Tag Archives: real estate

20 Ways to Touch Your Database This Year!

  By Patty | May 1, 2018 - 10:40 am | ,
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Don’t lose another opportunity to touch your database this year. Trying figure out how to keep your database thriving? Use these great holidays as a chance to stay in front of your clients all year long!

Call AnotherMe Virtual Assistants today to find out how we can help you with marketing!

New Year’s Day – January 1st, 2018                    Independence Day – July 4th, 2018 

Valentine’s Day – February 14th, 2018               Halloween – October 31st, 2018 

Daylight Savings – March 11th, 2018                   Thanksgiving – November 22nd, 2018 

Memorial Day – May 28th, 2018                           Christmas – December 25th, 2018 

Tired of the traditional holiday postcards & emails? Here are a few interesting  and fun holidays that your clients will enjoy! Get specific- if you have a client who loves beer, send them something funny they will relate to and remember. Not creative? Let AnotherMe help you design a postcard/email!

National Margarita Day – Feb. 22nd, 2018          National Dog Day – August 26th, 2018

Pi Day – March 14th, 2018                                     Drink Beer Day – Sept. 28th, 2018 

Earth Day – April 22nd, 2018                                  Make a Difference Day – Oct. 27th, 2018

Cinco De Mayo – May 5th, 2018                            Veteran’s Day – November 11th, 2018

National Donut Day – June 1st, 2018                  Small Business Saturday – Nov. 24th, 2018

National Ice Cream Day – July 15th, 2018              Ugly Sweater Day – December 21st, 2018

Want more holiday ideas? Check out http://www.holidayscalendar.com/

What are you waiting for? Your clients want to hear from you!

Don’t have the time? Call today!

Realtors Beware – Sellers Are Watching and Listening! 

  By Patty | April 25, 2018 - 10:31 am | ,
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With today’s technology advancements, there are many ways to keep an eye on your home while your away. However, many sellers are using new technology to listen in on buyers while their home is being shown. If you search for hidden cameras on Amazon.com, I am sure you will be stunned at the variety of options there are. From phone chargers to picture frames, it’s safe to say you are possibly being watched during your next showing!

Here are a few ways to tell if there are cameras in the home you are showing to your clients:

1. Use a RF detector.

These detection devices are pretty neat! They can pick up on active recording devices in a home. AKA, if you are being watched or recorded in real time, this device will know! They run around $100 and you can easily purchase one on Amazon. Keep in mind, if there is a recording device that runs off of a SD card instead of Wi-Fi, it won’t pick that device up.

2. Use your eyes!

This is one of your easiest options. A lot of homeowners have devices that stand out in plain sight or they are very obvious. Keep this in mind when showing that perfect house to your buyer and remind them to take the negotiation conversation outside!

3. Use a flashlight

Most of us have flashlights on our phones and they are a great way to look for cameras as well. Turn your flashlight on and pan around the house with it. You’ll be looking for a reflection. If you find one, you may have just found a hidden camera lens.

So, your best bet to protect your buyers interest when showing homes is to keep quiet when you are inside! You never know if you are being watched. Remind your clients to keep their comments to themselves when they are looking around and once you’re outside, let the comments flow!

Top 5 Reasons Realtors® should recommend Simplisafe!

  By Patty | March 26, 2018 - 10:11 am |
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Here at AnotherME our clients and their customers are very important to us and that includes your safety!                                                      Recently, we’ve been hearing amazing reviews about the company SimpliSafe and their DIY Home Security System. With even more bells and whistles than the top security companies out there, SimpliSafe is a product we highly recommend to our clients and here are the top five reasons why!  

1. No Contracts

With SimpliSafe, you are not locked in to a contract. You have the option to cancel your $14.99 monthly subscription to their 24/7 Home Security Monitoring at any time! Plus, they are so confident you’ll love your new DIY Security System, they will give you a full refund including return shipping within the first 60 days if you don’t!

2. Easy Setup

Unlike the security system industry competitors, SimpliSafe comes in a box shipped directly to your home for you to set up in minutes! That’s right, no annoying appointments with pushy salesmen, no tools and no stress! All you have to do is open the box, plug in the base station, mount the sensors and you are ready to protect your home!

3. 24/7 Alarm System Monitoring

With your monthly subscription, your home is protected around the clock! When a sensor detects a possible break-in, your system will sound off and alert SimpliSafe’s 24/7 Security Monitoring Center. Unless you cancel the alarm when the security specialist calls you, the police will be sent to your home right away!

4. Top Notch Technology

From water sensors that alert you of potential leaks to freeze sensors that tell you when your homes temperature has dropped below 41 degrees, you choose to protect your home in any way imaginable! You can also control your system from your phone, your computer, or a key fob! SimpliSafe products auto-update, work on wi-fi and the batteries hardly ever need to be replaced. The sensors are even pet-friendly; you seriously can’t go wrong with a system like this!

5. A la Carte Components

While you can choose from their pre-built packages ranging from basic ($229) to the all-inclusive “Haven” package ($489), you have the option to customize your own system! You’re required to have the base station and the wireless keypad and from there it’s up to you to add the features you want and need. Whether you have a tiny house or a mansion, SimpliSafe’s Build a System option is perfect for you! 

To learn more about the SimpliSafe DIY Home Security System, check out their website for reviews and more details at https://simplisafe.com/

TABLET APPS FOR THE MOBILE REALTOR

  By Patty | April 17, 2012 - 6:55 am | ,
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AnotherME Virtual Assistants just returned from the RETSO (REtechSouth) conference, where we spent an amazing 3 days of learning, networking and connecting with our real estate friends and clients.  If you haven’t been to a RETSO conference, I highly recommend you add it to your budget and your calendar for next spring!

Pam Sherlock – Listing Coordinator Extraordinaire – attended Amy Chorew’s “Tablet Tips” session and took lots of notes!

She put together the following list of Apps for both iPad and Android tablets reviewed in Amy’s session.  Apps for contracts, open houses, file storage (in the cloud) or video – there’s at least one app that a  realtor could incorporate into their business today …and see results!

 

TABLET APPS FOR DAY-TO-DAY USE

Dropbox:     File sharing. FREE 2GB account!
Keynote:    Presentation software for iPad, iPhone and iPod. $9.99
ZipForms:    Complete and sign forms on your mobile device. $12.95/year
PDFExpert:    Read, annotate, highlight, draw and save documents as PDF. $9.99
SignMyIpad:    PDF signature tool for iPad. $3.99
iAnnotate:    Read and make notes on any PDF document – on your iPad. $9.99
TourNarrator:    Capture client feedback about a property on your iPhone or iPad. $1.99
IDreamAgent:    Complement to any real estate app. Take your own photos, make your own notes,  share thoughts, etc., about a property. $4.99
Tout:    Short video status updates to share through Twitter or Facebook. FREE

(And finally, we think this one ROCKS!)

OpenHomePro:    #1 most downloaded real estate app! Manage leads, create listing presentations and collect open house visitor data.  Potential buyers can leave feedback. $3.99

As you move your business to working “virtual” and “mobile” add a few of these apps and watch your productivity increase!  And if you need some help incorporating these tools into your business, give us a call!   We’ve been working virtually for years!

 

image credit: worldlink mobile apps

Social Networking + Real Estate Industry = Big Change!

  By Patty | December 19, 2010 - 2:00 pm | ,
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I honestly think the Real Estate business should be the Poster Child for change!   Quick –  what are 4-5 big changes you can think of right now?

We’ve seen changes to Contracts, Marketing, MLS’s, Brokerages, Short Sales, Mortgages, Associations, websites, and of course “the market!”   And Social Media has been a big part of that change!

Over the last 2 years, I’ve heard so many real estate professionals say things like; “I don’t have time for Social Networking”, “How can you get business from social media sites?”, or “I have a website, why do I need a Facebook business page?”

However… in just the past 6 months, I’ve been to 2 REbarCamp’s and a RainCamp and attendance is up!  Agents and Brokers have realized since the downturn in the industry they must use their offline real estate marketing skills through social media online.  Now, real estate pros are building their brand and generating interest in their listings though the use of online platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, ActiveRain, Trulia and Zillow. Interest is growing, Realtors® are finally recognizing the value of this new way of doing business!

So if you’ve been dabbling with Social Media and trying to understand how to implement Social Networking into your business, consider this:

• If you’re a numbers person, the statistics are staggering.

• If you’re a people person, it’s the easiest and fastest way to network with folks right in your community or across the US.

• If you’re budget conscious, it’s free!  That’s F-R-E-E!

• If you’re technology challenged, it’s much easier than you think!

The following video was created by Erik Qualman of Socialnomics in late 2009, so imagine what the numbers will be for 2010!

What are you doing to keep up with the rate of change?

In 2011, make a resolution to get on board and get started with this new way of doing business!  Call AnotherME to find how we can take you from zero to hero with Social Media.

Photo Image – TheLogoRunner.com

Trinity, Is There Really a “Matrix”? Yes, Neo, It’s Called QR Codes!

  By Patty | November 4, 2010 - 10:38 am | ,
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Have you all heard of the latest technology being developed today for those people with mobile devices? It’s called a QR Code.  This is a marketing bonanza for real estate brokers and agents to direct potential clients to websites, videos, contact information, virtual tours or music in just a few seconds!

What is a QR Code? Basically, it’s a lot like the barcodes you are familiar with today, but a QR Code is a two-dimensional matrix which can be scanned by a smartphone or a mobile phone with a camera to download all the information it contains!

Have no idea what I’m talking about or how it could possibly relate to the real estate industry? Take a look at the following video featuring numerous ways QR Codes can open up those windows of opportunity! After the video, if you would like to read more about QR Codes, read my new post Jump Into the Marketing Matrix with QR Codes! on ActiveRain.com.

If you have questions about building your Social Media Marketing… but just don’t have an extra 2 or 3 hours to do it each month, call Patty Keller at AnotherMe 770-414-9393 for a personal quote for your business!  Don’t Worry About It!  A Real Estate Virtual Assistant can do this Internet stuff for you!

Ask about our Nardigras Discount!

Fair Housing Act Guarantees Equal Opportunity for Everyone

  By Patty | September 28, 2010 - 11:12 am |
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2008 Fair Housing PosterAs a Real Estate Broker, Agent, Apartment Community Manager, Private Home Seller or Landlord, it is imperative you and your staff are knowledgeable about the Fair Housing Act and its guidelines. Perhaps you have a new employee who could use this information or maybe you just want to refresh your memory. Either way, the staff at AnotherME wants to provide it for you.

As you know, the sale and purchase of a home is by far the most meaningful occurrence that happens in an individual’s lifetime. Because we live in the greatest country in the known world, America offers its amazing diversity of citizens the opportunity to purchase or rent a place to call home without the threat of discrimination.

Basically, in a nutshell, the Fair Housing Act makes it federally illegal to discriminate in the sale, lease or rental of real property based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. So, interestingly enough, there are some simple words and phrases which are acceptable and then some which will land you in a heap of trouble.

What You Can’t Say

When advertising or showing property, stay away from using these types of descriptions:
Student Housing; Mature; Adults; Kids/No Kids; Exclusive Community; Traditional or Private; Unmarried or Married; Senior Citizens Only; Empty Nesters; Gay Friendly/Straight

These are terms that tend to imply a discriminatory attitude toward possible exclusion from a sale or rental. Be careful because terms like Private, Semi-Private, Restricted, Traditional and Integrated can be misconstrued as discriminatory. Try to be more specific and qualify your description by saying “Private: Gated Entrance” instead of “Private Community or Subdivision”.

Don’t use racial or significant landmarks of national origin when providing directions. Omit the fact that it’s near Arlington Cemetery or St. Paul’s Catholic Church. Give specific street directions to avoid confusion.

What You Can Say

When describing the property, you have a bit more freedom. Tell your potential clients it’s a traditional brick home with a private entrance. Do they know there’s a mother-in-law suite and a second kitchen in the basement? Is the property secluded? Mention it. And don’t forget the large, walk-in closets, the private backyard and the huge master bedroom on the main floor. Attract business clientele by mentioning its potential for a professional or executive looking for the right place to call home. Non-smoker is even okay to use.

The term “No Pets” is tricky. No pets are fine, but if you are looking to rent the property the landlord must make allowances for those who require pets to assist them (i.e. the visually impaired).

It’s always a good idea to keep current and knowledgeable about the laws and regulations that affect the Real Estate industry. If you would like more information, please visit the website for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Image of Poster courtesy of  HUD.gov