CRT’s communications
Mark and I did a quick tour of the Expo show floor this afternoon. Lots of big new booths. To me, its a reflection of the real estate market over the past several years. Not only has it contributed to REALTORS’ success but a lot of vendors have share in the rewards too. No burst bubble on this floor.
And two years ago here I saw a car on the expo floor, liked it and ended up buying one. This year in our walk I saw a Mustang, Hummer and Ferrari. Well…
CRT’s first technology session was held today. It was Internet Lead Cultivation. How do I turn consumers that are browsing my web site into someone who will list or buy through me. The attendance at this session was phenomenal. The room held 400 and was maxed out. the ushers barred anymore people from entering and there were at least 50+ standing at the door waiting to get in. Mark and I left to provide room for two more REALTORS to attend.
Word to the wise - if you see another session that you want - GET THERE EARLY.
More and more real estate technology vendors are using apps from CRT. In fact we’ve heard from several who have imbedded CRT in their own products. Today NAR Public Affairs issued a press release on the subject. We take our hats off to Mark Wise and Threewide for participating in the release with us.
CRT and the REALTOR Secure program have published new series of Information Security Executive Briefs. These real estate focused briefs are high-level review of important aspects of IT security. They can be used to educate a real estate board or committee.
Information Security Management Principles – provides insights into security decision making, planning, and budgeting.
Information Security Key Concepts – presents an overview of key security principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Information Security Decision Insight – delivers ideas on how to review, access, and document your security.
Information Security Regulatory Overview – focuses on current security legislation and regulation and a forecast of future legal trends.
CRT has also published a white paper on how to get started on the road to better technology security. Information Security - An Executives Guide to Getting Started provides information you need to begin your security assessment, remediation, and monitoring processes. CynergisTek, a leading IT security firm that participates in the REALTOR Secure program, collaborated with CRT on the executive briefs and white papers.
In addition to the CRT briefs, we posted on our site a primer on business continuity that was contributed by Clareity Consulting.
PolicyPage is a new application from CRT. PolicyPage allows for active enforcement of display policies by MLSs.
PolicyPage grew out conference earlier this year. MLS executives said they were facing challenges policing member web sites. Some were not enforcing policies, other complained they needed additional resources and yet others complained on inconsistent enforcement. Several they were going to hire to review web sites. As a part of CRTs advocacy and implementation missions PolicyPage was born.
At the 2005 REALTORS Convention & Expo in San Francisco this week, CRT held the first PolicyPage project meeting. There were 13 MLSs in attendance that see policing sites as an issue and want to get involved.
All were agreed with the concept of Policy Page and what it will do. In fact most attendees want the spidering feature, that we’re adding next year, right away.
Another consistent issue was the ‘placement’ of information on a screen. What can be placed where and the need to prevent intermingling of listing data and web site host’s contact information. Other valuable input was gained from the MLSs in attendance and several PolicyPage beta projects will start next month.
If you are interested in participating - join the PolicyPage project list.
Remember PolicyPage is a tool that can help move toward greater display policy compliance. It is not the total solution . Boards and MLSs will also need to step up to correct the issues that PolicyPage identifies.
CRT is Chicago based. In the past couple of weeks, we too got caught up in the excitement of the 2005 White Sox. They were fun and it was entertaining to watch Ozzie ball. We congratulate them and their die hard fans including Aubrey and my Dad.
The 2005 White Sox also taught some simple lessons:
- be a team player
- contribute what you can
- enjoy what you are doing
- keep on swinging.
