There is enough information out there about mobile technology for the real estate industry to make your head spin. Unfortunately, a lot of it is misleading. Smarter Agent has been breaking down barriers to take the real estate industry mobile for over a decade. So, we’re going to play our own version of MythBusters—Mobile MythBusters—to hopefully help you understand mobile. We’ll debunk a few of the most common myths to help you realize how easy it is to use mobile technology (the right kind of mobile technology, that is!) as a truly successful marketing tool.

Myth #1: Just hop on the iPhone bandwagon and you’re covered.

No one can ignore the iPhone phenomenon. But did you know iPhone and iPod Touch users only account for about 7% of the 265 million mobile phone users in the U.S? So you should read that as less than 7% of homebuyers! Smarter Agent recently conducted a national online survey to find out more about consumers’ cell phone usage and habits. The most popular cell phones were:

• Motorola, 23%
• LG, 19%,
• Samsung, 17%
• Nokia, 16%

Let’s not neglect them! Our President, Eric Blumberg, is often quoted as saying, “Having only an iPhone app is like saying I’m only going to sell to people that pull up to my office in a Mercedes.” Both approaches severely limit your business. Why commit solely to an iPhone application when there are over 200 million other cell phone users in the U.S., many of whom are located in your local market.

Myth #2: You lose your brand in mobile.

Think about this: While you may have an iPhone, you can’t always be there for your prospects and customers when they’re out in a neighborhood and want information on demand. As Benn Rosales of Agent Genius put it, other than Smarter Agent’s mobile app, the only way to offer mobile to your customers “…is by pimping someone else’s brand.” That’s why Smarter Agent provides agents and brokers with their own branded mobile real estate application to give to clients and prospects. The application shows all the IDX MLS data and sends calls on every listing back to you, regardless of who listed the property. Plus, it works on 95% of cell phones across all carriers—smartphones and non-smartphones alike! Whether you’re a David or a Goliath in the industry, you can maintain your brand and compete in mobile.

Myth #3: Downloadable applications are too complex. Mobile Web is the way to go.

Sending clients to your web site that doesn’t come close to fitting within the confines of their cell phone screen is a frustrating experience for them. There have been more than one billion application downloads from Apple’s App Store—with Blackberry App World, Android, Windows Mobile and more application stores catching up. In a national survey we conducted online, the awareness of mobile applications was impressive—90% of respondents were aware that they can download apps to their cell phone. Also, the availability of a mobile real estate application was demonstrated to have a significant impact on loyalty and perception of a real estate agent or broker.

• 49% of respondents between the ages of 25-59 said they would be more inclined to use a real estate agent to list their home who offered a mobile application as part of a marketing plan to attract buyers.
• 39% of respondents between the ages of 25-59 respondents said they would choose a real estate agent who offered a mobile application to search for real estate for free.

Myth #4: You have to pick one platform (i.e. text, mobile web or downloadable applications).

Just because the companies making this statement aren’t available on every platform, doesn’t mean it can’t be done! Smarter Agent has spent millions of dollars to build a mobile solution that reaches users with the most comprehensive real estate information on every platform so that they can use whichever one they’re comfortable with—text messaging, a premium mobile web version or a fully downloadable application. No other company has made a mobile real estate search so accessible to everyone.

Myth #5: Text messaging is all you need to be "Mobile."

Let’s say you put a number on a sale sign that people can text for info. When a couple begins their property search, they see your sign-rider with a text code and they punch the digits on their cell. Then they see another property down the road with a text code, and they send the text—but this listing is not yours. Then they see another and another. By the end of the day they start getting calls from half-a-dozen different agents and will probably be pretty upset since they will feel their privacy has been violated by all the calls! After all, they sent a text and expected a text back with property information—not a very good way to achieve client loyalty.

Text messaging used properly is a great start for a comprehensive mobile strategy. Used on its own or used incorrectly, text messaging merely scratches the surface of mobile and will act as a deterrent. Smarter Agent allows you and your clients to use text as an entry point. It maintains your prospective clients’ privacy rights and gives them access to all publically viewable properties by allowing them to move into your branded mobile search that fully engages the user.

Learn More!

Smarter Agent is a mobile application made by real estate professionals for real estate professionals. We feel it’s important to clear up any confusion surrounding mobile technology in the real estate industry. So let us know if you hear of other myths, and we’ll set the record straight!

You can also see Smarter Agent’s application in action, and ask questions, during one of our FREE upcoming webinars. Click here to sign up!

Text RAIN to 87778 to download the national version of our application to your phone and see a sample of the data. Remember, in YOUR application, ALL the MLS listings will be included, and the application will have YOUR name and logo at the top. Smarter Agent works on 95% of cell phones and is live in more than 300 markets nationwide. If we aren’t yet live in your market, we will work with you and your MLS to take all listings mobile.

To learn more about getting your own branded application powered by Smarter Agent, click here, or call 888-486-7319. Use promo code RAIN to get your special pricing.

Follow us on Twitter: @SA_Jen, @smarteragent_ss, @sa_stormy

The MLS/CLAW Becomes the First MLS to Offer Both a Public Mobile Application and Personalized Applications for its Members

The MLS/CLAW is the 1ST MLS to launch a mobile real estate application for interested home buyers that works on BlackBerry, the iPhone, Google’s Android phone as well as hundreds of others smartphones and non-smartphones alike.

Now anyone with a cell phone in Beverly Hills, Malibu, Greater Los Angeles and Southwest L.A. can search the more than 30,000 listings from virtually any phone with The MLS/CLAW’s mobile app.

The MLS/CLAW has also made it possible for its 14,000 members to get a personalized app of their own to provide to prospects and clients. Members’ personalized apps will display their name and logo, while still letting clients search all 30,000 MLS listings.

The MLS/CLAW has teamed up with Smarter Agent to make all its listings accessible through Smarter Agent’s mobile platform—the only mobile real estate search that works robustly on all cell phones and carriers.

About The MLS/CLAW Public App

As CLAW’s Product Manager Daniel Ortega emphasized, a mobile app is not effective if it’s limited to one phone.

“I think it’s crucial that Smarter Agent is compatible with all phones, not just smartphones. There are other companies attempting mobile real estate, but the downfall is that they are isolated to certain mobile devices. People are looking for what they can do on the mobile device they have now, without upgrading to a more expensive model.”

The app lets consumers search for homes based on their GPS location or by address, community name, city and zip code. They can also refine their search to find listings based on property type, price range, number of beds/baths and distance. The “Call to See” button within the mobile application will connect interested home buyers directly to the listing agent when they’re ready to take the next step.

Claw Members Can Have Their Own Personalized App, too

With a personalized app, it will always connect the user to that member, regardless of who listed the property. This partnership also allows its members to receive their own branded application at a specially negotiated price.

What CLAW Did for its Members--That We Like

If any agent or broker wants a mobile application branded to them, Smarter Agent works as a vendor between that agent and his/her MLS to take all listings in the area mobile. This allows the clients to search every listing and the agent to get every call from the branded app. In this case, The MLS/CLAW has taken the first step and opened up the opportunity to all its members.

Few MLS’s, if any, had Web sites in the early 90’s, and now just about everyone from the largest MLS to the smallest brokerage has a web presence. Mobile is the next step in the evolution of real estate search and marketing. Offering members the ability to get their own branded application is a progressive step in giving its members the tools to help them succeed and create new business opportunities. Members deserve the latest tools and greatest exposure of their listings, which Smarter Agent can provide without the significant cost and time related to developing applications for all devices and carriers.

There will always be innovators and followers. Which would you rather be? Hint: with the majority of homes being bought and sold by folks under 50, you need to not just “go mobile”, you need to give consumers something that impresses them. Smarter Agent has invested more than any mobile firm in its mobile platform, including being awarded 5 U.S. patents! If you are in Los Angeles, be sure to check out The MLS/CLAW’s mobile app and its California listings on your phone by texting THEMLS to 87778. A message will be sent to your phone with a link to get the app.

Or, if you want to see a sample of some of our broker's and agent’s personalized IDX mobile applications in more than 300 markets across the country, text RAIN to 87778.

Remember, if you buy a Smarter Agent application -- YOUR brand, and ALL your IDX MLS listing data will be included, and the application will have YOUR name at the top. If we aren’t yet live in your area, we will work as a vendor between you and your MLS to take all listings mobile.

As a special thanks to Active Rain members, we are offering you your own branded application at a preferred rate. To learn more, click here, or call 888-486-7319. Use promo code RAIN to get your special pricing. 

Success! A new agent with Watson Realty Corp. in Florida had an offer accepted in less than 24 hours with the help of Smarter Agent’s GPS, mobile real estate application.

Watson Realty recently launched Smarter Agent’s branded app, which displays Watson’s name, logo and colors and routes all calls on every publicly viewable MLS listing to its offices.

After seeing a presentation on Watson Mobile, Realtor E.L Buck Mullins downloaded Smarter Agent to his iPhone. A few days later, he was working at the front desk and received a call from a buyer/investor who wanted to meet him within the hour to look at investment properties in Apopka. He got a list of five properties together, found someone to take over the front desk and headed out to meet him. After viewing the first property, Mr. Mullins quickly realized the properties he had located were not what they were looking for. So, he took out his phone, opened the Smarter Agent application and did a GPS Quick Search to pull up listings in their immediate area. He found one around the corner that looked promising, and as they walked through the home, the interested home buyer knew it was exactly what he was looking for. They went back to the office and Mr. Mullins wrote an offer, which was accepted the next day!

That’s just one example of how Smarter Agent’s location-aware, mobile real estate search can simplify the search process for you and your clients. You can read more on our Testimonials page.

Smarter Agent’s app is all about you. Go ahead, picture your name and logo on the phones above. Pretty cool, right? That’s what your clients will see when you give them your branded application to search real estate anytime, anywhere from the convenience of their cell phone.

They get to search all publicly viewable MLS listings. And when they press the “Call to See” button within your application all calls are routed to you, regardless of who listed the property.

Smarter Agent works on 95% of cell phones and is live in more than 300 markets nationwide. If we aren’t yet live in your market, we will work as a vendor between you and your MLS to take all listings mobile.

Text RAIN to 87778 to download the application to your phone and see a sample of the data. Remember, in YOUR application, ALL the MLS listings will be included, and the application will have YOUR name at the top.

To learn more, click here, or call 888-486-7319. Use promo code RAIN to get your special pricing.

Mobile—it’s kind of a big deal:

• 270 million cell phone users in the U.S.
• 100,000 apps expected by the end of ‘09.
• “Mobile will be a larger business than the PC-Web.” – Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

As a former Broker Associate, I know how frustrating it is to have your sales efforts trumped when your client calls or texts a number on a sign when they’re out in a neighborhood.

So when I started working for Smarter Agent, we wanted our mobile real estate search application to not only simplify the search process for home buyers but maintain an agent’s or broker’s brand and guarantee their clients call them!

Here’s what we came up with: Smarter Agent’s real estate app lets your clients view all publicly viewable MLS listings. Now you’re thinking, “If they’re viewing all listings, how am I getting all the calls?” Well, Smarter Agent is the only developer that brands its application to you. Your name, logo and colors are displayed on the mobile application and you can distribute the app to an unlimited number of clients.

Now for the secret weapon—the “Call to See” button within the application directs all calls back to you, regardless of who listed the property. It’s like having your phone number on every sign rider in your area!

My husband and I are in the process of closing on our next home, and we found it using Smarter Agent. I can truly stand behind Smarter Agent’s innovation. The application’s GPS Quick Search helped us discover great neighborhoods we never even knew existed when we were out driving around. You can also search by address, community name, city or zip code if you want to search somewhere you’re not.

On your cell phone you can see pictures and information including price, square footage, estimated mortgage, taxes, features, interactive map, beds/baths and more. I have a BlackBerry and my husband has a RAZR, but it doesn’t matter what type of phone you have because Smarter Agent works on 95% of cell phones.

The app was branded to our agent, so if we had questions or wanted a tour, we selected “Call to See” and always heard our agent’s familiar voice on the other end of the line.

The real estate industry is getting behind Smarter Agent to win mobile. Already, Smarter Agent has 500,000 agents under its affinity agreements with Prudential, Keller Williams, CENTURY 21, Coldwell Banker, ERA, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate, Realty Executives and EXIT Realty. Several MLS’s also are beginning to partner with Smarter Agent in order to extend their reach into mobile.

Smarter Agent is live in more than 300 markets nationwide. We work as a vendor between you and your MLS to take all listings mobile.

So, what are you waiting for? Start getting leads on every listing today.

Text SA to 87778 to download the application to your phone and see a sample of the data. Remember, in YOUR application, ALL the MLS listings will be included, and the applicaiton will have YOUR name at the top.

To learn more, click here, or call 888-486-7319. Use promo code RAIN to get your special pricing.

See what others in the real estate industry are saying:

"Homes for Sale is a tremendous tool that puts the power of on-demand home information in the hands of home buyers. I have wanted this technology for my clients for years!" Top producing agent with DFW Fine Properties in Southlake, TX.

“The really cool part is that, if you dare, you can click on Call to See, and you will magically be connected to my chipper little voice, allowing me to warm up the car and open the door for you. It's clean, it's easy and it is oh-so-cool if you want MLS data at your disposal on the fly. Try it, and happy hunting!" Designated Broker/Co-Owner of San Diego Castles Realty

Awards: Winner CTIA Emerging Technology Awards for best GPS application; 2 Time Winner: Best Commerce/Advertising/Buying GPS Application, NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge both in North America and Europe; Inman Innovator Finalist; Featured Company at Dow Jones Wireless Innovations; DEMO; and as TeleAtlas Innovator.

Patents: Smarter Agent has been granted 4 patents related to its innovation in mobile search using location, such as GPS: U.S. patent numbers: 6,385,541; 6,496,776; 7,072,665 and 7,457,628.

Jay Youmans is a Broker Associate at William Raveis, Smarter Agent's Real Estate Partner in CT, MA and RI.  Jay took advantage of the latest in mobile technology by signing up for a personal branded Homes for Sale application for his websites.  He continues William Raveis' attitude of having the latest and greatest in technology, and making sure consumers benefit from those tools!

Jay had been keeping me up to date on the happenings with some out of state buyers.  Smarter Agent always strives to provide the best user experience possible, so when our efforts prove successful for the agents we work with, we are ecstatic! 

Jay sent an email to the Executive Vice President, Kent Hanley, of William Raveis telling how he used his branded mobile application to seal a deal!  Kent was nice enough to allow me to share it with all of you.

...'I had an unexpected turn of events with my new "Go mobile" Smarter Agent system.  I wrote an offer which was accepted on a home in Sharon, CT.  My buyer clients are getting an absolutely incredible deal on a charming well cared for 1780 vintage home.   After the inspections, the buyers were concerned about value based upon some issues they felt needed correction.  On final decision day I met with the out of state buyers at the house (4^th time) armed only with my Blackberry and knowledge of the current market.  After lengthy discussions at the kitchen table I suggested to the buyers that we take a look at what's on the market right now around this house so could see for themselves, one more time, whether or not this was the best value.

I pulled out my phone, brought up my Smarter Agent branded web page, then  displayed the current listings surrounding the house in list and map form.  There were numerous homes less than 2  miles away with the vast majority of them being priced well in excess of not just my clients accepted price, but also the asking price.  Then, with phone and surrounding market data in hand we got into the clients car and I drove them around past the other competitive listings (many of which they had already been through).   Along the way we also past some multi-million dollar estates which the phone showed us were less than a mile away.

My clients were literally able to see the value of their purchase right in the palm of their hands.  It was powerful.  It was subtle.  It literally saved my deal.  The second deposit was Fed-Exed today.  I never anticipated using this system for a situation like this.  It was the cornerstone for this particular decision process.'     

... 'Turnaround time for my "Go mobile" system set-up was only about 48 hours.  That's branded website set-up, testing and all.  Jennifer was highly customer service oriented, followed up and followed through.  She was even double checking functionality for me this past Saturday moments before my meeting with these clients.  I was nervous the application would not work in Sharon, CT - but it did!!  She is a great asset to Smarter Agent and to our team.

In closing;  Thank you Bill!!  Thank you Kent!!! Thank you Joy and the Raveis Team behind the scenes!!! I truly appreciate the tools, the support, and the opportunities.

Jay Youmans

Broker Associate

Litchfield, CT Office 

Congratulations Jay on a job well done!  I can't wait to see what happens when you start distributing your branded application to your clients, and potential clients, putting yourself and all the listing information in their pockets, anytime anywhere!  May your real estate knowledge and expertise, along with your branded Homes For Sale mobile application powered by Smarter Agent, bring you lots of "Call to See" action! 

Have you ever met people whose excitement was absolutely contagious?  You could be telling them about something going on with you, and they just bubble over with excitement only to cause you to become the same way?  Stormy and I had an opportunity to meet someone just like that at the NAA Convention (National Apartment Association) hosted at the Gaylord in Orlando which, as a side note, is an amazing venue for a convention.

We were there to talk with multifamily housing professionals about Smarter Agent's Apartments for Rent application currently live on AT&T and Sprint.  The application allows consumers to search for rental listings all over the nation - anytime, anywhere - from the tool they always have with them, their cell phone.  Owners and property managers alike were extremely excited about it!  Why wouldn't they be?  Especially since it is FREE to take all of their rental listings mobile!

Tracey Hopkins was one of the people that stopped by our booth.  More accurately, she happened to be walking by and I smiled and asked if I could take a moment of her time to tell her about Smarter Agent.  She said she wasn't a multifamily housing owner, but would still stop and listen.  The conversation ensued... I showed Tracey the Apartments for Rent application, and with each passing screen she grew more and more excited, causing the same reaction from me.  What fun!  She said she wanted more information, slides to be specific, for two upcoming presentations she was going to be involved with in August and September.  It was then that I learned who Tracey Hopkins is...

Tracey started her company, Jump Start Apartment Marketing, in 2000 after being in the real estate industry/marketing industry since age seventeen.  She presents nationally for companies, associations and conventions, including NAA, and also consults nationally for companies in need of improving property performance.  Our technology is exactly the kind of new marketing strategy she talks about with multifamily housing owners.  Not only is Tracey full of energy, she is also full of knowledge.  Who better to assist you than someone that worked in the field, knows her stuff and makes it exciting and fun!!!  Let the testimonials speak for themselves.  http://jumpstartonline.net/testimonials.htm  Tracey believes our technology is just the kind of tool multifamily housing owners need to market their listings.  Cell phones are the next internet, are sold more than any other consumer device out there and everyone has one!  Why wouldn't you want to put your listings in the consumer's pockets?  We are thankful to have Tracey representing us, and wish her continued success!

If you want someone to help you with your marketing, assist you with product concepts and design, motivate you and your staff, create better team skills through fun and informative seminars...look no further than Tracey Hopkins, The Solutions Expert!  http://jumpstartonline.net/index.htm

So not only does Smarter Agent provide amazing mobile GPS technology for consumers through our real estate partners (brokers/agents), they also take great care of their employees!  I have always been excited to have the opportunity to work for Smarter Agent, informing realtors and consumers alike about our real estate mobile applications, but it doesn't hurt to be given GREAT seats to a Phillies/Marlins game for a job well done!  I grew up in New England and will ALWAYS be a Red Sox fan first and foremost, but I enjoy watching the Phillies play.

With all of our traveling, Stormy and I (aka The Smarter Agent Girls) hadn't had the opportunity to attend any games, but that all changed as we joined two other members of the Smarter Agent team for a day game at the Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.  The stadium was only built a few years ago and is amazing!  You have a great view of the field no matter where you are sitting, but we had great seats!  It was an extremely hot and sticky day, there wasn't even a whisper of a breeze, we were directly in the sun, the stadium was packed and it was a BLAST!!!  We sat 10th row up from the field between 3rd base and the outfield.  Talk about seats requiring awareness of the ball AT ALL TIMES!!  3rd inning...I'm getting food and beer for the group...Phillies are at bat...line drive foul ball RIGHT AT US!  Kevin caught the ball!!!  I got back to my seat and just couldn't believe the story!  Then Kevin's Dad called: "Are you at work?  I swear I just saw a guy that looks just like you catch a ball at the Phillies game on TV."  AWESOME!  Kevin, being the good guy he is, gave the ball to a kid sitting nearby.  NOT before we took pictures for proof!  This was all caught live, on TV, with us wearing our Smarter Agent T-Shirts.  Not a bad form of advertising!  We are still trying to get the footage from the game.  I'll share it when we do.

So getting to the game had me a bit nervous.  Not being really familiar with the area I was thankful to have VZ Navigator on my cell phone.  Stormy and I got there without any problems.  Now for sports fans, the stadiums in Philadelphia are all located near one another, and it's so convenient.  Kevin actually lives within walking distance.  I was asking him how much places rented for as I have a friend wanting to move into the area.  He'd been there awhile, so he wasn't sure of the current rentals.  Never fear!  I have Smarter Agent's Apartments for Rent application on my cell phone.  During the 7th inning stretch I ran a quick search of 2 bedroom rentals within 3 miles of the stadium and got back my list of results including pictures.  I saved the search to share with my friend after the game, the 7th inning began, and I sat back to keep my eye out for any more foul balls!

So I had never been to San Francisco before and couldn't WAIT to see the sites as well as attend REBar Camp and Inman.  I should know by now, with as many conferences and conventions that I attend, that there isn't any time to actually SEE where I am visiting unless I stay an extra day or two.  This time was no exception, but the conference was great just as I had expected!  I wish I could have heard more people speak, but it was amazing to be surrounded by so many people eager to learn and share about all the tools and ideas out there.  They just ‘get it', and that makes sharing our technology all the more exciting! 

I think REBar Camp was a GREAT idea.  It provided all the ingrediants for success.  Great speakers for their seminars, time in between to socialize followed by Beer and Blogging at the bar right downstairs!  Great times were had by many!!  I particularly enjoyed Learning How to Diffuse Blog Wars led by Kris Berg and Jay Thompson.  It made me hesitant to delve into the world of blogging, versus just continuing to be a reader, but I will just plan to be more aware of what I say and how I say it. 

Inman was hosted at The Palace on New Montgomery, which was absolutely beautiful!  I spent a good part of my Inman experience in our pod, so I wish I could say how amazing the speakers were, but I only heard one or two.  I caught the tail end of Brad Inman interviewing Craig from Craig's List.  Dustin Luther's list of his top 50 Real Estate Tools (not the correct name, but you get the idea).  were pretty amazing, and he did a great job of getting through all of them in 15 minutes.  I, of course, thought Smarter Agent should have been included, but it provided me with insight into a few tools I hadn't heard of before.  I met so many great people, learned about a lot of new things and even helped others learn about mobile technology as the next real estate verticle.

Thanks to REBar Camp, I met a few people from Active Rain.  GREAT group of guys, and we got invited to their private party at their hotel which proved to be an evening filled with laughter, crazy concoctions (thanks to Jerry) and a Tic Tac Toe challenge like you've never seen before!  (We both know who won Aaron)  This is where we also became known as "The Smarter Agent Girls"

Each evening my team went out for dinner together.  The second night we ate at The Waterbar, and that experience deserves a post all its' own, but since I seem to suffer from procrastinationitis...  Let me tell you, I have NEVER seen 'Fish and Chips' like this before!  The waiter gave us a very accurate description, but nothing can truly prepare you for what is actually placed in front of you!  My co-worker, who actually ordered the dinner, decided to have them remove the head and tail.  Yep, you read me right....the whole fish arrived on the plate with it's eyes closed and mouth open and.....let the pictures tell the story!  I am lucky I even have pictures to share.  We were all so in awe of the fish that I forgot to take any!  Never fear!  We had a GREAT waiter who ran back into kitchen and took a couple shots of another plate ready to be set before an unsuspecting hungry individual!  We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and I would strongly recommend the restaurant.  Make reservations and still be prepared to wait.  They have a raw bar around the actual bar, and it provides for its' own source of entertainment. (399 The Embarcadero
(between Folsom St & Harrison St) San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 284-9922 www.waterbarsf.com)

I did accomplish my one goal, which was to ride a cable car.  That and five minutes at The Wharf were about all I saw of San Francisco, but I will definitely be going back!  I have to try out those Fish and Chips!