Mobile Technology Helping Realtors

Everyone has a phone, PDA, laptop or mobile device these days. I'm starting to see a lot of people really using them effectively in the Realty business and the current applications on the market are extremely effective in helping small and large businesses manage their day-to-day operations.

If you're in the Realty business and are looking for a new cell phone, or are about to have your contract expire, you should really look into the new technologies on the market.

Sprint and Verizon both have very strong Palm and Window's offerings that connect to the internet with high-speed and give you full access to your current online applications from just about anywhere you can get a cell phone connection. Imagine being able to look up your contacts, maps, comps, or searching Google from anywhere?

I've gone through several permutations of "smart phones" and PDAs over the last 5-6 years and now they're really starting to get cool. The new Q phone is incredibly small and still gives you all of the features of the fat PDA phones that are out there.

The technology has advanced far enough that your PDA can almost be an extension to your desktop computer, especially if you use the Internet for most of your applications. There are also technologies similar to "PC Anywhere" which let you use your PDA to connect directly to your home computer and have full access to your home PC from anywhere (as long as you have a cell phone connection).

Talk about power...imagine being able to route calls, voicemails, text messages and faxes with our MyAgentPhone solution to be heard or read on your PDA.

Some of the big things to consider when looking at a new cell phone or smart phone...

1. Does it do High Speed internet? Anything over about 128kbs is pretty good for wireless, there are several that do 500+ (a huge plus)
2. Screen size. I've done several things on a small cell phone screen and it's great for a lot of people but if your going to use the net a lot, show images or have bad eyes...then the big screen helps.
3. Palm or Windows. They both have plenty of applications for everyone but you should see what programs you might want to use BEFORE you decide on the Palm or Windows solution because they are quite different.
4. Price of internet access. Some of the high speed providers (especially Verizon) may charge you a lot for net access; you can pay more for net access than for every other feature on your phone in some cases.

So, once you've decided on a phone...here are a couple of sites that may help you with online applications and also:

Palm Source - an article written by a Realtor

PDABLAST

With some mobile devises Realtors can show Virtual Tours and even open up Lock Boxes! This stuff just never stops impressing me.

Palm™ mobile devices make client and listing information accessible to the real estate professional at all times. Clients and associates see the difference when you arrive prepared for instant access to telephone and email, as well as industry essentials such as a digital version of your local MLS® book or specialized loan calculators. Check out these great compatible tools for Realtors for Palm handhelds and smartphones. All of these are great solutions for professionals in all aspects of the real estate value chain.

I've seen a lot of people get in to technology for a day or two and then stop using it but to be really effective (and take advantage of the money you're spending on the technology) you need to make it part of your daily ritual. Not only will you see HUGE benefits but being able to stay connected with your clients and colleagues so efficiently will impress them because you're so "cutting edge."

One tip of advice..."cutting edge" also means...backup often. Make sure you back up your work daily or twice daily...especially if you're a very active user. It's still technology and it's better to save/backup frequently than lose your work.


Until next time,

Damien Zamora
CEO/President
myAgentPHONE
dzamora@myagentphone.com

Maintaining your Online Presence

As many of you know, there are all kinds of rumors about market down-turn or "the bubble bursting." In one of my previous posts, I called it the “Normal Times.” I'm not sure if any of you have actually felt it yet but the one thing that becomes more and more important as the market does its natural ebb & flow is to maintain a steady stream of marketing and online presence.

You undoubtedly need to make sure you continue your traditional marketing efforts; direct mail, phone, TV, radio or other media but you also need to make sure that you are consistently updating and changing your web site as well.

In the mortgage/real estate market, stagnation is a sign of weakness or a negative shift in the market, which can cause concern for your clients, employees and potential clients.

Be sure to update your listings if prices change, update them if you sell or close a deal...make sure you reflect it on your site as quickly as possible. Your site will remain popular and positive if you maintain it and keep people coming back for the latest updates.

Marketing is the ability to create an emotional or visceral reaction to something you write, say, send or post on your web site. You need to make sure that reaction is positive, uplifting or a call to action.

So what do you do if you don't have any updates and it's been a few days? Well, you post some comments, or change the design, update your statement/quote or listings to reflect some change. It's not imperative that your web site change all the time but think of your site as a living, breathing, being. When people come to your site, do they have to check for a pulse? Or, can they tell right away that you are alive and kicking!

Overcome those negative concerns by demonstrating that you and your organization are not stagnant. Rather, you are on the ball, a real mover and a shaker.



Until next time,

Damien Zamora
dzamora@myagentphone.com

I love myAgentPHONE

Damien Zamora,

I do not often find that the services advertised by most service providers actually meet or exceed the expectations of a business professional in the "real world" of day to day activity; trying to make the services work for you cost effectively and efficiently. So, it is with a large smile that I congratulate you on MyAgentPhone. It not only makes me more efficient...it makes me look more professional...and that is an image a Realtor needs to build a business. I'm relatively new in Real Estate and going up against some very strong Realtors in the niche I've chosen to pursue. That means I need every tool available to improve the quality and professionalism of my service and image. MyAgentPhone is one of my best tools for that purpose.

It has allowed me to seamlessly integrate all my phone and fax functions down to a single number that follows me everywhere and is itself now part of my brand: 888-4-BillyD. When clients or prospective clients contact me, they are offered the same PBX routing and messaging services offered by the biggest corporations. I have less hangups without messages because of this image. No one can guess that I'm a one-man-band...because it sounds like I'm at least a quartet.

I'm starting to effectively use the talking properties feature to save my time on tire-kickers and it allows the real potential buyer a chance to get much better quality scripted information than I would be able to provide from my cell phone if I got the same call while on the run.

I'm also using very effectively the ability to have signed documents fax to my computer directly, cutting down on paper costs and over-stuffed file drawers. For clients without faxes, this means an email gets the documents there instantly and saves them an extra trip to Kinko's to pick up faxed docs or me the cost and hassle of overnight document packages. That savings alone justified my signing up for the service.

While I am not ubiquitous, I can give that impression to my clients. So, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being best, MyAgentPhone gets an 11.

Again, congratulations of providing a reliable and valuable service.

Billy D