Tech Smart Real Estate

It has been a long time coming for those that have waiting months for the new Apple iCloud to be released but it is here and I have utilizing it now for about 10 days. The iCloud is a digital storage and syncing service that offers 5GB of storage for free but has upgraded storage for a nominal yearly fee.

To install the iCloud on your iPad or iPhone you must download the most current version of iTunes (version 10.5.0.142) and then download the new OS5 to your device. This process took me about 40 minutes each for my iPad and iPhone. A sub-feature related to iTunes called iTunes Match which will allow users to store and utilize an unlimited number of songs via the iCloud for $ 24.99 per year. This means that your songs will be synchronized through the iCloud and stored on it.

Once you download the OS5 the iCloud will appear on your device. You will set up the iCloud using your Apple ID. If you were utilizing Mobile ME, Apples original cloud solution, you can set up iCloud to this account.

The iCloud will allow you share your iCal (calendar app) so that an update to your calendar is not only pushed to all of a user’s own device but to those who subscribe to the calendar as well. If you are PC Windows user there is an option to download iCloud as well to your PC. This will give the option to sync your calendar with Outlook.

In addition to syncing your calendar to multiple devices the iCloud allows you to sync contacts, mail, notes, and bookmarks. There are two new features which will also sync. The first is called PhotoStream, which pulls images directly from the camera roll of a your device, puts them in the iCloud, and sends them to any desired devices, including Macs and the Apple TV. The last 1,000 photos are kept for 30 days by default, and moving the pictures to an album keeps them forever. The other is a new feature called reminders which lets you set up reminders which sync between all your devices utilizing the iCloud.

Another really great feature is that if you are using Pages, all of these documents will be automatically backed up and pushed to all other Pages enabled devices. This means you can back up your MacBook Pages documents and get them on your iPad. Your purchased iBooks can be auto-synced to all devices as well.

Similar to HP’s webOS, iCloud will also allow iOS devices to complete automatic daily backups of your devices to the cloud. This means that you can back up your device without hooking it up to iTunes which is a cool feature and ensures your data is backed up daily with no thought by the user.

I have found using the new iCloud to be pretty easy even though there is a ton of features. I love the fact, that I can add an appointment in my calendar and it will sync with my MacBook, Outlook, iPad and iPhone and the same is true when I add in a new contact or reminder. The iCloud has taken the idea of “cloud” computing to a new level with genius and intuitiveness.

Content by Jason Jakus, Leisure American Realty, LLC on Fort Myers Beach, FL

Go here to read his blog

Although Stephen Covey recently released his newest book titles the “8^thHabit, From Effectiveness to Greatness”,  I stand by the notion that there is one more habit, I call habit 9. Habit 9 is the Technology Habit – Stay on top of technology or be left behind.

I know that people are reluctant to change and that we are frozen by the fear of not knowing. The unfortunate but very realistic fact is that technology is advancing so rapidly now that we must force ourselves to get engaged with it. As the evolution of how customers find services and products changes, we must also change with that trend.

For instance, let’s look at social media as an example. I still meet real estate agents who either do not have a FaceBook page (personal or business) or they do and do not use it to the fullest capacity. I tell them that a great FaceBook strategy which only takes 20 minutes a day should be worth at least 4 transactions per year. If you engage in LinkedIn during that same 20 minutes that should be worth at least two more transactions. So, let’s look at this FREE platform called FaceBook and social media more closely.

Spending only 20 minutes a day on your social media strategy means that you spent 122 hours that year on social media which equates to 2 1/3 hours per week. For this example I will be conservative and say that you close 3 transactions directly from social media and earn an average of $ 4,300 per transaction. So from 122 hours of work on social media plus 15 hours for the actual transaction you earn $ 12,900 which equates to $ 77 per hour – a total of 122 hours social media and 45 transaction hours.

If you do a post card campaign and spend $ .78 per post card and mail 300 per month for 12 months you would have spent $ 2,808 on marketing plus 13 hours per month designing, addressing, stamping, dealing with non-deliverables, etc. for the post card campaign. This equates to 156 hours per year. You get the same results, 3 transactions for a total of $ 12,900 in revenue, 45 additional hours on the transactions for a grand total of 201 hours. What is your return? Well, with $ 12,900, minus the $ 2,808 cost, you end up with $ 10,092 or $ 50 per hour.

So leveraging social media is not only where your customers are at, it is truly the most cost-effective marketing program that you will ever find. The number one thing that I tell my coaching clients is that you must spend your time on the highest dollar per hour generating activities. In this example, it is social media. I absolutely cringe when I see agents “delegating” social media management to admin assistants. This is the interaction of you and it is because of YOU that your customers buy and list properties with YOU!

Do yourself a favor for the next 12 months. Embrace social media by learning how to effectively use it in your real estate business. Spend the 20 minutes a day on it consistently. Engage with your “online” circle of influence. Get creative in your approach and take your business to the next level.

As a last thought, the GEN X and GEN Y are nearly 19% of the population according to the 2004-2005 census. These are the “techies” and are searching for properties online, engaging in social media and buying homes. If you are not where your customers are, how will they find you?

Content by Jason Jakus, Leisure American Realty, LLC on Fort Myers Beach, FL

Go here to read his blog

Recommendations for Choosing a Customer Relationship Management System

Most agents I have worked with are looking for creative ways to reduce their overall monthly expenses. This smart tactic will pay dividends as the housing market recovers and business picks up. One of the most necessary technologies we need to effectively manage our business is a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM). I have used nearly every available CRM over the past several years and most of them have a substantial price tag attached, even the one I currently use. At $ 49 per month, a CRM could cost you over $ 500 per year.

During some research for a technology class “Building Your Business Pipeline” that I taught at my local Association, I found a great CRM that offers a FREE version. The company is “More Solds” (http://www.moresolds.com/). They have a premium version for $ 14.99 per month which gives you additional tools like showing feedback and monthly newsletter features.

Although the free version offers some great tools for a CRM, the upgrade version gives you the ability for storage of documents which can tie into you going paperless in your business. The email and print merge is great for sending out monthly printed letters to past and current clients. The showing feedback is easy and if you have between 1 – 20 listings this tool enables you to effortlessly obtain showing feedback and email showing feedback surveys to buyer agents.

Overall I would recommend anyone looking into a CRM to put together a “wish list” of must haves on a piece of paper. This should include how you are going use the system for your business since everyone does this a little differently. Do you send out monthly paper mailings? Do you send out a e-newsletter? Do you have listings and need the listing feedback feature? What is your level of technology expertise? What is your learning curve on new technology? Do you prefer an online system or a static system that resides on your hard drive and does not require Internet access?

Once you obtain your list, review as many as five of the CRM systems available. If you go to Google and put in Real Estate CRM systems, you will get back two pages of companies that provide this service. Review the online video tutorials and videos. Mark off each item on your list as you go. The one major consideration is price, but if you get a system that meets all of your required features, don’t get cheap and pick a system that will not fit your business needs.

Remember that the Customer Relationship Management system is the heart of your operation. Making sure that you have the right system in place that is easy to use and offers the features you need is critical to your success. When I upgraded my CRM last year, my business increased by 108% YTD and I became a more productive agent.

submitted by Jason Jakus,  Leisure American Realty, LLC, Tech Task Force member

The Tech Fair/Expo at our annual Trade Show offers 3 demos/presentations and 2 RE Bar Camps. The Tech Task Force presents Hands-on tablets (Slate/IPad/Droid based tablet), Lead Generation and Website Optimization, each run approx. 25 minutes and repeat every 30 minutes.  We also have 2 separate areas set-up for the RE Bar CAMP. This area is for discussions and information you want to share and hold. This is how RE Bar Camp works:

Basic Rules

1. Participate, ask questions.
2. If you hear someone speak about something interesting, find them later and connect.
You don’t have to lead or facilitate a session! Some people like to lead, other people like to listen, but don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Real Estate Bar Camp is an open workshop, whose content is provided by participants. Every session is not planned out in advance. Anybody can deliver a session and attendees are strongly encouraged to participate. RE Bar Camp sessions are group sessions. They are not meant to be presentations by a single individual. Because the audience participates, sessions that may start out a little rocky often adjust and get redirected by the participation and collaboration of the audience. Presentations promoting specific commercial products or companies are discouraged.

There will be a board where you can sign up and that details each session, which is located at the entrance. You will have the opportunity to add your name on the board to facilitate a session. The length of the sessions are 20 minutes. Topics depend completely on who volunteers to lead a session. The sessions are related to technology usage in real estate. If you want to hear a specific session, facilitate it! Topics could be QR Codes, Social Media, Customer Relations Management, etc… Try it, exchange information and ask questions.