A brokerage (120 agents, 1 office in Louisville Kentucky), was looking for more than just another AVR (automated voice response) solution. Hotlines where you can call in and get recorded information about properties have been around for years. They choose VoicePad, and after 8 months here are the results… The ‘benchmark was to compare results from an Automated system to simply putting a cell phone number on a rider. Which brings more leads? In terms of ease of use (needed to get enough agents using it), mobile IDX cannot be beaten. Users do NOT have to record their own voice [...]

Fidelity launched a redesigned cyberhomes.com website today, bolstering their effort in the property search portal marketplace and putting pressure on realtor.com, Zillow and Trulia. Like most property search portals, they welcome the consumer with a quick search in the middle of the home page.  The designers also choose a rotating background so the site looks fresh with each unique visit. I found the site very easy to use with deep levels of information in areas such as schools, neighborhood statistics, sold properties, automated home valuation, and property listings. Like all third party listing portals, there are gaps in some areas [...]

Here are my notes from his excellent presentation Change is Inevitable, Growth is optional. Leadership in developing agents is critical for brokers today. The 80 20 rule is alive and well in our industry today.  Our top agents produce 80% of our revenue.  Growth lies in developing the 80% of our agents that are not producing or representing the brokers brand and service up to the standards of the company.  As brokers continue to recruit heads rather than skills, this will continue. The problem facing our industry is that only 1 in 5 consumers meet our best agents on their [...]

The newswire reported today that SentriLock,  a leading provider of electronic lockbox solutions for the real estate industry, has entered into agreements with the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®, the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and six neighboring suburban associations, as well as six boards and associations in the greater Denver area. As a result of these agreements, more than 50,000 real estate professionals will begin using SentriLock electronic lockboxes over the next 90 days. SentriLock’s lockbox solution is built upon smart card technology (like a hotel key) rather than the e-Key technology used by compeitior GE Supra. Interestingly enough, agents will now [...]