Recent Discussions

<p>Hi</p> <p>My name is Maria and I&nbsp;just recently completed the EPro course.&nbsp; I&nbsp;have used (or rather not used) Top Producer for about a year.&nbsp; I&nbsp;signed up primarily to communicate and keep in touch with past clients.&nbsp;I&nbsp;also liked the feature that&nbsp;automatically updated the listing information.</p> <p>I find the contact management cumbersome.&nbsp; I&nbsp;am familiar with Outlook and after completing the course had decided to transfer to a web based Outlook.&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;was just approached by Advanced Access and before I start the tast of transferring and building another database, I&nbsp;wondered if you&nbsp;had experience with the three products that you could share.</p> <p>Thank&nbsp;you.</p> <p>Maria&nbsp;</p>

<p>Good morning. Does anyone know of a program similar to Top Producer that is Mac compatible ? </p> <p>Thank you,</p> <p>Betty</p>

<p>Did I read that there was supplemental training for Facebook and LinkedIn if you have successfully completed the E-Pro certification???</p>

<h2 class="contentheading"> Welcome to Save America Homes - We Provide Homeowners with Options to Avoid Foreclosure and Rebuild Credit. </h2> <p class="contentheading"> I just recently had a seller sign on to work with the company to help negotiate a short sale. Even though I&#39;ve worked several, he signed up with this company. One of their people told me that they charged the seller with a 2% fee. The lender would only negotiate to pay 1% so this company came after me, the listing agent for the other 1%. I did not sign any type of agreement nor ever agree to pay any fee. My commission was reduced by the lender which the buyer&#39;s agent and I agreed upon. Price of the house was only $115,000. Imagine what my cut was and after having the house listed for almost 18 mos. Now this guy with the company has stated that I&#39;m the worst realtor he was ever worked with because I&#39;m not willing to pay him 1% when myself and the seller had already had the lender agree to a short sale just needed a little more room. </p> <p class="contentheading"> </p>

<p> <a href="http://socialmediasystems.com/"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: black 1px solid; MARGIN: 10px; BORDER-TOP: black 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: black 1px solid" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1381" alt="Too many cooks spoil the broth" width="281" height="300" vspace="10" hspace="10" border="1" align="left" src="http://socialmediasystems.com/files/2009/11/hotpotato-281x300.gif" /></a> If you are even thinking about using Elance, Rent-a-Coder, Freelancer.com or any other online freelancing site, get ready for some Brain Damage! These sites are terrible for both the clients and the freelancers and here are just some reasons why: </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> For Clients: </p> <ol> <li>What if I don&#39;t know exactly what I want? Too bad! These sites want a piece of the transaction so they control your freedom to work directly with the client to help define the project to meet your business goals! </li> <li>Who is actually doing the development? Because you cannot work with the freelancers directly, you may THINK you are working with a qualified freelancer but they just hand the project and a programing book off to a high school student! </li> <li>These prices are too good to be true! They are! The freelancers are forced into a competitive bidding process so early in the project that is so heavily weighted against them that they are forced to underbid poorly defined projects. In fact, these projects are typically a miserable experience for the freelancers and you are likely to get crap back! </li> <li>Why can&#39;t I find top-notch professionals? On these sites, the freelances are incented to do quick and dirty jobs to meet hard deadlines. Scope can and should change as you learn more about the project. It is nearly impossible to do Agile or intelligent development in this way! </li> </ol> <p> For Freelancers: </p> <p> </p> <ol> <li>What is up with these project descriptions!? Very few clients can spec the projects properly because they are NOT experts. That is why they are on the site in the first place! </li> <li>What are you even bidding on!? Freelancers are expected to Bid on projects that are so loosely defined that they are taking on enormous risk, stress, and risking their integrity by bidding on these projects. </li> <li>Why can&#39;t I just contact the client or freelancer and work with them!? These sites are so afraid that you will get around them and that they won&#39;t make their ridiculous margins that they don&#39;t let you contact the client directly and work with them on your own terms. </li> <li>What is up with these expert guarantees!? Rent-a-Coder has projects that require the freelancer to put up 10% or more of the total project payment in case you are LATE. As if the poorly defined projects and bidding process weren&#39;t risky and stressful enough, they want to stick to the freelancer again! </li> <li>Why are they so expensive!? Elance and Rent-a-Coder are bloated software that try to do way too much and charge way too much. Because of their fear of losing their enormous margins, they get in the way of communication and progress. They charge 10+% of the revenue for adding little or no value other than a simple bulletin board with search capabilities (a prettier craigslist). </li> <li>Are these projects even profitable?! - online bidding drives the prices down and pushes the prices so low that few qualified freelancers can actually afford to do them. </li> </ol> <p> Conclusions: </p> <ol> <li>Although there is a better solution on it&#39;s way by early next year (<a title="3net Social Media Marketing Blog Feedburner feed" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/Social-Media-Systems">subscribe here to be notified</a>), we strongly recommend that we all just avoid these sites and let them die; they are spammy misrepresented garbage messing up the marketplace. </li> <li>Like other for- profit lead generation machines in the Auto, Real estate, Finance and many industries, these sites are parasites: they add no value to anything: they are noise and they clutter the market they pretend to serve. </li> <li>When you choose to hire out work from freelancers (a very smart and recommended thing to do), you should start by evaluating and choosing an expert vendor on the highest level first, then, in the process of hiring that project manager, seek advice before specking-out anything. For instance: <a title="free advice by phone or email" href="mailto:freeadvice@socialmediasystems.com">we offer a free consultation to anybody, anytime</a>: for anybody planning any kind of marketing program of any kind, from the first logo to the website to the video to the market research, to viral advertising, technology, hosting, radio and TV Advertising, agency services: as do most qualified professionals. </li> <li>Choose the most qualified, highest level vendor possible, and spec and project manage with them, so that the planning process includes the benefit of their advice as part of the contract: you should have the final word, but you should solicit their advice and input every step of the way to achieve the best result! </li> <li>Always check credentials and references before buying anything from anybody anywhere, search for negative press on the Internet, ask for credible references, and <strong><a title="Best internet advertising consultants in the world by definition" href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&amp;rlz=1R2GGLL_en&amp;q=internet+advertising+consultant&amp;btnG=Search&amp;aq=f&amp;oq=&amp;aqi=">recent proof of performance: this technology changes constantly, and only the best of the best can perform here consistently!</a></strong> </li> </ol> <p> <a href="http://socialmediasystems.com/files/2009/11/brianbento.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: black 1px solid; MARGIN: 10px; BORDER-TOP: black 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: black 1px solid" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1383" alt="Brian Bento" width="120" height="118" vspace="10" hspace="10" align="left" src="http://socialmediasystems.com/files/2009/11/brianbento.jpg" /></a> </p> <p> <em><strong>Why believe me? I am Brian Bentow:</strong></em> (<a title="Brian Bentow CTO Reputation" href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&amp;rlz=1R2GGLL_en&amp;q=Brian+Bentow&amp;btnG=Search&amp;aq=f&amp;oq=&amp;aqi=">Google me</a>!) </p> <p> CTO for SocialMediaSystems.com LLC, and MoviePals.org Entertainment LLC </p> <p> If you want the answer to a question or a free consultation, call or email our business development department: </p> <p> 805-827-2450 <a title="mailto link free advice address" href="mailto:freeadvice@socialmediasystems.com">freeadvice@socialmediasystems.com</a> </p>

<p> Unfortunately or fortunately as many of my listings have sold but in either case I have recently found myself with a very low inventory. Listings used to come easily but over the last 4-6 months it seems everyone wants to get into the short sale business which makes it much more cpmpetitive. I have worked expireds, fsbo, sent thousands of costly postcards and tried the lead generation companies with no great results. Has anyone found any way to buy quality leads or creative ways to locate owners and find sellers who need our help? Thank you in advance...any ideas are much appreciated! </p> <p> Susan </p>

<p> This neat trick assumes you have some sort of internet access via your smartphone. </p> <p> Go to: </p> <p> <a href="http://www.junefabrics.com/">http://www.junefabrics.com/</a> </p> <p> Once there you can get apps for your iPhone, Palm OS Treo and Centro, or Windows Mobile equipped phone, to use those phones as a modem for your laptop, or even your PC. (I realize that some Windows Mobile phones can already do this) </p> <p> This is terrific for doing open houses where internet access means you can show additional properties on MLS to prospects on your laptop, and email them to them with them standing right there. </p> <p> Plus, when there AREN&#39;T any prospects, you can surf the net and entertain yourself. </p> <p> You can try the software for free before buying it. </p> <p> Enjoy! </p> <p> </p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> <span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font size="3">Chris Parks - ABR, e-Pro, GRI - Accelerated<o:p></o:p></font></span> </p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> <span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font size="3">Broker<o:p></o:p></font></span> </p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> <span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><font size="3">CParksGo@Gmail.com<o:p></o:p></font></span> </p> <p> </p>

<p> I have the buyer so no control over process - but it&#39;s frustrating to say the least that atty doesn&#39;t get response whatsoever they just tell him it&#39;s in review. The packet was submitted 8/20 and my buyers are getting antsy. They have to go out of county Jan 2nd for extended trip and they were hoping to move into their home by then - doesn&#39;t appear likely - what is the usual turnaround time for even a response for WAMU? </p> <p> Thanks </p>

<p>Hi I have had Advanced access as my website provider since 2005. Recently they signed me up for their Search Impact Package- It is suppose to give me more access on the search engines. They say they are revamping my website with words and phrases, doing link building and ect. I am paying $299.95 a month for this service. Is anyone familiar with this. I am trying to get more hits on my website. Do I need to be paying them $300.00 a month to do this?</p>

<p> I had a conversation today with a rep from the Home Equity Solutions Dept today and got some insight. (I&#39;m sure some of you on this forum already know this). This is Home Equity, the 2nd position. </p> <p> If they are 180 days past due, it rolls into charge off status which automatically sends to their legal department. Once in legal dept, it goes into recovery, which at that time the legal dept decides whether to charge this off and sell this to a 3rd party collections company, or go with an alternative solution. </p> <p> If it gets sold off, then we are now negotiating with a collections company! In my experience, dealing with a collections company is MUCH HARDER than dealing with the bank themselves. </p> <p> She said an option was to have the borrower do a loan mod. They ask for 2% (annually) of the balance for the monthly payment. If the balance is $50,000, then the monthly payment would be around $80/month or so. This way, they don&#39;t hit that 180th delinquent mark. Then after the loan mod gets approved and the borrower&#39;s payment is manageable, then we are allowed to submit for a short sale. This avoids the loan being sold to a collections department and we can deal directly with the bank&#39;s short sale dept. </p> <p> Anybody see any redflags by doing this? </p> <p> Also, the DTI to qualify for a loan mod is 125%, according to the rep. </p>

<p> Are short sales for non-owner occupied 4-unit complexes any different from non-owner SFRs/condos? </p>

<p> Share your views about Facebook and how you use it as a social media mareketer. </p>

<p> Share your social media success stories. </p>

<p>It seems something called barracuda is bouncing my emails...any suggestions? (They are just bouncing my RealTown address)</p> <p>Thanks,,,,</p> <p>Carole B Mackler REALTOR&nbsp; 928-274-2325</p> <p>Sedona Realty&nbsp;<a href="mailto:--Carole@Sedona.net">--Carole@Sedona.net</a> and <a href="mailto:Carole@CaroleMackler.com">Carole@CaroleMackler.com</a></p>

<p> I just returned from the NAR National Convention in San Diego, California. This convention had a feel of celebration. I believe that&#39;s because every one of the 19,000 attendees is a survivor of the past three years of the worst economic and Real Estate crisis this country has seen in 80 years. </p> <p> For me the experience was one of confirmation of what I believe to be the future of the Real Estate Industry. Two years ago I conceived of a brand new business model. The business model is a National Internet Based Real Estate Brokerage, where the Realtors® work out of their home offices, and as a result the Broker has no Brick and Mortar expense. In return the Realtor® keeps 100% of his or her commission and just pays the Broker a small association fee each month, thereby creating a profit for the Broker, rather than an expense. </p> <p> Two years ago, when we first rolled out our business model in Washington D.C. at the Mid Year NAR Convention, the word &quot;Virtual&quot; was absolute poison. Brokers and Realtors® would come to our booth and literally run when they heard the word VIRTUAL. What a change just two years has made! </p> <p> This year at the NAR National Convention in San Diego, the word VIRTUAL was the most exciting idea being discussed. We literally had hundreds of Brokers come by our booth to learn how we created a VIRTUAL environment for the Realtors® and Brokers so successfully. I suspect in the coming year we will see hundreds of Brokerages recreating themselves under a VIRTUAL banner. </p> <p> Even the Realtors® this year jumped all over the VIRTUAL business model. We had literally thousands of Realtors® come by the booth because they have realized that they can now command 100% of their commissions, and that is now the accepted standard. </p> <p> Furthermore, what we heard from every Realtor® is the reason they don&#39;t go to an office, and the reason they don&#39;t care about an office environment is boiled down to one word: DISTRACTION!!!! </p> <p> The top producers think that when they go into an office environment, they become distracted from being productive. We heard this comment universally from almost every Realtor®. Realtors® insight into their most fruitful working conditions has been an unanticipated end result of this business model. </p> <p> So, after this year&#39;s convention I feel that my original business model was not only accepted by both the Brokers and Realtors®, but that I was no longer this strange Broker that lived out there in some mysterious VIRTUAL never-land. </p> <p> The VIRTUAL CULTURE is not only the future of the industry, but a huge favor to all the Brokers who are struggling to keep their doors open, now that even brand new Realtors® expect to keep 100% of their commissions. </p> <p> I&#39;m not this crazy man after all. This new business model has legs, and it will continue to expand and grow. It will, in the process, make the Brokers of our industry financially healthy once again. It will also allow the Realtors® to truly be independent contractors who are allowed to keep all of what they have earned. </p> <p> The VIRTUAL CULTURE is a WIN WIN WIN for the Broker, the Realtor® and the Consumer. </p> <p> <a href="http://joinallisonjames.com">Click here is see our new Recruiting initiative</a> </p> <p> </p> <p> James A. Crumbaugh III is CEO of Allison James Estates and Homes and may be reached at <a href="mailto:jcrumbaugh@allisonjames.net">jcrumbaugh@allisonjames.net</a> </p>