Join Zillow’s COO, Spencer Rascoff, in understanding how the Informed Internet Consumer is always changing, and explore best practices to working with them.
Author Archive for Chris McKeever
Watch Shannon Williams-King discuss tools and tactics to make your mobile office, more mobile and more productive
I like the Twitter List Widget – EOM
That is CRT making sure the leaders of the YPN are well proTechted. In the following days, we will recap the sessions that were streamed live. All the presentation can be found here:
Business Tech: Office in the Cloud
Defining the Social Me – Dustin Luther (4Realz)
Google Voice – Keith garner (NAR)
Smart Phones Port desai (NAR)
Understanding the Internet Consumer Spencer Rascoff (Zillow)
Real Estate Road Warrior Shannon Williams-King (Tribella)
75 Useful Website Tina Merritt (Long and Foster)
hmmm….why wasn’t CRT listed? Tina?
The history of the Internet is a story of inverse proportion; as technology accelerates, the barriers to it—both monetary and technological—shrink. During one of my CRT presentations (Digitally Expose Yourself), I lead off by asking “Who has been using email since 1971?” Only once has someone raised their hand. And while you may be wondering who would be naive enough to think that they could have been emailing since then, the lore of the Internet traces the first use of email back to the summer of 1971. So now, I ask you, ‘Why weren’t you using email back then, or even in 1991?’
I lead off with that example because it clearly demonstrates what I’m discussing: technically, there was nothing to prevent people from sending email back in 1971. If you look at a timeline of the internet[1] you can see that many of the services that we take for granted today and which we often perceive as only a couple of years old have actually been around for quite some time. Many times, a “new” technology merely refers to an old technology with a new label, a sign that it has reached the mainstream. But because technology takes some time to enter the mainstream, most people either aren’t aware of what’s possible or consider the cost too unreasonable.
Continue reading ‘Technology: Inversely Proportionate to Your Wallet’
CRT is excited to announce the partnership with the Regional MLS of Minnesota and LiveValuation in the creation of a free/open source MLS Appraisal Tool. More details in the press release.
OK – I know this is upwards of two months out from Part I — There has just been so much amazing things going on with Conference around the corner. However, I am keeping to my word, and giving you the techie details about creating a Selective Tweet feed directly into your Facebook Profile or Page.
Continue reading ‘Feeding the Social Media Beast – Part II: The Setup’
vi·sion·ar·y | noun
One who is given to impractical or speculative ideas; a dreamer.
Taqi Rizvi, Chief Technology Officer for the Houston Association, is the man behind one of the first MLS Public Websites in the country, HAR.com, which has gone on to become a model for innovation. He has led a team of 7 in the implementation of over 100 REALTOR(R) and consumer tools that have contributed to HAR’s success by enabling REALTOR(R) members to better communicate with consumers, and consumers to increase their understanding of Real Estate while connecting with the REALTOR(R).
Some quick facts of HAR Tools:
- Agent Websites being used by over 16,000 Realtors
- Blog Platform
- Member video profiles and evaluation
- Click-to-Call technology for delivering leads
- Appointment Management System and Online Agent(Live)Chat
Taqi’s continued visionary practice in the Real Estate industry is clearly displayed when Taqi refers to HAR.com’s success as still a ‘work in progrss’. Both Taqi and HAR are committed continuing to support HAR members with this level of innovation and performance. Taqi is guided by a ‘big picture’ perspective relative to the expanding role of technology in real estate and maintains a focused and exhaustive level of knowledge relative to its day-to-day applications in the real estate industry, market and practice.
ad·vo·cate | noun
One that argues for a cause; a supporter or defender
Tina Merrit, Virginia REALTOR(R), has dedicated countless hours to educating and training real estate professionals at every level of understanding and is nationally known through her blog, participation at Inman Connect, and through the Virginia Association. She currently is the Director of Training at Long and Foster’s Ocean Front office and has single handedly assisted each agent with her vast knowledge of technology, SEO, blogs, websites, and social networking.
Her media brand, Wolkia, is one of the top education sources for agents on all aspects of technology, plus she is a certified trainer with Trulia. She recently organized Real Estate Bar Camp- Virginia Beach, a nationally known training camp that educates REALTORS(R) on how to use social media, where the event was a standing-room-only success. She is a long standing pillar in the training of REALTORS(R) nationwide in the effective implementation of new media marketing strategies and is an invaluable asset to the advancement of social media in both her profession and the social media community as a whole.
pi·o·neer | noun
One who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle.
Brandon Rodriguez, REALTOR(R) Dallas Texas, while serving on the Texas Association Politcal Action and Education Forums, was named one of the Top 50 REALTORS(R) on the Rise by RisMedia in 2006. His goal since starting in the business was to create a completely virtual brokerage, something only dreamt of in 2001. Over the past several years, he has been accumulating the knowledge, tools and services to achieve this goal. Earlier this year, he felt the time of his venture had come, and he decided to take the next step and start his own brokerage during a time of economic uncertainty and while having an extremely tight budget.
The outcome, a completely virtual office where clients have instant access to agents and information:
- Syndication of all listings from a central point
- Lead Routing / Contact Managment
- Intergration with a leading mobile/GPS Property Search site
- Data enriched information for clients
- Advanced email and calendaring
Brandon’s goal was to to create a completly virtual environment, focusing on the REALTOR(R) but providing enriched information and and tools for the clients with the ability to provide ‘Real Estate Right Now’. This concept allows him to focus completely on the quality of team members and not only look at the quantity. Although new to the scene, their prescence and vision has allowed them to complete with the bigger firms within the market.
