Responsive Websites and Mobile Devices are the Future of Real Estate

The world is shifting to mobile and some will say that smartphones and iPhones have already taken over the world. According to the National Association of Realtors, 89 percent of home shoppers use mobile devices to do their home buying research. Here are three things from Inman you can do to increase your mobile presence on the Internet. First you need a responsive website AND a virtual tour option  A…

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Move Over Google, Microsoft Windows Just Came to the iPad

I have to admit something, dear followers. I wasn’t sold when I heard about Microsoft Office’s adventure into the sleek and shiny world of the iPad. But after reading this Inman article, I softened up a bit. And hopefully you will, too. The Microsoft Office suite for iPad includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The newly rebranded OneDrive (formally SkyDrive) and OneNote are also available. Microsoft is transitioning to a “mobile-first,…

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The Internet of Things Controlling your Home?

You know that gnawing feeling you get when you know you’ve forgotten to do something important? I used to have a roommate who would leave the stove on after breakfast. I would leave much earlier than her and pray that the stove would be off when I returned home—but unfortunately, most times it wasn’t. However, miraculously, we never had any close calls. But if I could have prevented that feeling…

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The Use of Drones Finally Gets the Go-ahead For Now

The use of drones has been a widely debated topic in the real estate industry lately. And a ruling by a federal judge has lifted the cloud of potential legal liabilities for commercial operators of small drones, according to Inman, paving the way for broader adoption of drones by businesses including real estate agents, brokers and real estate marketing firms. National Transportation Safety Board Administrative Law Judge Patrick Geraghty on…

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Apps for Homebuyers. Don’t Leave Home Without ‘Em

Now is the time to buy in southwest Florida and many other regions in the United States, but before you step out and explore those open houses, make sure you have your trusty smartphone. Prospective homebuyers rely largely on their smartphones for information about a potential new home. According to a recent study by the National Association of Realtors and Google, 68 percent of homebuyers used mobile apps during their search. Apps…

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Porch: Fewer Headaches, More Home Improvement

In just three short months, Porch is already taking the remodeling industry by storm. The startup announced a strategic partnership with Lowe’s that will supply the employees at some of the store’s locations with tools that will allow them to use the new app’s network to connect customers with local professionals, according to this article from Inman. Say You Want to Hire a Fort Myers-Based Interior Designer This is how…

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Is Nextdoor the New Lead Generator and Crime Preventer?

Users in 22,500 neighborhoods (one-in-seven in the country) are using Nextdoor, “The Facebook of your neighborhood”, to cultivate leads, according to this article from Inman.com. Nextdoor’s customer base has increased by 400 percent over the last 12 months, according to CEO and founder, Nirav Tolia. It is also versatile. City government and law enforcement officials can benefit from it as well as neighborhood residents, homebuyers and real estate agents. At…

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Google Voice Aims to Make Real Estate Agent’s Lives A Lot Easier

It’s no secret that realtors have a lot on their plates. They’re constantly on-the-go talking to clients on the phone, listening to voicemails and exchanging text messages. What if you could save all of those exchanges? Now you can. Google announced that it has added Google Voice to its list of products supported and optimized for exporting data through Google Takeout. Google is calling it a “data liberation”. More on Google Voice’s…

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New App Revolutionizes Real Estate and Helps you Explore your Community

What if you could take a visual tour of the community you’re thinking about moving to and see the unique elements, discovered by extraordinary people, exclusive to that community—like a favorite bartender, barista or secret path to a secret beach? Realtors, what if you could physically show your clients the top 10 places to grab a bite to eat or go out with your friends on a Saturday night? That…

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