Risk-Taking is Back and so is Rampant Innovation

My wife woke up this morning to the voice of Alec Baldwin telling her “Wake up Sunshine. Let me tell you something, I’ve been up since the crack of dawn…” before I shout out “off” and silence Alec in midsentence. No, Alec isn’t in our bedroom. Alec’s voice is an alarm option in Alexa, our household’s digital assistant that’s built into both our Amazon Echo and Dot. It’s simply the coolest – and most practical – innovation I’ve seen in decades. Alexa is a vibrant example of the rampant innovation emerging today. Life-changing stuff: self-driving cars, VR immersion technology, drones, [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:14-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Risk-Taking is Back and so is Rampant Innovation
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The Best Kept Secrets for Agent Retention

There is nothing more devastating to a brokerage than losing a top performer. Many times these departures come as a total surprise that leaves the company scrambling to find ways to get them to change their mind and to stop more top producers following them out the door. So what can brokerages do to stop this painful bleeding that happens all too often? Here are a few suggestions that have proven to be successful. Ask for Anonymous Feedback We have worked with brokerages fielding surveys to get their agents’ input for everything from the technologies offered, the quality of yard [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, WAVes of Change|Comments Off on The Best Kept Secrets for Agent Retention
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Real Estate in Crisis – Is Nothing Better Than Something?

Real estate is a fascinating industry when it comes to making choices about something vs. nothing. Again and again, we see individual agents, brokers, Associations, MLSs, and Franchises make choices to set something when getting nothing may be the better strategy. I doubt that this article will have any change on the bearing of the industry, but in some small way it may influence one or more decisions today or this week by a few people. Why Do We Sacrifice Long Term Success for Short Term Gain? In our industry, people too often say “yes” to a bad deal. An [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Real Estate in Crisis – Is Nothing Better Than Something?
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Broker Public Portal Reveals Partnership and Plan

It is with much excitement that I would like to announce some major news for the Broker Public Portal project!   We have been researching the value of consumer property search sites like the Broker Public Portal since 2005 and we’re thrilled to announce a game-changing opportunity for agents and brokers to captivate consumers! Broker Public Portal has executed a binding letter of intent with Homesnap, a creator of highly rated apps for consumers and agents, to launch a national home search experience defined by simplicity, integrity and common sense.   The program will be marketed under the Homesnap brand. Homesnap is [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Broker Public Portal Reveals Partnership and Plan
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Sotto Voce: Broker Recruiting and Retention Lessons from the Streets of Brooklyn

One of my favorite people in real estate is John Reinhardt of Fillmore Real Estate based in Brooklyn, New York. I am not sure why, but everything competitive in the New York City area seems amplified. Like his peers, John is always building his business, one great agent at a time. Among John’s favorite recruiting lessons is the spot. In John’s case, his spot is Peter Luger’s Steakhouse. “It is the one place that agents cannot deny a free meal.” John is a recruiting machine – among the best in the business. The last time I sat down with John, [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 11th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Sotto Voce: Broker Recruiting and Retention Lessons from the Streets of Brooklyn
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Form Simplicity by Florida Realtors Upgrades NEFAR, Continues Growth

The subheadline on the news release issued during NAR Midyear tells the real story for Florida Realtors and its Form Simplicity transaction management software: NEFAR offers 6,500+ professionals Form Simplicity Ultimate Edition as member benefit Form Simplicity, built for Realtors by Realtors as Florida Realtors points as a key competitive advantage, continues to grow.  See for yourself why  at the NAR Midyear meetings this week. Check them out at Booth 818.       Washington DC – May 10, 2016 – The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors is helping its more than 6,500 members extend their paperless capabilities, signing a long-term [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 10th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Form Simplicity by Florida Realtors Upgrades NEFAR, Continues Growth
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Clareity’s New Dashboard Review

Clareity Security is staging the release of their best Single Sign-On dashboard ever. As a quick primer, Clareity Security was born to prevent password sharing and other unauthorized access to the MLS system. The MLS has confidential fields that must be protected and Clareity’s software also prevents theft of service and provides revenue assurance to the MLS. Over the years, they extended the platform to ensure that valid MLS users could securely access other licensed solutions offered by the MLS. This “Single Sign-On” convenience not only manages authorized access, but also relieves the agent’s stress of remembering more usernames and [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 10th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Clareity’s New Dashboard Review
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MLSListings Offers RatePlug’s New Mortgage Technology to California Brokers & Agents

Many real estate brokers have modified their strategy with their mortgage affiliations as banks have fled the JVs and other joint arrangements. This has opened the door to MLSs like MLS Listings to partner with RatePlug to display live mortgage rates from leading local lenders. Let’s face it, for most families, it’s not the price of the home but rather the monthly payment that triggers affordability. Agents who can secure the lowest interest rates for their clients can leverage that to put deals together. A great thing about RatePlug is that brokers can invite their mortgage partners to display their rates [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 10th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on MLSListings Offers RatePlug’s New Mortgage Technology to California Brokers & Agents
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America’s Top Real Estate Pro Becomes the First Billion-Dollar Agent

Addison, TX (May 4, 2016) – America’s number one Realtor® for the last four straight years – Ben Caballero, president of Texas-basedHomesUSA.com – has become the first billion-dollar producer in the world for total home sales last year. Caballero personally was responsible for 2,491 home sales, totaling $1,022,000,000 in 2015. Uniquely, nearly all of his transactions were new home sales for more than 40 homebuilder brands that he represents throughout the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin metro areas. Caballero’s feat is the result of a highly inventive technology he developed: an online listing management platform that streamlines the [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:16-07:00May 5th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on America’s Top Real Estate Pro Becomes the First Billion-Dollar Agent
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Tech Helpline Offers A Great Suggestion for Agents: Make Internet Explorer your old browser

Tricia Stamper is the Director of Technology Products at Florida Realtors and helps run both Form Simplicity, their popular paperless transaction management software, and Tech Helpline, the #1 help desk for real estate agents and brokers. Tech Helpline is really the “Genius Bar” for real estate if you look at a) how popular it is (600k+ Realtors reached in North America) and b) ask anyone who has had to use the service in a crisis to save a deal what great service they provide. Tricia posted a Blog the other day that is the dream of software developers — not [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:16-07:00May 4th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Tech Helpline Offers A Great Suggestion for Agents: Make Internet Explorer your old browser
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Drip Training

I love a morning call with a report of success. A broker that I am working with moved their chips around the board, renewing a core vendor agreement and adding five new services without any incremental costs. Bust out the champagne, right? Not so fast. The panic moment hits you when you understand that you will be launching five new products. A few of them are background products that support the operation of the brokerage – accounting type stuff. But a few of them are consumer launches and agent launches. Put the champagne away and start to whiteboard out the [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:17-07:00April 28th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Drip Training
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Consumer Questions a Broker Website Must Answer

There are less than 2% of the homes for sale around the nation today. Typically, that number is 3.5%. Hence we are in a sellers’ market. So the consumer thinks – “Where am I in the market?” What Home Can I Buy? Over 90% of consumers looking to purchase a home have one to sell. The rest are currently renters or second home purchasers. Buying a home is never about buying what you want. It is always about buying what is right for you. The old story of Location, Location, Location is a bit lost on me today, unless it [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:17-07:00April 25th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Consumer Questions a Broker Website Must Answer
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