Blackberry Bold versus iPhone for Real Estate

REtechy chooses post topics from the many emails we get from readers like you. Here is a question we received yesterday from Brandon Harris.

I have AT&T wireless service and I am about to purchase a new phone. Until I came to this site I was set on purchasing the Blackberry bold for it’s push through email and it’s ability to edit Microsoft documents. Now after seeing the plethora of real estate related applications for the iPhone, I am once again confused as to which phone would serve me better. I would like to know if the Blackberry Bold will have some similar real estate related applications or if the I phone would be able to edit documents like word, excel etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. – Thanks Brandon Harris

Advances in technology make using a smartphone a requisite for any real estate agent worth her/his weight. Many options are available, but two phones have risen to the top of the smartphone food-chain.

Is the Blackberry Bold or iPhone better for business?

How the heck can I answer that without subjecting myself to hostility? I can tell you this though – the Blackberry Bold is the best Blackberry ever created. The Bold was designed for business use and boasts features the iPhone does not have including: ability to edit documents & video recording.

The Blackberry Bold’s security also makes a compelling argument. The Blackberry is a preferred phone for Supra eKEY (GE Security); BlackBerry users can now join the thousands of real estate professionals already enjoying the timesaving benefits of eKEY service on their Palm and Windows smartphones.

Before you go buying a Blackberry Bold let’s talk about the iPhone. Apple’s iPhone is the 2nd sexiest thing I have ever held (1st is you honey). The UI is beautiful, the web browser blows Blackberry out of the water, and did I mention it was sexy? Apple’s App store for the iPhone holds many great real estate related applications, with new ones churned out all the time.

Let’s remember the iPhone is designed for the consumer; you can hail cabs, order groceries, make fart sounds all from your iPhone. The developer community supporting iPhone applications is large and active. If you fall in love with an application, or two, the iPhone may prove to be the best phone for your needs.

Here is the best online comparison for the Blackberry Bold & iPhone > The iPhone Blog

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl7cqFQatP4[/youtube]

PinStack.com put together the great comparison chart below. Click on image below to enlarge.

Bring the Blog – Writes Your Daily Blog Content For You

Bring the Blog is a new service allowing real estate agents to purchase websites which are automatically updated every day with relevant real estate content. Considering how busy most of us are, having someone automatically post real estate articles on our behalf sounds ideal, right?

We’re like the Associated Press for blogs. Just like the New York Times uses wire services to complement their home-grown articles, we give you outside content to make your blog better and more effective.

Bring the Blog Product Features $57/month

• 15-Day Risk-Free Trial
• Maximum Number of Blog Posts Allowed Unlimited
• Maximum Number of Page Views Allowed Unlimited
• Maximum Number of ‘Links’ Allowed Unlimited
• Customizable Biography
• New Blog Content Added Daily
• Real-Time Real Estate Data on your Blog
• Statistics and Page View Counters
• Optional Commenting Feature
• Comment Spam Protection
• Custom Blog Appearance
• Protection From Email Harvesting
• RSS Feeds
• Direct FeedBurner Integration
• Weekly Blog Updates For Your Readers

Click Here for 15-Day Trial >

ALERT: In an effort to provide more varied results to their users, search engines do filter websites that appear too similar to each other: except for the most relevant results, similar results are excluded.

Identical content is posted on every real estate blog with Bring the Blog. This does not sound like a big deal until you consider the search engine optimization implications.

Check out this comparison by http://www.duplicatecontent.net/ of two Bring the Blog websites. Google no likey duplicate content!

Here’s what Google has to say about duplicate content: http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66359

That is why it is important to have content that is as unique and original as possible. The web sites that risk the most are those that provide third-party content, and the online shops that use the manufacturer’s description for the products they sell: if you run such a web site, you should try to avoid using 100% copied-and-pasted content. If that is not possible, then it would be useful to at least add a few lines of original content to the pasted text, such as a comment or discussion.

Actually, there is another type of duplicate content filter, that applies to mirror sites. This filter analyzes the URL structure instead of page content. Normally, mirror sites are not indexed by search engines.

iPhone App for Real Estate Investing from Buy-That-Duplex

The iPhone now gets its own real estate investing software for use by entrepreneurs and business moguls.

To get real estate investing back to its original success in providing return on investment, one resource has announced that their popular tools are now to be ported to the iPhone for easier use.

The tool set, released by http://www.buythatduplex.com, is actually divided into two categories: a light version and a professional version. Each version provides something for different types of investors, so long as access to iTunes is obtained.

ALERT: We received an error message indicating this application was not yet available in the U.S. iTunes store.

LITE VERSION [FREE]

Those new to the tool will likely want to see the light version in action, located at http://www.buythatduplex.com/the-software/btd-lite/. This version is completely free, and allows real estate investors to take advantage of technology to help size up good investments over less profitable ones.

PRO VERSION

The professional version, located at http://www.buythatduplex.com/the-software/btd-pro/, is more for those serious in making a return on an investment. This advanced iPhone and iPod application analyzes a property’s worth in seconds flat. New users are encouraged to watch the application in action at the given URL.

The resource hopes to expand their dominance in the real estate investment niche in the future, and will keep current with technologies to ensure such a prospect.

What is “Buy That Duplex”?

BuyThatDuplex.com is dedicated to helping other beginner investors start their REI career smoothly.  The tools available on this site augment the material written in the book “Buy That Duplex“.

Canadian Real Estate iPhone App from ZooCasa

Searching for real estate in Canada just got easier! Take advantage of ZooCasa’s powerful search technology to save time and energy to search homes for sale nearby.

With one touch you will be able to see all properties for sale around your location displayed on a Google map. Narrowing your search is fast and easy by filtering on Price, Beds, and Baths. View details including a photo and agent contact information.

> Link To ZooCasa App

FEATURES

• Find homes for sale near you by using iPhone’s built in GPS
• Touch quick link to see a description, photo of the home, and agent information
• Get directions to the home you’re viewing from where you are
• Customize your search by filtering for price, beds, and baths
• Email the details to friends, family, or agent 

Zoocasa.com is a new, innovative way to search for homes in Canada. Combining listing information and mapping technology provided by Google Maps, Zoocasa.com allows users to personalize their search experience and discover community, demographic and lifestyle information to help them choose the right home.

ZooCasa iPhone App Map View

ZooCasa iPhone App Search View

ZooCasa iPhone App Listings View

ZooCasa iPhone App Home Detail View

CALMLS Names Concentric as Its Technology Partner

The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(R) (C.A.R.) today announced that CALMLS, the statewide Multiple Listing Service (MLS) initiative, has selected Rocklin, Calif.-based Concentric as its technology partner in California. Concentric was selected following an extensive vetting process which included input from REALTORS(R) and other stakeholders statewide. Platform and browser neutral, Concentric’s Web-based system performs substantially faster than any product on the market.

“By selecting Concentric as our technology partner, we are taking the first step for a more current and flexible system, designed with a real estate agent’s needs in mind,” said Mike Silvas, CALMLS chairman and co-owner of Morgan Lane Real Estate, a luxury market brokerage based in Napa, Calif. “We have had a tremendous response from brokers and agents who see how it will improve their efficiency and effectiveness as real estate professionals.

“CALMLS intends to incorporate many different technologies to allow choice as well as myriad new applications for the licensees accessing the system, including creating the foundation for a property-centric database that will allow members easy access to relevant data on all properties in California,” he said. “Concentric’s next generation product is a notable and clearly visible leap forward from current MLS software and is built on a platform that can adapt to ever-changing technology needs.”

CALMLS also debuted new branding for the products and services offered by the statewide MLS entity. These now will be branded as calREDD(TM), an acronym for California Real Estate Dynamic Data. The new calREDD(TM) branding reflects the long term vision of creating one database for all California real property, with advanced technology that goes beyond current MLS systems and incorporates a database rich with detail about every single property in the state.

CALMLS also announced it has secured a line of credit for partnership activities, ongoing operations and future development .Sixty-six local REALTOR(R) associations and three regional MLSs representing more than 120,000 members across the state already have signed letters of intent to participate in CALMLS. At the C.A.R. board of directors meetings this past week in Monterey, Calif., Concentric conducted standing room-only demonstrations, with local REALTOR(R) associations vying for priority to have the system for their respective MLSs. CALMLS will allow brokers and agents to access the statewide data through any participating AOR or MLS. Associations and MLSs may be part of the system by using the new vendor as their primary software or by continuing to operate under their current systems and providing data feeds to the statewide database.

“This initiative will fundamentally improve the most critical service for California REALTORS(R),” Silvas said. “Thanks to the hard work and visionary leadership of California REALTORS(R), CALMLS is poised to provide real estate professionals with next generation technology in the MLS arena, as well as the ancillary benefits of optimized pricing and product flexibility,” he said. “The historic actions taken this past week mark a sea change for the real estate industry in California.”

RETextLeads – Mobile marketing and lead generation for Realtors®

xMedia Participation, LLC today announced the immediate availability of RETextLeads, a cutting-edge mobile marketing and lead generation platform designed specifically for the real estate industry. With RETextLeads, REALTORS®, brokers, property managers, and landlords can facilitate fast, timely communication with potential buyers by making detailed information readily available to them via their cell phones or handheld devices, as they are passing by available properties. Real estate professionals can try RETextLeads at absolutely no risk or cost by signing up for a free listing!

xMedia Participation, LLC, a leading provider of advanced services and solutions for mobile marketing, today announced the immediate availability of RETextLeads, a cutting-edge mobile marketing and lead generation platform designed specifically for the real estate industry. With RETextLeads, REALTORS®, brokers, property managers, and landlords can facilitate fast, timely communication with potential buyers by making detailed information readily available to them via their cell phones or handheld devices, as they are passing by available properties.

“Many real estate agents spend countless hours and significant amounts of money placing classified ads, or printing and distributing flyers and brochures for the many properties they are selling,” said Chris Haller, Founder and Director at xMedia Participation. “This approach is not only time-consuming and expensive, it is quite limited in its effectiveness. Our goal is to empower real estate professionals with a faster, better, more affordable way to get the attention of potential buyers, so they can close more deals.”

RETextLeads allows potential buyers to retrieve in-depth information – such as square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, lot size, and price – as well as images, by simply sending a text message using a number displayed in front of the property. Agents are instantly notified, so they can follow up immediately and schedule a showing.

“RETextLeads empowers real estate professionals to improve the reach and cost-efficiency of their marketing efforts,” added Haller. “They can generate more highly qualified leads, in a shorter period of time, without the need for antiquated activities such as cold calling or direct mail that produce limited results. They can also close deals faster, and generate more commissions, by responding instantly to interested buyers, before they purchase or rent another property.”

Key RETextLead features include:

• A simple text messaging environment that is familiar and easy to use for both agents and potential buyers.
• Convenient anytime, anywhere access to property details via cell phones, PDAs, and other handheld devices.
• Rapid, real-time property listing creation and updates.
• Dynamic alerts that notify agents instantly when a prospect has expressed an interest in a specific property.
• Lead segmentation and tracking that provides insight into the success of sales and marketing strategies.

“In addition to selling or renting more properties, REALTORS® can also use RETextLeads to gain a competitive edge,” concluded Haller. “By providing potential sellers with an innovative marketing tool that will generate more interest in their property and increase showings, they can win more listings.”

And best off all, real estate professionals can try RETextLeads at absolutely no risk or cost! Interested agents and brokers can experience this robust, yet economical solution by signing up for a free listing at http://retextleads.com. So they can see for themselves just how easy RETextLeads is to use, and how it can help sell properties faster, without expensive or time-consuming marketing tactics.

6 Tips for Making Your Email Marketing Stand Out

While email is fast becoming the marketing channel of choice for most growing businesses, concerns remain. In an effort to reduce stuffed in-boxes, consumers are increasingly using spam filters that block even the most legitimate email marketing, and JupiterResearch reports that 17 percent of Americans change email addresses every six months. But there are proven ways to make your message resonate with a target audience. FuelNet.com, a Web site designed to help small and midsize companies grow their business, offers these six tips:

1. Build your list, don’t buy it. Even though the price may be modest for tens of thousands of names, the demographics of a purchased or rented list are a crapshoot, and there’s always a risk you’ll be accused of spamming. Instead, give visitors to your Web site an easy way — and a legitimate reason — to opt in to your emails.
2. Make it more than a sales pitch. Email campaigns that only hawk products are doomed to the trash folder. Instead, use email to provide valuable insights and guidance that further the reader’s understanding and appreciation of your product or service. “Have something to say,” recommends Ben Chestnut, cofounder of the Rocket Science Group, an Atlanta firm that produces the email software MailChimp. “Don’t just add to the clutter.”
3. Keep it short. An email marketing effort wrapped in a newsletter can be overwhelming for the reader. Rebecca Leigh Brian, owner of the New York-based marketing and branding firm Tribecca Designs, prefers “e-blasts” — succinct emails that highlight products or events. “Usually, we keep e-blasts to six sentences or less,” she notes.
4. Link to a blog. Blogs and email marketing aren’t mutually exclusive. If your email is brief, include a link to a blog (such as http://retechy.com) for more comprehensive information. “A brief email and a link to a blog go together,” Chestnut says. “They’re like peanut butter and chocolate.”
5. Build momentum. Email campaigns work best when they build on prior material, creating a complete picture of what you do. “Each one should offer a nugget of value,” Brian points out.
6. Solicit feedback. Email marketing is a great opportunity to connect with customers and best prospects. Jamie Carney, president and CEO of RugsDoneRight.com, asks for suggestions on ways to improve her Web site.

For more online marketing insights, download the free FuelNet Smart Paper “Internet Marketing: Online Advertising Tips for Business Growth.”

Add Listings to your Facebook Page

Facebook is not only a great tool for locating your high school sweetheart, it’s also a powerful business resource for real estate agents. The latest real estate facebook application, by eListit.com, enables Realtors to add a “Listings” tab to their facebook profile page. It’s available for a FREE 30-day trial version, after which it retails at $49.99/year.

The application is fairly intuitive and easy to use though we ran into issues (server error) when we removed the application from a profile page and attempted to reinstall.

My first recommendation for the app developers is devise a method for pulling listing data directly from the MLS to avoid the laborious task of entering in data manually. I would almost regret getting that extra listing for fear of having to duplicate efforts (almost).

Below are screenshots of the application on a facebook page.

REtecy contacted eListit.com and here is what they had to say:

We started life primarily as a rental search/listing service and later expanded into real estate listings. We have started focusing some energy on better serving our real estate clients. Real estate agents are able to create a personal profile that appears alongside their listings.

Recognizing that real estate agents who use our service got to some effort to increase the visibility of their listings, we decided we we could help them leverage that effort and enable them publicize their listing on their facebook profile. Real estate agents already know that many of their best customers are their friends and family and these same people can be their best promoters (if they know what the agent has for sale).

We are actively look at expanding and improving this feature as well as providing other means of helping agents promote their business.

Google Street View for Real Estate

Google Street View is a new feature of Google Maps that allows you to quickly and easily view and navigate high-resolution, 360 degree street level images of various cities around the world.

Many questions about properties, neighbors, and neighborhoods cannot be fully answered by information provided in the listing. Street view, by Google Maps, is a convenient tool to help answers many of those questions.

WARNING: Street view is not a real-time application and photos may no longer accurately represent the current property.

What are ways  real estate agents may use Google Maps Street View?

1. Map Showings / Choose Routes
   Get familiar with your showing routes and neighborhood homes.
2. Preview Homes
   Identify external features your clients are looking for. Use the overhead map view to check out the backyard.
3. Service Out-of-Town Clients
   Street View is perfect for out-of-town clients not familiar with the area. Send clients links to various areas; allow them to browse homes and develop a realistic expectation.
4. Check out the Neighbors
   How well are neighbors maintaining their homes? Are there cars in the front yard on blocks?
5. Evaluate Safety
   Get a sense of how safe the front yard is for kids, or even check out the local speed limit.

http://maps.google.com/

View Larger Map

Find Local Crime Statistics with Lethal App for iPhone

The enlightening, essential survival application for the iPod touch and iPhone — use auto-location to tell you about all the potential dangers around you. The animals, the crime, the disease, and the disasters!

Want to know everything in your area which poses a threat? LETHAL uses auto-location to deliver information you need to be on your guard. Find out more about the dangers which could surround you — the hostile animals, the likelihood of crimes, the prevalence of disease, and the potential accidents and disasters.

Drawing from a proprietary database compiling information from government and academic statistics and research, LETHAL offers information on more than 300 locations across all 50 states.

Are you visiting a new city and want to know how dangerous the crime is? Will you be hiking and wanting to know what beast could be lurking behind the next tree? LETHAL can keep you properly informed.

• View each areas’ overall “Lethal Index” which tells you how dangerous that area is. The Lethal Index is made up of a separate “Wildlife Index,” “Crime Index,” “Disease Index,” and “Disaster Index.”
• Browse and learn about other areas across the United States. If you’re traveling, do research on upcoming destinations or use Location Services to get Information on your current location.
• Get a list and description of each dangerous animal in a specific area.
• View crime, disease, and accident rates for each area.
• For those times where you are out of range from GPS or Location Services, you can enter “Browse Mode” and select a nearby location – so spotty cell reception will never leave you uninformed.
• We’ll be adding more locations and have many exciting new features planned for the future, so let us know your comments or suggestions.
• Learn whether a specific area is susceptible to natural disasters such as landslides, earthquakes, and/or wildfires.
• Link to Wikipedia entries on all the risks to learn more. Are you visiting a new city and want to know how dangerous the crime?

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