the case, the explosion of homes valued at $1 million alone could catapult the growth of the Concierge category.
According to Redfin, a record number of U.S. homes—six million properties—are worth at least $1 million or more, almost doubling from 3.5 million properties pre-pandemic. In the largest real estate market in the U.S., California, the percentage of new homes worth $1 million or more is astounding. In San Francisco, it's 89% of all homes. In San Jose, it's 86%, and in Anaheim and Oakland, it sits at 55%.
As the market changes, brokerages must provide their agents with access to every tool available to offer their buyers and sellers. As the Concierge category expands its reach geographically, so will demand as homeowners embrace a new way to unlock previously untapped wealth. The potential of additional annual wealth creation is staggering. Every year, some five-to-six million existing-home sales occur. If just 5% of these homes chose a presale renovation, total seller wealth would increase by tens of billions of dollars.
Estimates suggest that real estate agents could earn more than $1.4 billion in additional real estate commissions. If a brokerage nets 0.5% of the sale, that's an additional $280 million in revenue from presale renovations alone.
Like the world of commercial real estate investing before REITs, presale renovations for ordinary homeowners to flip their home were also limited.
The emergence of the Concierge category enables the fixing and flipping of homes with minimum risk, capital, and effort—while maximizing the value of a home being ready for sale. It's a revolutionary change in the selling of homes—a change that sellers, agents, and brokerages will welcome. And I couldn't be more jazzed about it.
To view the original article, visit the Revive blog.
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Realtor Market Expert Q&A: Scarlett Green and Josh Taylor
In the spring of 2022, RPR's Broker Services Team put together a special training series for Howard Hanna agents.
To receive their "RPR-Howard Hanna Market Expert" certificates, the agents were required to complete four classes on four different topics (available in an on-demand video webinar format available to them via the RPR blog). After each session, they were also asked to complete a "homework" assignment to get full credit.
After four lessons and completed "homework," the agents received their certificate. They were also asked to fill out a survey, where they were asked to "Share Their Story" about their RPR training experience.
In this Q&A, we speak to two RPR Howard Hanna Market Experts about their experiences taking the training, what they learned, and how they plan to apply their new RPR skills to their business.
Scarlet Green
Here's what Scarlet Green from Allen Tate Realtors, North Carolina had to say about the training sessions:
I have been using RPR for months now and I love it!! Reasons why: 1) the more you use it, the easier and faster it becomes as the best and latest tool in real estate 2) the simplicity of RPR, user friendly 3) RPR offers so much info that you are able to choose exactly what you want/need so you may customize the reports/info for your client(s) 4) RPR offers material and info that are appropriate for both buyers and sellers! 5) Love having a mobile app that actually works! This app was well planned out and created to be user friendly. I also love that you are able to send the info the way your clients like to receive it; example, by text, email, airdrop, etc. I plan on continuing using RPR and appreciate all those who were involved in creating this. Thank you!
Q. Hi Scarlett, thanks for joining us. How long have you been in real estate and what area do you specialize in?
Ten years, I'm a residential agent, and I mostly work with sellers. A few buyers here and there…
Q. How did you get introduced to RPR?
Another agent in my office uses it. I heard that doorbell "ding," the sound effect from the reports being generated, and I wanted that! (LAUGHS) I love that doorbell chime of the notification. It's brilliant. It's the small things, you know? Then I started using it for doing comps. I love (and hate) doing comps, but RPR makes it easy. You can't go rogue, the program keeps you right on target. For clients, buying or selling a home is a milestone in life. And they trust us to watch their wallet through the process. I appreciate RPR for helping me create CMAs.
Q. In the testimonial you sent us, you mentioned that RPR is simple. Can you give me an example?
Sure, I was messing around in RPR last night… and I started looking into Opportunity Zones. As I started, these little prompts came up and I was able to follow along with the pink boxes. So helpful! It's a wizard/teacher to help and guide you. It helps me not waste time! Every time you get on RPR you learn something new, and the more you use it, the more knowledge you get for your clients.
Q. You also mentioned the RPR app; how do you like using it?
I love it. Whoever came up with it should teach other programmers how to create user friendly tech. I use it in the field all the time, because I can easily pull stuff up. I can instantly send reports and answers to my customers. I have the tech in my hands and it works every time. Tech that works makes me a huge RPR advocate!
Q. We love hearing that! What else did you get from the training?
Basically, I felt refreshed about navigating the comps and it gave me more confidence. I now tell other agents that I can't believe they're not using RPR. It's a whole different level of experience in real estate.
Josh Taylor
Josh Taylor from Howard Hanna Pennsylvania had this to say about his Market Expert training series:
I'm a newer agent and still learning and growing everyday. I have really enjoyed this series as an introduction to getting more in-depth with RPR. I have used the research pieces and some of the reports already, but I have many new ideas now. I have learned how to drill down in a much better and more efficient way. I love the micro-neighborhood reports to really have that access to learning about even the smaller neighborhoods in my area. RPR helps me to present my expertise and show clients the knowledge base that I have access to in order to show my value add for them. Thank you for this learning opportunity and I look forward to learning more!
Q. How long have you been practicing real estate Josh, and what area do you work in?
Just over a year and a half, and I work in residential.
Q. How did you get introduced to RPR?
I had used it on my own a bit, and I was getting monthly emails about the training and webinars from my brokerage, NAR, etc. But I must admit, this Market Expert series was more of an incentive, the certificate was appealing. As a new agent I need help learning CMAs and RPR helps with that in a lot of ways.
Q. You mentioned new ideas for using RPR, how are you doing that?
So many! I didn't know about mailing labels, or how to search neighborhoods and subdivisions for specific owners. It's great for direct mailings and new listings. Drilling down into neighborhoods and uncovering the demographics, that stuff is really helpful. I like using the neighborhood search and the neighborhood reports. And the maps are great for prospecting. I've used that a few times since the training took place.
Q. How does RPR help you in your business?
I like that the CMA has different ways to achieve the goal to get the right pricing. Some info is outdated and you can add updates to the home using the Refine Value tool. That gives me a framework to the price, and then I can pull up really specific values and features, like a pool. The flexibility is controlled, and I get more accurate results using RPR than just my MLS. The other thing I really like is when you print something from RPR, the branding and the cleanliness of the report is important. And that it looks like it comes from me! Having my picture and my information in the reports makes it well branded.
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
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New Study Reveals Increased Transparency on Commissions Leads to Increased Value in Consumers' Eyes
WAV Group's new Buyer Agent Commission Study reveals many insights from buyers about their awareness, understanding and appreciation of how commissions work when buying a home.
Chief among these insights is the undeniable connection between transparency and perceived value on the part of home buyers. Those who indicated they were "totally clear" about the commission paid were 59% more likely to think their agent "completely earned the commission" than those who were unclear. In general, the large majority of buyers were satisfied with the services they received from their agent (88%).
Buying a home in any market can be complicated. No two transactions are exactly the same, and something always comes up right when you think all is clear. With this many moving parts, buyers appreciate clear communication and prompt responses. As one buyer indicated in the open-end questions, "My agent showed me many many houses and answered every phone call and email and text quickly and with answers I was able to understand. She walked me through every step of the process."
Buyers recognize how hard it is to successfully purchase a home, especially in the recent housing market. They are appreciative and grateful for the creativity and hard work their agents deliver to help them successfully purchase a home. Agents earn their commission, and home buyers recognize that.
Get the full report now.
To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.
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Why One Top-rated Real Estate Valuation Model Is Better Than the Rest
Some may be surprised to learn that one of the nation's most accurate and highly-rated real estate valuation models is behind closed doors. And for good reason.
Tested by leading independent companies for accuracy and hit rate, the Realtor Valuation Model (RVM) has shown consistent high performance. Those "accuracy and hit-rate" indicators—primary measures of automated valuation model (AVM) quality—are regularly analyzed across multiple markets and a wide variety of market conditions.
Difference in the data
The one-of-a-kind RVM, offered by Realtors Property Resource® (RPR®), continually outperforms other models thanks to its unique algorithm. Unlike traditional AVMs, the RVM's proprietary formula applies on-market and off-market MLS listing data plus publicly recorded sold data to form its estimation. In contrast, AVM estimated values draw solely from publicly recorded sold data.
Those unique attributes are foundational to the RVM, yet the tool and its capabilities extend far beyond simply displaying an estimation. The RVM's powerful customization features are such that only a licensed REALTOR® is considered qualified to interpret, refine, and deliver accurate estimations, in addition to dozens of other data, analytics and reporting functions found within RPR.
"Any automated valuation model is only as good as the underlying data and the algorithm used in the calculation," says RPR COO and general manager Jeff Young. "It takes a REALTOR®'s experience and local market knowledge to provide consumers with true market values. This is even more important in the rapidly changing market we see in 2022."
RVM® Cornerstones of Credibility
On- and off-market MLS listing data + public record sold data = estimation
Only REALTOR®-owned automated valuation product.
Incorporates REALTOR® market expertise and customization.
Confidence score describes expected accuracy of estimated value
RVM as a starting point
As the only REALTOR®-owned automated valuation product, the RVM turns a traditional AVM on its heels by offering users customizable refinement tools. Attributes not found on consumer-facing real estate sites.
This distinct advantage allows users to refine the RVM by home improvements made and/or needed, property facts, and market conditions—typically based on knowledge of the property or an on-site visit. AVMs do not factor in a property's condition; instead relying on "average condition" scenarios when determining value.
In defense of the AVM, accurate estimations of comparable on-market properties can be obtained using a prior physical inspection. Yet, according to Karen France, RPR senior vice president of market engagement, those values can fail to live up to true market realities.
"Many things can distort the estimated value of a property. A home might be unusual compared to its neighborhood counterparts or access to off-market data is limited," says France.
"If an MLS shares only on-market listings with an AVM provider, rather than both the on- and off-market information that they share with RPR, the valuations tend to fall short of an accurate estimation."
Plus, adds France, AVMs draw from public records sources, which can be inaccurate, incomplete, and slow to record transactions.
The 5-star confidence score
Lastly, the RVM offers a one-to-five star confidence score that describes the expected accuracy of a property's estimated value. Based on the outcomes of multiple automated valuation models, higher scores are defined by narrower valuation ranges. The opposite is true for lower scores. The ranges are beneficial guideposts that help REALTORS® navigate list-price discussions with potential sellers.
RVM Margin of error for confidence scores
To date, RPR's Realtor Valuation Model® is in a class by itself among automated real estate valuation models. Learn more about this valuable tool.
Editor's Note:
RPR encourages REALTORS® to educate consumers on the important difference between AVMs, RVMs and appraisals. RVMs and AVMs are not meant to serve as appraisals. REALTORS® determine market value that must be validated by an appraiser. Lenders rely only on an appraisal.
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
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RPR Commercial: A Simple and Solid way to Search for Properties
In two recent RPR (Realtors Property Resource) Q&A articles with commercial practitioners, we noticed a theme: simplicity. Here's what Dave Ferro and Stephen J B Davis had to say about NAR's commercial property data platform:
RPR really simplifies my search. I go to RPR Commercial to save time and simplify.
– Dave Ferro, REALTOR®, Watson Realty Corp. REALTORS®, Gainesville, Florida
I use RPR because it's really simple for getting solid info on a particular area. It's just so easy to get super specific data! Right down to the zip code and neighborhood level.
– Stephen J B Davis, REALTOR®, SJBD Land and Homes at Keller Williams Bluegrass
Successful commercial agents like Dave and Stephen know that RPR Commercial is a one-stop-shop for listings and research. In fact, RPR makes it possible for users to see on-market and off-market properties in one place—no matter which listing partner they use.
Strategic listing and data partnerships
RPR has worked diligently to bring everything a commercial practitioner needs to one central spot. Streamlining workflows, giving easy access to data and providing useful commercial tools in one hub can certainly work to your advantage and make you more efficient and productive. And having big league data partners goes a long way in making all of the above happen.
RPR's partnerships with Biproxi, Brevitas, Crexi, Land Broker MLS, Officespace.com and TotalCommercial.com, to name a few, let you search more than 864K+ active commercial listings.
For prospecting, RPR offers 56 million off-market properties around the country, which includes owner info for easy contact opportunities. Plus, strategic data and software integrations with Valuate® for calculating the return on investment, and Esri for rich economic and demographic statistics.
Here's how to get started with your simplified search tool…
RPR: your simplified commercial search tool
First, visit RPR at www.narrpr.com and set the toggle to "Commercial" and begin your property search by entering a specific address, APN, or listing ID in the location field to go directly to the property. If you're searching by multiple APNs or Listing IDs at one time, use a semicolon to separate each. In this case, you'll be taken to search results displaying each property.
You may also find that using the Commercial Map Insights found by selecting "Research" from the main navigation is a good way to look for land.
Search areas vs. specific addresses
You can also search for properties in a general area. To do that, you'll need to make sure that you have the correct "Filters" set. RPR will remember your last filter setting, but it's a good idea to make sure they're still set properly before beginning your search. You can also quickly remove previously set Filters by selecting the More Filters icon (you'll see it in the upper right navigation menu) and then the Reset button.
Next, enter a neighborhood, ZIP code, city or other defined geography into the location field. As you type, RPR will auto suggest results, based on the location nearest to you. If you select the name of the auto suggest, your search will automatically be executed.
Funnel down your commercial search
If you started searching without any filters, or have too many results, you can now narrow down your results by selecting the type / status for your search. For example, drill down by selecting properties that are For Sale or For Lease or Active Under Contract. You can even choose Off Market Public Records. Each status has a corresponding calendar that can be used to set the date parameters that will restrict your search to that exact time period.
One helpful tip as you are learning how agents in your market prefer to list properties, is to keep the "Commercial" property checked as this is a catchall property type and can house a mixture of properties that you may be interested in. Select your Price or Lease Price and enter the building or leasable square footage parameters and/or enter the lot size.
Note that RPR features a mobile responsive design. This means that the layout will adjust based on screen size. For smaller screens, some search options are moved to the "Filters" area.
Select the filters icon to expand the advanced search. You'll immediately see the count of properties matching your criteria. This is a helpful reference that will allow you to better pinpoint the specific properties you're looking for.
Pro Tip: RPR has a max number of properties that you can search. Once your search area exceeds 5000 properties, RPR will show a message requesting that you adjust your search filters to narrow down your results.
Advanced search filters include distressed actions, land use, and miscellaneous fields such as occupancy type, owner name, year built, time owned, and keyword search.
Search Results: List View
Now that we've gone over the basics of searching, let's move on to property search results. Choose List View to arrive at your results (the first set of icons in the upper right). To continue narrowing down your results, select the Filters icon and adjust the parameters of your search. You can also sort your results by clicking the Sort By dropdown or one of the column headers.
From the List View, you can also save properties by clicking the heart icon (all the way to the right of the column). The property is automatically named after the street address, but you can type a new name if desired. Then select Save and the property will be added to your saved properties. Your Saved properties are listed on the homepage, or you can access them from the top navigation by choosing My Work and My Saved Properties.
Printable View
If you're looking for a printable view of the search results, select the properties you want by using the corresponding checkboxes and then selecting Print. A window will open allowing you to print Only Selected Properties or All Results. Note: selecting All Results will print the properties currently showing on your screen. If you have a large number of properties to print, make sure to scroll to the bottom of the screen to view all your results.
From this results list, you can also create mailing labels or similar data to export into a CSV file, which is great for importing building and owner details into your customer relationship management system. Do that by selecting Mailing Labels from your results and then walking through the onscreen prompts. You can also go straight to creating a report by selecting Create Report.
Photo and Map View
There are also other options for viewing your results. You can change to a Photo Grid View or to the Map view by selecting those icons (in the upper right). The Photo Grid View gives you a way to view larger photos of the property. And the Map View allows you to further define your areas by drawing them on the map, or by displaying the outlines of geographies such as neighborhoods, ZIP codes, Opportunity Zones and more. (We cover that in more detail in this Commercial Maps article.)
And finally, once you've found a property that you want to review further, select it to view the full property details.
RPR Commercial: Keep it simple and solid
It's no wonder commercial agents are talking about how easy RPR is to use and how the tools and property reports make them look so smart to their clients.
The insight you gain from RPR Commercial isn't just a hunch; it's tried, true, hard data that can help you deliver recommendations that get results and ROI.
Visit narrpr.com today to learn more.
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
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ADA and Its Implications for Real Estate Websites
The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990, and it has provided a series of rights for folks with accessibility requirements. Also, it has reshaped how businesses offer services to the public.
Since 2010, when most businesses started to provide major services on the web, the focus has shifted a bit towards the online world. According to the WCAG 2.0 AA, websites that provide services to the public are considered places of public accommodation and are obliged to provide accessible services to people with all ranges of abilities.
To make things more complicated, the Department of Justice has yet to offer clear guidelines on how online businesses should proceed with the ADA. Nevertheless, WCAG has been used as a source of measures for compliance with the ADA.
Are Real Estate Websites Subject to ADA?
Despite the lack of clear specifications by the DOJ, the consensus suggests that real estate websites offer products and services that are indeed aimed at the general public, and they must provide accessible features or be subjected to litigation.
So the answer to this question is yes. If you stick around, I will provide some suggestions to help you start getting a hold of these issues. We begin with the most common shortcomings of real estate websites.
What Are Common Issues with ADA Compliance for Real Estate Websites?
As with any other website that interacts with the public, real estate websites should make sure that their web and mobile services are easy to use for people with disabilities. Here are some of the most common issues with websites in this regard:
The website is not easy to navigate.
Folks with disabilities cannot use their specific tools like screen reading, zooming, etc. to interact with the website.
Videos do not have closed captions or transcriptions, and folks with visual impairments are unable to access this form of content.
Not enough time is considered for the disabled to take necessary actions on the website.
Not enough guidance is provided on how to take actions, and folks with disabilities might inadvertently take unwanted actions.
What Can I Do to Avoid Litigations with Regard to Website Accessibility?
There are so many things you can do to avoid being the next subject of a web accessibility lawsuit. Here are some actions to start with:
Take Actions Now
Don't wait for an official announcement or guidelines by the DOJ for web accessibility. Work on improving the accessibility features today.
Create an Action Plan
Based on the results of your assessment, or that of an expert service provider, you must create an action plan and start implementing what is necessary to maintain compliance with the ADA.
Stay Updated with the Recommendations
WCAG is subject to occasional updates and further recommendations. Make sure you are familiar with its guidelines, and check it every now and then.
Add an Accessibility Notice on Your Website
While you are assessing and taking actions, you can include a notice with regards to accessibility features of your website. This shows you care about the issue of accessibility, and you are dedicated to equal access for all members of the society. NAR has implemented this statement on their website, and you can freely use it on your website.
Bottom Line
Web accessibility is an issue you cannot ignore, so make sure you pay enough attention to it and consider that as part of your business growth online.
To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.
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Tap into RPR Commercial to Land More Closed Deals
A member of RPR's Industry Relations team recently had an interesting conversation with a Realtor at the Realtors Land Institute National Conference.
Stephen J. B. Davis spoke with our RPR rep about how much he loves RPR (Realtors Property Resource) and that he uses it quite frequently for recreational and agricultural land deals. But here's the twist! He utilizes RPR Commercial to get those deals done.
Using the commercial mode of RPR to get the ball rolling on recreational and agricultural land projects is a unique approach, for sure. We set out to speak with Stephen one-on-one to hear more about his RPR usage.
Hi Stephen, how long have you been a REALTOR® and what area do you specialize in?
I got my license towards the end of 2018, so about three and half years. And apart from practicing residential real estate, I also specialize in land.
Tell me about how you got started using RPR.
Well, I first started using RPR to get up to speed and to be informed about my area. I work in Kentucky, yet I'm not actually from here. And for some people, they simply don't want to work with a non-lifelong resident. So, as a transplant, I use RPR because it's really simple for getting solid info on a particular area. It's just so easy to get super specific data! Right down to the zip code and neighborhood level. I'm not an eighth generation Kentuckian, which is important here, but with RPR, it looks like I've been here for a while.
Good point, almost like a relocation specialist learning about neighborhoods through RPR.
Exactly. RPR gives me quick reliability for my clients. The market updates, they really make me look smart. What's the tag line, "Wow your clients and close more deals"?! That's me! I love using the tools at my disposal. You don't become excellent on accident! That's an idea I really believe in, and I use RPR to fulfill that.
Explain how you use RPR Commercial in your land business?
Land wise, I use it for hard data on comps. Land isn't centralized. It's so much more spread out and it's not on Zillow or realtor.com. With RPR access, I'm able to bypass gatekeepers on certain MLSs, ones where there's a paywall, where I don't have access. But I can go on RPR and figure what has sold in the last six months, year, two years. It's a great starting point. It's invaluable.
So you use RPR Commercial to check on sales data and comps for land purchases?
Well, I first started using RPR to get up to speed and to be informed about my area. I work in Kentucky, yet I'm not actually from here. And for some people, they simply don't want to work with a non-lifelong resident. So, as a transplant, I use RPR because it's really simple for getting solid info on a particular area. It's just so easy to get super specific data! Right down to the zip code and neighborhood level. I'm not an eighth generation Kentuckian, which is important here, but with RPR, it looks like I've been here for a while.
What are some of your favorite, "go-to" features of RPR?
I mostly use it for sales data, as a way to compare similar properties. I choose property types to see what has sold in the last few years. And then I might double check with another platform to see if it's there as well. Just to verify, I use as many sources and resources as possible. I also use the commercial side for sales records, actually sold, and how does that land use fit for what I'm trying to compare it to. And I use it for all of my listings appointments.
Any stories about how you've used RPR to "wow" a client?
Sure, all the time I hear clients say, "Oh wow, you have that? Where'd you get that?" But what's even better, is when I "wow" people in my own office! They say, "How do you know so much?" (laughs) I say, "It's from using RPR." I wonder why everyone in my association and MLS aren't using it. You've got to use it! RPR is one of the best things that NAR offers its members. It's fairly simple to use, but you know, I don't tell my clients that. I want them to think that I spent hours finding them this great data.
Great advice, Stephen! We love hearing about the creative and resourceful ways our users are applying RPR to their business successes.
If you want to see how you can use RPR when it comes to locating and prospecting land, check out our on-demand webinar: Looking for Land in all the Right Places.
And remember: you don't become excellent on accident!
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
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Investing in a Real Estate CRM? Consult These Tips First
It's no secret that a real estate CRM can be a big investment, especially if you're partnering with one of the industry's leading CRM software.
We know that partnering with a new CRM is a giant leap. But, performing software-specific due diligence can help you feel confident and excited about the newest addition to your tech stack.
Software Shopping 101: How to Analyze a Potential CRM
To help make sure that the CRM you choose has all of the features you need to streamline your workflow and drive more success, you should always spend time evaluating the system.
One of the most important aspects to focus on is usability. In other words, you can only maximize the returns on your CRM investment if your team is using the system to the fullest.
Before making the purchase, you should know which CRM will be the best fit for you and your team.
Pro Tip: CRMs are not one-size-fits-all. You'll need to analyze what challenges you're trying to overcome to determine which software will best suit your team.
For example, if you are losing too many leads because you're not following up properly, you'll want to shop for a CRM that automates and streamlines lead engagement — allowing your team to follow up quickly and effectively every time.
3 ROI-Boosting Tips for Adopting a New CRM
1. Master Lead Follow-Up
If you're not following up with your online leads, you're likely not converting them.
According to the CRM + Agent Adoption study from REAL Trends:
92.13% of brokers named follow-up and relationship marketing as the most-used CRM feature.
86.52% of brokers named drip marketing as their most-used CRM feature.
70.79% of brokers named follow-up reminders as their most-used CRM feature.
Warming and engaging leads are critical for the long-term success of your CRM.
BoomTown's data has revealed that the most successful agents are typically the most responsive agents who provide stellar service to all of their clients. As a result, BoomTown's features improve agent response rates — helping users reach, warm, and convert more leads.
2. Invest Time in Software Training and Agent Support
Investing in a CRM does not end once the purchase has been made.
If you want to see strong returns from your CRM, you need to continue investing time, energy, and work into the software.
When first introduced, your team of agents need to be thoroughly trained to use the CRM.
As you continue using the CRM, your agents need continual technical support and additional training sessions to ensure that everyone is familiar and confident with the new system.
Further down the line, agents need to be held accountable for using the CRM properly. To see results, the agents on your team should be working with the CRM and integrating it into their daily workflow.
Pro Tip: When teaching agents how to use a new system, make sure that you make time for individual training.
Ask each agent on your team if they have any questions, or if they are struggling with any aspects of the new system. This allows you to address the specific points of confusion that may be holding your team back.
3. Be Patient
Success takes time. When adopting a new CRM, be patient and wait for the results.
Once you integrate the CRM into your workflow, you may identify areas of your real estate business that need to be optimized.
For example, you may find gaps in the lead warming process and learn that you need additional support. As a result, you may need to create an ISA team or recruit new agents. In these cases, you may need to wait until you've hired and onboarded the new talent to see the whole system work seamlessly.
Perfecting the way your CRM works for your business is a work in progress. Give it time, be flexible, and continue monitoring how the software is working for your business.
What to Do if Your CRM Isn't Generating Returns
If your CRM is not generating returns even after you've followed these three steps, there might be a bigger issue with how your team is using the system.
In some cases, your team could be using the wrong system that does not integrate with your business. In this situation, it may be best to re-evaluate your purchase and determine if it's time to switch to a new, more effective platform.
Or, your team members may not be using the CRM how they should be. If this is the case, working on agent accountability may be helpful. Your team needs to consistently invest the time and energy into the CRM to achieve a strong ROI.
Identify the problem and then seek a solution that will set your business up for success.
To view the original article, visit the BoomTown blog.
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Slow Searches? 4 Simple Steps to Optimize Your Web Browser
Is your internet experience slow, yet you have a speedy connection? A sluggish web browser may be causing you problems. Browsers are so ubiquitous we take them for granted. Until we can't because we discover they are slowing us down.
Nowadays, websites contain more complex content than ever: images, video, audio, and other elements that can decrease your browser's speed over time. Unfortunately, you may not realize it until you find your browser stops working correctly. But some methods can improve browser speed and keep it that way.
Today, two browsers have more than 1 billion users: Apple Safari and Google Chrome. These web browsers are likely an indispensable part of your operating system. Browsers allow you to manage your email, post on social media, and even write, edit, and store your work documents.
Here are four things brokers and their agents can do to optimize their web browsers and improve their online productivity:
Delete Cache
The more you surf the web, the more web pages that your browser will cache – or store locally – to accelerate your internet experience. Your cache builds up when you visit new websites. Eventually, an overload of web data can noticeably slow your web browsing experience to a crawl.
A simple fix is to click on your browser's settings and find the "Clear browsing data" option, which will allow you to select and delete data that may be clogging up your browser. Right afterwards, you may see your internet speed drop a bit, but will soon be back to normal.
It would help if you also made it a habit to clean your cache every few months to maintain your browser's optimal speed. A hidden benefit of clearing your cache: Certain webpages may also contain hidden malware that could wreck your computer. Deleting your cache helps you remove potentially harmful files from your system.
Update Your Browser
Usually, your web browser will automatically update itself to the latest version. But there are times when technical issues prevent that from happening, forcing you to update it yourself manually.
A best practice with web browsers is to confirm automatic updates whenever prompted. New updates often fix recently detected security issues, offer new features, or improve browser performance.
It's also good to double-check that your automatic updates are on for your browser. The process is different for each browser and type of computer operating system (Mac or PC) you are using. If you need assistance, contact Tech Helpline, and an analyst will walk you through the steps.
If you have not regularly updated your browser, you may have to install a brand-new version from scratch instead of updating it. You'll know you have an old browser when websites don't display everything on your older browser.
Perhaps the most significant incentive to keep your browser current is the older your browser, the more vulnerable it becomes to security issues. Viruses and malware can slip by. So keep your browser current to ensure hackers won't steal your info, wreak havoc on your email or social media, or worse, take control of your computer.
That's why it is always better to update now than update later.
Less Tabs = More Speed
Learning to manage the number of tabs you have open is vital in making sure you have an optimal browsing experience. The more tabs you use in your browser, the slower the speed will likely be.
While your web pages may load swiftly with a single tab open, they can start to slow down when you have an increasing number of tabs. Plus, the most popular browsers purposefully slow down tabs that are not in the foreground and can load up to 20 times slower than the tab you are currently using.
A rule of thumb is only to have a few tabs open to improve your browser performance. If you need to access more websites quickly, it is better to bookmark the links you need.
Remove Unneeded Browser Extensions
If you have cleared your cache, are using the most recent version of your favorite web browser, don't have any extra tabs open, have a speedy internet connection, and you still have a poor browsing experience, the source of your problem might be a browser extension.
A browser extension is a small piece of software that adds a specific function or capability to your web browser. Also called a plug-in, extensions can improve your web experience.
AdBlock is an extension that helps you filter out unwanted content. Online shopping browser extensions such as Honey, Capital One Shopping, or American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping are designed to save you money or earn you miles. But sometimes, these extensions can cause a conflict.
The easiest way to see if extensions may cause a web glitch is to delete them one at a time and restart your browser. Again, feel free to contact Tech Helpline if you need assistance. As a benefit to 725,000 Realtors, odds are Tech Helpline is your member benefit at no additional cost.
As a reminder, Tech Helpline is just a click, call, or text away. On the go? Take us with you! Download the Tech Helpline mobile app available on Google Play and the App Store. Search "Tech Helpline."
Other related topics of interest:
Smartphone Running Slower? Here Are 4 Helpful Tips
Top Tech Issues Every Real Estate Pro Faces
Tech Helpline Tips: Is It Time to Update or Replace Your Computer?
Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns and operates Tech Helpline and Form Simplicity.
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3 SEO Real Estate Website Strategies
If you're a real estate agent, broker, or technology company, you know that having a website is essential for your business. It gives you a place to showcase your listings and services and allows potential clients to learn more about you and get in touch with you quickly.
However, simply having a website isn't enough – you need to ensure that your site is optimized for search engines to attract more visitors. Yes, search engine optimization is still alive and continues to grow as it evolves in providing answers to people's questions.
In this blog post, we will discuss three SEO strategies to help improve your website's positioning in search engines and generate more readers and leads!
The first is that the search engine's artificial intelligence will play a prominent role in SEO rankings, especially Google's. Most SEO experts focus on Google because of their search and Chrome web browser market shares. In the United States, Google maintains a 92% market share in search and averages around 63% market share of people using Chrome as a web browser. The other major search engines are Bing and Yahoo, which hold a combined market share of around 10%.
A search engine's AI focuses on capturing consumer behavior metrics for ranking factors. This means that click-through rate, time people spend on a page, and other overall website metrics influence how the AI prioritizes content.
Therefore, when reevaluating SEO strategy, crafting well-organized and quality, engaging content is critical to success. What is essential to the readers of your content is also crucial to the search engine's AI for ranking. This is where custom content on the property search result pages for neighborhoods and listing detail pages can improve SEO.
Guidelines for content creation are included in the E-A-T principle. Google defines E-A-T for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. An approach that is excellent to use in evaluating the quality of content. A few guidelines to use when developing content with E-A-T in mind are:
Does the content contain authentic information, reporting, research, or analysis?
Is the content written by an expert demonstrating their knowledge about the subject?
Is the content written very well, or is it sloppy?
Are the facts in the content easily verifiable?
Content writers who follow these simple guidelines achieve the desired results to improve search engine rankings.
Additionally, as AI continues to drive rankings, it impacts search results. As a result, it is possible that when submitting a search, a page may be #2, and when performing a subsequent search, the same page may be #5. Therefore, AI will adjust its page ranking based on the events at the time of a search.
The second SEO strategy is to focus on optimizing your website with structured data. Most people are familiar with the concept of structured data, even if they don't realize it. Structured data is simply information that is organized in a predefined way. This can include things like open houses, homes for sale, and site structure.
By adding structured data to your site, you are essentially providing a map for search engines to follow. This makes it easier for them to index your content and display it in search results. In addition, structured data can also help you improve your click-through rate by making your listings more relevant and user-friendly.
However, there is a catch. Don't overuse structured data or resort to black-hat methods. Google just takes advantage of specific structured data, which must be implemented correctly for the content's trustworthiness to be confirmed.
As you can see, structured data is an integral part of SEO. If you want your site to be successful, make sure you take advantage of this powerful tool.
Lastly, one of the benefits of SEO is that it can help improve the accessibility of a site. Optimizing the website for Google search can also help make it more accessible for people with disabilities who use screen readers and other assistive technologies.
According to WCAG 2.1, one of the success criteria for accessibility is that "webpages can be parsed unambiguously by software." This means that screen readers and other assistive technologies should be able to interpret the content on a webpage without any ambiguity. However, many websites are not well-optimized for SEO, so it can be difficult or impossible for these technologies to parse. Therefore, improving the SEO of a website can also help to enhance its accessibility.
If you implement these three SEO strategies, you will be well on your way to improving your website's ranking in search engines and generating more leads! The last thing you want to do is to ignore or think SEO is not a practical part of a marketing strategy.
What other SEO strategies have you used to improve your website's ranking? Please share your tips with us in the comments below! And if you're looking for more help, contact the WAV Group. WAV Group explicitly focuses its SEO strategies on the real estate industry.
To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.
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The Top 3 Back-end Integrations for Teams and Brokers
We recently highlighted software integrations that can save real estate agents time and money. While there is some overlap, brokerages and real estate teams have different needs, especially when it comes to handling back-end issues like commission structures and accounting.
Which integrations are most useful for brokerages and teams, and how can they help streamline your business operations? Let's explore.
What Can Back-end Integrations Do for You?
As we stated previously, the transaction is the core of any real estate business, so using your transaction management platform as the hub of your integration efforts is an efficient strategy. Before we dive into specific apps, let's look at what integrating your transaction management and back-end solutions can do for your business:
Automate commission disbursement upon close of transactions
Simplify year-end accounting, including generation of 1099s
Allow agents to "subscribe" to a personal data feed that simplifies their own accounting
Keep agents aware of issues like missing items, payouts, or deposits
Simplify compliance and the document review process
Track profit and loss per transaction
Give agents access to their performance and payment history
And more!
The Top 3 Back-end Integrations for Brokers and Teams
Now, let's explore specific back office apps and what they're capable of when integrated with your transaction management system. To help us illustrate these examples, we'll use dotloop as our sample transaction management platform, because it offers over 75 integration partners and is one of the best-integrated technologies in the industry.
According to dotloop, the most popular back-end integrations for brokerages and teams are the following:
MoxiWorks
MoxiWorks offers a suite of tools for real estate professionals to do everything from managing clients to handling accounting.
MoxiWorks' client engagement platform, MoxiEngage, integrates with dotloop to automatically include the transaction within the lead-to-close sales flow. Agents can create a dotloop transaction (known as a "loop") within MoxiEngage, submit documents for review, and see task checklists from the transaction embedded within MoxiWorks' broader sales flow checklist.
MoxiBalance is the app that resulted from MoxiWorks' acquisition of accounting solution Reeazily in 2021. This integration automates commission payments upon a transaction's close and lets users manage escrow deposits. Transaction data can also sync to MoxiBalance to give brokers insight into agent performance.
Loft47
Loft47 is a commission management app that can import all parties, financial information and documents from a dotloop transaction. This allows commissions and splits to be automatically paid out upon close, and at year end, enables 1099s to be generated with ease.
In the midst of a transaction, the Loft47 integration keeps agents and brokers aware of issues like overdue items or transactions with lingering deposits requiring payouts, thanks to synced documentation and checklists.
QuickBooks
QuickBooks is a heavyweight accounting app leveraged across industries of all kinds. Within real estate, the QuickBooks-dotloop integration allows for standard automations like commission disbursements, earnest money management and 1099 creation.
The integration also lets brokers track expenses that aren't typically included in a transaction management app, giving brokers insight into their profit and loss per transaction and per agent.
See what other back-end integrations are available to brokerages and teams here. To learn more about dotloop, visit dotloop.com.
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How You Can Protect Your Business with an Effective Cybersecurity Strategy
Even though the influence of a growing number of remote employees on real estate markets has been widely discussed, there is little information available about the impact that remote workers have on real estate firms themselves, although this impact has been significant. Like with other sectors, most of the influence has been good. However, there have also been some negative consequences. It is known as cybercrime, and if you are not vigilant, it will find its way into your real estate business. Cybercrime may be highly damaging to real estate agents and their clients.
In recent years, real estate investment trusts (REIT), brokerages, and other real estate businesses have experienced increased cyber attacks, ranging from phishing to email-compromised cyberattacks to data breaches. While cyberattacks are becoming more advanced, you can still apply measures to safeguard your real estate business, and the process begins with developing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. Taking the threats that cybersecurity poses to the real estate sector, it is clear that a solid investment in cybersecurity is the only way to ensure data protection and consumer safety. Read on to get information about a basic cybersecurity strategy you can use for your real estate business.
Why Do Real Estate Practitioners Need Cybersecurity?
Real Estate Transactions Routinely Involve Large Sums of Money
Since the real estate sector frequently deals with and transfers enormous amounts of money, real estate companies are on the radar of every cybercriminal. Thus, it is not just real estate experts and investors that profit from the real estate market. Cybercriminals can also profit from the real estate market. It has been estimated that one-third of small businesses, including real estate companies, have been a cyberattack target in the past two years, according to CNBC.
Personally Identifiable and Financially Sensitive Data
Real estate companies also make attractive targets for hackers due to the large volumes of financially sensitive and personally identifiable data they manage, such as social security numbers and bank credentials.
Cybercriminals and Hackers Use Advanced Tools and Techniques
To launch their attacks, cybercriminals and hackers have access to all of the tools, skills, and tactics they have. Business email compromises (BECs), for example, are one of the most common attack methods used today. A business email compromise occurs when an attacker impersonates a firm to persuade another business to move cash to a fake account. It is common for the hacker to send the email using a fictitious account that appears to be associated with a legit company. Compromised landing pages, ransomware, malicious attachments, trojans, and attacks on cloud-based services are all significant threats to real estate firms.
Cybersecurity Tips: 5 Ways for Real Estate Agents to Avoid Getting Hacked
Mobile Data Encryption
More people are using smartphones and laptops today than ever before. Cybersecurity solutions can prevent hackers from gaining access to your communication networks. Data encryption software is an effective solution when it comes to protecting your data from hackers. It makes your data secure and protects sensitive data.
Effective Email and Password Hygiene
Resisting assaults and keeping organizations secure are very easy yet have strong effects. Here are a few tips from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to prevent being hacked.
Use two-factor authentication.
Avoid using public or unsecured WIFI.
Use a different password for multiple accounts.
It is recommended that you use a password manager.
Long passwords with combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols should be used.
Never open files received from unknown sources. These may contain malware.
Secure access to email and confidential information used in transactions.
To communicate sensitive information, use a transaction management platform, encrypted email, or file-sharing software.
Clean your email account regularly and save copies of essential correspondence in a safe place for future reference.
Make Use of Reliable Antivirus Protection
A built-in antivirus protection system is included in most PCs. Because it takes a short time for updates to be applied, some consumers may ignore the process of upgrading their antivirus system. However, when it comes to cybersecurity, the most common solutions are antivirus software and protection.
A paid antivirus system guards your system against cybercriminals and hackers more effectively. The paid versions involve the updating of antivirus software on a regular or basis. Every operating system is vulnerable to attack from hackers. So do not ignore the antivirus updating your software.
Always Check URLs
Usually, real estate professionals will submit all of their legal paperwork over the internet rather than in person. The submission of information over the internet is only a small portion of the rapid processing method. However, before uploading the papers, double-check that the URL is authentic. If you come across a website that begins with simply HTTP, avoid visiting that website. If the final "S" is not there, then the website is highly unsafe. Antivirus software prevents these websites from opening or displaying high-risk websites.
Insurance Considerations, Law, and Policy
Working with your attorney, establish a written disclosure alerting clients of the risk of cybercrime. The NAR has prepared a wire fraud email notice template that your counsel may use and customize. Keep track of the state legislation linked to personal information, creating and maintaining data security policies, and other security-related company practices.
Final Words
In recent years, cybersecurity has become a major headache, and real estate pros are increasingly confronted with cybersecurity-related challenges in their businesses. Like you would encourage clients not to relocate to unsafe districts, you must follow the same advice regarding your own business and ensure that your business operates in a secure digital area. A smart strategy that complies with the cybersecurity procedures outlined above is one of the most beneficial real estate investments you can make today.
To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.
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RPR Commercial: Parcel Overlays
In our last few RPR Commercial articles, we've honed in on specific map tools that can help commercial practitioners in property research and advising clients.
We've covered map POIs, data layers, and drawing tools to show you just how deep RPR's data goes, and how easy it is to access this important information within our platform.
We're continuing the trend by putting a spotlight on one of our Commercial mobile app tools: the parcel overlay. And here's why: during a recent member feedback session, one of the participants offered up some advice on a digital application that she's been using to great success. It was a parcel overlay app for the state of Florida. She then said (and we're paraphrasing), "If only we had a national tool like this that covered the whole country. It would be so valuable."
Turns out, you do. In fact, every REALTOR® does! It's the Parcel Overlay map filter found in the RPR Commercial app, and it's a nifty little feature that doesn't get a lot of attention. Here's how it works and how you can leverage its value…
Parcels that deliver the goods
Before we dive into the "how-to's" of using the map parcel overlay, here's a summary of what it can do for you as a practicing commercial real estate agent.
By turning on parcels on the map from your phone, you can click on a property and have instant access to the:
Property Owner
Acreage
Boundaries and property lines
Square Footage
Property Address
Transfer Date
School District
Sale Price
Building Description
Directions
Trade Area and population info
"Call agent" button
Imagine standing in front of a property or prospecting in an area, and clicking a button to reveal all this information. The investment and development possibilities are endless with this type of digital data tool and it could potentially give you a huge competitive edge.
It accelerates the job of contacting owners and "digging" for intel or gauging interest in offers for their property. The days of going from website to website and making endless calls for basic information are no more.
With RPR Commercial map parcel overlays, you simply find the property and then access the data with ease. A visual representation of parcel data can really help you make informed decisions about the potential value of properties.
Here's how to do it.
The "How-to" on commercial parcel overlays
Step 1: If you don't have it already, download the RPR app for your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Make sure you switch the mode in your RPR app to "Commercial"
Step 3: From the home screen, hit the magnifying glass icon to conduct a search. Enter an address, ZIP code, city name, MLS ID/APN or Tax ID, then click "search" right below the bar. You'll be taken to a map that looks like this:
Step 4: See the little round navigation button in the bottom right, the one with the three smaller dots in a row? Press this button to reveal the map options:
Step 5: Press "Parcels" to "on" to activate the parcel boundaries overlay feature. Now search the map pins, and select a property, and a page that looks this will appear:
Step 6: Click on the photo of the listing and scroll down to see the Listing Details and the property description.
Step 7: Scroll down even further to reveal the Location Details, Property Facts, the Price Change History and more.
It's so easy to make RPR's commercial data work for you!
The parcel data available to you in the RPR Commercial app could be a game changer. With just a few finger taps, you now have the ability to research and gather key information on millions of properties.
Give parcel overlays a test spin while you're in the field or on the go. Download the RPR app today to streamline and optimize your commercial research tomorrow. Good luck!
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
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[WATCH] Capitalism 2.0: The next generation of real estate success with web3, NFTs and the Metaverse
There's a technology revolution happening called web3. The pioneers of this movement are creating massive online communities selling digital land, digital properties, and even digital rentals. Fueled by $3 trillion in cryptocurrency wealth, there is a brand-new set of buyers for a brand new type of real estate available. High net-worth individuals and companies are engaging in NFTs and cryptocurrency as a hedge that benefits tax strategy and currency fluctuations, too. Others are reinventing business operations in the metaverse.
Posted below is the recent discussion hosted by WAV Group managing partners Victor Lund and Marilyn Wilson along with Nelson Diaz, the company's web3 division leader, explaining why you don't want to miss out on the opportunities that lie ahead.
Enjoy!
To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.
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Yes, SEO Is Still Important. Here's Why
SEO -- search engine optimization -- is a suite of best practices aimed at two goals:
Raising your visibility in online searches relevant to your business
Giving people who visit your website a better, easier experience
Reaching the top of any significant Google search doesn't happen by chance. It's possible only when you practice search engine optimization throughout your website. Although it might seem like an intimidating prospect, SEO becomes much easier when you have the right resources in place.
SEO Is Your Key to Affordable Organic Leads for Your Website
Your real estate website is one of your most important assets. In fact, it's second only to you in its power to deliver business value.
It's true!
You're the star of your brand — and you'll always be at center stage. But there's one pesky thing about humans, even real estatepros: We have to sleep at night. Even when you're doing something else, your website is always hard at work on your behalf, introducing people to your brand.
Making your website work for you should be one of your biggest goals in 2022, especially if you're early in your career. A website that attracts, qualifies, and converts leads helps take a lot of the pressure off your business. You no longer need to hustle constantly for new prospects.
And that means you can spend time leveling up your skills and deepening existing relationships.
All in all, real estate pros who don't find a way to create the right balance are on their way to burnout. The most reliable way to yield ROI from your website is to make sure it appears prominently in search, and the only programmatic way to do that is to practice SEO.
In our SEO services for real estate, we've consistently seen small, mid-sized, and large agencies reach thousands of new leads after implementing best practices in search engine marketing. That adds up to less than $10 per organic lead, just 0.001% of what a single transaction could be worth.
Even solo real estate agents can stand shoulder to shoulder with their larger competitors if they choose a long-term focus on SEO. Unlike online advertising, SEO delivers compounding benefits in organic traffic that are virtually free of charge. By comparison, ads stop working for you as soon as you stop paying.
Use SEO for months and even the wealthiest rival can't come along and reproduce your success.
And the sooner you get started, the sooner you'll see results.
How to Get Started with SEO for Real Estate
Even if you want to take a do-it-yourself approach, SEO isn't really as fearsome as it appears. By knowing some of the basics, you'll have much more power to influence your digital marketing's direction in the future.
Here are the fundamentals that will turn you into an SEO-savvy real estate professional:
Start by Understanding Who Your Ideal Client Is
First and foremost, you have to know exactly what kind of client you want to attract to your doorstep. SEO requires content — helpful, informative material you publish on your website — and every piece of content is written for someone. That "someone" is your buyer persona. Who are they? What are their problems? What questions do they have? Write down everything you know about your ideal client. You'll use this information to help build out the strategy around your search engine marketing.
Then, Figure Out What That Client Searches For
The goal of any good SEO campaign is to help your website rank near the top of Google results for relevant keywords. Keywords are the specific words or phrases someone types into Google when they're looking for information — for example, "real estate agent Austin TX." The more specific a keyword is, the less traffic it tends to have. But that can also make it less competitive and more pertinent to you. It's much easier to rank for "first-time homebuyers Austin TX" than for "real estate agent."
Publish and Promote Terrific, Keyword-Informed Content
Keywords are valuable because they help Google understand the purpose of a piece of writing, image, or video. But they're also there for the convenience of real, human readers. Keywords often don't tell you exactly what your article should be about — you'll need to match each keyword with a topic that's useful to your ideal clients. As you publish more of this valuable content, Google takes notice. Sharing it on social media will also help you attract more backlinks to your site, which drives even higher visibility.
Once you see results from SEO, you'll wonder how you ever did without it. Learn how DeltaNET 6 can give you a headstart on SEO with a FREE, 30-day trial.
To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.
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Is Your Business People-centric?
No matter what technology you incorporate into your real estate practice, one thing is for sure: It's all about people. Technology doesn't replace the human touch -- it gives you more time and opportunities to make the connections that are so important to your success.
At Delta Media Group, we're going into the new year with a commitment to put people first.
Now is the perfect time for brokers and real estate agents to think about the best ways to place customers at the center of their practice. The idea of the "customer-obsessed" business has become a cliché in recent years, but nowhere is it more relevant than real estate.
Why Customer Experience Matters for Real Estate More than Virtually Any Other Industry
In today's modern market, there are no industries out there where customers simply don't matter. But the world of real estate is very different from the norm. Real estate professionals rely on achieving a level of customer experience excellence above and beyond other sectors of the economy.
Customer experience encompasses every interaction a person has with a brand, no matter big or small. Each one of those interactions will influence the customer's brand sentiment, adding up to a picture of what they think of you and what you can do.
It doesn't matter how you market yourself or sell your services if those brand messages are out of harmony with what a customer has directly experienced with you. In real estate, this effect becomes more pronounced because it affects your entire future.
Most people will be in the real estate market only every 5-8 years. Customer experience is the defining factor that determines whether they will come back to you, enhancing their lifetime value. Even more crucial, it can mean the difference in hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential referral business.
As real estate businesses mature, it is important to go from "chasing leads" to earning referrals. A healthy real estate business will have a strong mix of referral clients and new leads attracted to their digital properties through inbound marketing. There'll be very little "chasing" involved!
By putting people at the center of your business, you make it far more likely that they will stick with you over the dozens of competitors they might otherwise choose. Making a good impression on someone can transform your bottom line, even if you never work directly with that person again.
If you are part of a team, being people-centric has other aspects you should be aware of.
It means giving those around you the resources and opportunities to thrive. Paradoxically, it also means recognizing that people have limits, individual weaknesses, and significant priorities outside of work — and showing some grace to the whole, human person you work with. This is essential to stave off burnout as we enter the third year of a global pandemic!
The Biggest Ways to Put People First in 2022
Cultivate Empathy
Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in others' shoes. While it comes to some people naturally, it can also be developed over time. Real estate pros show empathy when they maintain a genuine interest in their clients, those clients' needs, and the best way to realize their goals in a transaction.
Have a Unique Plan for Each Client
Once you've asked open-ended questions and put clients at ease, it's critical to take action on all of that information. That means having a unique plan for each person, focusing on their budget, location, and amenities. Never take a "one size fits all" approach with any client, even if you have a narrow niche.
Communicate Progress
No matter whether your client is buying or selling, communication is the key to gaining and maintaining their trust. Be sure to clarify with clients what is happening now and what the next steps will be. Should any roadblocks develop, be candid and take an action-based approach that helps them feel in control.
Believe in Continuous Improvement
In real estate, there is always something new to learn. Every client provides a fresh opportunity to discover more about the human condition. Once closing day arrives, it's a wise idea to look back on your customer interactions to find room for improvement – and don't forget to ask for feedback!
Cut Busywork Out of the Equation
Most real estate agents are energized by spending time with people. They don't want to lose more hours than necessary behind a desk perfecting social media posts or emails. With the right software, you'll greatly reduce the time you spend on marketing collateral while still getting great results.
Real estate technology makes it easier to bring your whole self to the work you do. RE Technology readers can try DeltaNET 6 free for 30 days.
To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.
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Find the Right Commercial Site for Your Clients' Customers
RPR Commercial offers REALTORS access to one million on-market listings, millions of off-market properties for research, and data set after data set to help business owners make informed decisions. So how does all this access and data apply to real world commercial real estate business?
Let's talk a walkthrough in a hypothetical, yet specific scenario: your client wants to open a trendy, beach-themed, women's clothing store in southern California. Here's how you can show her where her customers are, how much they're spending on her product, and why a certain location is the ideal spot for her to open shop.
RPR Commercial Site Selection walkthrough
For the sake of our walkthrough example, we're going to choose a ZIP code in San Clemente, a beach town in southern Orange County, and only a half hour drive from North County San Diego (it's close to where this business owner lives and she's confident that this area perfectly dovetails with her brand).
Here's a step-by-step on how to run a Site Selection analysis in RPR:
1. Go to: narrpr.com and log in
2. To get started, click Research; it's in the upper navigation bar and has a little magnifying glass icon right next to it. Then select Commercial Site Selection from the dropdown menu.
3. You are now on the Commercial Site Selection page. To conduct a broad area search, enter a ZIP code, city, state or county name into the search bar area. You can also find a specific area by using RPR Maps, to the right, by clicking Select area on map. (Note: For our hypothetical example, we are entering "92673," a ZIP code in San Clemente, California.)
4. Now it's time to start finding your client's customers! To do that, we use the Find people using spending and demographic data section. Start by selecting an attribute of your client's target customer. For example, in the first box, choose What They Buy, then a corresponding box will ask you to choose from a list. We're choosing Apparel for our example, then we narrow it down even more by choosing from another list, in this case, Women's Clothing. Click Ok and then move on to our next attribute by clicking the + Add More Criteria. You may choose up to five attributes to help narrow down your desired target.
5. Now choose another attribute; we'll go with Where They Live, then keep moving on by selecting Suburban Periphery, and so forth. It's pretty intuitive and you should get the hang of it easily. Move on and choose Facts and Stats to Income Trends to 2020-2025 Household Income Growth Rate. When you've completed your attributes list, click Run Analysis.
6. The Commercial Analysis results page will now display and give you an overview of the areas that meet your criteria for your customer attributes. On the left side, you'll notice a panel that displays your criteria match on a color-coded map of the area. The darker shading represents the area(s) with the best match. You can always change your geography types here with the dropdown menu; we'll choose Micro Neighborhoods.
7. To learn more about the demographic facts and stats that comprise the "best match" neighborhoods, let's view the Trade Area Details. Selecting one of the dark shaded areas, and choose View Trade Area Details. Now we can review details on income, types of income, ages, traffic counts and also take a demographic look at different types of consumer profiles (Boomburbs, Savvy Suburbanites, etc.) so you can get a sense of who these people are, generally speaking. Click Create Report to get all this information in a Trade Area Report.
8. To search for listings in an area with the best match from a Trade Area Summary page, simply click the View Nearby Listings link. See a property that gets your attention? Click Create Report and create a Property Report.
Pro Tip
You can customize each report and send them to clients via email, text, or even print them out and deliver in person or snail mail. And, you can check and uncheck boxes to include or exclude any page from a report, just click the + (plus sign icon) next to View Sample to trim down/customize any report.
Set your sites on greatness
As you can see, what sounds like it might be quite complicated is actually fairly easy to create. You can use the RPR Commercial Site Selection Tool to give your clients a plethora of demographic and economic information to help them (and you) make thought-out, smart, data-driven decisions to help them find the optimal location for a business.
If you're thirsty for more RPR Commercial content on the site selection tool, including a tutorial video, check out: Commercial Site Selection.
To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.
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Get More ROI from Your CRM
For many real estate agents, their CRM is the epicenter of their entire business. It's not only the database that holds every single lead and client, but also the tool that empowers agents to follow up, power digital advertising, automate marketing campaigns, and remember their to-dos.
But at the end of the day, technology is only as strong as the one who uses it. And since most powerful CRMs are a considerable investment, we put together some ways that agents can extract as much value as possible.
1. Build on a Long-Term Lead Pipeline
Many agents scale back on their ad spend and lead generation efforts when buyer demand is high. However, consistently fueling your pipeline is critical for long-term, sustained growth and success.
Now is the time for savvy agents to lean into their lead generation efforts, build that database, and prepare for the market to shift. Real estate markets are always changing and when the landscape shifts, you need to have the tech and teams in place to make sure you're ready to seize opportunity.
"A lot of agents are pulling back on their online buyer acquisition spend, but we doubled ours because we're in this for the long game," says Mary Maloney, HomeTown Realty Powered by eXp. "We look at the relational side of the business, not just the transactional side. And when you're in it for the long game, the market is going to shift. So, if you're front-loading your database with the client, that will be ahead of the next market shift. When the market does shift, you're going to have amazing business."
2. Empower your client experience
When competition is stiff, and technology is automating services left and right – what makes you stand apart from the rest? Providing a VIP, white-glove client experience will leave a lasting impression.
It is important to never forget that you are in the service industry! The experience your clients have will make or break your sphere of influence, and amazing experiences can build the foundation for a lasting, thriving business.
Leverage tour CRM to anticipate their needs:
Work with a CRM that empowers agents with both a mobile app for agents and a consumer-facing app
Set up every lead with eAlerts (automated emails that will send hand-picked listings based on their search history)
Utilize Smart Drip campaigns to automate personalized messages using insights from your CRM
Be ready with information and OVER-communicate. Especially during a time when the market is in flux and buyers and sellers may be on the fence
Have a clear process from the beginning and set expectations along the way. The worst experience is when you're unsure of next steps and you feel in the dark.
3. Prioritize Lead Engagement
Ninety percent of agents give up on a lead after four touches. Meanwhile, 70% of those leads will purchase a home within the year, just with another agent, according to NAR.
Ask yourself:
What process do you have in place for following up?
Are you or your agents responding to their own leads?
What is the response time?
Are you being notified by your CRM?
These are important questions, but most agents ignore them. Why? Most agents would agree: following up is pretty boring and can be extremely difficult. However, as most agents would also agree, it is absolutely necessary for your practice. To make it easier on yourself, you need to streamline. The simpler you can make this process, the better equipped you'll be to convert more leads into clients and continuously go after these potential new clients.
With the right system, long-term nurture plans will help grow your database, both in size and value, over time. Having eAlerts provides leads who register, but aren't ready to buy or sell, notifications that act as an automated drip campaign.
A good CRM creates an environment that works towards your lead's schedule. So when they are finally ready to take the leap and make purchases, you'll be the first agent that's top of mind.
4. Work Smarter with Predictive insights
Your CRM should be tracking every action a lead takes on your site, and surfacing insights your agents can act on like "back on site after a month" or "just favorited a property." Even "currently on site." These alerts let you know they're ready, and they're active, and you have a reason to reach out.
It's critical to have information about your leads at your fingertips. This means utilizing powerful software and the latest technology to make your prospecting so much more effective.
5. Stay Dollar-Productive
Hitting that GCI goal means taking control of your time. It's easy to get caught in the whirlwind, but real results come from working on your business instead of in it. On average, BoomTown customers report that they are empowered to spend 50% more time on dollar-productive activities. Hot leads are prioritized, systems are optimized for accountability, and agents are freed up from admin work.
It comes down to prioritizing your time based on your most dollar-productive activities, leveraging the value of your database, and diversifying and growing your lead sources. Most real estate professionals are experts in their field, but that doesn't mean they're experts at digital marketing, or necessarily need to flex their expertise to nurture buyers and sellers who are far-out in the buying or selling process.
6. Accountability and Transparency
It's crucial to arm yourself with the tools that'll both gather that data (lead behavior, ad performance, communication metrics), and translate it into insights and reports that work for you. This is how you optimize your business and systemize your success. And this is true tech partnership—a predictive CRM that prioritizes your work and makes it seamless to launch campaigns and understand performance.
For example, there are several data points and KPIs that'll determine if your conversion rates will be on point. In BoomTown's CRM, the Vitals Dashboard is one of our most-used features. Like a report card for a team or brokerage, it gives brokers instant insight into agents' performance and benchmarks it against other users with similar team size and tenure.
The report measures:
Active opportunities
Under contract opportunities
Closed opportunities
New leads
New leads that have been contacted
New leads that have not been contacted
Response times
An agent leaderboard and an agent-specific version let agents track and monitor their own performance, and brokers can take action in real-time to reassign leads, send a bulk text or email, or send a reminder to the agent. When the data is easy to digest, it's easy to course-correct and make sure you're optimized for success.
7. Integration tools
Your CRM can't do it all. Nothing can! That's why it's important to work with a real estate CRM that plays well with others—meaning that it can integrate with a variety of other tools that you need.
Your business has unique needs
You deserve to use the tools you like (and ditch the ones you don't)
And there is no one-size-fits-all solution
To view the original article, visit the BoomTown blog.
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The Unexpected Benefits of Form Simplicity for Agents
When America locked down, real estate agents already using a digital transaction management program had an immediate advantage. As working remotely became the new normal for months, having every document, every email, and every text associated with each transaction located in one place, online and accessible 24-7, was a priceless timesaver.
Overnight, transaction management software became the new "must-have" for every active real estate agent. For Form Simplicity from the Florida Realtors®, product training classes went online and were packed. As a result, a record number of agents attended training provided virtually by Form Simplicity in 2020. By mid-year, attendance exceeded all training provided the entire prior year.
These were some of the unexpected consequences of the pandemic. As agents clamored to solutions that helped them work better remotely, real estate technology software saw record adoption rates as more agents went digital and paperless.
Form Simplicity's growth accelerated over the last 18 months. From Alabama to Oregon, Georgia to Missouri, Form Simplicity continues to expand its presence nationwide. As one of the real estate industry's most popular and advanced digital transaction management solutions, Form Simplicity recently began providing services to nearly 100,000 Realtor members, including Missouri REALTORS, Georgia REALTORS, and Alabama REALTORS, and subscribers of Oregon Real Estate Forms (owned by the Eugene Association of Realtors and the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors).
Unexpected agent benefits
Support
When real estate agents begin using Form Simplicity, they discover benefits they were unaware of before going digital. At the top of the list is the unparalleled support they receive from Tech Helpline, the No. 1 tech support service in real estate, with the exceptional customer service and rapid response times provided by all departments.
Training
Since its redesign, Form Simplicity has become one of the most intuitive, easy-to-use transaction management solutions that new agents pick up instantly. That reduces agent workflow disruption as brokers need to provide less training and avoid pulling agents out of their sales cycle. For agents who need extra help, Form Simplicity also offers outstanding training support for association staff and members to help maximize all the features it provides.
Specialized Smart Forms
Smart forms are at the heart of Form Simplicity – forms that allows agents to enter property data once and then automatically populate that information wherever it appears on other forms. The power of autofill in Form Simplicity is something agents covet as it reduces risk. Forms are programmed to perform calculations, conditional fields, custom mapping and more. In addition, agents no longer have to enter the same information repeatedly, which is a waste of their time and talents.
It's why Form Simplicity spends so much time behind the scenes refining its technology to make sure its streamlined form programming process is unmatched in the industry. As a result, we can take custom forms an association has and turn them into Specialized Smart Forms, offering them as part of Form Simplicity – another huge benefit for agents.
More than just convenient
Security
Turning a paper-intensive business into a digitally-driven process creates more than convenience. Having safe and highly secure (bank-grade) access to all your files in a single place online increases the productivity of every agent.
Collaboration
Collaboration is key to success in real estate. Unique to our business, competing agents must rely on each other to create a successful transaction. Embedded into Form Simplicity are features that enable a highly collaborative process – in real-time.
Some agents want a clean document and to make sure everything is in place before sending it out for signatures. Form Simplicity's built-in collaboration feature allows an agent to share a form with another agent involved in the transaction to capture negotiated points accurately before sending out for signing.
Customizable Email Signatures
Another unexpected benefit Form Simplicity offers agents is offering an email signature that automatically populates. It takes just a few seconds to set up, and the agent's name and contact information are at the end of every email sent from within Form Simplicity.
FREE Assistant Accounts
Brokers benefit from the ability to create an "Assistant" account to help them manage forms. Also, Form Simplicity allows brokers to set specific permissions, giving them the ability to designate access for an office or a particular agent.
Switch User
The "switch user" feature that Form Simplicity offers helps keep busy brokers on task. For example, suppose a broker or their designated office assistant needs to take a quick look at an agent's transaction. In that case, the switch user function allows them to access the transaction, assist or provide an answer to the agent, and switch back to their Broker View. This feature is in addition to the more comprehensive Broker Review process, designed solely to allow brokers to respond quickly to urgent questions or agent needs.
Is Form Simplicity for you?
The final "unexpected benefit" that Form Simplicity offers both agents and brokers is an invisible feature. Form Simplicity is industry-run, operated by the Florida Realtors, the nation's largest state association. Unlike other leading transaction management software offerings, there is no influence from Wall Street or venture capital investors. At Florida Realtors, serving the needs of the real estate community and homeowners comes first, period.
Associations/MLSs/brokerages can rest assured that our pricing model is fair and not inflated. Our pricing is also very straight forward unlike other companies on the market, making it easier for clients to get a very clear picture of what the pricing is, without having to account for multiple add-ons. Mobile compatibility, broker tools, and support are examples of this.
Some 68 brokers from 16 Florida communities came together in 1916 to mark the beginning of the Florida Realtors. Today, Florida Realtors, now more than 205,000 members strong, continues unaltered in its mission to meet the needs of its members. That's why Form Simplicity and its sister firm Tech Helpline offer agents and brokers additional peace of mind, knowing that agents, brokers, and the Florida Realtor are always working together.
To learn more about Form Simplicity, go to formsimplicity.com.
Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns and operates Tech Helpline and Form Simplicity.
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The New Bridge Solution: How to Turn Homeowners Into Sellers
The biggest problem for home sales today remains a lack of inventory. So, how do we keep the bounce-back from COVID-19 going? We need more listings!
To create more listings, we need to get homeowners off the sidelines. The problem is that homeowners are nervous to make a move for the same reason everyone else is: a lack of inventory. It's a catch-22, but there's a new, innovative bridge solution for brokerages available through zavvie that's designed to help agents get sellers moving.
A bridge solution removes urgency from the buying and selling process, reduces stress and removes the biggest barrier to selling. Don't confuse a bridge solution with a bridge loan, however. The only people who qualify for bridge loans don't need one.
A bridge solution is available nationwide, unlike an iBuyer option. Bridge solutions are flexible. Sellers love them, and so do agents.
Getting a Homeowner to Become a Seller
Many homeowners today feel like they are locked into their homes. It's a "chicken and the egg" problem: they can't buy until they sell, but can't sell unless they find the right house.
A bridge solves that by giving your clients time to find that right house. Smart agents know you can quickly turn a homeowner who has no plans to sell into a seller if you show them the right place or the right offer. A bridge solution can do both.
Homeowners also don't want to sell right now because they don't want people traipsing through their homes. To them, it's a safety issue. And selling a house on the open market is always daunting. Your clients have to prep until it's perfect, keep everything in shape and interrupt their lives for showings. A bridge solution removes these obstacles to selling.
Two Bridge Solution Approaches
Today, two dominant bridge solutions exist. The first purchases your client's house with an all-cash offer, then leases it back to your clients, giving them the time they need to find a new home. With the second approach, the bridge solution provider buys your client's next house, providing them time to sell their current home.
Homeowners who want to move up and have excellent credit, have growing income and are looking for a more expensive home do well with the bridge solution that buys their next home.
The other approach is a home sale-leaseback model that delivers flexibility. Your client can lease their current home for as long as they like and move whenever they find their dream house. This bridge solution can work with a wide range of credit scores and income types.
Offering All the Options
Homeowners have more options to sell their homes today than ever before—and they need and want the help of an agent. It's why zavvie helps brokerages keep the agent at the center of the transaction. By offering a bridge solution for sellers on the zavvie-powered platforms of our broker partners, zavvie makes sure agents can show homeowners all of their options.
Lane Hornung is CEO and founder of Colorado-based 8z Real Estate, one of the nation's most successful brokerages, and is CEO/co-founder of zavvie, one of the only complete iBuyer solutions for real estate brokerages.
To view the original article, visit RISMedia.
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The Latest Trends in Team Software
The following is an excerpt from RE Technology's Success Guide to Team Software:
Website
Some team platforms develop excellent websites with a high focus on lead generation, content creation, and search engine optimization. Teams doing a lot of online digital advertising will need to look for websites that offer the ability to create lead generation pages--also called squeeze pages. Others recognize that a team website is like a business card. If you are not in love with the activities around online lead generation, having a fancy website is probably not that important to you.
Mobile Apps
Mobile apps have been an exciting growth area for team platforms over the years. The driving trend among these mobile apps has been less about developing branded mobile search apps that are in the Apple App and Google Play stores, and more about delivering functionality that allows teams to access customer records on the fly, or to take a group approach to responding quickly to customer requests. If your team is mostly mobile, rather than office based, this may be a very important feature for you.
Contact Record Monitoring
One of the biggest areas of new development in software for teams has to do with reference data and client monitoring. Using artificial intelligence, the software can track activities across all of your client records. Using this data the software can, for example, tell you when there is a customer that you have not interacted with in the last year or suggest that you reach out to a customer who has been spending an insane amount of time looking at listings on your site. The goal of contact monitoring is to make sure that you stay connected to everyone in your database, and to focus on those customers who show the most activity in the process of executing a transaction. Some solutions even monitor Facebook and LinkedIn for the most recent posts made by your clients so you can check up on them from within your contact records.
Contacts, Calendar, Email Integration
Most business professionals lack time for administrative upkeep such as scheduling meetings or updating contact records in multiple places. An important feature in team software platforms is mobile phone integration. It allows an iPhone or Android device to connect to your CRM. If you get a new customer call on your phone, and you save that contact, your phone will then sync the contact record to the CRM in your team solution, so you do not need to re-enter it. Likewise, if a team member schedules a task or meeting for you, they can access your calendar for your availability and set that appointment so it displays on your phone's calendar. If you are speaking to a tech supplier for your team, ask them about Google Sync or Outlook Sync.
Reporting and Forecasting
One of the challenges to operating a team is to measure team productivity. These metrics fall into the realm of reporting and forecasting. Depending on the role of the team member, good reporting and forecasting can provide the team leader with data that shows how team members are using the system, the value of business they have in the pipeline, etc. Remember, when you are running a team, you need to think about it like you are running a business or running a brokerage. Productivity per team member is a key matrix that you need to track.
Dynamic Automation
The idea behind software has always been automation. In the past, automation in team software was pretty linear. Linear automation is when you schedule things to happen at a specific time in a specific order. On day one, do this. On day two, do that. On day five, do this other task; on their birthday, do this, etc.
Dynamic automation uses the intelligence of software to observe consumer actions and adjust the behavior accordingly. In tech speak, they use the term "if this, then that." For example, let's imagine that a past client comes to your website to read an article about home improvement, then starts looking at houses. Dynamic automation would bring this to your attention and save the search for that client without them needing to do anything. The software could then send them a follow-up email the next day with the listings that they reviewed and ask if they have questions or would like to see any other homes. These auxiliary communications use machine learning or artificial intelligence to anticipate the needs of clients dynamically and automatically.
Download Success Guide: Teams to learn more about Team software trends, how to evaluate Team software, and more.
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Growing Your Team Business with Productivity Software
The following is an excerpt from RE Technology's Success Guide to Team Software:
Operating a team is pretty similar to operating a brokerage. The advantage that teams have over brokers usually relates to having more influence over the activities of the team. Quite frankly, beyond compliance related activities, most brokers have little or no control over how agents operate.
Teams come in all shapes and sizes, but one shared commonality is a unified approach to how they operate and how they provide services to clients. For example, some top producing agents focus on listings, often carrying an inventory of 10 or more listings. At that rate, it is hard for the listing agent to also take on buyer clients. So, they create a team of buyer's agents to respond to leads generated on their listings, both digital and from yard signs. The biggest concern by the listing agent is the effectiveness of buyer's agents at converting those leads to grow the business.
Another key common element between these team solutions is buyer and seller lead tracking paired with powerful follow-up actions that generate business. More than anything, these platform solutions offer the team leader the ability to empower team members with great follow-up software while simultaneously evaluating the strengths of team members converting opportunities into business.
Another prevalent feature of these platforms is a focus on lifetime relationships with every client in the database. With the entire team able to see what the last touch was with the customer and how they responded to it, this component creates continuity with client engagements, driving home future repeat business and referrals. For too long, real estate teams have primarily targeted new business generation while allowing existing customers to stray from insufficient relationship maintenance.
All of the tools in this year's Teams Success Guide facilitate collaboration between you and your team, helping your customers receive the best possible service. These platforms are proven to help you stay organized. You will be able to run reports on the effectiveness of your team members and have visibility into their activities. Each of these companies invest in dedicated staff members who deliver awesome support resources, ensuring that your team maximizes their productivity when using these platforms. But remember, you must make sure that your team of agents and staff attend those trainings and maximize the features of whichever platform you choose.
Download Success Guide: Teams to learn more about Team software trends, how to evaluate Team software, and more.
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What Does a Real Estate Transaction Coordinator Do?
What do a Realtor and a homeowner attempting FSBO have in common? They are both drowning in a massive heap of head-spinning paperwork, smothered with contract compliance dipped in deadlines. Not exactly the cherry-on-top sundae you were hoping for? Real estate transactions don't have to be a recipe for disaster. Instead, try hiring a transaction coordinator. Here's what you should know.
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7 Ways to Simplify Your Real Estate Website to Increase Lead Generation
Marketing and psychology go hand in hand. As a real estate professional/marketer, you've probably asked yourself why consumers behave a certain way or why someone does the things they do. For example, a lead that doesn't do research because they rely on you, an inspector that misses the attic because it's probably good, or an agent that doesn't persistently follow up with a lead because it isn't good. Many of these behaviors are caused by human's natural tendency to choose the path of least resistance. People want to take the easiest route that uses the least amount of thinking and energy.
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5 Steps to Build Out Your Real Estate Mobile and Text Message Marketing Strategy
Marketing is getting tougher and tougher--there's no doubting that.
One strategy you can consider is SMS marketing, the process of sending short text messages to your ideal customers in an attempt to engage them with your campaign and get them to convert.
Even though average open rates for SMS messages beat email by a whopping 28%, your real estate company sells homes for a large price—unlike small-ticket items that can be purchased on a lunch break.
So, how can you make text message marketing your biggest driver of website traffic, leads and sales?
Here are the five steps you'll need to build out your mobile real estate marketing strategy, as well as two brands who are already killing it with their text messages.
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Use Public Records to Find Commercial Prospects
To be a successful commercial real estate practitioner, you obviously need clients and listings. And you probably get quite a few through repeat and referral business.
However, some signs are pointing to the commercial market tightening up in the near future, which means now might be a great time to brush up on your prospecting skills. Lead generation can play a key role in having a strong year versus a weak one.
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Real Estate Website Tips: Why Page Load Time Matters
Today, time is one of the most precious things. The world is moving forward, the technological revolution has made life easier and faster. Every website user expects to receive information as fast as possible. Google Research shows that 33% of smartphone users in each market have a negative view of a brand if mobile experience is slow.
In this fast-paced world, you have to think to stay notable and discoverable. Having a good real estate website is a must in order to have a successful business. When talking about the website and its functionality, we take into consideration different things like what kind of design it has, if it's responsive or not, which tools it contains, add-ons that differentiate it from other websites and, of course, page load time. The time it takes for a page to load has a big influence on the bounce rate of your site.
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RPR: Collaborating to Bring REALTORS a Pain-Free Commercial Resource
The convenience of a national, one-stop-shop in commercial real estate is complicated to say the least. Bouncing around from website to website and resource to resource just seems to be the norm. The ability to go to one place, for on- and off-market listings, for investment analysis tools and data, never seemed like it could be a reality for commercial practitioners. However, RPR is conducting research with members and collaborating with the strongest commercial real estate partners to make this come true for REALTORS.
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Dealing with Malware
Challenges such as spam, malware, and viruses can wreak havoc on business. We urge you to take action to help ensure the internet is safe for all. Here's what you need to know.
What is malware?
Malware is short for "malicious software," an umbrella term for describing viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, ransomware, dishonest adware, rootkits and other unwanted or harmful computer software. These types of computer programs are designed to reduce your productivity; cause damage to your computer, server or network; or steal information that can be used to access highly sensitive accounts, either business or personal.
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Top 5 Data Needs for Researching Commercial Properties
RPR wants to help REALTORS succeed. As the nation's largest real estate database, RPR provides commercial practitioners with data, tools and reports that will help them "wow" their clients and close more deals.
Here, we identify the top five areas in RPR Commercial that can be used to help bring more clients and more deals to the closing table.
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5 Real Estate Branding Mistakes that Can Cost You Business
Building a recognizable brand your clients can connect to is one of the most important things you can do for your business. Everyone knows you should be unique and offer great service, but many brands start off by making the same mistakes.
To help you start your real estate branding journey on the right foot, here are a few common missteps and how to avoid them.
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8 of the Best Real Estate Logo Design Ideas
You likely already know that a logo is an important part of any business's branding. Not only does it make your modern real estate company stand out from the competition, but a solid logo can attract and win over new customers. That's what we're always aiming for, right?
But it's tricky to design a custom logo for your real estate firm. You'll need to think about the colors, fonts and shapes you're using--not to mention arranging each individual element to create an impressive design.
So, we collected eight of the best real estate logos to help inspire your own.
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RPR Commercial: 3 Ways to Start 2020 on a High Note
Happy 2020! It's a new year and another opportunity to set goals, reach new heights and have as much success as possible. We kick off the 20s with a "task-solution-process" look at how you can use RPR Commercial to farm for new prospects, run trade area reports to market your properties, and apply investment analysis tools to gauge ROI.
Good luck in the coming year and be sure to incorporate the following tips into your commercial real estate workflow.
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Why You Shouldn't Fear Calling Tech Support
It's not uncommon for many real estate brokers and agents to suffer from tech fatigue. After all, how many apps do you have on your cell phone? How many programs are on your laptop that you rarely, if ever, use?
The onslaught of technology can be, well, exhausting.
Adding to tech fatigue are the promises of new technology that is "easy to use" and will save you time, make you more money--or both!
The truth is, for many real estate agents, a lot of technology isn't easy to use. And when something goes amiss, the faith agents may initially have in their technology quickly erodes.
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8 Ways to Generate Free Real Estate Leads with IFTTT
IFTTT (If This Then That) is a free internet tool to get unrelated apps and websites to talk to one another. IFTTT works by connecting two apps and designating triggers. Whenever an event occurs in one app, a second event automatically occurs in another.
It's a fantastic service that has led to an explosion of productivity across the web.
As real estate professionals, there is a lot we can do with IFTTT. We can save time by setting our blog to automatically post to Facebook. We can be more responsive to clients by setting up email reminders for a missed call. We can be more organized by synching our phone contacts to a Google Sheet.
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Real Estate Marketing 2020: Special Dates and Themes
2020 is coming, which means it's time to start planning your marketing strategies now. Because there's so much content out there, today's consumers--and future homebuyers--expect a little something extra to inspire and inform them.
No matter whether you're focusing on email, social media, or even a real estate blog, here's a list of special and themed days you can use to inspire and inform with your content!
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RPR's 2019 Product Highlights
It's hard to believe, but 2019 is almost in the rearview. It's time to look back, reflect and review all the key enhancements that RPR released throughout the year.
In a focused effort to help REALTORS "wow" their clients and close more deals, RPR launched various platform and app upgrades throughout 2019. Each one designed to position you at the center of every transaction, and to help your business grow and flourish.
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The 6 Trends We're Seeing in Top Real Estate CRMs
The following is an excerpt from RE Technology's latest Success Guide:
CRM is a constantly evolving category of technology for real estate. Vendors in this category regularly introduce new functionality to improve the breadth of services that agents or brokers can accomplish. Here are a number of new functions and trends that we see emerging across the real estate CRM landscape.
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6 Real Estate Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2020
The countdown to 2020 is officially on! That means one thing: planning season. We're taking a look back at some interesting patterns from 2019 and discussing our top picks for real estate trends to look out for next year.
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5 Reasons Every Real Estate Professional Needs to Be Advertising on Facebook
Tell us if this sounds familiar: you created a Facebook page for your property management or real estate business and posted a few times a month. But as time passed, you did not feel like the page was boosting your lead generation.
As more people use Facebook to post content, there is exponentially more competition for your target's attention. It is not enough to write a post on your page and hope people find it.
Facebook ads ensure that your content reaches the right people at the right time. Below, you will find five reasons why you need to be using Facebook advertisements and several great services to make the most out of your investment.
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Building Effective Real Estate Community Pages
Most real estate professionals are familiar with the concept of community pages on real estate websites. With a single click into one of these pages, visitors can start exploring listings in a given community. Links to the pages are typically provided in the site navigation menus and/or provided on the home page, often with photos of each community. Community pages are always a good idea because they provide the option for immediate access to listings without requiring the use of a property search form.
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Top 3 Underused Commercial Search Functions in RPR
The actions taken to do a property search really haven't changed much since real estate and the internet first came together. For decades now, we've gone to listing sites to be immediately greeted by that oh-so-familiar search bar, and within a few clicks (with a little help from the magic of the internet), properties of all shapes and sizes pop up.
In RPR Commercial, the same basic process holds true, but the use cases for search have grown well beyond just finding available space. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few of my favorite, but perhaps lesser-known, non-listing search functions.
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6 Kinds of Infographics to Use in Real Estate Marketing
The real estate business is competitive. Marketers are competing for attention in the same arenas for similar audience profiles. With the digital sphere clogged with information, it is becoming harder for marketers to get their content noticed.
While content marketing efforts make a difference in the amount of engagement real estate agencies receive, the best way to captivate an audience is by using strong visuals, like high quality images, charts, and infographics. But not all marketers have access to graphic designers nor the time or ability to start learning graphic design software to make such visuals.
Fortunately, there are online resources now available to real estate marketers that offer stunning infographic templates, all of which are customizable and shareable. Today we will be looking at the six kinds of infographics you can use as a real estate marketer.
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