Hi folks, As most of you know I run a virtual real estate office. What this means is that my associates and I all work from our homes. I do most of my business over the Internet. I rarely talk on the phone. And I rarely show properties.
I list Florida properties for sale without ever meeting the Sellers and I sell Florida properties without ever meeting the Buyers. This is my preferred way of handling business. I mostly communicate via email and text messages.
I have found that conducting business like this is very efficient. I am able to spend more time communicating with my customers because I am not wasting time driving around looking at properties and talking on the phone for an hour when an email would deliver the same information.
The other advantage of handling communications via email and text messaging is that there is far less confusion. I rarely have to deal with “he said she said”. All I have to do is pull up the conversation thread and everything we “said” is right there in writing. No confusion. No mistakes.
Here are a few tools I couldn’t live without.
- Gmail. The labeling feature in Gmail is my filing cabinet.
- GoogleDocs. Everything I need online and there when I need it. I can also invite others to edit the same document. And don’t get me started on Google forms. The best thing since sliced bread.
- Picasa and web albums. How would you like it if you asked the listing agent for additional photos and they could connect you with an album online that had dozens of them?
- Scribd.com. What if your Seller can’t receive a 100 page attachment? Just upload the document to Scribd and send the seller a link.
- Skype. Do a lot of International business? $12.95 (or so) a month and I can call anywhere in the world. I can even talk via webcam.
- PDFill.com. Can’t afford Adobe Professional? Try this one for a one time fee of $12.95 (or so). Never use your printer again.
- Google Groups. Need a FREE meeting place for your team? Go check it out
OK. That’s it for now. I have many more tools that I use everyday to make my life easier and less time consuming. My goal for next year is to be able run my entire Florida Real Estate business from my iPhone. How cool would that be?
***If you are an experienced agent and want to work for a virtual real estate company then check out my company site at www.TTRealtyNet.com.
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Do NOT be foreclosed on! Avoid foreclosure. Short Sales DO close.
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***I am NOT an Attorney nor do I play one on TV. Click the button below for my Bio.
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc handles Florida real estate sales, Florida short sales, Florida strategic short sales, Florida pre-foreclosure sales, Florida foreclosures in Kissimmee Florida Short Sales, Davenport Florida Short Sales, Haines City Florida Short Sales, Poinciana Florida Short Sales, Solivita Florida Short Sales, Orlando Florida Short Sales, Celebration Florida Short Sales, Winderemere Florida Short Sales. Serving all of Polk, Osceola and Orange Counties Florida. Florida Short Sale Broker. Short Sale Florida.
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Hi, Bryant. You probably type faster than you talk.
You are truly an inspiration! You're almost ahead of your time, paving the way.
I am trying to be as virtual as possible, BB. Google Voice is a great resource. I use PDF printer software, too. I'll check out some of the others on your list--thanks!
Cheers,
Robin
Hi Bryant. The virtual agent/Broker office I really do think is the future and you are WAY ahead of your contemporaries PLUS using all these tools as well. I am very much in agreement with you with the efficiency of the operation.
What a great list of tools. I don't run a virtual office, but I love how you've integrated the tools on the internet for yours! Just think, it wasn't long ago when you had to pay for all of these services! I've bookmarked this post and I think I'll reblog it to share with my local agents, if that's ok with you. Thanks!
Cool! I've been looking for a good pdf option and am too cheap to go w/ adobe. I need to look into Google forms etc a bit more. I tried back when I first heard you mention them, but was overwhelmed at the time. Maybe I'll revist them this weekend. Thanks Bryant!
Great list BB...no wonder you folks are on it! I have to try a couple I haven't...
Oh Crap...
Missed you again :)
I like virtual but damn you're hard to keep up with up nowadays :)
P.S. Thank you for saving place for the ones I've missed.
TLW...ROAR!
thanks for sharing these sites. Entirely virtual is great as I love emailing and texting, I just don't know how to be 100% virtual, I still have to show the properties maybe different markets explain this.
Thanks for all the info. I'm working toward being 100% virtual. Maybe one of these days. I need a few more agents now.
Thanks for posting this. Truth is that I did not know anything about Google forms 'til now!
BB, is it possible to upload your contacts from GMail into your contact management system? I am thinking of using Advantage xi but I'm not sure it will take my contacts from GMail. Do you have any experience with this? (I know, I've got a lot of nerve asking you for even MORE info after all that you have shared with all of us. I'm hoping you'll take pity on a fairly new agent : ) -- Tanya in Montreal
BB - You've taken the concept of a virtual office to a whole new level with this great list. I'm using a few but have bookmarked this post to go back and check out some of the others.
Some on this list are new to me - thanks! Bookmarking for future reference.
Liz
BB - that's quite an arsenal of virtual tools you have. I use most myself but not yet using Google Forms. Gotta try that out. Have heard good things about PDFill, too, so it goes on the list now.
Jeff
I absolutely LOVE the laeling feature on GMAIL !!!
It has transformed my email experience hugely for the better !!!!
.... oh and good other points too !
Now how was Thanksgiving dinner, and did TLW shoot the turkey ???
I'm commenting on the wrong post. I knew some new laws were going into effect. Is your disclaimer what we need? That much!? Really? Holy crap!
Great stuff! Thanks for sharing these.
Bryant - Thanks for sharing how you operate your office with various free products. In these economic times, it is best to minimize your operating costs as much as possible but still use the best available products avaiable.
We'll be taking this list and checking it twice....getting those listings sold would sure be nice ! Happiest of holidays to you both !
Bryant, Another bookmark moment. Excellent list and one I'll be checking twice. Thanks!
I love the virtual office. I have everything on the web and can do business anywhere I have a Internet connection.
Google is great and I use all their stuff. Especially Gmail.
Bryant - You've given me things to add to my New Year's Resolutions!
Hi Mr. B~ You know I'm all for virtual:) There are so many tools to streamline the virtual business and all of the above are just awesome, I use them almost everyday. And if anyone can run a business by iphone..it will be you!
Hi BB,- as always a great and educational post. Love gmail and Picasaweb, etc. and I will give several other s a try. Thanks so much!
Hello Bryant. This is a good amount of information to use whether viral or in the office. I hope you do not mind if it's bookmarked. Thanks for giving it to us!
Hi BB! You're just full of incredibly useful information! I have not tried the gmail labeler yet but, will have to check it out. I arrived at your last post, first (obviously!) and just wanted to say that's a wonderful idea! When I write posts similar to that, I try to 'piggyback' them (quickly post another post that is not self-promotion right after that one). I think your idea of just making it a 'no comments' post is the better way of doing that. Plus you've already linked it here--I just learn so much from you and TLW! Thanks!
Hope you both have a wonderful week...
Very interesting and great list of things to check out! I love Skype and Gmail has been a savior with my new phone.
Have a great night!
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Ok I'm back to study. I like the Google Groups, was unaware of that and will check them out now. Now that I'm on Google Wave, I'm waiting for my friends and peers to be able to get on so we can play work.
Ok Bryant - I checked out the Google Groups - would you mind adding your own Google Groups link? I checked out about a dozen groups and they all seemed out of date, scrambled. I like the idea of groups, just curious as to how I could impliment it concerning the various groups I am in myself. As an online meeting place, but I think Google docs might lean more towards that with combined ideas put on paper in a combined place, etc.? I am thinking groups is mostly for marketing ... ?
Bryant...Great Info!!! I currently use the Gmail, and youtube features, but I will be looking into some of the other resources you recommend.
Great information! It seems more are going virture in some way or the other. Great tips. Thanks and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
BB, what a great list of tools! It's similar to mine but you do have one that I'd like to check out...Google Groups! I used to use MSN Groups until they went away a few years ago. :)
Leilani
P.S. I'm re-blogging this!
Great list. I appreciate the tips on your virtual office. I cannot wait until Verizon gets the iphone on board!
Have used some of these. However some are new to me. Going to spend some time reviewing . Thanks
I am just too new! I'm still out on the street and thought that was where i was supposed to be!! The 'list' is new to me and will have to wait a while. But thanks for a look at the future! Margaret C.
Hello Bryant,
Thank you for the tips and links on your virtual office. I will certainly look into the tools you mentioned in your post. Thank you for sharing! I appreciate it!
Rita
Excellent post. I agree with your selections. I haven't implemented them all yet, but it is another year
Bryant, Thanks for sharing your strategies. I just came off a difficult transaction (Thank God it is now closed) and I saved every email that went back and forth. I have not figured out how to save the text messages though. I'm sure there must be a way and just in case this one should ever come back to haunt me I want to save those too. Do you know how to do that?
Going to check out that PDF program right now, has been looking for something like that for a long time. Thanks for the info