Need a boost in traffic? Update your real estate website content

 

It’s no secret that one of the most important elements of a successful real estate website is content. If it’s done right, real estate website content lures visitors to your site, lets them know what you have to offer and helps establish an initial relationship with potential clients.

Fresh real estate website content, published consistently, is the pathway to Google’s heart. But, it’s not the only way. Updating old content can give you a boost in your rankings as well.

“David Schneider, the co-founder of Ninja Outreach, increased organic traffic on the site by over 40% by bringing old content back to life,” according to marketing genius Neal Patel. “It’s one of the quickest (and easiest) ways to make Google recognize you and bring your rankings back from the graveyard.”

So, dig into the past and breathe new life into old content.

Host your content on a powerful, easy-to-use real estate website built to rank online. Learn more about LeadSites.

Where to start

Since neighborhood or community pages include some of your most valuable real estate website content, we suggest starting with these. You’ll need to find your best-performing content — those posts that bring in the most traffic.

You’ll find these by using the Google Search Console, under “Search Traffic” and then “Search Analytics” (on the right side of the page).

To identify the posts that will “give you the most bank for your buck,” according to Schneider, look for the following on your most popular pages:

• A CTR lower than 1 percent
• A high impression rate
• A “position” between 1 and 30

Take a screen shot or make notes on the Google Search Console results. You’ll need them later to use as a comparison to new results when you track the changes.

 

What real estate website content to change

Before heading to the backend of your site, view the page online to get an impression of its visual appeal. Make note of anything that doesn’t look right so you can fix it later. This might include adding more photos or replacing those currently accompanying the content.

Create engaging, relevant website content with Blogger Pro – or, have it generated for you! Learn more.

While you’re there, check for broken links in your real estate website content and make note of any that you find.

Check your keywords to see if they’re still valid.

Ok, head to the backend to fix any problems you found. You’ll need either an open Word document or a pad of paper to keep track of the changes you’re about to make.

Next, look for the following:

• If you need to update links, update the text surrounding the link as well. This helps search engines better understand that the page has been freshened, according to Cyrus Shepard at Moz.com.
• Add alt text to your images, if necessary. Check out the brilliant walk-though at yoast.com.
• Update statistics used in the content, if necessary.
• Check your sources to see if you should replace any with more authoritative sources.
• How’s the length? Longer content ranks better so if there is anything of value that you can add, it’s worth it to take the time.
• Break up long blocks of text to provide more white space. This can be accomplished by keeping paragraphs to five sentences or less and adding subheadings, bulleted lists and additional photos.
• Clean up the copy, correcting spelling, punctuation and grammar errors and ensuring that it flows smoothly from one paragraph to the next.
• How’s that CTA? Should it be reworded to be more compelling? If it directs to a download, is there a more recent copy of your giveaway?
• Promote the updated pages on social media.

 

Track your changes

Hang on to those notes you took while updating the content. This way, you can track how well the changes are working. Pull out those original Google Search Console results and compare them to a new set of results, looking for changes in ranking and traffic.

Homebuyers are pretty consistent in their demand for local knowledge and your community pages are the best way for you to provide that knowledge. But write ‘em and forget em’ isn’t a good strategy.

“… a static website without updates of any kind may be viewed by search engines as a ‘dead’ entity – with no life and nothing new to offer,” cautions Jason Roy at SEO SiteCheckup.

If you’re ready for a real estate website that takes the work out of content creation and search engine optimization, you owe it to yourself to learn more about LeadSites.

What are the top performing real estate websites doing that you aren’t? Take a look.

Looking for a weekly real estate website content strategy you can start using today? Look no further:

The post Need a boost in traffic? Update your real estate website content appeared first on Easy Agent Pro.

from theokbrowne digest https://www.easyagentpro.com/blog/real-estate-website-content/

The Problem with Compass: “We’re About the Agent”

During one of the Hacker Connect sessions, Maëlle Gavet from Compass said the following:

It’s about the agent.

That, right there, is my problem with Compass. They are catering to the real estate agent. As long as that’s the case, they aren’t really changing anything. At least not for the consumer (buyers and sellers). They are simply shifting around dollars from one brokerage/franchise to another. Yes, with slicker branding and more money. But it’s still redirecting money, rather than creating real change in the industry.

You may have seen the open letter to Compass by MoxiWorks’ CEO, York Baur. I happen to agree with pretty much everything he says. In short, Compass’ tech strategy of choosing best of class vendors and stitching them together (along with developing some proprietary tech) is not new. MoxiWorks is one of several companies has been doing it for a long, long time.

The real question I have is how Compass expects to create leverage in the market, in order to create long term defensibility and shareholder value for the inevitable IPO?

There’s generally two ways to create leverage in real estate. The first is get critical mass of supply (listings), so buyers have no choice BUT to look at your properties. This is why Windermere has leverage in Seattle. You can’t drive around, and NOT see a Windermere yard sign. The second is aggregate demand (buyers), and shift the way they find properties and select agents. This is of course where Zillow’s leverage comes from, they have a stranglehold on buyer demand due to 10 years of branding, PR, social media, good ol-fashioned relationship building, traditional media buys, acquisitions, capital, and SEO thrown into the equation.

What I’d like to know is how is Compass making the buying and selling process better?

For consumers. Not for agents. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t heard a good answer to that question by anyone I’ve spoken with. Have you?

The post The Problem with Compass: “We’re About the Agent” appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://geekestateblog.com/the-problem-with-compass-were-about-the-agent/

Geek Estate Mastermind Newsletter #39 – Turning Homeowners and Renters into Next Generation Real Estate Investors

It’s no secret historical rates of return for real estate beat virtually every investment category. I’ve been thinking a lot about a question I touched upon briefly in last week’s newsletter:

How does the industry get individuals to invest 10-15k into real estate, instead of bonds or the stock market like their parents did?

A few reasons: lack of capital (25k+), long time horizon, lack of liquidity, and social proof. One new incentive that’s coming: Opportunity Zones (read here and here for some background).

Greg Fischer dug into Overstock’s news, and exactly where they’re getting its listings from?

A couple of the curated articles referenced in last week’s Weekly Radar:

Lisa Renee writes about the history of her Civil War era farmhouse. Those who have been reading my writing for many years know there is a topic I’ve been thinking about for over a decade: the history of a home. Lisa’s portrayal is a great example of the incredibly rich historical stories that the right product could potentially surface.

A new substation would have cost over $1.2B and exacerbate known issues with the current grid system in New York City. So ConEdison spurred an initiative with large-scale developments to reduce demand through traditional means such as efficiency upgrades. But a large affordable housing complex in Brooklyn took the effort further by constructing a $4M microgrid with rooftop solar, natural gas fuel, and a battery system; which almost entirely meets the current needs of the 625 unit complex. Not only has the community’s power bill dropped with the new setup, but it can also operate independently from the grid in an emergency.

As a reminder, the purpose of the Geek Estate Mastermind is two fold:

1. Curate the world’s most innovative and diverse community of real estate creatives, doers, and pioneers.
2. Make our members wildly successful in their careers building real estate companies.

If you want to read the entire newsletter, and future weekly editions, please apply for a Mastermind membership below.

Apply for Membership

The post Geek Estate Mastermind Newsletter #39 – Turning Homeowners and Renters into Next Generation Real Estate Investors appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://geekestateblog.com/geek-estate-mastermind-newsletter-39-turning-homeowners-and-renters-into-next-generation-real-estate-investors/

Apartment Construction Is Expected to Slow Down in 2018 After a 6-Year Upward Streak

Highlights: Almost 283,000 new apartments are expected for completion by the end of 2018, 11% less than last year. Apartment construction peaked in 2017, finally slowing down in 2018. In spite of the year-over-year slowdown, the past three years’ total deliveries are projected to pass the 900K mark by the end of this year – the highest since the mid-‘80s. […]

The post Apartment Construction Is Expected to Slow Down in 2018 After a 6-Year Upward Streak appeared first on RENTCafé rental blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/apartment-construction-is-finally-slowing-down-in-2018-after-a-6-year-upward-streak/

Meet the Real Estate Tech Founder: Thomas Rebaud from Meero

In our latest real estate tech entrepreneur interview, we’re speaking with Thomas Rebaud from Meero.

Without further ado…

What do you do?

I am the CoFounder and CEO of Meero, an AI driven photography platform, the world leader in large-scale photography and video production. In 30 months, the team has managed to automate the editing of images, reducing the processing time of images to a few seconds when it takes several hours for a human to achieve an equivalent result!

What problem does your product/service solve?

Our service answers a major problem in the world of photography: image editing. Indeed, 60 minutes of actual shooting requires up to 4 hours of additional post production work. Result: long delivery times, unconsistent returns, often disparate prices.

Thanks to the combination of unique artificial intelligence technology, unprecedented work processes, and the development of a visual content management platform, we have been able to develop a world-leading offering of photo and video services at unbeatable prices, delivery times of less than 24 hours and consistent quality.

What are you most excited about right now?

Everyone in the office is extremely thrilled about our latest funding ! We’ve just raised $45M, a fortuity we have worked hard to achieve. We’ve now reached a height in our company that has allowed for a momentum within Meero that we would never have imagined 2 years ago.

I am so unbelievably proud to announce that the amount raised will allow us to set up the largest AI center dedicated to the development of machine learning and image processing in France. We are also overly excited with the upcoming expansion of our activities around the world.

What’s next for you?

We’re taking the big leap ! The next big step is the long awaited opening of the new offices in the United States, and Asia. In the last 6 months, we’ve gone from 75 employees to 180, and we plan to maintain this growth in order to create 300+ jobs in France and worldwide.

What’s a cause you’re passionate about and why?

I focus on the idea to make the Internet beautiful. I realized that we are all on Instagram and that photos are beautiful. But then, you go on a marketplace and photos aren’t great. That’s why we had the idea to make an offering that allows every professional to get beautiful and yet affordable photographs to help their business grow.

Also, as a company, we have grown wary on issues concerning our environment and the amount of consumption / waste we produce. Considering the size of our company, we have started within by eliminating the use of plastic. We make it a priority to recycle and we’ll implement various actions to reduce our carbon footprint.

Thanks to Thomas for sharing his story. If you’d like to connect, find him on LinkedIn here.

We’re constantly looking for great real estate tech entrepreneurs to feature. If that’s you, please read this post — then drop me a line (drew @ geekestatelabs dot com).

The post Meet the Real Estate Tech Founder: Thomas Rebaud from Meero appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://geekestateblog.com/meet-the-real-estate-tech-founder-thomas-rebaud-from-meero/

Costs Involved in Opening & Operating a Franchise

Before you invest in and sign a franchise agreement make sure you understand what your total costs will be. I see too many new franchises get in over their head when they do not analyze all the costs. You have to keep in mind that markets are different. Just because a certain franchisee is doing well in Phoenix does not mean you will do well with the same franchise in Austin. For example rental rates in the Phoenix market could be much lower than Austin retail space rents, which allows them to enjoy a lower cost of doing business and higher margins.

Initial Franchise Investment

You initial investment in a franchise includes not only the franchise fee, marketing costs, licensing, attorney fees, but also operating costs (e.g. salaries, training, uniforms, utilities, etc) for the first 12 months AND your commercial real estate costs. In most cases you will have to rent office, retail, or warehouse space. Below is a summary of commercial real estate costs to consider:

• Security deposit and first months rent
• Build-out costs for your retail store or office
• Insurance for commercial space (property and general liability)
• Signage
• Building maintenance and repairs
• Landscaping

Franchises can cost a little or a lot as it depends on the segment you choose and franchise brand. Costs can range from $10,000 to $5 million, however the majority of them range from $50k to $200k.

When starting any business you do not want to go into it undercapitalized. Whatever initial investment range the Franchisor gives you aim for the upper end of that range.

Get Personal Finances in Order

You also need to be realistic about your personal financial situation and ensure that you have enough money to cover your personal expenses while you invest in and grow your franchise. This means that you won’t be taking a salary from the new business for at least a year or until it’s profitable.

Franchise Commercial Real Estate Costs

Commercial real estate rental costs are often under budgeted for. Again just because a franchisee in Phoenix is getting a retail space base rate of $14 sf does not mean you will be able to get that in Austin, Tx where retail rents average $30 to $45 sf gross. Commercial real estate rental rates vary from market to market. You still want to find a good retail space near where people live, shop, work, and/or go to school however make sure you can afford the total costs before signing a lease.

Consider SBA Loan to Start Franchise

Many small business owners should consider taking loans to fund a new business venture. You take out a small business loan and lose money initially however as you scale your business and are profitable you will have an asset that will continue to produce income. Then later on you can sell it at a good valuation.

Many franchisees use Small Business Administration funding borrowing 30% to 70% with 10-15 year loan terms, however end up paying them off sooner. SBA loans are issued by a lender however partially guaranteed by the U.S. government. Government backed loans provide reasonable terms for borrowers and decrease the risk for lenders. The SBA loan process can be long and frustrating however many franchises have great relationships with lenders and this makes the process much easier for franchisees.

Best Austin Breweries & Brewery Tours in Austin Tx

Since the  Austin craft brewery boom started in 2010 more and more Austin breweries have been popping up near the city’s central business district as well as near and around the Austin Round Rock Metropolitan area. If you are looking for the best craft brews and brewery tours look no further. Below is a comprehensive list of the best breweries and brewery tours in and near Austin, Tx. Most of them are located in warehouse spaces in Austin Tx.

List of the Best Breweries in Austin Tx

1. (512) Brewing Company

407 Radam Lane
Austin, Tx 78745
(512) 921-1545
512brewing.com
Fan Favorite – Pecan Porter

2. Argus Cidery

12345 Pauls Vally Rd, #2
Austin, Tx 78737
arguscidery.com
Fan Favorite – Apple Bomb

3. Hi Sign Brewing

1201 Bastrop Hwy
Austin, Tx 78742
(512) 382-5264
hisignbrewing.com
Fan Favorite – The Astronaught Double IPA

4. Independence Brewing Co.

3913 Todd Ln #607
Austin, Tx 78744
(512) 707-0099
independencebrewing.com
Fan Favorite – Stash IPA

5. Jester King Brewery

13187 Fitzhugh Rd
Austin, Tx 78736
jesterkingbrewery.com
Fan Favorite – Le Petit Prince

6. Last Stand Brewing Company

12345 Pauls Valley Rd, Bldg i
Austin, Tx 78737
(512) 373-3629
laststandbrewing.com
Fan Favorite – Smash IPA

7. Orf Brewing

4700 Burleson Rd, F
Austin, Tx 78744
(512) 428-5217
orfbrewing.com
Fan Favorite – Oocheenama

8. Skull Mechanix Brewing

1005 E St Elmo Rd, Building 2
Austin, Tx 78745
(737) 300-1002
skullmechanix.com
Fan Favorite – The Gully Cat

9. South Austin Brewery

415 E St Elmo Rd
Austin, Tx 78745
(512) 354-2337
southaustinbrewery.com
Fan Favorite – Cross Roads

10. St Elmo Brewing Company

440 E St Elmo Rd, G-2
Austin, Tx 78745
(737) 300-1965
stelmobrewing.com
Fan Favorite – Carl Kolsch

11. Thirsty Planet Brewing Company

8201 S Congress Ave
Austin, Tx 78745
(512) 579-0679
thirstyplanet.beer
Fan Favorite – Thirsty Goat

List of Breweries Near Austin Tx

1. Acopon Brewing Co.

211 W. Mercer St
Dripping Springs TX 78620
(512) 829-4723
acoponbrewing.com
Fan Favorite – Gaspipes

2. Family Business Beer Company

19510 Hamilton Pool Rd
Dripping Springs, Tx 78620
(512) 829-4202
familybusinessbeerco.com
Fan Favorite – The Grackle

3. Suds Monkey Brewing Company

1032 Canyon Bend Dr, Suite B
Dripping Springs, Tx 78620
(512) 222-3893
sudsmonkeybrew.com
Fan Favorite – Funky Monkey IPA

4. Treaty Oak Distilling Ranch

16604 Fitzhugh Rd
Dripping Springs, Tx 78620
(512) 599-0335
treatyoakdistilling.com
Fan Favorite – Fitzhugh Ale

5. Twisted X Brewing Company

23455 Ranch to Market Rd 150
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
(512) 829-5323
twistedxbbrewing.com
Fan Favorite – Austin Lager

6. Two Wheel Brewing Company

535 S Loop 4
Buda, Tx 78610
(512) 361-3401
twowheelbrewing.com
Fan Favorite – Race Pointe IPA

7. Vista Brewing

13551 Ranch to Market Rd 150
Driftwood Tx 78619
(512) 766-1842
vistabrewingtx.com
Fan Favorite –

Texas Brewery Regulations

• Senate bills that were passed in 2013 allow brewpubs to have a taproom, sell beer, and/or distribute beer as long as they meet certain barrel production requirements. For more info on liquor and beer licenses in Texas

Working with the MLS: A Developers Perspective

One of the sessions at Hacker Connect last week was a short interview with Seth Siegler, one of Geek Estate’s Mastermind founding members.

Not all MLS access contracts are created equally. Field names can be, and are, different. Some systems only allow a single session at a time. Some store agent names in one table, some require separate queries. Hosted image urls compared to downloaded and served up from your own servers.

In short, somewhat of a mess.

He told the crowd to expect the unexpected. Be prepared for handling for each and every possibility, it’s more than simply normalization for field mapping.

When asked his “wish list”, he mentioned the impossible: full adoption of standardized APIs.

For the developers reading, I have two questions:

1. What’s the biggest headache you’ve dealt with?
2. What’s your wish list for MLS technology in the next 5 years?

The post Working with the MLS: A Developers Perspective appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://geekestateblog.com/working-with-the-mls-a-developers-perspective/

The Pros and Cons of Closing Gifts For Buyers

 

Aside from the pros and cons of holding open houses, whether or not to have closing gifts for buyers at the end of a transaction is one of the most hotly debated topics in the industry.

To be clear, both sides make compelling arguments so the answer isn’t obvious.

Whatever side of the argument you fall on, you’ll want a professional online presence from the start of your relationship with your leads until the very end. Be sure to check out LeadSites for more info.

To give, or not to give? Let’s dive in.

Closing gifts for buyers make me memorable

Agents who gift tell us that they do so for a number of reasons, most common among them, though, is that they hope to remain “memorable” to their clients. A respectable goal, to be sure.

But, those opposed to gifting will tell these agents that for a gift to be truly memorable, 7, 8 or 9 years down the road, it would need to be spectacular (meaning “expensive).

Take Beverly Hills agent Christophe Choo, for instance. After closing a $15 million home purchase, he made reservations for four at the Encore Resort in Las Vegas, booked a special seating at Tryst nightclub and chartered a private jet.

Then, he whisked himself, his wife and his clients to Vegas for a first-class weekend

Total cost? $30,000.

And, you can bet these clients will remember him. In fact, he tells the Wall Street Journal that, because of his extravagant gifts, “my business is 70 percent repeat clients.”

You may not work in B’Hills, sell multi-million dollar homes and you may not have an extra 30 grand lying around.

The bottom line, however, is that a bottle of wine, a gift basket and even a set of knives have a short life expectancy and, when the gift is gone, so is the memory of who gave it.

Make follow up and lead generation a breeze with Texty, a feature of LeadSites. Learn More.

A more effective use of your gift money would be to make a small annual gift, even a card, marking the anniversary of their home sale/purchase.

Done consistently this assures that, once a year, you ascend right back to the most coveted spot an agent can find herself in: top-of-mind.

Or, incorporate the pop-by into your schedule. They’re fun not only for the recipient, but the giver as well. They’re number 4 on Tyler’s list, here.

Closing gifts for buyers show gratitude

“ … we try to recognize our appreciation for them allowing us the opportunity to serve them,” claims a Florida agent in a discussion at Trulia.com.

“If it were not for my clients entrusting me with the sale or purchase of a home, I would not be in business,” claims a Texas agent. Yet another suggests that gifts for clients are “about building relationships.”

Ready for the flip side (as if you haven’t heard it before, right?). Let’s take the last point first.

Gifting is personal. You are a business person and, in business, regardless that you’re selling a very personal item (a home), your relationship with your client is a business relationship.

As well, gifts don’t “build relationships,” either personal or professional. People do. Focusing on clear communication, sharing your professional knowledge, not letting anything fall through the cracks and ensuring your client gets your utmost best will go a lot further in building a relationship than a gift card or a monogrammed cutting board.

Do dentists feel that “If it were not for my clients entrusting me with their teeth, I would not be in business?”  Do attorneys gift their clients for “allowing” them the “opportunity” to “serve” them in court?

And, since I’m asking questions, because my insurance guy, my doctor, hair stylist and plumber don’t give me presents, does that mean that they don’t appreciate my business?

In fact, don’t you return to the same doc, the same accountant or the same hair stylist because of the service you receive? I, personally, have referred my mortgage guy to three other people and wouldn’t dream of using anyone else in my next home purchase and he didn’t give me a gift.

He did give excellent, professional service that went above and beyond any other I’ve experienced.

 

Still believe in closing gifts for buyers?

Realtor.org commissioned a poll a couple of years ago and found that clients enjoyed receiving (in this order):

• Flowers
• Plants
• Gift baskets
• Personalized home accessories
• Alcoholic beverages
• Food

Interestingly, their list completely mirrors the list of the most common gifts agents give to clients (and most likely all of them fall within the IRS’ allowable deductible amount for gifts).

How anyone hopes to become memorable by proffering a bouquet of flowers or a bottle of wine is curious, but there you have it.

And you do know that anything with your branding on it will most likely end up in the trash, right?

“That’s not a gift. It’s a marketing piece. Don’t gift it,” claims Ian Altman at Forbes.com.

 

Let’s get creative with closing gifts for buyers

After a bit of quick internet research, we’ve come up with a brilliant list of closing gifts for buyers that are sure to please any client.

Meal delivery service – It takes the dropped-off-pizza-on-moving-day idea light years further. And, although still a bit in its infancy, meal delivery has exploded in popularity. You’ll find services geared to different tastes and dietary requirements as well, from vegan to organic, weight loss and more.

Unpacking, cleaning and organizing help – One agent we read about provides her clients with the gift of three hours of service from a professional organizer, house cleaner, handyman or a personal assistant to help with unpacking.

Subscription box – These are fun gifts for people who love trying new things. For new homeowners you’ll find home decor subscription boxes (check out Box of Chic or Sundae Home), gardening boxes (PlowBox even offers one-time boxes or check out Urban Organic Gardener), a box of full-size products (“fashion, beauty, home, food …”) for women (Popsugar) and others.

Tech stuff – We love technology and we’re not alone. Anything that will make your clients’ home “smarter” is sure to be appreciated. Consider an Alexa-controlled Echo speaker, smart home hub, learning thermostat or a smart lock for their new front door. Speaking of front door, Skybell is a very cool gift. A video doorbell, it allows one to see who is at the door from their smartphone. Or, give them their new house keys on a key ring that includes the tile app, a Bluetooth tracker. They’ll never lose their keys again.

Gift cards – Busy agents love giving gift cards and clients on a budget (such as first-time homeowners) appreciate receiving them. Especially if the card allows them to purchase what might be on their new-home to-do list, such as one from Lowe’s or Home Depot.

Ready for a real estate website that works as hard as you do? Learn more about LeadSites.

Drive more leads and listings with these 16 real estate hacks.

Want more buyer leads? Don’t miss these 3 strategies for lead generation:

The post The Pros and Cons of Closing Gifts For Buyers appeared first on Easy Agent Pro.

from theokbrowne digest https://www.easyagentpro.com/blog/closing-gifts-for-buyers/

How RealSavvy’s Collaborative Home Search Is Changing the Game for Realtors

[Editor’s Note: RealSavvy is a strategic sponsor for Geek Estate Blog, and this is a sponsored post. The company was first covered on Geek Estate Blog back in 2016. Since then, I’ve gotten to know their CEO Rick Orr quite well (he’s a Geek Estate Mastermind member). You’ll be hearing more about this company and products here on GE Blog going forward.]

Imagine the all-too-common scenario of a day in the life of a Realtor: a cluttered Inbox of links from clients to homes they’ve found on Zillow, Redfin and the like. A constant back-and-forth of checking which homes are actually still active in the MLS, sorting through multiple email threads to find the right conversation with the right client. It’s inefficient and yet it’s become the norm. Why? The answer is twofold:

1. Homebuyers crave a modern home search experience that the national search portals provide them, which takes them off their agent’s website or MLS search.
2. The lack of usable, enterprise-grade products to help agents stay connected to their clients with the ability to collaborate in an organized fashion.

Over the past 10 years, homebuyers have gained access to amazing amounts of data to assist in the home search leaving real estate professionals exposed to the whims of heavily-funded, publicly-traded companies. The relationship of the typical real estate professional and Zillow, for example, is an odd one. Zillow is, hands-down, the anointed winner for generating potential buyers and sellers, which means Realtors looking to grow their leads business will happily shovel cash towards Zillow for access to leads in select zip codes across the US. This is net-good for both sides – agents get access to people with some intent to buy/sell, Zillow makes billions. However, once a lead is captured, agents are highly motivated to move their new clients off of Zillow and onto their own branded platform. This is where real estate tech companies like RealSavvy step in to help provide real estate professionals with the sophisticated software they need to remain competitive.

Why do agents wish to move clients away from Zillow? There are two key reasons for this:

1. In most markets, Zillow is an opt-in aggregator for brokers to share their listings. While most do, many don’t which means not all MLS listings are available to real homebuyers which leads to a misleading home search. However, with IDX providers like RealSavvy,  brokers have 100% of the MLS available to them on their website, which gives them a decided advantage by presenting the most accurate data.
2. Other competing agents (as with Realtor.com and most others) are advertised on each search and each listing. A media company (not a brokerage like Redfin), Zillow makes money by driving leads to agents. If an agent buys a lead for one zip code from Zillow, that agent doesn’t want her new prospect going back to Zillow where each search will have a new set of agent ads to the right of each listing.

For the average homebuyer, investor and portals like Zillow, this would seem to be all that’s necessary to maintain a symbiosis between advertisers (Zillow) and real estate pros; however, it’s only when consumers actually buy, list, lease and, most importantly, close that a real estate professional actually realizes ROI. With 66M online leads per year versus 5MM sold homes, Realtors have a daunting task trying to actually convert very expensive leads ($2500 for 130 leads per month for a decent zip code on Zillow; $2500 for 12 leads in hot areas, for reference). This is where the proverbial RealSavvy rubber meets the road for brokers and agents – the software is built for lead conversion and collaboration tools are the key.

RealSavvy launched in 2014 to bring enterprise-grade tools with a heavy emphasis on homebuyer experience to the real estate industry which had, frankly, forgotten to take care of the 100k’s of SMB’s and millions of agents left behind in the technology wake of Zillow. Agents are losing the trust of their clients because they have nothing great to offer by way of usable, simple search and collaboration tools. Consumers making life stage decisions want real estate professionals who know the market, neighborhoods and schools to help inform them about this major life moment. Agents need a company focused on their technology needs that will help them compete in a rapidly-evolving online realm so that they can win where they always have – relationships in the physical world of real estate sales.

To meet these fundamental technology needs, we built our platform to consist of five mission-critical technology elements:

• Collaborative IDX with “Pinterest-like” search capabilities to keep agents and homebuyers connected and collaborating in real time
• Websites with modern UX/UI for cost-effective lead capture
• Branded mobile apps (native iOS and Android) to make agents and brokers searchable in the App Store and Google Play Store
• Predictive CRM with client search analytics and automated lead routing
• Unrivaled and well-documented APIs to empower brokers and agents to bolt on valuable third-party software to build any type of business they desire (e.g. Salesforce and FollowUp integrations, direct mailer integrations, etc.)

Our vision is to be the operating system for real estate by bringing enterprise-grade digital marketing (think Hubspot) and productivity tools (think Slack for home search) to agents, brokerages, and teams who have been underserved by technology for too long.

Learn more about Real Savvy

Learn more about Real Savvy

The post How RealSavvy’s Collaborative Home Search Is Changing the Game for Realtors appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://geekestateblog.com/how-realsavvys-collaborative-home-search-is-changing-the-game-for-realtors/

Geek Estate Mastermind Newsletter #38 – RE BarCamp, and a Few Takeaways from San Francisco

I was in San Francisco last week, attending RE BarCamp X and Hacker Connect, and, most importantly, socializing. Thus, the mastermind newsletter didn’t dive deep on one topic (like we did two weeks ago with IDX). Instead, I summarized the week’s takeaways.

RE BarCamp X was held in its original location. It was beyond amazing to see so many wonderful people show up, some of which I hadn’t seen for 7 or 8 years. I’ll be writing a longer piece on Geek Estate Blog sometime in the coming week or two, so won’t get too sentimental right now. That said, I do want to say THANK YOU RE BarCamp for providing so many memories and friendships!

From my time socializing and perusing the exhibit hall, a few companies that impressed me (there is additional context included in the newsletter):

• Vrolio (Geek Estate Mastermind member)
• Remzy (Geek Estate Mastermind member)
• Hurdlr
• Glide (Geek Estate Mastermind member)
• ActivePipe
• RealScout

Oh, and we had our first official Geek Estate Mastermind members breakfast!

Left to right: Ben Clark, Nitesh Mehrotra, Nima Niakan, Peter Liem, Erica Muller, Steven Wynands, Nima Wedlake, Brad Christ, Nate Smoyer, and Steve Mincemoyer (the hat in the lower right).

A few of the curated articles referenced in last week’s Weekly Radar:

The “for sale” sign gets its first major makeover in nearly 50 years in Fast Company. We’re definitely moving to a world in which today’s “luxury” is tomorrow’s “normal”. Their branding and presentation are certainly very Apple-esque.

What if People Were Paid for Their Data? in the Economist. This idea has a growing supporter base. I’m certainly not saying it makes sense right now. After all, how valuable of an incentive would Facebook paying you $9 per year be? Not very. That said, I do see opportunity to innovate in terms of financial incentives for your clients/customers/users.

Algorithm developed to predict the vertical growth of cities in dezeen. Can you imagine predicting future city skylines based on historical growth? That’s an extremely complex endeavor, but it sounds like there’s progress happening on that front in Spain.

As a reminder, the purpose of the Geek Estate Mastermind is two fold:

1. Curate the world’s most innovative and diverse community of real estate creatives, doers, and pioneers.
2. Make our members wildly successful in their careers building real estate companies.

If you want to read the entire newsletter, and future weekly editions, please apply for a Mastermind membership below.

Apply for Membership

The post Geek Estate Mastermind Newsletter #38 – RE BarCamp, and a Few Takeaways from San Francisco appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://geekestateblog.com/geek-estate-mastermind-newsletter-38/

3 Things Agents Do That Buyer Leads Hate

 

I recently watched an online video, posted about two years ago, titled “4 Things that Buyer Leads do that Realtors Hate.” I don’t, first of all, get why this agent took the time to create it and, second, why NAR felt the need to post it on their site.

It’s just wrong, from the topic to the content.

First, the agent opens the video with the statement:

 “I’m not gonna lie, there are things that buyer leads do that I absolutely hate.”

Guess what lady? There are things AGENTS do that buyer leads “absolutely hate” and, since they are the ones who are responsible for your livelihood, how about you get over what YOU hate and concentrate on fixing the things that THEY hate?

We at EAP are relieved that agents like this one are in the minority. But, they do tend to taint the entire industry with their attitudes.

 

It’s called “customer service”

And, believe or not, most agents have the concept down. It’s time for those who don’t to get on board instead of wasting valuable time making videos slamming real estate consumers, a.k.a. your bread and butter.

So, in the spirit of fair play, and as an appeal to these agents’ better natures, let’s take a look at three things agents do that really tick off buyers.

Now, I use the term “agents” loosely because you good ones know who you are (your success rates prove that this doesn’t apply to you).

No, this is for those agents who actually think it’s ok to criticize and belittle the concerns of real estate consumers on such a public forum as Realtor.com.

1. Some agents lack empathy

This agent’s number one pet peeve is that buyers care “too much about aesthetics.” In other words, drat those dang buyers and the importance they place on what pleases their senses!

They’re only forking over hundreds of thousands of dollars for an investment in which they will live, and thus be forced to look at these “aesthetics” every single day until they can afford to make them. . .well. . .more aesthetic.

She uses tile color as an example, claiming “it just doesn’t matter.”

Well, actually, it kind of DOES matter

Tiling a tub surround can cost up to $4,000 according to the pros at Angie’s List. Tiling a walk-in shower costs from $2,500 to $5,000, but “some companies charge up to $10,000.”

So, aesthetics often do matter, a great deal.

These buyer leads she is dissing are spending gobs of money for this home. The down payment and closing costs alone most likely represent every penny they’ve been able to save for years.

And to say it doesn’t matter that they’ll need to spend thousands more just to feel comfortable in the shower is a bit cruel.

Then, there are the repairs that they were afraid to ask the seller to make because they wanted the house that bad. Those will need to be taken care of, as well as things every new homeowner needs after they move into a home.

You see, these people don’t earn commission checks made out for thousands of dollars. Many make average American wages and live paycheck-to-paycheck. So, asking them to overlook a $2,500 bill just to re-tile a shower – claiming you “hate” it when they balk at the thought — is repugnant.

How long do you imagine they’ll have to save for that? Would you be willing to live with unpleasing aspects of a home for that long?

The bottom line is that the whole reason agents are involved with these buyer leads is to make their dreams come true. The agent’s paycheck is secondary. The agent’s feelings about buyer’s wants and needs in a home are secondary.

Just find them the right home. If you don’t, there are hundreds of qualified, caring agents who will.

2. Then there are the agents who make lame excuses

This one comes from recent personal experience.

As a buyer, I don’t care what is going on in your personal life. I only care about ONE THING: buying this home. It’s the whole reason I hired you. It’s the reason you’ll get a paycheck.

It’s not my problem that your teenage son is acting up. Take care of your personal life on your personal time, not when you’re supposed to be working for me.

And, for the record, the most unprofessional thing you can do is proffer a lame excuse for not following through on something you promised

If life happens (which it does) and you can’t perform, hire someone else who can. Pay another agent in your office to do it. Just. Get. It. Done.

3. Buyer leads hate agents who don’t listen to their clients

In the digital age, the word “listening” encompasses both the spoken and written word. Nine times out of ten, not listening to a client results in wasted time. Yours, your client’s, the listing agent’s and the seller’s.

Then there are the rest of the folks in the domino chain that might be affected, from the title rep to the lender to the inspector.

There are some industries where it pays to be good at not listening (a middle school teacher position comes to mind) but real estate isn’t one of them.

Slow down, take your time when speaking with or reading texts or emails from a client. Read and understand every word before mentally formulating a response.

If you listen to your client, with empathy, you’ll have a client for life. If you act like a grownup and eschew lame excuses for why you can’t keep your word, you’ll have a client for life.

If you prefer, however, to spend your productive time dissing the very people you should be trying to attract, good luck.

There’s no way to get rid of those ugly Yelp reviews.

Appeal to your clients, get more leads and make more conversions with a LeadSite – Learn more!

Generate more leads with one mind-blowing secret!

Want to attract more buyer leads? Check out these lead generation strategies:

The post 3 Things Agents Do That Buyer Leads Hate appeared first on Easy Agent Pro.

from theokbrowne digest https://www.easyagentpro.com/blog/3-things-agents-do-that-buyer-leads-hate/

Meet the Real Estate Tech Founder: Teris Pantazes from EFynch

In our latest real estate tech entrepreneur interview, we’re speaking with Teris Pantazes from EFynch.

Without further ado…

What do you do?

I am the Co-Founder of EFynch.com, a Baltimore based Homeowner and Handyman Communication System.

What problem does your product/service solve?

Even with all the current home improvement websites and offerings, homeowners still complain and never know the best way to find a handyman or contractor. Frankly, the national websites are pretty expensive and often take up to 39% for a simple introductions. But, we found it’s not the actual introduction that is the issue, it is determining which information is valid and knowing which options are available. Between social media recommendations and paid advertising, there is tons of conflicting and (often) biased information to sift through.

EFynch takes the same hiring processes and evaluation tools that professional property managers use, but it is designed for the regular homeowner. With EFynch, a homeowner need not even request for a plumber, they would post a picture and information on the problem to obtain actual solutions, from the accountable contractors who are agreeing to fix it. All of this is done in our proprietary competitive bidding system (think rfp).
We still help them get recommendations from friends, but you don’t have to post to your entire neighborhood or high school classmates that your toilet is backed up- – that whole idea is absurd and is often “oversharing”.

We don’t charge for most of this. In fact, if a homeowner just wants introduction or a contractor wants to see available jobs and place bids- it is entirely free. EFynch makes money from adding value to the transaction like escrow services, payment processing, and our unique algorithm which uses AI to learn your preferences and ultimately will be able to recommend hiring in a way more refined than simply pushing who pays the most advertising.

Simply put, we want to give every homeowner their own personal property manager, or a “digital uncle”- the kind of resource that always knows the right guy to fix a problem.

What are you most excited about right now?

iOT. Essentially, with the right system (which will be EFynch) and a qualified professional, the future will never put homeowners in a situation of having to explain a problem they don’t understand or hire someone for a service they are not sure whether or not they need. I believe iOT can take the uncertainty out of hiring.

What’s next for you?

We are working to learn the “individual”. Using AI to study buying preferences and perceptions when it comes to quality of work, budgetary restrictions, sense of urgency, etc- this is the next frontier. In the VERY near future, without the homeowner saying anything more than “I need a Handyman”, we will be able to competitively bid the project and highlight your best options for that particular job and in real time. This will take into consideration whether or not you like to hire side workers who have lower hourly rates, or if you prefer a skilled craftsmen who might be more expensive than a K Street Attorney- it’s entirely up to you- we are just learning a better way to help you find what you need. . . and it’s not just another advertisement.

What’s a cause you’re passionate about and why?

I am an avid conservationist. I come from a land development and construction background but most are surprised to see how they can go hand in hand with conservation. I get excited seeing old turned into new. There is nothing better than a craftsman home or old paper mill that has solar panels, R60 insulation, and native vegetation.

Thanks to Teris for sharing his story. If you’d like to connect, find him on LinkedIn here.

We’re constantly looking for great real estate tech entrepreneurs to feature. If that’s you, please read this post — then drop me a line (drew @ geekestatelabs dot com).

The post Meet the Real Estate Tech Founder: Teris Pantazes from EFynch appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://geekestateblog.com/meet-the-real-estate-tech-founder-teris-pantazes-from-efynch/

Keeping Up with the Beat of the Neighborhoods: Seattle’s 30 Best Community News Sites, Mapped

Nestled between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountain Range, Seattle reveals a myriad of unique neighborhoods. These distinct enclaves carry different personalities. Some communities are vibrant, modern, and entice a bustling lifestyle, while others are historic, peaceful, or family-friendly. It’s no wonder that Seattle has earned a reputation as a “City of Neighborhoods”. Seattleites have […]

The post Keeping Up with the Beat of the Neighborhoods: Seattle’s 30 Best Community News Sites, Mapped appeared first on RENTCafé rental blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/apartment-search-2/best-neighborhood-blogs-in-seattle/

Want listings? Forget the email and bring on the snail mail

 

“Using direct mail for real estate makes you look old school,” according to an online author-we’ll-not-name who claims to help Realtors increase sales.

How?

By offering, for sale, an “email marketing solution,” that’s how.

Ah, the agenda rears its ugly head.

If we were to meet this author/business owner in person, we would, as gracefully as possible, point out how very, very wrong she is.

Sellers LOVE direct mail

We recently explained to you that members of Generation X are totally worth pursuing because (among other reasons) they want and need to move up and have the financial power to do so.

Right behind them, we suggest you go after baby boomers.

And, the best place to reach both cohorts is through their mailboxes. No, not their email inbox, their snail mail boxes.

More than half of the members of Gen X and nearly 60 percent of baby boomers say that direct mail for real estate influences their buying and service provider decisions, according to a study conducted by Yes Lifestyle Marketing.

So, although some may think it’s an “old school” marketing method, you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank to cash your commission checks.

Direct Mail For Real Estate – Do it right

You may intuitively know from personal experience which types of direct mail messages actually compel the recipient to act.

Think about it: Why did you act?

Stay in touch, manage leads and log activity with LeadSite’s built in CRM! Learn more here.

Because the mail piece hit your mailbox at just the right time. It addressed a need you had and offered a compelling solution. That’s what you’re aiming to do with this direct mail for real estate approach,

If you already work in a particular real estate niche, determining your target audience, their needs and how to fulfill them, will be a snap.

Generalists will have to work harder to determine which group of real estate consumers to target. As we mentioned earlier, Gen X is profitable if you’re looking for listings.

Their need is typically for a larger home and their pain point is that it’s a pain in the hiney to find these homes in the current market.

Figuring out your audience takes care of half the battle. From there, it’s time to pursue them.

Craft your message

Haven’t yet figured out your audience’s needs and pain points? In the current market, it’s safe to say that many homeowners who may want to sell and buy another home can’t stomach the thought of jumping into the overcrowded and hyper-competitive buyer pool.

Make a list of their possible needs and problems and how you can overcome them. Owners of expired listings, for instance, may have had an agent who didn’t properly market the property. Or, maybe the home has cosmetic problems that the first agent didn’t address.

We know from NAR statistics that for-sale-by-owners are trying to save money by not having an agent but that they’ll actually lose money.

Move-up buyers, such as those in Generation X, may be afraid they can’t afford a larger home in this overheated sellers’ market. They may not understand that their home has appreciated in value as well, giving them more equity to use for the next home.

Decide on the best medium to get those listings

Many agents we’ve spoken with swear by using a market update as their first contact. This makes sense, if you’ve carefully crafted a call to action to go with it.

Homeowners, especially absentee owners, whether they’re thinking of selling or not, are curious about their home’s value and a consumer-friendly market report will most likely get read.

This is why that first call-to-action should be compelling. Offer them something, such as a free, no-obligation seller’s guide, a CMA or whatever you think will get the best response.

Then, keep the contact ongoing. Send just-listed and just-sold postcards for homes in their area to remind them that other people are selling and making a killing. Remind them over and over how much equity they have built up during this amazing sellers’ market.

Never forget that the fortune is in the follow-up, so be consistent and keep on mailing.

If you’re ready for a real estate website that works as hard as you do, it’s time to check out LeadSites. Learn more.

Need some new marketing ideas? How about 200 new ideas to help you dominate your market?

Ready for the next big thing in real estate? Get in on the latest and greatest:

The post Want listings? Forget the email and bring on the snail mail appeared first on Easy Agent Pro.

from theokbrowne digest https://www.easyagentpro.com/blog/direct-mail-for-real-estate/

Questions to Ask When Renting an Apartment

Moving is often more about preparation and organizing than it is about lifting boxes. When searching for a new apartment to rent, some of the details to watch out for are as crucial as they are easy to overlook. To make sure you stay clear of renter’s remorse, we made a list of 5 essential […]

The post Questions to Ask When Renting an Apartment appeared first on RENTCafé rental blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/apartment-search-2/questions-ask-renting-apartment/

The When, Why and How to Move Out of Your Parents’ House

The beginning of adulthood is the most exciting and overwhelming time of your life. It is the time of freedom, late nights out, crazy choices and unlimited joy – or, at least, that is the sugar-coated version. If you’ve been living with your parents your whole life, chances are you never had to get out […]

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from theokbrowne digest https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/renting/questions-to-ask-yourself-when-you-want-to-move-out-of-your-parents-house/

Renter’s Guide for Setting Up a Home Office That Inspires Creativity

Designing a stimulating work environment in your rental apartment can get your creative juices flowing and boost your productivity significantly. However, you can quickly get caught up in the world of interior design and end up spending a fortune on decorating your home office. Instead, try these simple, budget-friendly and renter-approved decorating ideas to turn your home office […]

The post Renter’s Guide for Setting Up a Home Office That Inspires Creativity appeared first on RENTCafé rental blog.

from theokbrowne digest https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/home-and-garden/interior-design-design-and-decorating/renters-guide-setting-up-home-office-inspires-creativity/

Old McAgent has a farm – do you?

 

Geographic farming is old school. In fact, it harkens back to the days when NAR was known as National Association of Real Estate Exchanges and MLS listings were printed out in a huge book that agents lugged around with them.

But, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.

Done right, geographic farming can be a game changer, a time saver and a money maker.

“Know your crop first, then select the farm”

Apparently, that’s a rule of farming, according to Ben G. Bareja at cropsreview.com.

“The first part in the planning stage before site selection is to learn everything about the crop to be grown,” he suggests. He goes on to mention that crops are generally chosen for their profitability.

In real estate farming, the “crop” is the type of lead you want to grow. Typically, in geographic farming, the target is homeowners who want to sell or tenants looking to buy.

Ok, you have a crop

Now it’s time to choose a farm. Many agents choose their own neighborhood, or one close by. Settle on several and then determine each “site’s” profitability.

Who lives there? You’ll need to know as much as you can about the local homeowners before choosing one specific geographic area.

• What is the typical tenure of homeowners in your town?
• Are they primarily retirees, families with kids or singles?
• How much money do they make?
• What percentage of renters spend 30 percent or more of their incomes on housing?

Display your local authority with farm pages on your LeadSite! Learn more here.

As of 2018, the median duration of homeownership in the U.S. is 13.3 years according to Chris Moon at valuepenguin.com. But, tenure also differs by demographics. Younger homeowners (those 36 years of age and younger), remain in their homes, on average, for six years, according to NAR’s 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report.

Tenure also may vary by city. Homeowners in Seattle, for instance, stick around longer than those in Denver.

Consult the Census Bureau’s website to find out how long folks stay in their homes in a particular ZIP Code.

We chose a ZIP Code at random (turns out it’s for Merrillville, IN) and found that the largest share of homeowners purchased their homes between 2000 and 2009 and another big chunk of them purchased more recently, from 2010 to 2014.

Then, consider the size of the farm. New agents lacking a hefty marketing budget may want to start small. More established agents should consider going with Tom Ferry’s advice of starting with 250 to 500 homes “and then expand as saturation and desired ROI is accomplished.”

 

It’s time to plant

It takes a bit of nurturing to bring a crop from seed to harvest, so map out your plan of action. Snail mail is the most obvious delivery method, but what will you send? Whatever you decide on it has to deliver on two fronts:

It must offer value to the recipient and it must establish you as the area expert

Homeowners love to hear how the local housing market is doing, what’s sold and for how much, so a market recap may be the ideal first mailer.

Then, consider just-listed, just-sold postcards. One agent we know even sends postcards when a home goes under contract. She mentions how quickly homes are snatched up and that there’s high demand for homes in the area.

Case studies (or success stories, if you will) deliver concrete evidence of your expertise. Check out this one for Jolenta Averill, broker-owner of Lake & City Homes Realty in Madison, WI.

 

Be consistent and persistent with geographic farming

“To be a successful farmer you must commit to an area and understand that it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” claims real estate coach Kay Fairchild at tomferry.com.

Consistency is key when it comes to successful farming. Just as the guy or gal who grows our tomatoes would get deplorable results by watering only once in a while, so too will you bomb out if you aren’t consistently nurturing your farm.

For more tips on farming your way to success, download Easy Agent Pro’s Ebook, Real Estate Farming & Prospecting.

LeadSites is a real estate website designed to help your business grow. Learn more, and see how LeadSites can work with your current business plan to get you where you want to be.

What the top 10 real estate website know that you don’t: build a better website with these tips.

Learn how to use IDX searches to grow your business:

The post Old McAgent has a farm – do you? appeared first on Easy Agent Pro.

from theokbrowne digest https://www.easyagentpro.com/blog/lead-generation/geographic-farming/