Geek Estate Private Community Update

Wanted to post a quick update about Geek Estate’s private community.

We’ve been adding a few members per week, and have 11 founding member slots left (from 50). Those people will receive discounted pricing for the life of their membership.

I’ve also refined (read: added to) what the membership offering includes:

Content on GEB: Members are allowed one post on Geek Estate every quarter. This could be a job opportunity, or special promo you’re willing to offer Geek Estate Blog’s audience. Two examples already posted from founding members are the job posts for Rentalutions and Revaluate.

Ads: The ads you see on the blog are primarily members of the community. CityBldr, Hoverboard Labs, Remzy, Imprev, RealScout, BoomTown, SeattleHome, Prismana, AgentInbox, Miamism, Revaluate, Cloud Streams, immoviewer, Property Web Builder, Rentalutions, TruePad, and Giveback Homes. Want your ad to show up in the rotation? You should apply for membership.

Interested in joining? Remember, discounted pricing is only available for 11 additional founding members. After that, pricing will go to regular price of $32.33 per month ($97 paid every 3 months).

Apply to be a Founding Member

PS: I’ll continue updating the “what is it” post here (that’s the link I send to prospective new members via email) as I refine the offering of the community.

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from theokbrowne digest http://geekestateblog.com/geek-estate-private-community-update/

Meet the Real Estate Tech Entrepreneur: Malcolm Hall from Open Box

In our latest real estate tech entrepreneur interview, we’re speaking with Malcolm Hall, the founder and CEO of Open Box.

Without further ado…

What do you do?

I am the Founder and CEO of Open Box which is a technology services company focus solely on Real Estate. My role is to provide strategic leadership to our teams in the US, UK and South Africa. I am passionate about the fact that there is always a better way of doing things so I am constantly questioning everything we do and the way in which we do it to uncover a better way of doing it.

What problem does your product/service solve?

Our Automation Engine, Rob Sparke, is unique to the industry, utilizing best of breed platforms like Blue Prism RPA to enable automation of most processes in the back office of a Real Estate company out of the box. Those that aren’t out of the box can be created very rapidly utilizing the Engine. Our Automation Engine is further enhanced by our other service lines: Custom Software; Enterprise Solutions (MRI and Argus); Helpdesk and Management Consulting.

What are you most excited about right now?

We are seeing our industry wake up to the benefits of Automation. We are a couple of years behind the likes of Financial Services, Insurance and Pharmaceutical industries, but we are seeing real engagement with this Fourth Industrial Revolution that will radically change our industry and our world. Being the leader in the space in the industry is very exciting.

What’s next for you?

I am looking forward to continuing to take Automation into the Real Estate industry. I am also privileged to mentor some other company leaders and entrepreneurs which often lead me into becoming involved as an investor, two areas that I expect to be more involved in the future.

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

In South Africa we have a massive challenge with income inequality. This is perpetuated by poor education which is compounded by lack of good nutrition in the early stages of childhood. I have been very involved in supporting early development programs which offer a combination of correct nutrition to infants but also education to the child-carer. Following on from this is then ensuring that there are good education opportunities in the pre-school years. There is a very large gap between the implementation of these valuable programs and getting the attention of the big funding groups (including government in some cases) which then creates sustainability. As a result too many fail. In this gap is where I believe smaller companies and individuals can add the most value and impact.

Thanks to Malcolm 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).

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from theokbrowne digest http://geekestateblog.com/meet-real-estate-tech-entrepreneur-malcolm-hall-open-box/

New Jersey’s Most Expensive ZIP Codes – Hoboken and Edgewater Rents 2.5 Times the National Average

Key takeaways: Hoboken’s 07030 is the #1 most expensive ZIP code for renters in New Jersey with an average of $3,401 At almost 52%, Jersey City’s 07306 (#37) experienced the highest rate of supply expansion as well as the highest rent gains at 34% Livingston’s 07039 (#12) experienced the largest negative rent growth in the […]

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from theokbrowne digest http://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/expensive-zip-codes-new-jersey-state/

What You Need to Know: VOWs & the Expiration of the Decree Consent

What do agents and brokers need to know about Virtual Office Websites, following the news of the upcoming expiration of the NAR-DOJ agreement from 2008? We covered the topic here, but thought a follow up was in order with the 3 core things you should know.

First, know that you are entitled to ALL the data, outside of IDX rules. Did you know you CAN mingle MLS listings with FSBO’s, IF you’re operating as a VOW?

Second, Your MLS cannot penalize you for your business model. Regardless of your model, it shouldn’t cost you anything more in fees.

Third, agency relationships are changing. VOW policy was built on authentication methods 20 years ago; the significance of a confirmed email address in the 1990’s is different than in 2017. My friend Heather Elias, CMO at Trust Stamp (which was covered here) picked up on this with a post on LinkedIn:

…It begs the question: VOW technology is based on an authenticated password, circa 1999. With the more sophisticated authentication methods available to us now, shouldn’t that play into improving the consumer experience?

You can bet we’ll see continued discussion on the topic of authentication in the coming months and years.

The likes of Redfin and Compass certainly have an interest in this topic, as do brokerages, teams, and franchises investing heavily in custom technology (such as those betting on the future of curation).

Are you a brokerage or franchise with a vested interest in preserving the status of VOW? I’ll continue to track this topic. For those who want updates, please sign up for the “NAR-DOJ Expiration of Consent Decree for VOWs” special interest topic from your Geek Estate subscription settings here: http://geekestateblog.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=574cb0e876d9ad5ad9a640c5d&id=c36ebe5ab4

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from theokbrowne digest http://geekestateblog.com/need-know-vows-expiration-decree-consent/

Austin Texas Marijuana | Cannabis | Hemp Commercial Real Estate Property Listings

The following post is copyrighted by Austin Tenant Advisors - .

As more studies are done on the medicinal benefits of marijuana (aka cannabis) more life-improving treatments are being found for people with serious health problems such as epilepsy, chronic pain, autism, aids, loss of appetite, post traumatic stress disorder, cancer, anxiety, etc. Many of these debilitating conditions are untreatable with conventional drugs which can also have intolerable or dangerous side effects. Some Texas patients have actually reported being able to stop taking these conventional drugs which in many cases are very expensive and not covered or only partially covered by insurance.

Thanks to the Compassionate Use Act which was approved over in 2015 oils made from cannabidiol for medical needs have been approved. Marijuana plants produce Cannabidiol however the oil does not produce a high or euphoria which is what marijuana is mostly known for.

Increase in Marijuana Related Commercial Real Estate Properties

As more states approve such uses you will also see a rise in commercial real estate properties that cater to the growing of marijuana. These commercial properties will typically be Austin industrial warehouse spaces which will allow companies to grow cannabis under tightly controlled environments. Also as Texas state laws relax retail spaces will start to pop up in Texas that sell marijuana for recreation use.

Texas Approved CBD Dispensaries 

• Surterra Texas has a North Austin marijuana dispensary
• Cansortium Texas
• Compassionate Cultivation 

They have been licensed to cultivate, extract, and dispense marijuana that is less than .5% THC by weight. Also if Texas lawmakers ever relax the states rules on marijuana cultivation these companies will have an inside track since they are the first to reach commercialization.

Other articles to read regarding marijuana dispensaries in Texas and Austin 

• https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2017-10-17/texas-is-about-to-get-its-first-marijuana-dispensary/
• https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2017/05/03/growing-soon-in-austin-medical-marijuana-bound-for.html

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Job Opportunity: Experienced UI/Graphic Designer

One of Geek Estate’s member companies, Rentalutions, is seeking an experienced UI/Graphic Designer.

Experienced UI/Graphic Designer

Job Type

This is a contract position working with a team in Chicago. There is a possibility, but not expectation, that this could evolve into a full-time role.

Remote OK, but we always prefer face-to-face.

Overview

Rentalutions provides the tools and resources DIY landlords need to manage their properties online. We’ve created software that helps landlords find, screen and keep high quality tenants. Recently named one of Chicago Inno’s “50 on Fire”, Rentalutions is growing fast. We need help creating and testing a suite of new landing pages that increase conversion and follow our design language.

About Us

For years, DIY landlords haven’t had access to the same tools and resources as large property management companies. We’ve changed that, and we’re now the fastest-growing software platform used by independent landlords.

Landlords use us to find tenants, screen them with online applications and soft inquiry credit checks, create and sign digital leases and collect rent. Tenants love our platform too because it gives them a home base of communication for their landlord, they’re automatically afforded more safety and security using our online tools.

What We Need

A data-driven designer to help us revamp our public landing pages. You’ll be responsible for providing high-fidelity web page mockups with production ready assets for mobile and desktop browsers, consistent with our brand’s look and feel. Your designs will be evaluated based on their ability to convert our visitors, who are at multiple stages in the buying cycle, to engaged customers.

Initial project specifications will include

• Mobile first visual overhaul of our existing (30 or so) public landing pages following a provided style guide
• Providing SEO-friendly suggestions and edits to headlines and paragraph copy in each page, improving how we communicate with visitors
• Working closely with one or more developers to realize these designs to ensure they’re performant on every screen

Requirements

• A portfolio of work, showing you’ve operated in the Saas, webapp, and B2C verticals
• A mastery in creative tools which aid in the design and asset creation process ie. Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Invision
• You must be able to work autonomously toward an agreed upon goal and make realistic and reasonable estimates for deliverables and deadlines
• You must be open and familiar with a collaborative workflow, provide solutions to general feedback, and respond to reasonable requests for changes and edits
• You mush be available for communication on a daily basis during our project, and communicate as early as possible if more info is needed or if the agreed-upon timeline has changed
• You mush demonstrate a strong understanding of the following areas:
  • Creating responsive high-fidelity prototypes with the expectation of implementation into HTML, JS and CSS
  • Ability to provide web-formatted assets ready for production
  • SEO best practices
  • Ability to follow a consistent design method and language which will be provided before work on the project begins
  • Experience with human centered design practices and the ability to think sympathetically about the user
  • Copywriting for the web, translating features into benefits, addressing the concerns of a broad American customer base

What We Want From You

Please provide a cover letter explaining why you’re a good fit. Provide a link to an online portfolio showcasing your full skillset. Candidates without a portfolio will NOT be considered for this position.

If interested (or know someone who is), shoot Ryan a note at ryan at rentalutions dot com

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from theokbrowne digest http://geekestateblog.com/job-opportunity-experienced-uigraphic-designer/

Preserve at 620 Office Space – 8201 N FM 620 Austin Tx 78726

The following post is copyrighted by Austin Tenant Advisors - .

Preserve at 620 office building is located in Northwest Austin at 8201 N FM 620. If you are looking for cutting edge creative office space in NW Austin this is the place to be. 

If you are interested in leasing Northwest Austin office space at Preserve at 620 give us a call at 512-861-0525 and we can help you negotiate the best deal possible.

Building Size – 220,000 RSF of newly renovated creative office space

Building Height – 1 story

Typical Floor Plate – 50,000 to 215,000 sf

Parking – Parking ratio 5/1,000 sf. 

Amenities – 23 foot ceiling heights, fitness Center with showers, rooftop terrace, 16k sf outdoor courtyard, sport courts, dog runs, bike shop and storage, running trail, tenant gardens

For Austin office leasing rates and info on available spaces give us a call and we will help you find the perfect office space at Preserve at 620 in Northwest Austin.

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