RPR Mobile: Why It's the Must-Have App for REALTORS
Thank you to RPR for sponsoring this article on RE Technology: We hate to sound like a broken record, but the mobile application provided by RPR® (Realtors Property Resource®) should be on every REALTOR's phone. The RPR app is akin to carrying around the entire RPR website in your pocket or purse: it's jam packed with property data, reports and tools. With it, agents are as equally productive as when they're in the office at their desktop. In this article, we're going to highlight all the tangible features and capabilities of real estate's most powerful app — and put a spotlight on all the intangibles that make it an indispensable tool. The RPR app: your go-to when you're on the go The RPR app is a convenient and comprehensive resource for REALTORS®, which can be especially helpful when agents are out in the field with clients, hosting open houses, door knocking, etc. It can also be used for commercial property research, trade area analysis and transaction based tasks. The app gives real estate professionals instant access to a wide range of real estate data and task-completing tools. Here's a list of what can be tapped into and utilized by REALTORS® with the RPR app and why it's considered a "must-have" for their business: Property Information: RPR's database is the largest in residential and commercial real estate, and includes details on over 160 million properties in the country. With the app in hand, a REALTOR® can get instant property information, including tax records, assessments, transaction history, ownership details, and more. It's the perfect tool for researching properties and providing accurate data to clients and prospects. Client-Friendly Reports: Use the app to generate professional-looking, branded reports for clients. Property Reports, Seller's Reports, School Reports and Market Activity Reports can be created on your phone and shared in just a few button taps. They're especially handy at open houses or canvassing a neighborhood. Clients and prospects will be amazed at how much info you can share in such a short amount of time. CMAs: RPR offers Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) tools, which allows REALTORS® to build an accurate CMA even when they're out in the wild or away from their desk. The ability to use pricing tools and send the results to clients in minutes can definitely leave a favorable impression. Shareable Market Trends: Real estate is local and homeowners and potential home buyers crave up-to-date market stats for their particular area. You can deliver these hyper-local neighborhood insights with RPR's Shareable Market Trends. Just look for the "Market Trends" tab at the bottom navigation bar and tap into a world of revealing market stats, charts and graphs for a specific area. Better yet, you can share these numbers with clients, or out to your social sphere, with just a few "taps." New Pricing Tools: Recently added, the RPR app now boasts two new features: an Equity Calculator and a Mortgage Calculator. For homeowners who aren't completely clued-in to their home's equity figure, the easy-to-use Equity Calculator can be a real eye-opener and a great conversation starter. For your buyer clients, the Mortgage Calculator provides a ballpark, big picture on how much home can be afforded. This can aid in realistic budget discussions, narrow down home searches, and ultimately help your clients make better informed decisions. Mapping and Geo Data: The maps in the app are powerful! The mapping features allow the user to overlay various data layers onto a map area. This can help in identifying trends, understanding neighborhood demographics, school searches, searching from particular points or within a certain radius, and assessing market conditions. The Buyer Tour: Currently an app-only feature in RPR, the Buyer Tour easily allows agents to select properties and determine an order to tour them. Then they can create a colorful, client-friendly report to share with their buyers. It's a great way to set up a schedule and keep a record of what was viewed, and what was liked. Commercial capabilities: RPR also offers a commercial version of its app. In fact, it's the exact same app, you simply toggle over to "Commercial" from "Residential" (this can be done from the login screen, or on the home screen by tapping the gear icon in the upper left corner). Commercial practitioners can use the RPR app to access commercial property information, keep tabs on market conditions, research properties, search listings, assess investment opportunities, identify optimum sites, and create commercial property and Trade Area reports. NAR Member Benefit: RPR, and the RPR Mobile™ app, are provided as a member benefit by the National Association of Realtors. This means the app is built exclusively for REALTORS®. If you're a member, your dues are paying for it, so you should be using it! Want to impress clients? Get a grip on any situation with the RPR app As you can tell, the RPR app offers a laundry list of features and offerings. Agents can use it to solve or service almost any real estate situation. However, using the app also checks some intangible boxes that can really foster the agent-client relationship. For example, using the RPR app sets you up to: Conveniently respond and deliver in minutes: Emailing and texting reports, CMAs, Market Trends and answers to questions from your phone is a sign that you're dialed in and know your stuff. That last thing clients want to hear is, "I'll figure that out when I get back to the office tomorrow." With the RPR app in hand, you'll answer that question on the spot. Build confidence (in your clients and in yourself): If you're out with a client looking at a home, and they ask you a question about the place across the street, and you have an immediate answer? That's an immediate confidence boost. The RPR app can help you handle these curveball questions and hit them out of the park. One RPR user describes this type of app-assisted knowledge as "listing intel," and we couldn't agree more. Build trust: Providing your clients with up-to-date housing market information goes a long way in building a rapport and positioning yourself as a local market expert. Your clients may know a little, but they look to and lean on you for experience and guidance. The ability to discuss what type of market we're in, and how the inventory shortage is affecting sales and prices, what the listing to sales percentages mean and so forth, is trust-building knowledge that you can deliver, even when you're out and about. The RPR app can be the foundation of your tech stack If you have the app and haven't used it in awhile, it's time to take another look. RPR has added a ton of new enhancements that can have an immediate effect on your response times, skill-building and your bottom line. And if you don't have the app on your phone, it's time to download it and add it to your tech stack. To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

Buyers have school questions? Learn how to answer them with RPR Mobile
Schools are involved in a ton of real estate decisions, but unless you have school-age children yourself, or unless you just happen to know a lot about the schools in your market (because you attended school there, for example), then it might be difficult for the average real estate agent to answer a buyer's questions. How is the school rated? How close is it to different homes the buyer is considering — and are there possibly multiple school zones involved? If someone wants their kids to attend a specific school, where are the boundary lines? Learn how to generate a school-centric home report using the RPR Mobile app, a REALTORS® Property Resource tool. If there's one app that every REALTOR® should have on their phone, it's the RPR Mobile™ app. The app not only provides access to on- and off-market properties and market trends, it also streamlines your search process by offering other essential data sets, including school information — an efficient way to provide meaningful data to your clients and save you precious time. As August has arrived and many families are gearing up for the "back to school" season, it's important to understand the role school information plays in real estate decisions. Whether your potential buyers have school-age children or not, the proximity and quality of local schools can influence the appeal and value of a property. Welcome to our deep-dive into why every REALTOR® should be maximizing the "School Search" function found in the RPR Mobile™ app to better serve their clients. Finding Schools from the Map Verifying schools near a property can be vital during your buyer tours — and doing so is effortless with the RPR mobile app. This tool provides easily accessible and actionable information in a user-friendly format. See for yourself: Begin by tapping on the location symbol at the top of the screen From within the map, tap "Map Actions" Tap on "Schools" Select the desired school type: Elementary, middle or high school; Public, private or charter Confirm with a tap on "continue" Now schools matching that criteria display on your map as graduation-cap icons alongside the property pins Tapping these icons reveals information about each school including their names, ratings, addresses, etc. Finding Schools Near a Property Perhaps you're looking at a property in RPR Mobile and want to see the schools in the area? Just tap on "Schools" under the photos on the Property Details screen. Instantly access all of the important data about local schools and even see these schools on a map in relation to your property. School Reports Time for your final project! Pull all that school info into a branded RPR report. From details about specific schools, their ratings, attendance zones, and local properties for sale, everything can be neatly presented in a client-friendly report format. Make the grade with school stats using the RPR Mobile™ app Use this back-to-school season as an opportunity to dial-in your local school searching using RPR Mobile. If you haven't installed it yet, don't wait any longer; download the RPR Mobile app from Google Play or App Store today! To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

52 Resources for Making Money with Your Phone
Real estate agents are always happy to hear about ways to make more money — and in the current tough market, we could all use as much help as we can get. That's why, over the month of July, RE Technology has been running a series of articles every Tuesday to help you do just that. It's the first month of this series, and each month has a different theme. In July, that theme has been, "How can I make money with my mobile phone?" Below is an overview of the topics we covered. Download our free eBook to read all of these articles compiled in one convenient place. 25 Text Messages You Should Send Right Now - Texting is one of the most effective forms of communication, but it's not always easy coming up with the right messaging. These 25 text message templates make that easy — just copy, paste and send any of these messages for different scenarios like lead generation, follow-ups, referral requests, and more. Get Shareable Market Trends to Keep Your Clients in the Know - Consumers love useful real estate market data, especially when presented via attractive graphics. Learn about a new RPR feature that helps you instantly create beautiful market graphics and share them online. And, bonus, this can all be done from RPR's mobile app. 3 Mobile Strategies for Winning in the Current Market - Get three strategies for winning in the current marketplace that you can accomplish from your mobile phone. Also, learn about an app that can add audio tours to your listings — a unique way to differentiate yourself and handy for the visually impaired buyer. Unlock Your Business's Potential: Meet a Shifting Market's Demands with Data-Backed Insights - Discover how Remine Mobile can help you prospect on the go — and predict who may be able to transact soon with Buy Score and Sell Score data. Unlock Your Real Estate Earnings: Boost Listings with App and AI Technology - Learn about two apps from BoxBrownie.com that can take your iPhone snaps and turn them into professional-looking listing photos, and then generate property descriptions from those photos using AI. We hope these articles were helpful to our readers. However, you should know that great advice about mobile technology isn't something we share just one month per year — we do it year-round! To help round out our mobile-focused month, today we want to share more smartphone resources that we've published over the years. Let's dive in… 47 More Mobile Resources Your smartphone can help you make more money through a variety of ways — through mobile transaction management, productivity apps, creating social media and other marketing content, and so much more. We've shared content on all of those areas throughout the years — and even helped our readers stay up-to-date on the latest technology advancements, including what's new with iOS 17, which was just released on July 11. To explore all the ways you can maximize the use of your mobile phone, check out our list of resources below: Mobile app recommendations The first step on the road to smartphone-enabled success? Having the right mobile apps! To start off, check out this list of the top 10 mobile apps for real estate agents. Those recommendations are more generalized, so from there, let's dive into apps that are recommended for specific purposes: Apps for scanning documents and creating PDFs Free video editing apps Realtor safety apps Apps for taking better listing photos Mobile app overviews Moving on from our lists of app recommendations, let's take in-depth looks at specific mobile programs. The articles below can further your understanding of what each app does and how you can use it in your real estate business: RPR Mobile - From mobile market reports to mobile buyer tours, RPR Mobile has it all — and it's free to NAR members. Trello - A project management app that makes collaboration a breeze. Expensify and MileIQ - Expense management and mileage tracking apps that make the unsexy parts of business management a little less painless. Slack - Make communication between various parties — team members, assistants, clients, and beyond — simpler and more centralized. SentriKey Mobile App - If your association uses SentriLock lockboxes, check out this article to learn about all of the things the SentriKey mobile app can do. Virtual Tours Creator 360 - An app that can create 360° virtual property tours, right from your smartphone. Mobile user tips and tricks Oh, boy. There are a lot of things a smartphone can do — and we probably don't even know the half of it! We're gonna give it the ol' college try, though. From speeding up slow devices, to setting up hotspots, to Notes and Google Keep hacks, here are a bunch of tips and tricks for maximizing the use of your iPhone or Android phones: 3 Magical Things You Can Do with Newer iPhones Real Estate Smartphone Tricks: Using Your Phone's Calendar No Internet? Here's How to Set Up Your Own Hotspot 8 Essential Settings to Extend the Battery Life of Your Smartphone Smartphone Running Slower? Here Are 4 Helpful Tips How to Quickly Switch Between Programs and Apps on Computers and Smartphones Let's Make Your Smartphone Smarter! How to Pair AirPods with Any Device Apple Users: Let's Set Up Notes to the Max! Dictation: One of the Most Underused Features in Apple Notes and Google Keep! How to Set a Location Reminder in Google Keep Collaborating with Others Using Apple Notes and Google Keep Running your real estate business with your mobile phone Now that we've covered the nuts and bolts of using your phone, let's move on to the heart of the matter — running your real estate business via your smartphone. Real estate agents are a particularly on-the-go breed, and we want you to know all of the things you can accomplish on the road using just your phone (including completing an entire transaction from start to finish). Here, we're highlighting a series of articles called, appropriately, "Run Your Real Estate Business with a Smartphone." Here are all the posts in that series: Can You Run Your Real Estate Business with a Smartphone? YES Run Your Real Estate Business with a Smartphone: Text Replacement Real Estate Smartphone Tricks: Using Your Phone's Contacts as a CRM Real Estate Smartphone Tricks: Using Your Phone's Calendar Run Your Real Estate Business with a Smartphone Using Information Management Run Your Real Estate Business with an iPhone Using Email, Messenger and Text Run Your Real Estate Business with an Android Phone Using Email, Messenger and Text Run Your Real Estate Business with a Smartphone: Building Social Media Exposure Run Your Real Estate Business with a Smartphone Using Video Conferencing Run Your Real Estate Business with a Smartphone Using Cameras and Scanners Run Your Real Estate Business with a Smartphone: Recap Video and photography Phone cameras have advanced a lot in recent years, to the point that some real estate agents feel comfortable taking listing photos on their phone! If that's you, or if you just want to learn how to take better mobile photos in general, check out How to Take Professional Photos on Your iPhone or Android Phone. If you're an iPhone user, get iPhone-specific photography tips in this article. Photos aren't the only thing your phone does well! Real estate pros also use them for video marketing. To ensure your marketing videos are as polished as possible, see 2 Apps for Editing Real Estate Videos Quickly. Text messaging Text messages are a remarkable thing — with 98% of them being read, they have a far higher success rate than emails or phone calls. Whether you're using them for client communication or for marketing, make sure you're aware of texting etiquette. Speaking of marketing, see 5 Steps to Build Out Your Real Estate Mobile and Text Message Marketing Strategy to learn more about leveraging texts to promote your business. And let's not forget the ways you can use texts with current clients — everything from closing and listing updates, appointment reminders, asking for reviews, and more. Mobile Miscellany As we wrap up, we come to the odds and ends that didn't fit in any of the above categories — but are still good to know. Smartphone Safety: 8 Tips to Protect Your Personal Information What Your Phone Number Says About You 5 Things Every Agent Needs to Know About 5G And, finally, if all this smartphone talk has made you a little tired, see Are You Married to Your Smartphone? How to Divorce Amicably and Still Be a Top Producing Realtor. After all, it's good to take a break once in a while from the devices that rule our lives! Go outside, touch some grass, feel the wind on your face, and come back to your phone when you're ready. It'll be waiting. To explore more mobile solutions, check out our Product Directory. And stay tuned for next month's theme: Finding more homes for sale!

2 Apps for Editing Real Estate Videos Quickly
Ever seen a video on social media from a competing real estate team and thought, "Wow, how did they make that look so good?" Sure, they may have had a production team…or they may have simply used an app to give their videos a quick polish and shine. But which apps are best to help you spruce up your content? Where better to start than with what real, on-the-ground real estate pros use themselves? In this short video, learn what team members from Whissel Realty Group use to quickly edit their Reels—and how they use those apps. Check out the apps for yourself here: CapCut VN Video Editor Further Reading 3 Vertical Video Ideas for Real Estate Marketing How to Leverage Instagram Reels for Real Estate Free Video Editing Apps for Real Estate Videos

Top 10 Mobile Apps for Real Estate Agents
Is your phone dialed in to the latest and greatest digital applications? Apps for real estate agents have become essential tools to streamline business workflows. As independent contractors and entrepreneurs that are always on the go, your business has to move with you. Good real estate apps can help agents edit videos and photographs, schedule and track social media, increase efficiency, manage projects and expenses, keep tabs on industry trends, maintain their CRM – and the list goes on. Here's RPR's (Realtors Property Resource) recommendation for 10 solid apps to download and try for 2023: 1. Promo The app: More and more agents are using video to liven up their social media channels. Viewers simply engage with it more, and your posts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn will perform better in a video format. The Promo app is perfect for creating compelling video ads, social media videos, walkthrough tours and more. Priding themselves on "smart and easy video creation," Promo gives its users access to over 100 million premium photos and videos from Getty Images and iStock, and provides thousands of themed templates to make video magic that much easier to attain. The cost: You can try Promo out for free, and a "Basic" subscription is $25 if you opt for the annual structure. 2. Lensa The app: This AI-powered photography app is an editing experience that elevates your photos to a different league. Spice up your photos and videos with instant retouching, custom backgrounds, and other fun features such as filters, effects and borders. But what's really hot about this app right now is the Magic Avatars you can create. Have you noticed that your social media feeds are full of cartoon selfies of people? That's the Lensa AI Magic Avatars at work. The cost: When you download Lensa, you get a seven-day free trial. Then have the option of paying a one-time fee for a specific number of unique avatars ($3.99 for 50 is the cheapest option) or shelling out $35.99 for an annual subscription and unlimited avatars. 3. Sphere The app: Everyone should be utilizing a CRM, but Sphere goes beyond a traditional CRM by offering lead tracking, transaction timelines, to-do lists, contacts, deadlines, coaching and more. They also promise that you can create your own unique business plan in just five minutes. Another nifty feature about Sphere is that it caters to real estate teams by giving multiple users access to the same account. The cost: Sphere's pricing structure is interesting. A transaction timeline only account is attainable for $10 per month. The full package option for agents runs you $49 a month, and each one of these versions is available for a 30-day free trial. Here's what makes Sphere really special: new agents (licensed in the last 12 months) can subscribe for one year for FREE. See their website "Pricing" section for details. 4. Bubble Level app/Bubble Level app The app: Bubble Level is just what it sounds like: a working level on your phone. While you might not use it every day, it is a handy tool to keep in your pocket—as opposed to an actual, physical level! Some clients are very detail-oriented and might ask: is that door frame level? Is this floor uneven? Just pull out your phone and get a quick reading. The cost: Free! And it's available for both Android and iPhones. 5. Hound The app: We're guessing that most agents don't have the budget to hire their own personal assistant. However, if you download this app, it will sniff out just about anything you ask it to do! Hound is an AI-powered voice assistant app that uses "proprietary Speech-to-Meaning and Deep Meaning Understanding technology." In English? You can speak to it in your normal, conversational voice and it will understand you. While not real estate specific, the possibilities are endless. Ask Hound for driving directions, to make phone calls or send texts, set alarms and timers, weather updates, real estate news, or any other task you need help with. The cost: Another freebie! Available for both Android and iPhones. 6. Fyle The app: Keeping track of receipts and credit card transactions for you and your employees can feel like a job in and of itself. To simplify the process, check out the Fyle app: it accurately pulls and codes data from expense receipts using its AI-powered data extraction engine. Here's how this "real time expense management" works: you slide your card for some printer paper, and then you instantly get a text asking for an image of the receipt. Take a picture of the paper receipt, and then it's added and matched to your credit card card expense, freeing you of bank statement reliance. The cost: Starts out at $6.99 a month, or you can upgrade to $11.99 for more features. 7. Substack The app: First off, Substack is not a real estate app. However, it is a journalism disruptor and a really cool way to receive content from your favorite writers and creators. With it, you can subscribe to independent writers and podcasters who publish directly to their audience. These "newsletters" help you keep your favorite writers in one dedicated space, with zero ads, noise or spam. Which means you can keep up with real estate industry insights by subscribing to creators such as Real Estate Simpleton and CalculatedRisk and Housing Market Insights. The cost: Subscription plans, such as monthly and annual, are set by writers. 8. Microsoft Lens/Microsoft Lens The app: This one is perfect for agents out in the wild. With Office Lens, you can easily turn just about any written surface (whiteboard, blackboard, receipts, pieces of paper, contracts, business cards, articles, sticky notes) into digitized files, such as PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. With a scanner in your pocket, you'll never lose any written down words again! The cost: If it's free, gimme three! Available for both Android and iPhones for no cost. 9. Later The app: If you're a real estate agent, being active in social media is very much a mandatory activity. But keeping track of all your channels, posts, photos and videos can really eat up your valuable time. Later is a social media management platform that helps you plan, analyze, and publish content in advance—so you focus your time on your business and nurturing clients and prospects. The cost: Monthly fees start at $18 per month, but a yearly plan will run you $15. You can also try it out with a free 14-day trial. 10. RPR The app: Did we save the best for last?! The RPR Mobile™ app provides agents with an almost unlimited supply of "listing intel." Your buyer has a question about a property that's across the street from the one you're touring? Look it up in a flash with RPR. Better yet, text your client a report on the property in minutes. In addition, the app has recently been refreshed and revamped: the property search filters are more in line with the desktop version, the Buyer Tour feature has been improved, and the reports generation experience has been streamlined. The new RPR app offers all that and much more. The cost: If you're a REALTOR®, there's no cost whatsoever. And only REALTORS® can use it! RPR is included with your membership in The National Association of REALTORS®. To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

5 Realtor Safety Apps to Help Protect You and Your Clients
Being a professional real estate agent involves working with new people you do not know, and that alone can be risky business. After all, research shows that Realtors meet with prospective clients they have never met before either at their office or a neutral location 65% of the time. Nearly 40% off all Realtors hosted an open house alone last year. Almost one in five felt unsafe when doing so. Agents who have shared their stories online about coming close to avoiding a scary situation when asked to show a home point to a common experience: Something just didn't feel right about the prospect. Calls from restricted numbers, requests to see a home on a moment's notice, or a prospect overemphasizing they will be paying all cash can be warning signs, agents have shared. Several agents have revealed that some sketchy prospects have turned into stalkers – fortunately, that landed them in jail. Fortunately, over the last decade, the National Association of Realtors, along with state and local Realtor associations nationwide, have emphasized the importance of personal, professional, and community safety. Historically, September has been Realtor Safety Month, although remaining safety-conscious is a daily task for every agent. The NAR offers a repository of safety information and tips on its website (nar.realtor/safety), including safety planning strategies, tips and best practices to remain safe, safety training videos, and personal protection resources, which includes safety apps for your smartphone. Do you need to use a safety app for your phone? Consider these agent safety study finding from Agent Genius: Most attacks took place on Thursday or Friday afternoons. Roughly 30% of attack victims are men. Most attacks didn't take place inside major metropolitan areas. About half of attacks involved guns. Several attacks resulted in murder, even though robbery was the original intention. Here are five real estate apps for smartphones that are designed to keep agents safe: 1. Forewarn $20 a month – individual agent What it does: Forewarn offers an instant background check. It lets you know in advance who you are about to work with by verifying identity, searching for criminal histories, and validating information provided by unknown prospects. It needs little information upfront, such as a phone number of the person the agent is planning to meet. Available both online and through its mobile app, Forewarn instantly can help agents reduce their risk through using due diligence upfront. In addition to a personal subscription plan, Forewarn is available through many Realtor associations as a member benefit. 2. Real Safe Agent $4.99 month – individual agent What it does: Real Safe Agent is one of the most robust safety apps designed for real estate agents. It uses Hoosfon to see if a prospect is using a prepaid phone as well as other key information that could indicate a red flag. With Prospect Link, Real Safe Agent offers the ability to request a selfie and photo of their driver's license. These tools are used to build an "Agent Comfort Index," which shows if a prospect has been reaching out to other agents and if those agents reported feeling uncomfortable. By leveraging a social networking design, it allows agents to identify individual safety "buddies," fellow teammates and partners, and other individuals to create a safety network of people who are alerted instantly when an agent feels threatened or is in danger. Agents can also use the app to ask for someone in their network to join them at an open house they are hosting alone via an "Accompany Me" feature. Other features include Drop-in Alerts, allowing you to ask another agent in your network to "drop in" if a someone is making you uncomfortable, and an Open House feature to arrange someone to join you when you are opening or closing – the most dangerous times of an open house. Real Safe Agent also offers a unique 9-1-1 Alerts feature, as it notes it is the only system fully integrated with the nation's 911 system, ensuring the correct address is provided to the 911 operator. The alert can be immediately deployed simply by violently shaking one's smartphone. 3. SafeShowings $4.99 month or $49.99 annually – individual agent What it does: SafeShowings, available to more than one million Realtors through their associations, protects agents and the homeowner by capturing facial images of prospects. It also collects geolocation information from your phone. If there is an alert involved, SafeShowings will automatically send the stat to your emergency contacts. During an open house or individual showing, SafeShowings captures a facial image of anyone who is about to enter a property. It allows you to set a timer during a property showing and if an agent is unable end the timer, an alert is instantly and automatically triggered. 4. Homesnap Pro Free for most agents via their local MLS Homesnap Pro+ is $599 a year, discounted to $499 a year for the first year What it does: Homesnap Pro has been downloaded by more than a million real estate agents nationwide. It has a safety tool built in to the app. Before a showing or an open house, an agent can set a safety timer. The safety timer can be set at the agent's discretion for the amount of time they plan to be at the property. The coolest feature is that the app uses Homesnap geolocation technology, which means it automatically populates the property address when you are within 2000 feet of the property you want to show. Homesnap Pro also has a Distress Alert feature that will automatically text to your emergency contacts your time-stamped location, which an agent can access at any time they feel uncomfortable or threatened. 5. SentriKey Real Estate App Subscription prices for its lockbox service vary based on local association member pricing What it does: SentriLock is the official lockbox solution for the NAR, and is an optional, subscription-based service that associations often offer to their members. Its built-in agent safety feature creates an automatic way for an agent to alert their designated emergency contacts in case of potentially dangerous situations. The Agent Safety feature automatically launches when the mobile app is used to open a SentriKey lockbox. The agent can select a set time – SentriLock recommends approximately 90 seconds — or a time determined by the agent — for the app to prompt for a status update. If the agent us unable to respond, the app will automatically alert the agent's designated emergency contacts if the agent does not or cannot confirm they are safe. Safety is not an accident As you can see, many of these safety apps often require a subscription service. But that can be a small price to pay for the peace of mind and comfort it can bring an agent. For more information about other safety technology for real estate agents, see NAR's Resources for Personal Protection. For help setting up or installing any of these safety apps, reach out on your Tech Helpline app, or call or text a Tech Helpline expert for personal and friendly assistance. To view the original article, visit the Tech Helpline blog.

RPR Launches New and Improved Mobile App
Back in February of 2021, RPR (Realtors Property Resource) released a refreshed version of its website. The desktop version of RPR was revamped and redesigned from top to bottom, giving users a fresh, powerful and more streamlined user experience. Fast forward to now and our team of ace developers are at it again! This time around, we're launching a new and improved version of the RPR Mobile™ app. Update and download the new RPR app The new version of the RPR app is now live! Fair warning: users will be required to download the latest version (update the app) and log in with their RPR credentials (username and password). An in-app message will remind you and direct you where to go to complete the update. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we promise it will be worth it! Not to get too technical, but the new app is built on a completely new technology platform, hence the "forced" update in order to continue use. With the app being just over seven years old, our tech team decided to take advantage of the latest technology to deliver a newer product app with a solid foundation that will support future enhancements—all in the name of helping members "wow" their clients and close more deals. And here are the results… Modernized look and feel Welcome to the new! Your RPR app has been modernized and looks sharper and cleaner all around. However, it's not a complete redesign: this refreshed interface will offer users familiar usability. Basically, we took a good thing and made it even better! You asked–we listened. Improved Buyer Tours… Our Buyer Tour is a mobile-only exclusive. Simple in nature but comprehensive all the same, this report enables agents to select properties, determine an order to tour them, and then create a colorful, client-friendly report to share with buyers. And with the new update, we've beefed up the Buyer Tour experience with some quality enhancements! The most noticeable and important is the ability to "Add known property" to the tour you're building by address or listing ID. No more map searching and gumming up workflows! This has been a huge request from our app users, and we're happy and excited to deliver it. The ability to add properties manually versus running a search and using the map is a big user win. The new Buyer Tour is also the only RPR report that allows you to feature more than one single property. Improved property search filters What do agents do most in RPR? Search! Searching for properties (and doing research in general) is where the process starts for just about every agent. The new app offers upgraded property search filters that are more in line with the website search filters. That means the app has more parity with the website than ever before. This is another user request that we've heard more than once. Now you can search by any property status, including Time Owned, Occupancy type, Current Distressed Status and more. These added fields allow members who use RPR for prospecting to now do that on their phone! Generating reports: the app closes the gap Property and market reports are RPR's bread and butter. And just like most app versus desktop debates, the workability and available features process always favors and leans towards websites. However, the new app closes the gap on the report generation experience! The steps necessary for report generation have received a nice makeover. The improved design makes the entire process more intuitive and more user friendly. The report generation steps process has been redesigned to make it clearer which steps the user is on. Also included is a progress bar so that users know how many steps they have left to go. The page hierarchy has also been addressed, making the primary information on each page more obvious, which will help guide users to completion. Upping the app and our Maps The maps in the app are getting an upgrade, too! New to iOS are Google base maps, which is a nice improvement from Apple Maps. The Map Menu experience has changed as well. For example, when searching or viewing schools in an area, the map will now display the school pins alongside the property pins. We've also added a control that allows users to select the school types and levels, as well as the display of the school attendance zone when a pin is selected. This same "alongside" pin feature has also been applied to Traffic Counts. Listing history To mirror the refreshed RPR website, we've added a new tab to the app version so users can view the price and status history of previous listings. Again, this is an agent request that we know will be appreciated. The sun has set Of course, whenever you make so many great additions and improvements, you also have to say "goodbye" to some previous capabilities. Each decision was made based on low usage factors in an effort to optimize the overall app performance. The following features have been removed from the RPR Mobile app: Tablet use (As part of the new update, the RPR Mobile app will no longer function on tablet devices. Tablet users should begin using the RPR website, which includes a responsive design.) School search (You can still search for schools in the "Maps," but not from the third homescreen) Travel Time Voice Notes Your go-to when you're on the go The RPR app literally puts data, reports and tools in the palm of your hand to help you work in the wild and respond to clients in seconds. Property searches, reports (including the mobile-only Buyer Tour), CMAs and so much more. The RPR app: your go-to when you're on the go! The new mobile app update is a perfect example of RPR's mission to continually help REALTORS® be better at what they do. Update your app now to start experiencing all the new features. To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

25+ Best Real Estate Software, Tools and Apps for Realtors
Managing a real estate practice takes a lot of work. Without good systems in place, simply managing your current clients, appointments, and paperwork can hold you back from growing your business. As you surely already know, there are thousands of options for apps, tools, and software for real estate agents in every stage of their career. You'll find solutions for more effective lead generation and nurturing and automated scheduling, transaction management and coordination, offer management, and systems that improve productivity and communication. Where do you start? Here are essential tools for real estate agents to make your life easier and free up time for what's important. Real Estate CRM Software and Lead Generation Lead generation and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) are separate but incredibly related aspects of your business. Depending on your preference and needs, you may want a single platform that does both or you may prefer dedicated real estate lead generation software and a separate platform for CRM management. Choosing real estate CRM is a big decision. There are seemingly limitless options, and it's a big commitment that may mean disrupting your entire lead generation system. Because Customer Relationship Management software is at the heart of your business, it pays to put the work into choosing the right platform. Top real estate agents are twice as likely to use lead management and CRM software compared to less successful agents! The best CRM software for real estate agents: Is easy to use Integrates with other tools you use Offers robust analytics and reporting Provides the automation you need with personalization Includes an easy auto dialer Next, consider your needs before choosing a CRM for real estate. The right CRM will depend on the size of your real estate business, whether you are managing a team, and what will best support your specific goals. You may want a straightforward project management tool you can use as a CRM. Some real estate agents prefer an open system which integrates with other tools. Open systems let you pick and choose the right platforms for specific needs so they can work together. An all-in-one CRM system handles all aspects of lead generation. Ready to get started? Here are some top picks for CRM software for Realtors to grow your business. CINC – All-in-One CRM and Lead Generation Platform While perhaps not best for new agents, CINC is arguably the best real estate CRM software for real estate agents and teams with powerful lead generation tools. The platform offers: Client marketing to create Facebook, Google, and Instagram campaigns Generate leads with optimized sites designed to capture leads Import lead sources into your central dashboard Tools to get information about your leads' preferences and needs Automatically organize leads into your contact lists based on potential Notifications when leads are ready to contact you Real estate team management with automatic tracking and lead routing Connects with over 4,000 apps CINC has four products starting at $600 to $1,200 per month for a single agent with add-on costs like leads starting at $500 per month. The biggest drawback, aside from the cost, is CINC takes a long time to master. It's robust, but the system is rather clunky and not very intuitive. Real Geeks – All-in-One Lead Manager CRM Software for Realtors Cost: $299/month plus $350 to onboard 1-2 agents, additional cost for PPC management and seller lead generation Real Geeks is powerful real estate sales software that combines marketing, lead generation, nurturing, tracking, and reporting, and more. Here's why Real Geeks is a favorite among real estate agents: IDX real estate websites for lead generation Property valuation landing page to generate seller leads Robust lead manager CRM tracks and nurtures leads In-house marketing team manages PPC campaigns for an additional fee User-facing app integrates with your local MLS Automatic and up-to-date market reports SMS autoresponder for immediate response to lead inquiries Facebook Marketing Tool and marketing services (additional fee) Automated email drip campaigns Top Producer – CRM Made for Real Estate Cost: $60/month to $105/month per user Top Producer is a real estate CRM software designed specifically for agents. Campaigns, templates, and processes are all crafted for real estate for a more intuitive system and the features you really need without a lot of bloat. Stand-out features include: MLS Property Insights allows you to label and take notes while working with clients. The listing status and date will be automatically populated so you can stay on top of the details. Transaction management lets you see a transaction timeline and relevant listing data and get reminders. Integrates with 150+ tools like Gmail Dynamic workflows with relevant tasks to turn prospects into clients Automated marketing with MLS-based Market Snapshot Reports and alerts Follow Up Coach gives you suggestions on who to contact next and suggested touch points to stay on track IXACT Contact – Realtor CRM that Tracks Commissions and Transactions Cost: $45/month or $456/year IXACT Contact is a unique CRM platform for real estate agents because it not only helps you manage relationships and nurture leads, it also helps you track revenue. This CRM software for Realtors is designed to manage all your contacts and referrals as well as transactions, expenses, and revenue attached to each profile. It also has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to adopt. Copper – Real Estate CRM Software Designed for Gmail and Google Workspace Cost: $553/year Copper is a CRM platform designed for agents who use Google Workspace and Gmail. You'll find it very easy to manage contacts, market listings and open houses, and nurture leads through Google Calendar and Gmail. Copper automatically tracks and inputs all communications including account details, leads, emails, and contacts. By integrating with ActivePipe, you can nurture leads with tailored email campaigns and funnel leads into personalized workflows. HubSpot – Popular Free CRM for Real Estate Agents Cost: Free HubSpot is one of the most popular options if you're looking for free real estate CRM software. It offers tools like lead generation, live chat, email integration, and contact management. HubSpot excels as an inbound marketing tool for real estate agents. They also offer great free tools like templates, personalization and snippets so you can recall emails and responses you use frequently and tailor them to each recipient. Realtyzam CRM – Basic CRM Platform Designed for Agents Cost: $15/month or $144/year Already use Realtyzam accounting software? They also offer CRM software for real estate agents with an easy-to-use platform that's designed to be as simple as possible. Track sales activity, manage leads, and get reminders to get in touch with clients. Real Estate Lead Generation Software and Tools One of the greatest challenges in growing a real estate business and managing an office is the amount of work that goes into generating, nurturing, and converting leads. You may have team members devoted to cold calling, marketing, answering calls, and scheduling appointments, but there's probably an easier way with these top lead generation tools for real estate agents. RealScout – Lead Nurturing Tool Cost: $39/month per agent or $500/month for brokerages This simple but powerful Realtor lead generation tool scours the MLS for listings matching your clients' criteria. New listings are automatically emailed to your clients with branded emails that look like they came from you directly. You can sort properties by over 400 criteria to send clients the best matches for what they're looking for. The RealScout platform also includes a branded home search portal that displays accurate MLS data, team functionality, and other tools to generate leads. Structurely – AI Virtual Assistant Helps Convert Leads Cost: Starting at $299/month for 100 contacts Structurely helps you spend less time qualifying leads and more time closing. Their real estate software solution works like another member of your team to: Connect with leads from your CRM Nurture unresponsive leads 25 times over 12 months Send alerts when leads are ready for you to step in Not ready for a real estate virtual assistant? Try an AI assistant to help manage leads! Using pre-built, optimized real estate scripts (or your own scripts) for new and old leads, sellers, and buyers, Structurely sends all lead conversations to your CRM in real time and mirrors your CRM lead routing rules. Best of all, you can jump in and take over the conversation at any time! Revaluate – Generate Leads with Predictive Analytics Cost: $139/month (for 2,000 contacts) Revaluate is a simple solution to significantly boost the conversion rate of your cold calling campaign. It helps you generate leads by using predictive analytics to identify homeowners in your area likely to move within 3-6 months based on social media, demographic, and consumer data. Redx – Realtor Lead Generation for Specialty Leads Cost: $60/month Redx is real estate prospecting software with a unique purpose: it gives you access to expired listings and aging FSBO listings to help you identify potential prospects. As you create prospect lists, the included Storm Dialer can automatically dial numbers while displaying relevant information. This is one of the best alternatives to cold calling and a great investment! FreshDesk – Live Chat Function to Convert Leads Cost: $18/month or $180/year FreshDesk lets leads and clients contact you from their preferred channel, including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and iMessage, with a single inbox. Automation assigns the communications to the right person in the office and the system supports team collaboration. Fast response times and allowing leads to contact you how they prefer means a higher chance of converting them into a client! Cloud Attract – Create Real Estate Landing Pages Cost: $99/month for Cloud Agent bundle One of the most popular real estate lead generation tools, Cloud Attract lets you create attractive landing pages that target either buyers or sellers. Choose from more than one dozen professionally designed templates, select the information you want to collect, and your landing page will be automatically generated. You can then customize it with your own imagery, copy, fonts, Google Analytics ID, and more. Generated leads appear in a tab with email notifications. Real Estate Accounting Software and Expense Tracking Apps While you're busy meeting clients, showing homes, generating leads, and overseeing transactions, it can be challenging to stay on top of bookkeeping and expense tracking. Still, this less glamorous side of running a real estate business is important. Here's the best accounting software for real estate agents and expense tracking tools. QuickBooks for Real Estate – Robust Realtor Accounting Software Cost: $15 to $180 per month (free trials and discounts often offered) QuickBooks Online is a leading choice for accounting software for Realtors with tools that make it easy to grow your real estate business. Here are some reasons QuickBooks is the go-to option for real estate agents: Insight into business performance month-over-month to set goals and make business decisions Automatically pay payroll taxes if you have employees Easily create categories of liabilities and assets like business credit cards, petty cash, furniture and fixtures, travel expenses, technology expenses, marketing expenses, and office supplies Generate a real estate agent profit and loss statement by week, month, or quarter Robust real estate agent expense tracking with mileage tracking and integration with other tools like DocuSign, Pipedrive, Copper, and Salesforce Sales Cloud Most agents only need the Simple Start plan which is about $25 per month. Realtyzam – Accounting Software Designed Specifically for Agents Cost: $12/month or $120/year Realtyzam is unique because it was designed specifically for real estate agents. This cloud-based real estate accounting software offers basic accounting as an affordable alternative to QuickBooks for Realtors. Realtyzam is a great choice if you want a simple system for tracking expenses and generating reports for taxes. MileIQ – One of the Best Apps for Realtors to Track Mileage Cost: Free trial, $6/month or $60/year MileIQ is a more robust app for Realtors that tracks mileage. It uses automatic drive detection so you don't need to worry about turning tracking on and off, and you can automatically classify common routes to track business and personal miles. It even offers mileage tracking for real estate teams! MileIQ reports an average deduction of $7,022 for MileIQ users. Stride – Free Mileage and Travel Expense Tracking App Cost: Free The average Realtor spends $1,200 per year on their vehicle, according to NAR! You spend so much time in your car and traveling as an agent, it's crucial to track your mileage and travel expenses. For most agents, the mileage deduction is one of the biggest tax deductions they claim! Stride is a free mileage tracking app that's easy to use. Just turn on the mileage logger when you start driving and turn it off when you're done. You can log other travel expenses as you go. At tax time, Stride creates an IRS-ready tax form. While free, this tool isn't designed for agents and it's very basic. QuickBooks Mileage Tracker Cost: Included with QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Self-Employed Already using QuickBooks for real estate agents? QuickBooks also offers a mileage tracker app that automatically detects when you're driving. Swipe left on trips to mark them as business miles. Tracked miles will be automatically transferred to your real estate bookkeeping software. Because it's linked with your other real estate business expenses, QuickBooks will determine how much you can deduct for you. The downside is it has an added cost that's higher than competitors like MileIQ. Other Top Apps for Realtors: Marketing Productivity and More! From paperless open houses to streamlined and automated scheduling, these top real estate agent tools can simplify many areas of your business. Calendly – Scheduling App for Realtors Cost: Free for basics and $8 to $16/month per person Calendly is one of the best real estate apps for agents to stay on top of scheduling and appointments. Here's why real estate agents love using Calendly: Set availability preferences to customize when and how you book appointments Automated real estate team scheduling Automate communication before and after meetings Connects to up to six calendars Poll meeting attendees for best availability times Integrates with CRM platforms and more Automated reminder and follow-up emails Alllows leads to schedule with you instantly! Spacio – Easy, digital open house sign-in Cost: $25/month for agents, $100/month for 5-agent teams, and $145/month for brokerages and offices Ditch the clipboards and sign-in sheets with Spacio, an automated paperless open house app. This simple app helps you capture leads from virtual and in-person events, communicate with buyers and sellers, and even market listings. Realtors Property Resource (RPR) – Create CMAs on the Go Cost: Free RPR and the RPR Mobile app are essential tools for real estate agents who need on-the-go research and fast answers. A subsidiary of NAR, RPR gives you access to the data you need during showings and meetings while allowing you to create comparative market analysis reports on the go. This app for Realtors is perfect for getting quick answers to client questions with a tool to search neighborhoods and zip codes and share property photos with your clients. Wise Agent – Popular Real Estate Marketing Tool for Email Automation Cost: $348/year Wise Agent is simple, yet it's one of the most effective real estate agent marketing tools for email automation. This real estate CRM software lets you set up campaigns that run themselves. Choose the number of emails (events) and days between events or fixed dates then use pre-made templates or create your own. The Wise Agent platform is rather outdated, but it's easy to learn and helps you break up the lead nurturing process into several steps without getting overwhelmed. Dotloop – Transaction Management Software for Signing Offers and Documents Cost: Free for 10 transactions and unlimited eSignatures, $29/month for Premium Dotloop is leading real estate closing software that helps you stay on top of transactions. Dotloop helps agents and brokers collaborate, provides reporting, and manages transactions from opening to closing. One of the best uses of Dotloop is making sure offers and closing documents are signed. After opening a "loop," you can add property information and upload documents with notes indicating where they need to be signed. Each field can be assigned to the appropriate party. Recipients can easily add eSignatures with real-time notifications. Disclosures.io – Organize and share disclosures digitally Cost: Free for basic, $39/month for Pro with custom templates and seller dashboards This web platform and app is one of the top agent tools for streamlining disclosures. The free tool for Realtors lets you share information, disclosures, pre-sale inspections, natural hazard reports, and more with interested parties and track activity. You can create packages for sellers or buyers with the property information, photos, a video tour, and uploaded documents. You can even integrate DocuSign! DocuSign – Trusted Digital Signature Platform Cost: $25/month per user or $240/year for Realtors DocuSign is one of the best tools for Realtors to reduce paperwork and streamline transactions. DocuSign eSignatures are a trusted solution to keep clients happy and save time with a secure cloud platform. NAR members get exclusive reduced pricing! Real Estate Transaction Management Help One of the most time-consuming aspects of running a real estate office is staying on top of the paperwork and all the details that go into seeing a transaction to closing. It's easy to get overwhelmed managing appointments and deadlines, checking signatures, and coordinating communications. Are you tired of paying the high cost for real estate management software while trying to manage your business with dozens of tools? As great as these Realtor tools are, you can free up more time from administrative tasks and benefit from a robust platform that keeps you in control. Transactly is real estate transaction management software that gives you a central hub to manage everything and a real estate TC who takes care of the details. The Transactly platform can be used on your own or with a transaction coordinator. Use customizable templates, automated reminders, document management, reporting, and the Transactly Hub which integrates with Dotloop, DocuSign, Gmail, Google Calendar, and more. You can even streamline the offer process by providing a unique listing link that allows parties to submit offers which can be reviewed and managed in real time! For just $95 per year, you can combine our tech-enabled platform with a dedicated transaction coordinator and live support. For a flat fee per transaction, your US-based TC handles everything from reviewing paperwork and ensuring compliance to scheduling, monitoring key dates, coordinating signatures, and monitoring closing. To view the original article, visit the Transactly blog.

9 Best Apps for Real Estate Agents
Looking to use the best apps for real estate agents? We've identified nine apps that help agents generate leads, organize tasks, and run an effective business. Use these nine real estate apps to increase your number of clients, close more deals, and run the strongest real estate business possible. 9 Best Apps for Real Estate Agents in 2022 As a real estate agent, you work on the move. From office meetings to client training to listing presentations to open houses – you operate as a one-person mobile office nearly every day. You're already using your smartphone to field calls, texts, and emails. So, make sure that you get the most out of your iPhone or Android by identifying and using the best apps for real estate agents. Apps real estate agents use are sometimes designed specifically with you in mind, while others are meant for anyone who is running a small business or trying to be more efficient with their workday. Either way, using these apps will make you a better, more responsive agent who can meet your clients' needs, close deals, and earn new business. Best Apps for Real Estate Agents: Lead Generation Homesnap Pro As an agent, you won't find a more informational, lead-generating tool for selling homes than Homesnap Pro. Homesnap Pro features direct integration with hundreds of MLSs across the country so that you have access to comprehensive MLS data such as price history, showings instructions, commission splits, property summary, recent sales, comps, school districts and property lines. Homesnap Pro also incorporates third-party data to surface listing details that agents otherwise wouldn't have access to, such as historical deed, mortgage, and tax records. Homesnap Pro is built for agents and has a variety of productivity and engagement tools, all available from the app or on a desktop browser. You can also share a branded version of the app with clients to collaborate on their home search and ensure that clients aren't poached by third-party advertisers. Plus, you can message directly with their leads and clients on the app – making Homesnap Pro a one-stop location to coordinate your clients' home buying and selling activities. Homesnap Pro also doubles as a home showing app: Homesnap Showings is a new, free, and modern showings management tool for agents in participating MLSs. Showings is a one-stop solution for buyer and listing agents, and will help you run the smoothest home showings possible for your clients. Homesnap Pro also has paid features, such as the ability to launch multi-channel ad campaigns that are fully managed by the Homesnap team. With Homesnap Pro+, you receive the best online reputation and lead generating marketing tool on the market. Pro+ helps you own Google local search results, build a strong Google business profile, provides you a custom, personalized website, and features advanced lead prospecting tools that helps you find homeowners who are ready to sell. Cost: Homesnap Pro is FREE. Talk with a Pro+ consultant to learn about upgrades. Get Homesnap Pro for Android or iOS. Homes.com You're already aware of how essential it is that you reach prospective home buyers and sellers on Google, social media platforms, and other digital channels. If you want to connect with high-intent buyers and sellers searching for their next home, you should also be working to reach prospective clients on Homes.com. Homes.com is the premier online home buying site, and endeavors to connect agents, buyers, and sellers. With over 1 million listings, you should feel confident that if you're on Homes.com, you'll reach the highest-intent, highest-value consumers on the market. Just how valuable are Homes.com users? 85% of Homes.com visitors who are planning to sell have not yet selected a listing agent. 73% of buyers on Homes.com have not yet selected a real estate professional. 56% of buyers on Homes.com plan to move in the next six months. In other words, Homes.com users are ready to buy or sell a home and have also generally not yet selected an agent to help them do it. You owe it to yourself to develop a presence on Homes.com so that you can reach these future leads. Better yet, Homes.com and Homesnap are now part of the same family at CoStar Group, and agents who upgrade to Homesnap Pro+ will now receive the added benefit of a boosted profile on Homes.com. Now, when prospects look for a real estate agent, Pro+ members get priority placement in the Homes.com agent search directory. Being at the top of the list means more eyeballs, leads, and local awareness. If you're a Pro+ member, you'll also have an enriched Homes.com profile that shows your five-star Google reviews, review rating, Google posts, agent stories, photos, and business hours and information. Use Homes.com to reach high-intent customers with a profile that showcases your real estate expertise. Then, enjoy more and better leads. Cost: Listing properties and creating a profile on Homes.com is FREE. Unlocking the full range of Homes.com lead generation possibilities is made easier with Homesnap Pro+ membership. Get Homes.com for Android or iOS. Apartments.com If you're an agent who is looking to reach renters, there is no better place to find leads than Apartments.com. Apartments.com is the leading online apartment listing website, offering renters access to information on more than 1 million houses, townhomes, condos, and apartments that are for rent. When you list your rentals on Apartments.com, you receive free and exclusive leads, as Apartments.com works directly with hundreds of MLSs across the country to provide brokers and agents like you maximum visibility for each of their listings. Your listings get seven times more exposure across the web thanks to the Apartments.com network of sites. Unlike other websites, Apartments.com never sells or shares your leads with your competitors. All leads for your listings are sent directly to you free and are yours exclusively. Plus, once you have leads, Apartments.com helps you expeditiously close deals with advanced tools and technology such as online applications and digital leases. Cost: FREE, so long as your MLS is a participating member. Check if your MLS is a data feed partner. Get Apartments.com for Android or iOS. Waze You likely already know about Waze as a useful app that gives you driving instructions and live updates to avoid traffic on the road and get places without delays or stress. What you may not realize is that Waze does more than get you from Point A to Point B. Waze Ads are an effective way to reach potential buyers as they drive by your home listings and neighborhoods where you do business. The COVID-19 pandemic upended many forms of digital marketing, and we've registered an incredible increase in the number of agents using Waze Ads since the start of the pandemic – upwards of 150%. Agents have found that Waze is particularly effective at advertising specific events, such as open houses. As you advertise on other channels such as Google and Facebook, consider taking out a Waze Ad close to and during the hours of the open house. You may find that drivers saw the the ad while stopped at a red light and decided to come by. Homesnap Pro agents have an advantage when it comes to advertising on Waze: Homesnap automates the Waze ad buying process, so you don't have to create ads from scratch or have an extensive knowledge of digital marketing targeting and optimization techniques. Plus, Homesnap leverages consumer behavior to target in-market consumers with precision, making it easier than ever for agents to drive interested, likely-to-buy prospects to your open house. Cost: For users, Waze is FREE to download and use. Waze Ads are affordable, especially if you buy them through Homesnap Pro Ads. Get Waze for Android or iOS. Best Apps for Real Estate Agents: Task Management and Organization Todoist Todoist is a task management app with a host of capabilities. With Todoist, you can: Organize tasks and projects Apply labels and filters Set reminders, priority levels, and due dates You can also add other people to projects you create so they can see the details, comment, share files and more. One of Todoist's best features is its integration capabilities with other apps. You can sync your Todoist account with the tools you use every day, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Chrome, Zapier, Alexa, and Slack. Productivity apps are most useful when fully synced with all of your devices, and Todoist does that well. Besides the smartphone apps, you can download Todoist to your desktop, add it as a browser extension, enable it as an email plug-in, and add it to your smartwatch. Cost: FREE. Subscription upgrade options available. Get Todoist for Android or iOS. 1Password If you have the same password for every one of your online logins, your data simply isn't secure. But practically every site and digital tool requires a password, and it can be difficult to remember them all. That's why you need a password manager. 1Password provides you a place to store various passwords, software licenses, and other sensitive information in a virtual vault that is locked with a guarded master password. Once you program the app, you simply open it, tap the account you want to access and 1Password will launch the app or website automatically (and autofill your login details). 1Password is able to store logins, lockbox combinations, credit cards, addresses, notes, bank accounts, driver's licenses, and passports – so you can use it for your professional and personal needs. Cost: Starting at $2.99/mo with a free 14-day trial Get 1Password for Android or iOS. Photoshop Express Photo Editor If you want leads, it's essential that you have compelling, professional listing or ad photos. Adobe Photoshop Express has all the crucial tools you need to have the best listing photos possible. Photoshop Express provides all the typical quick fixes, such as cropping, straightening, rotating and auto-adjusting for contrast and exposure enhancements. You can also dig deeper with filters and color effects that help make your photos look sharp and eye-catching. Best of all, Photoshop Express has tools to create collages and add text, logos, watermarks, and borders to any image. Cost: FREE. Subscription upgrade options available Get Photoshop Express for Android or iOS. Best Apps for Real Estate Agents: Accounting and Contracts QuickBooks As an agent, you often operate more like an entrepreneur or individual contractor than a traditional, salaried employee. That means you need to manage your own professional finances, and may mean that QuickBooks from Intuit is an important app to have at your fingertips. QuickBooks is one of the best apps for real estate agents because it helps you track and itemize your many expenses. Need supplies for an open house or even to get a quick coffee with a prospective home seller? QuickBooks helps you track these expenses and compare them to your income. Plus, QuickBooks accepts credit cards and electronic payments and money transfers. Know how much money you have coming in, how much is going out, and whether or not your real estate business is meeting your financial benchmarks with QuickBooks. Cost: Plans start at $25 per month. Get QuickBooks for Android or iOS. DocuSign The reality of real estate is that verbal agreements only mean so much: Contracts have to be put down on paper. But given the on-the-go nature of your job and the increasingly digital business atmosphere you and your clients live in, it's essential that you are able to seamlessly and quickly prepare, send, sign, and document your contracts from your phone. That's where DocuSign can help. DocuSign is a suite of applications and integrations for automating and connecting the entire agreement process. You can sign documents electronically, automate when and how you send different contracts, generate new documents and contracts, and even analyze contracts with artificial intelligence to make sure they meet legal standards. DocuSign saves you time and money printing and mailing contracts, and is accessible wherever you are or plan to be. Cost: Plans range from $10 per month to $40 per month, with a $25 plan designed specifically for real estate agents. Get DocuSign for Android or iOS. Use the Best Apps for Real Estate Agents to Grow Your Business In a competitive market, it is essential that you have the technology to attract new leads, effectively service your existing clients, and do it all from your phone. The nine top apps for real estate agents featured above will help you earn leads, stay organized, and manage your finances and contracts. Download these apps to become the go-to agent in your neighborhood and town for home buyers and sellers. To view the original article, visit the Homesnap blog.

Desktop vs. Mobile: Can You REALLY Complete a Whole Transaction from Your Phone?
Here's a statistic that's truly a sign of the times: More Realtors use their smartphone daily than their laptop or desktop computer, according to NAR. That shouldn't come as too much of a surprise—smartphones are far more convenient for real estate agents who are constantly on the go, and today's mobile devices pack the power of a computer in the palm of your hand. On top of that, agents can use smartphones in ways they can't use a computer, like opening lockboxes with Bluetooth, getting directions while on the road, creating and sharing property reports during a showing, and even using their phone as a safety device. But as convenient as a phone is for all those activities, the transaction remains the most crucial part of your real estate business. That means the million-dollar question is, Can you complete an entire transaction from contract to close solely from your mobile device? To find out, we took a deep dive into the mobile app of one of the top-rated transaction platforms in the industry, dotloop. With an advanced set of features, dotloop's mobile app is at the leading edge of what a transaction app can do, and here we'll use it as an example through which to explore this question. (If you use a different transaction platform, that app may have similar features, but check with your provider to be sure.) Below, you'll find the features that are exclusive to a transaction management mobile app, which features can be found on both desktop and mobile, and which tasks can only be accomplished from your computer. Mobile Exclusive Features Your phone's built-in camera and texting capabilities means your transaction management's mobile app can do things that the desktop version can't, such as: Scan Documents Using Your Device's Camera Once upon a time, scanning a document meant using a large piece of hardware hooked up to your computer. Thanks to ever-advancing mobile camera technology, now you can just snap a photo of a document and add it to a transaction. In dotloop, this is as simple as tapping Scan document within the Docs section of a transaction and snapping a photo. (You can also simply import a document photo from your camera's photo roll.) From there, you can add more pages, edit the photo as needed, and convert it into a signable PDF. Keep the Transaction Moving via Text Messaging Today's real estate market moves quickly. Keep your clients on top of everything by leaning on your smartphone's text messaging capabilities. Dotloop allows agents to send documents for signing via text, and clients can sign directly from their own phones to keep the transaction moving at a competitive pace. Texts can be sent to individuals or groups, and all communications can be tracked or exported. Here's what that looks like in dotloop: Manage Tasks and Signings with Push Notifications Need to stay on top of important tasks? Does your client need help staying on top of crucial document signings? Your mobile phone's push notifications will instantly alert you, your team members, and your clients to tasks, document updates and more to keep the transaction on track. Overlap: What Both Desktop and Mobile Can Accomplish Your transaction management's mobile and desktop versions have plenty of capabilities in common, including: Creating a transaction Adding documents to a transaction eSigning documents Submitting documents for review Modifying document permissions Adding or completing transaction tasks Admin acting on behalf of an agent Features That Are Desktop Only While the vast majority of transaction tasks can be completed on mobile alone, there are a couple things that you'll need your regular computer for. For example, if you have duplicate transactions, you'll need to log in to dotloop's desktop platform to merge them. Likewise, you'll need your computer to submit to Greensheet/TRACS/Homebase. Other times you may need your desktop boils down to whether you have an iOS or Android phone. For example, you can remove a person from a transaction on iOS, but not on Android. In that case, Android users will have to use their computer to remove a person. On the flip side, both Android and iPhone users can submit documents for review, but only brokers using Android will be able to approve and return documents on mobile. iPhone-using brokers will have to use their laptop or desktop computer to complete this task. Learn more about the differences between dotloop's desktop and mobile versions here: iOS, Android. In Conclusion So what did we learn? Can you complete a transaction entirely on mobile? For the majority of agents, the answer is Yes. When you use a mobile app like dotloop, you can execute everything from your phone or tablet all the way from texting a new client a buyer's or seller's agreement to sending the final documents for eSigning and approval. How much of the transaction you want to accomplish on mobile is, of course, up to you. To learn more about dotloop's mobile app or to read reviews, visit the App Store or Google Play.

RPR's 10 Best Real Estate Apps for 2021
Tech is no stranger to the real estate business. Nowadays you can perform a laundry list of tasks by just using your phone. Not to mention market yourself, post to social media, manage relationships, generate leads, create content and so much more. However, sometimes all that technology can get a bit overwhelming and it's tough to keep up with all the tech tools available to you. Perhaps you just need a quick list of helpful tools, in the form of digital applications, that can make you a more proficient and efficient agent. RPR's annual "Best of Apps" article's got you covered! Read on to see how your tech stack stacks up to our 2021 list. 1. RPR (Realtors Property Resource) Topline: Property data, tools and reports that will "wow" your clients and help you close more deals. Summary: Well, of course we're going to include RPR in our list of "favorite apps." But first one on the list? Bold! As a REALTOR®, RPR is your exclusive NAR member benefit. And with it, you can perform transactions, service your clients and build your business by: Researching properties for up-to-date data and information Creating Property Reports, Neighborhoods Reports, School Reports, Market Activity Reports and more Viewing recent activity and local market conditions around you Accessing tax, mortgage, historical and distressed data, and flood zones Searching for schools within an area or school district Adding photos, text and audio notes to any property Using geographic farming techniques to prospect for leads Utilizing maps to discover travel times and traffic counts Building bullet-proof CMAs and listing presentations Using the RPR app to respond to clients in seconds when you're in the field And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how much RPR can do for you and your real estate business. Get your app downloaded today: RPR from Apple App Store, and RPR from Google Play. Cost: Free! RPR is included in your National Association of REALTORS® dues as a member benefit. 2. Magisto Topline: An AI-powered, computerized video editor that makes video storytelling super easy. Summary: Magisto is an offering from Vimeo, who obviously have major video cred. This app (along with a desktop software version) helps its users create high quality video content, and do it quickly. Users edit the photos they want to include, then select stock templates, then add a title and select a music bed. Then the real fun starts! Magisto's AI program puts it all together into an eye-catching version which the user can edit or use as-is. For real estate agents, it's perfect for video home tours or promoting a highlight reel of yourself on social media or via email. Cost: $10, $20 or $70 per month 3. Sentrilock Topline: Offers the first and only combined lockbox, showing service, and experience management solution. Summary: SentriLock, which is owned by NAR, is an industry-leading electronic lockbox manufacturer and provider of property access solutions. SentriLock prides itself on being easy to use, reliable and secure. And of course, it has a digital application, called SentriConnect®, which allows REALTORS® to easily manage home access, showings, and client communication – all from their phone or tablet. In addition, REALTORS® using SentriKey Real Estate® have one-click access to property data via the RPR app on their iOS or Android devices—an integration that will prove highly valuable to REALTORS® who want to present on-the-spot data and reports to their clients. (Click here for details). Cost: For REALTORS®: $137.80 per month, plus a $50 one-time activation fee. 4. Forewarn Topline: Safety! Forewarn allows agents to work safer and smarter by instantly verifying a prospect's identity and potential risks prior to a face-to-face meeting. Summary: By nature, the business of real estate can sometimes involve talking and meeting with strangers. 99.99% of the time everything is perfectly fine and safe, but you can never be too careful. With the Forewarn app, agents can properly and safely plan for showings with a higher level of confidence. In seconds, with as little information as a phone number or a name, agents can verify a prospect's identity, criminal records, bankruptcies, liens, judgments, address history, and property records all in one place, leading to safer and more productive interactions. Basically, find out if people are who they say they are and do a little extra digging for good measure. Cost: $20/month with an annual agreement for individual agents. However, discounts are available for brokerages and associations purchasing licenses in volume. 5. Clicky Topline: Clicky tracks website traffic and behavior to help you improve user experience. Summary: Clicky helps you track important data on how your website is used by your visitors. It works very much the same way as Google Analytics, but several reviewers say Clicky's interface is more user-friendly. It offers metrics and heat maps that track individual website navigation. In other words, you can see what areas of your website visitors are clicking on and engaging with most, and conversely, what areas need improvement. Cost: Free, limited to one site with a maximum of 3,000 daily page views. Premium plans also available starting at $10 per month. 6. Stride Topline: Easily track your mileage, expenses and more. Summary: As a self employed, independent contractor, REALTORS® need to keep track of business expenses for tax purposes. The Stride app puts you on cruise control when it comes to keeping track of mileage by automatically uploading your miles. It's got some other nifty write-off features too, such as allowing users to import expenses from their bank account and keep track of receipts. And as a bonus, it also suggests deduction options, integrates with tax preparation software, and offers an IRS-ready tax summary. Cost: It's free! 7. TurboScan (Apple)/ TurboScan (Google) Topline: Make high quality scans of any hard copy document from your phone. Summary: TurboScan (Apple) / TurboScan (Google) turns your smartphone into a full-featured and powerful multipage scanner for documents, receipts, notes, whiteboards, photos, and various other everyday hard copies. However, you're not just snapping a pic and converting it to a PDF or JPEG. TurboScan uses advanced technology (algorithms) to accurately detect document edges, straighten out and correct perspective, eliminate shadows and set a perfect black and white contrast. Crisp, clear, scanned docs and the price is right! Cost: One-time $6 fee 8. Follow Up Boss Topline: An entire CRM in your pocket that streamlines sales activities for real estate agents, teams and brokerages to help them better manage their leads. Summary: If you're looking for an all-in-one customer relationship management software tool, Follow Up Boss sits proudly in the corner office. This well-reviewed real estate CRM is designed to help sales agents follow up faster and more often, with the people most likely to turn into deals. Notable features include auto-send for emails, inbound and outbound call management, drip emails, and automated text messaging in one streamlined interface. Another huge benefit of Follow Up Boss is that it integrates with tons of lead sources including Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com, Ylopo, Facebook and many more. And its list of business-building features is never-ending with categories including basic CRM, Marketing, Reporting, Lead Providers and Integrations. Check out their site for full details. Cost: Free trial for 14 days, then $69 per month, with price increases depending on the number of users. There's a reason Follow Up Boss is pricey—it packs a performance punch and should be looked at as an investment vs. an expense. 9. Mojo Dialer Topline: Dialing system and lead generation platform. Summary: If you're not familiar with auto dialing systems, here's how they work: you make an outbound call from your phone through the Mojo platform. Once you connect, the system begins dialing the numbers in your list. When a lead answers, you hear them immediately. As you progress through the list, Mojo knows what phone numbers to dial next. Users don't even hear the ringing, which makes long prospecting sessions a breeze. Numbers that ring busy, are disconnected or don't get picked up, roll over to the next number automatically without manual input. And if you run into an answering machine, you will be able to leave pre-recorded messages. One last thing: this app is the mobile companion app for the Mojo Dialer, which means you can untether from your desk and make your calls from anywhere. If you're an old school prospect dialer, Mojo might be for you. Get yours on! Cost: $99 for a single user, per month 10. Cloze Topline: A smart CRM and AI assistant in one that automatically keeps track of your email, phone calls, text messages, meetings, documents, and social media. Summary: Besides being one the best-named apps we've ever seen, Cloze is also the hassle-free way to manage everything about your business in one place. When you need client information fast, the Cloze app syncs and pulls data automatically from your most used platforms to provide you with every detail needed to stay on top of client relations. And data entry? A thing of the past with this app. It also compiles your communication history with a client, including emails, calls, and exchanged files. And their proactive artificial intelligence prompts you to keep in-touch, with the right message at the right time. Cost: From $17-$42 per month And that's a wrap on our best of apps for 2021! To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

3 Apps Guaranteed to Save You Time
Agents are busy. Very busy. The one sunny break in an otherwise gloomy economic forecast during the pandemic has been the real estate industry. Home sale activity has exceeded the most optimistic projections, and many agents have been inundated with business. It's extra tough when most of your free time and work time are now spent under the same roof: at home. Ensuring you continue to remain productive is vital for closing transactions today and building new business tomorrow. You can increase your efficiency while still building future business if you get a little help. The good news is there is technology available today that you can use to help you speed up or simplify some time-consuming tasks. Here are three apps that can help you save time, make you more efficient, and help you build future business:

5 Reasons to Make the Move to the SentriKey Real Estate Mobile App
Why make the switch from the SentriCard to the SentriKey mobile app when accessing your properties? While the SentriCard gets the job done--it opens SentriLock lockboxes--the SentriKey Real Estate app is a faster, more feature-rich experience. It's mobile access made easy that powers your day! Check out these five benefits of using the app, and you'll know why more than three-quarters of all SentriLock lockbox accesses are made with it exclusively.

[Best of 2020] 5 Real Estate Apps that Will 'Wow' You and Your Clients
We're continuing an annual tradition of counting down our top 10 articles of the year. The following article was originally published in March and is #9 in our countdown. See #10 here. At this point, digital applications are as much a part of real estate as photos on your business card and yard arms. With an app on your phone or device, you can schedule showings, manage documents, create CMAs and complete just about any task in a transaction. Here's RPR's yearly look (usually one of our more popular blog entries) at our short list of buzzworthy real estate apps. Or in some cases, apps that can be applied to the real estate biz.

These Are the 5 Best Real Estate Apps for 2021
One thing that all dedicated real estate agents have in common is that they're always on the move. They're running from office trainings to client meetings to listing presentations to open houses--fielding calls, texts and emails on their smartphone along the way. This little pocket computer is essentially a mobile office, but it obviously has the capability to do much more than standard call and email communications. Apps, of course, are what unlock that potential. Below are five of the best real estate apps on the market. Not all of these are geared purely toward agents, but that doesn't stop them from being excellent tools for the job. Make your work life easier by downloading and becoming acquainted with these apps.

Restream for Real Estate: How to take a home showing live everywhere
Real estate is a corner of the economy that has been largely spared from the economic impact of the COVID pandemic. Low interest rates, federal economic support, and the spirit of wanting to be a homeowner in uncertain times have led to massive expansion and record setting transaction volume. But we must think of safety first. Many buyers are purchasing homes subject to viewing and inspection. In other words, buyers are submitting offers sight unseen. The belly of homebuyers today are relying on livestream showings. It's a simple concept. An agent turns on their camera phone and walks through the house talking and pointing the camera.

3 Easy Ways to Scan Documents, Create PDFs with Your Phone
In the past, sending photos and documents from a remote location meant spending time in front of a fax machine. You would stand there, waiting for it to connect and then slowly watch each page crawl through the scanner. Then the most crucial part: remaining until the final "Fax Confirmation" page printed to tell you everything went through. But in the mobile age, sending photos and documents can be done on your smartphone through text or email. Best of all, today you can turn just about any image or document into an Adobe Portable Document Format, or PDF. With a simple smartphone app, you can teach your clients to do the same.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Homesnap Stories for Virtual Tours
Social distancing is still very much part of daily life. Yet, the need to keep your business running remains ever-present. Here's how Homesnap Stories can help you stay relevant with buyers and sellers. Homesnap Stories are an effective way to replicate the traditional, in-person open house experience. Using Homesnap Stories, agents can add a video tour of themselves walking throughout a property directly to their listing page on Homesnap, highlighting key amenities and allowing prospective buyers to see a property in a way that makes them feel at ease. With Homesnap Stories, you can add unique, engaging marketing content right to your active listings through the Homesnap Pro app. Add text, emojis, and even use augmented reality to create one-of-a-kind marketing content that you can also share on Facebook and Instagram. Homesnap Stories are ideal for getting across selling points about a property that are difficult to convey from photos alone. And because Homesnap Stories sit on your listing page until the property is off the market, accessible to anyone, there's no need to coordinate and record live stories from scratch anytime you have an interested client. Here's how you can add one to your listing: Find the "Add Story" button near the top of any of your active listings. Upload photos from your phone, or take new photos/video in real time, if you are able to. Add text to make your photo or video pop. Make sure to highlight the most important features. As buyers are unlikely to visit the property in person, it's imperative to be comprehensive in your approach. Overdoing it isn't much of a concern as of right now. Err on the side of showing more. Add emojis or real estate stickers to draw attention to important selling points. We have a custom set of real estate-themed stickers — in addition to traditional emojis — so you can easily call out big selling points. New roof? Walk-in closet? Make sure to highlight. Add 3D effects with augmented reality mode. Get creative and stand out by adding personalized 3D effects — like a for-sale or price drop — that become virtual objects in your Story. Add a voice-over or music Voice-over is an excellent tool to explain specific features, showcase your personality, or demonstrate your professionalism and expertise on camera. Music makes for a more inviting listing. Post your Story. When your Story is complete, hit the button to post and it'll appear right on your listing. If you want to share it on your own Facebook or Instagram Stories page, you can easily do that as well. After your Story is published, you can also see when your branded clients and connected agents have viewed your Story. It's a great way to follow up with clients who might be interested in your listing. We know times are difficult right now. We hope Homesnap Stories can make things just a little bit easier. To view the original article, visit the Homesnap blog.

Why You (and Your Clients) Should Be Obsessed with Homesnap
Homesnap has always been built with agents and brokers front of mind. If you fall into that category, you'll always find new tools that help you work more efficiently and effectively -- and you won't find advertisements from other agents on your listings or an iBuyer program that competes with you for business. But being your partner in success also means providing you with tools that help you work better with your clients while creating a safe haven so you can protect those relationships. That's why other real estate apps can't compete with the All-New Homesnap Pro. Here's why so many agents and their clients are obsessed with the Homesnap app — and why you should be, too.

RPR User Shares Her Quick and Easy Safety Tip
Unfortunately, predatory crimes against REALTORS is a very serious problem. If you've read any recent headlines or seen any news stories on the subject, you know that REALTOR safety is an important issue. Due to the nature of the business (open houses, talking to complete strangers, being places alone, etc.), agents need to be informed and aware of their situations and surroundings at all times.

Trello: A Great App to Help You Organize and Prioritize Your Workflow
Sometimes the out-of-the-box apps that come with your phone just aren't quite enough to organize and prioritize your workload. Whether you are a standalone REALTOR or you have an assistant or team, everybody needs a workflow system. In the old days, we could tape a paper or card on the wall for all involved to see and document progress. Back then, we worked in an office about eight hours a day, no internet, cellphones so all work happened in that space. Today, our systems need to be mobile, remote and accessible to one or many as we collaborate on tasks and projects. Workflows used to be simple. Today? Not so much, so we need a system to take that paper or card we, in the past, taped to the wall and make it work for today's technology. Now, please picture a paper or card taped to the wall as I explain Trello.

Best Apps to Track Your Business Expenses: Expensify and Mile IQ
My last article was about adding a communication platform using Slack to help you run your business. This week, it's about something most of us are terrible at doing--accounting and business expenses. I have been fortunate that a couple of my contract jobs used Expensify, and it made my job so easy by keeping records and recording expenses, so I wanted to share.

[Best of 2019] 10 Real Estate Apps that Will Amplify Your Productivity
We're continuing an annual tradition of counting down our top 10 articles of the year. The following article was originally published in March and is #9 in our countdown. See #10 here. Welcome to our annual "Best Apps" article; a yearly entry that has proven to be very popular among agents. Once again, we've researched and gathered up an impressive collection of digital applications that will make you a more efficient and more successful REALTOR. Gone are the days when apps were strictly for early adopters and tech wizards. Nowadays, incorporating business apps into your everyday workflow is the price of admission in the ever-changing, on-the-go real estate landscape. Using these apps can make you more productive, more responsive, and more capable to serve your clients and gain new ones. Enjoy this year's 10 Real Estate Apps That Will Amplify Your Productivity:

9 RPR App Features to Increase Your Productivity in the New Year
Another year has flown right by. And while it's time to enjoy the holiday season and reflect on the past year's accomplishments, it's never too early to get a jump on next year's path to success. A sure-fire way to "wow" your clients and close more deals is incorporating the RPR Mobile app into your everyday real estate business tasks. This "secret menu" list of pointers and shortcuts will ensure that your next experience with the RPR app is a productive one.

Apple Users: Let's Set Up Notes to the Max!
First things first: Android users, I promise to update Google Keep often, and please don't feel slighted as I dedicate these tips to Apple users! Now, let's talk how we can maximize Notes on our iPhones and iPads. Many of the features I have covered in this series depends on having all your Apple devices connected to the iCloud. Before you panic about storage space and having to spend money buying more iCloud storage, we can talk about ways to use your iCloud storage wisely later (that's another article).

Want to Use Mobile Scanner Software? Be Very Careful!
I'm not sure how many of you heard about the malicious Android scanner app that had more than 100 million downloads from Google Play. We always expect Google Play and Apple's App Store to be safe from malware, they can't be 100% safe with the number of apps being built daily. We are in the middle of a seven-part series about Apple Notes and Google Keep, and the next subject I want to discuss is scanning documents. Both Notes and Keep have scanning capabilities that have been around for years, and I feel are safe from malicious malware.

Collaborating with Others Using Apple Notes and Google Keep
Collaboration using Apple Notes and Google Keep offers many features that will help REALTORS be organized. Over the next few weeks, I will be highlighting the benefits of using these FREE apps (hope you saw my "How to Grab Text from an Image Using Google Keep" article that I shared recently). Collaboration has so many uses in business and life. Let's start with business: you can have a note that updates instantly across all your devices, including the devices of those with whom you have shared the note. For example, this could be a note shared between a REALTOR and an administrative assistant; with every client you could start a collaborating note; teams could share information; brokers could have all agents and staff on the same notes.

10 Real Estate Apps that Will Amplify Your Productivity
Welcome to our annual "Best Apps" article; a yearly entry that has proven to be very popular among agents. Once again, we've researched and gathered up an impressive collection of digital applications that will make you a more efficient and more successful REALTOR. Gone are the days when apps were strictly for early adopters and tech wizards. Nowadays, incorporating business apps into your everyday workflow is the price of admission in the ever-changing, on-the-go real estate landscape. Using these apps can make you more productive, more responsive, and more capable to serve your clients and gain new ones. Enjoy this year's 10 Real Estate Apps That Will Amplify Your Productivity:

The 5 Real Estate Apps Every Agent Should Be Using
In this day and age, it is not hard to be addicted to your phone. Real estate agents are always on the go, making their mobile devices crucial to the way they run their business. While you probably have your go-to apps that help you get through your day, there are a few real estate apps that can make your life as a busy agent a little bit easier. Try out these five real estate apps and see if they can help you accomplish more tasks in a shorter amount of time:

9 RPR App Features to Increase Your Productivity in the New Year
You know that thrill you get when you come across a tip or trick that helps make your app experience just a tad more efficient? Like pressing the app button for a shortcut to a favorite feature, or swiping to the left to quickly save for later? Every app has tricks of the trade, yet for some reason, they don't always appear magically on our radar. This post will give you nine tips to make sure your next experience with the RPR app is a productive one.

[Best of 2018] 10 Apps that Boost Your Real Estate Marketing Firepower
We're continuing an annual tradition of counting down our top 10 articles of the year. The following article was originally published in September and is #7 in our countdown. See #8 here. For this year's awesome apps article, we've focused on apps REALTORS can use to quickly and effectively ramp up their marketing prowess. Some of these apps have been around for a while, while others are new, but they all provide a unique and polished offering.

Friday Freebie: Get Your Own, Personal Emoji
Want to make an emoji that looks like you in mere seconds? Now you can. This week, Google launched a new feature that uses machine learning to analyze your selfie and generate an emoji that looks just like you. Find out how you can create and customize your own emoji in this week's Friday Freebie.

What Do You Do When There's No App for That?
Today, agents carry what amounts to a mini-supercomputer in their pockets and purses. And if that smartphone malfunctions, the result can be a business catastrophe. Apple's creation of the first iPhone over a decade ago, along with its trademark of the phrase "There's an app for that," was revolutionary for the real estate business, but no one has invented the phone that heals itself when it breaks. As an agent, what do you do when your smartphone doesn't power up? Your computer gets infected with a nasty virus or malware? Your printer won't print, your outgoing email messages get stuck, or you can't connect to Wi-Fi, no matter what you try?

10 Apps that Boost Your Real Estate Marketing Firepower
For this year's awesome apps article, we've focused on apps REALTORS can use to quickly and effectively ramp up their marketing prowess. Some of these apps have been around for a while, while others are new, but they all provide a unique and polished offering.

Friday Freebie: Text Messaging Stickers for Real Estate
From smiley faces to common objects to various fruits and vegetables, emojis today cover just about every situation imaginable. That is, however, except for one--real estate. That's all changed, though, thanks to an Arizona-based brokerage that has released a collection of real estate emojis that integrate right into your smartphone's keyboard. Now real estate agents can use emojis that range from various houses to sales related icons like "Offer Accepted," "Price Drop," and more in their communications with clients. Read on to find out how you can nab this real estate emoji collection for yourself!

How to Secretly Use Instagram as Your Photo Editor (without Posting)
From Photoshop to Lightroom to free programs like GIMP, there are a ton of photo editing tools for real estate agents to choose from. But despite all of those options, have you ever wanted to just, well... run that listing photo (or social media graphic) through Instagram instead? We know, we know—Instagram is really just supposed to be a fun, basic photo editing app, and not a "professional" tool. But let's forget all that today and just acknowledge that Instagram does make your images look pretty darn cool, and that it's perfectly okay to want to use this handy app as a photo editor. But here's the complication: Instagram is set up so that once you run an image through its filters, you have to post it to save it. What if you just want to use Instagram's filters and not post to the image at all, but save it for use elsewhere? Can that be done? Happily, we're here to tell you that it can—but you have to be a little bit crafty about it and employ some workarounds. Here is our quick hack for using Instagram as a photo editor, no posting required.

Top (Free) Apps for Real Estate Agents in 2018
Happy New Year! It's time to strategize and plan for an even more successful 2018 business year by reviewing the previous year's successes and failures. As a business owner, you don't have to spend much to achieve success, and with the proper apps in place, you can save time and improve workflow. Here are the top FREE apps for 2018!

9 Apps for Mastering Productivity
Looking for real estate productivity tools to help you make the most of your ever-shrinking calendar? No matter how or where your schedule's ailing, rest assured, there's an app for that.

DOSS Launches Smart Voice Search Tool for Real Estate
Look out, Zillow and Trulia, there's a new property search player in town—and it may just be the smartest kid on the block. Today, DOSS debuted a real estate search tool powered by advanced artificial intelligence. Ask DOSS is an app that lets users search listings with their voice, in a way that's very similar to interacting with Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant. Users can say, for example, "DOSS, find me two bedroom condos in Biloxi," rather than typing a traditional search query.

Have you seen what's hidden within the RPR app icon?
Real estate agents rely on RPR Mobile for quick access to virtually everything they want to know about on-or-off market properties, neighborhoods, schools, market activity and, of course, the best-in-class, customizable and co-branded reports. Now, getting your hands on the RPR data you need is even easier. Introducing digital shortcuts to the features you use most, now within the RPR app. Known as 3D Touch on iOS and Quick Shortcuts on Android, the shortcuts are really all about efficiency, enabling users to gain quick access to favorite RPR features such as nearby properties, an agent's current listings, recent reports, and saved searches.

2017 Contenders: Instagram's Stories vs. Snapchat's My Story
Right now, social platforms are battling it out for who will be today's heavyweight champion by adding the newest features and trying to drive traffic to their networks. This seems to be the "story" between two social platforms that share similar features: Snapchat and Instagram. When utilizing social media to drive leads to your real estate business, you can't help but wonder which of these two contenders – Snapchat or Instagram – is better to have in your corner. Once you fully understand the features and compare them, you can make an informed decision on which social platform you should spend advertising dollars on to build your presence.

Must-Have Apps for Real Estate Pros
Real estate agents can attest—there never seems to be enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to do. There are, however, quite a few tools available that will help you make the most of your time. Real estate apps are a great solution for agents because you can take them with you on the go, access key data from your phone at any time, and use them in the office to maximize productivity. There are plenty of valuable options to choose from, and we're here to help you take a closer look at the most effective apps for real estate agents. Top-Rate Real Estate Apps to Make Life Easier and Earn New Business

Tired of Your MLS's Clunky Interface? Here's How to Give It an Instant Makeover
MLS systems aren't exactly known for having the prettiest of interfaces, or the most intuitive, or the... well, you get the point. MLS software has a long way to go before it wins any design awards. But that's okay, because there's an easy way to bypass all the blah dished up by your typical MLS. That's thanks to an app called Cloud MLX. It's the latest solution highlighted in our series of articles on overlooked features and functions of apps and programs from our 2017-18 Technology Guide.

Why Use the RPR app? Hear from These 7 REALTORS®
1. Impress clients with instant access to data Open houses present a prime opportunity for RPR users to demonstrate their ability to respond instantly to every type of inquiry. As guests express interest in nearby properties, a quick RPR search on your tablet or phone will yield current listings by list or map view. Use the buyer's preferences to email or text RPR Property Reports on potential properties, as well as an RPR Neighborhood Report, which presents an in-depth portrait of the people who live in a target area. Others may ask about area schools. Here, jump right back into RPR and offer to email or text them an RPR School Report, an in-depth portrait of student populations, testing outcomes, parental reviews, ratings, and contact information about a public or private school. For those interested in your listing, an RPR Comp Analysis will demonstrate your razor-like precision on how you determined the home's list price. "I downloaded the RPR app three days prior to my open house and played around with it for about 30 seconds," says Gregg Center, a REALTOR® from Sarasota, Florida. "I'm new to RPR, so I had honestly forgotten about it. The RPR app returned search results within seconds, instantly displaying every home for sale within a half mile radius of where we were standing ... including, of all places, a listing right across the street." Watch Now: Hail Mary Effort Proves Worthy of This Realtor's Strategic Open House Move

11 of the Best Real Estate Agent Tools
Being a real estate agent is challenging, and it's especially hard when you aren't aware of the tools that can help you. Trust us – there's a ton out there that can help if you know where to look. We've compiled a list of the best real estate tools from mobile apps to CRM services to help you do your job even better. Read ahead to start adding to your real estate tech toolbox and become the best equipped agent you can be. Organizational tools: Being a real estate agent is hard work and there are a lot of moving parts. As a result, it's important to stay organized so that you don't miss important phone calls or double book appointments. Here are a few organizational tools to keep your life in check: 1. Deductr: Deductr, available both online and as a mobile app, was created to help track tax deductions so you're not leaving money on the table. You can track your income, miles driven, and your hours to make the most of your tax returns. Deductr also provides notifications and reminders to track your expenses so you have all your important information in one place. 2. OmniFocus: An organizational app available on all devices from your laptop to Apple watch, OmniFocus provides you with the tools to ensure that you're getting the most out of your day. It allows you to see your schedule, responsibilities, projects, and even your inbox from various "contexts" – personal, professional, etc. You'll never miss another work appointment or forget about a meeting at your kid's school – especially since it provides push notifications to remind you!

5 Ways to Unlock the Power of a Lockbox with Mobile
The lockbox has evolved well beyond its beginnings as a simple, secure storage place for keys. Thanks to today's mobile technology, lockboxes have become the Swiss army knife of real estate tools. No doubt you've used your phone's Bluetooth® capability to release the shackle of your lockbox or open the key compartment. But did you know there's plenty more features your phone or tablet can help you unlock? Here are five ways your favorite mobile device can help you unlock the full power of the lockbox—and even help you sell more listings. 1. Pull up listing information instantly Want to start impressing buyers from the moment you walk into a home for a showing? REALTORS® who use SentriLock lockboxes can when they use the SentriSmart™ mobile app. Thanks to integrations with RPR, HomesnapPRO and HomeSpotter, agents can instantly view listing details when they unlock a property's lockbox. Here's how it works: after accessing the lockbox with the SentriSmart™ mobile app, SentriSmart™ asks if you want to view the property's information in one of SentriLock's partner apps. Select your preferred app and SentriSmart™ will automatically direct you to the property details page of the home you're showing. That way, you'll instantly have all the information you need on hand to answer your buyer's questions.

Hidden Features: 3 Google Maps Tricks Agents Should Know
Google Maps is a free tool with a lot of neat features that real estate agents can appreciate. While we've talked about ways that agents can leverage Google Maps in the past, the program has advanced leaps and bounds since then. Did you know Google Maps offers a personal safety app now? Neither did we. And that's just one example—there's a lot more where that came from. Here's a look at the latest Google Map features you may not have heard of just yet: 1. 'Trusted Contacts' Safety App This app popped on the scene in December. It taps into your phone's GPS capabilities to notify your emergency contacts when you're in danger and share your location with them. It also lets trusted contacts 'walk you home' in threatening situations—they can speak with you while monitoring your GPS location on a map. Select people can even monitor your location on Google Maps, and request a safety status check if worried. Trusted Contacts is currently available for Android. An iOS version is coming soon; sign up here to be notified of its release.

Five Expense Tracking Apps to Prepare You for Next Year's Tax Season
As the 2016 tax season comes to an end, you become your own private investigator: searching every crevice, purse, drawer, or shoebox imaginable to find every last receipt or document needed to show proof of purchase for business expenses. That's the burden of tax preparation: whether you own your own business or work as a self-employed employee (1099 filing status), you have to show proof of all your business expenses. Knowing what you can deduct and keeping track of these expenses throughout the year can take the hassle out of filing your taxes. Tax Deductions As a real estate professional, you need to know which of your expenses are tax deductible. Being aware of possible deductions can help you know which receipts to save and what activities and expenses to document. (*We advise everyone to consult their tax professional regarding their specific situations and to find more information about applicable tax deductions.) Here are some tax deductions you may qualify for. Vehicle According to the IRS website, vehicle deductions vary. First, you have the choice of adding up all expenses like gas, repairs, oil, and (yes, even) car washes, or you can use the standardized mileage deduction. The way the IRS standard mileage works is for every mile driven, a certain dollar amount is applied to it. Second, if you are leasing, you can expense the complete payment of your car or deduct annual depreciation if owned. Finally, if you don't own a car, Uber and taxi expenses are deductible. Home Office / Supplies If you have a dedicated work space in your home (not including your living room or kitchen), a portion of your rent / mortgage based on the size of the space is deductible (please see the IRS website for home office specifications). This is also applicable to internet, cable, and phones used within the home. Office supplies like staples, paperclips, and stamps used in the tax year can also be deducted. Office furniture like desk, chairs, and bookcases can be deducted all at once or by depreciation.

The 5 Best Video Chat Apps for Real Estate Agents
No, you're not imagining it. Open house attendees, showing appointments and even your fellow agents are video chatting a lot more often these days. It makes sense that in our hyper-social world, buyers may want to crowdsource their decision before they make an offer. But they're not the only people who can get ahead using video chat technology. Agents can also leverage live video chat apps to keep in touch with out-of-town clients, update buyers about small changes that have been made due to contingencies or inspections, or to simply show off their latest listing to other agents who are too busy in the field to swing by the broker open. We've done the research and the Results Series team informally voted on our top five favorite video chat apps for 2017. Read on to see which video chat app is best for you and your clients. 1. Most Intuitive: FaceTime FaceTime is the native video chat app for Apple mobile devices — iPad and iPhone. FaceTime is designed to use your wi-fi connection first, but will connect and run through your data if wi-fi is unavailable. Here's how to check to ensure that your iPhone knows to use wi-fi first, with data as a backup. Biggest FaceTime advantage: Unlike other apps that require a special download, FaceTime has just one barrier to entry: it's available to iPhone users who are contacting other iPhone users. This makes it a great option for anyone, regardless of their technical prowess. The technology comes pre-loaded on your iPhone and you just have to tap the FaceTime icon within your contacts to make a FaceTime call. Biggest FaceTime disadvantage: FaceTime is still a 1-to-1 app, so you can't yet host a group video chat. Rumor has it that you'll be able to host group chats with the launch of ioS 11 this June. FaceTime best practice: Even if the purpose of the call is to show off the listing, be sure to start every call in selfie mode, so you can quickly establish a connection before you turn the camera on the property. And remember to avoid looking at the corner where your face is; always make eye contact with the call recipient when in selfie mode by looking at the lens.

5 Real Estate Apps Every Agent Should Try
Let me guess—you're addicted to your phone. Real estate agents are always on the go, making their mobile devices crucial to the way they run their business. While you probably have your go-to apps for helping you get through the day, I want to introduce you to a few of my most favorite real estate apps that can make your life as a busy agent a little bit easier. Try out these five real estate apps and see if they can help you accomplish more tasks in a shorter amount of time: 1. Waze Real estate agents spend a lot of time in their car travelling to meetings, presentations and open houses. While there are plenty of apps to give you directions, Waze goes a step further. By using community-based information from users, you'll get real time traffic and road information, saving you precious time and mileage. Waze will give you road alerts, route recommendations, and even the cheapest gas prices in the area. It's a terrific example of community content benefiting the common good, and might save you from being late for an important meeting! Download Waze in the App Store or on Google Play.