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Realty Juggler

I just read about this software which works on Macs, and is for RE Professional's:

http://www.realtyjuggler.com/

Posted by Taryn Merrick - Virtual Assistant on 09/29/2007 07:27 AM

Comments (17)

mac os x, macs, reva, repa, mac vas, mac virtual assistant, real estate assistant

Post is included in group: Active Rain MacUsers Group
Post is included in group: Mac RE Virtual Assistants

17 Comments on Realty Juggler

SEP

2007

Taryn - it only works on Macs? What does it do? Is there a similar product for PC's? Thanks -

Taryn, thanks, and I've just bookmarked the site to check it out. Macs are so great!

Carol, no, it doesn't *only* work on Macs, but it does work on Macs. That it does work in a Mac browser (and Safari, at that) is a difference from most real estate applications. So you can use it on a PC, Mac, or Linux system.

Top Producer 7i, for example, only works on Windows and only in Internet Explorer.

Top Producer 8i is in beta, and what I've read of it says it is disconnecting itself from the Java virtual machine. I am hoping that means they'll be disconnecting it from Windows and Internet Exploder. My main machine is an iMac, and I am tired of running my notebook via Remote Desktop Client to run Top Producer on my iMac screen.

I'm testing RealtyJuggler now. RealtyJuggler has some appeal: Its price model is lower ($99/yr on web "desktop" version, versus TP7i's $34.95/mo.). It seems to have a great deal of capability commensurate with TP7i. Some of that functionality is, however, buried under layers of complexity--maybe a better word is rigamarole, since it is just unnecessarily clumsy--that TP7i doesn't have. The RJ interface is, in my opinion, ugly and amateurish looking and comes with the clumsiness that is natural to ugly, amateurish interfaces. TP7i is just so professionally designed and works very well and more intuitively (to me, anyway).

To give one example of difference: Both programs allow the user to create action plan templates that can be applied to, say, a new listing or closing. This is a list of actions, tasks, phone calls, etc., that one would want to execute, timed from the beginning of the process--the listing date, the contract agreement date, etc.--to the end--expiration, sale, closing, whatever the process is. In Top Producer, you set up each item as a discrete unit, and it takes its place in a list format. There is an elegant form for creating every single item, its time after Time A to be done, its dependency on Event N if you want that (e.g., place lockbox 1 day after receiving key), and any repetition. You can easily edit an Action Plan template, because you can add items one at a time and edit them easily. In Realty Juggler, trying to do any but the most elementary action plan is ridiculous. You have to enter ALL tasks/calls/etc. in one line of text separating them from each other by a comma or period (which means, of course, you can't use a comma or period in the task description). To edit, you'd have to go through the template text line and find the place in which to enter the new task, type it in correctly without deleting prior text, and add "+N" (N is days) to make it time-dependent upon the previous task.

I mention this particular function at length because it is one of the best things about Top Producer. If it is so hard to do in RealtyJuggler, it makes it much less likely that I'll use RealtyJuggler beyond the trial.

Besides that, RealtyJuggler seems to have a lot of good to it. It is very different from TP7i, but provides a lot of the power. As I've used TP7i for four years, there are several things I've learned are not terribly useful in it to me: e-mail, because of a lack of spam control; scheduling, because it doesn't do on-desktop alarms and is so elementary; the CMA, which I used to use, but then finally decided really offered nothing more than a Word document and my MLS's CMA offered, and is more of a hassle to use than Word and my MLS's CMA; the flyers/postcards/letters, which are hideously designed (surprising, since their program design is excellent--TP, hire some GOOD graphic document designers, not computer jockeys who haven't got an aesthetic bone in their bodies) and within a terrible word processor for desktop publishing, plus badly written, illogical letters/postcards.

So I'm willing to consider RJ. Price is better. Functionality for what I use is good with the large exception (to me) of action plan templates.

And IT WORKS ON A MAC.

I never said it only works on a Mac, I said it works on Macs :-) I have yet to find real estate software that only works on the Mac platform. Has anyone heard any news that Top Producer may someday function on the Mac platform?

David, it may not be perfect, but the fact that Apple loyalists like me can have something to service clients with, all the while using my iMac versus my Dell, is a good thing.

To Your Success!

Taryn

Taryn, yes, I know--I was telling Carol that it works on a Mac--and on others. It's great to have a real estate app, and a lower-priced app at that, that does work on a Mac.

There's another one that works on a Mac---REST (http://www.realestatesuccesstools.com/)---looks better, but it's computer-based, not web-based, and it costs $399. I played with that once, and didn't find it to be as good as TP. Plus, I actually do want to access my business management info wherever I am, and the only way to do that is on the web (well, I could carry a PC with me all the time--no thanks).

Top Producer is the class of the class. And I am hoping that the new version, 8i, will work on a Mac too, which 7i won't. But RealtyJuggler is a definite contender, and it already works on a Mac. I'm going to go through the trial, and if it works well, I am not averse to changing. And to saving some money!

Having TP8i work on a Mac would be awesome! Have you good reason to believe it will or are you just hopeful, like me? :-)

SEP

2007

Taryn, well, I have read that TP8i will not depend on the Java virtual machine. Now, that's not the whole reason TP won't run on a Mac---after all, Java itself is cross-platform. The problem is that TP actually uses some functions that are in someway proprietary to Microsoft's Java machine (of course, MS makes it Windows-exclusive), or make Windows program calls (technical stuff). Whatever, it's stuck on Windows and Internet Exploder in TP7i. Now, unless they tie it to some other Windows-only technology like VBScript or something else, it should work on a Mac. I'm hoping.

But if it doesn't, that will be a point in RJ's favor. I'm looking closely at what I actually do and don't use in Top Producer, and if RJ can do all of it, for less money, then the balancing factors will be ease of use factors. RJ suffers there; TP is excellent. But it will be a trade off for cost.

I have a real estate friend who is testing Top Producer 8I and at this time it is a PC only unless you use a Mac with Parallels. There are many new features but like most programs...there are a ton of features he says the average agent will never use.

Thanks David. If you can write a blog post on RJ after you do your analysis, that would be so beneficial for all the Mac users on AR.

Sam: You would think a software company out there would create the Mac clone to Top Producer, with all the functionality. I guess there aren't enough Mac agents to have a call for it?

I use REST -- I did not like TP and grew tired of using paralles

OCT

2007

Taryn - I believe as the web based software continues it's mainstream direction the Mac will get it's chance to shine even more. There are so many agents like us who switched from our PC to Mac that the numbers will contineue to grow which may warrant WAY more applications for the Mac.

FEB

2008

Just a follow -up... I have made the switch to RealtyJuggler; I dropped Top Producer. I am pretty happy with it. The cost is a major factor, we have so darn many monthly bills as real estate agents.

RealtyJuggler does everything I need it to do in tracking contacts, buyers, sellers, listings, and closings. (With one near-exception, below.) I have not missed Top Producer a bit.

I love being able to use it on my Mac. I'm now able to manage my transactions and people from any web-connected computer. It also works well on an iPhone.

The only big shortcoming is in the action plans. It is simply too weird and limited. They need to work on that, and I will be sending a suggestion about it. (The company is responsive to suggestions, by the way. They've already written to me saying they'll incorporate two suggestions I made into the next version.)

FEB

2008

David,

That is exciting to know Realty Juggler is working for you. Even more positive to know that the developers are responsive to feedback and suggestions. As the RE market improves this will become even more important as more RE Professionals switch to Mac from PC.

Best of luck!

Taryn

APR

David and everyone else,

I want to thank you for such kind words about RealtyJuggler Desktop. Its always welcome to hear success stories.

We have been hard at work improving the product and have heard loud and clear that the Task Plans (also known as Action Plans) were a real weakness. We have added a number improvements in that arena. Specifically, you can create an unlimited number of Plans, and each plan can have an unlimited number of tasks associated with a plan. Each task can have a due date which is set based upon the start date that you set - like 10 days after I start the Task plan going, or can float based upon a special date - like 5 days before closing. You can also import and export these plans. As part of our technical support, we can import pre-existing action plans for you, if you like. The user interface has also been completely redone and everything is now editable and viewable in a list view - so putting together a Task Plan is so much easier now. I have to agree that what we had was pretty dorky.

The importance of Macintosh support is something larger than I think people realize. RealtyJuggler works on any device with a full featured web browser. So, that means it works on a Mac and a PC without any funny business. It also runs on the iPhone and Google Android phone. And when the Palm Pre finally arrives, it will work on that too. So, when we commit to supporting the Macintosh, what we are really doing is committing support for any Internet device that has a full featured web browser. Over the next few years, we are likely to see an explosion of such devices. That's really where the technology is going. The usefulness of a Windows only or Mac only application are diminishing in todays world. We think what you really will want is the freedom to access your information from any device, anywhere. All for one fixed price.

Sincerely,

Scott Schmitz

RealOrganized, Inc.

PS if you end up trying out RealtyJuggler, let me know you saw this post and I'll boost your free trial by an additional 3 months. Or, if you have already purchased a subscription, I'll bump the expire date by 3 months.

MAY

Just gave a quick lookover of RealtyJuggler... I dunno man. It was very 1995. Yes it looked like it was designed by high schoolers. Sorry for being harsh. I am sure you spent many many hours on the functionality and the back end stuff, but it looks only a tad better than DOS.

A good user interface is important to me.

So I will keep looking.

Frank

JUN

I just got off the phone with TP and was told that the Palm Pre will not be supported by TP! I was suprised and was told that I should get a Blackberry for only an additional $14 a month, what a deal. Maybe it's me but does anyone else feel a slave to TP? Iv'e had palm phones for years with TP and like having my contacts in the phone but can adjust to a new system if it's out there.

Any feedback would be welcomed,

Ron Walczak

RE/MAX Grande

Grand Blanc, MI

JUN

Frank,

I think the key is to pick software that you will like to use. So, RealtyJuggler isn't for everyone, and from the sounds of it it's not for you. We sometimes get people saying that RealtyJuggler looks too simple. I should explain why this is the case.

The goal of RealtyJuggler is to serve the "average" agent. That's someone who doesn't have time to read users manuals or take 3-day training classes. So, simple was the key. Some "power users" may think of it as too simple. And for those people, RealtyJuggler won't be to their liking.

We get requests for improvements to RealtyJuggler and we make perhaps 4 changes a week based upon user feedback. Every one of those changes goes through a simple test - does this change make it easier or harder to use the software? We think long and hard before making any changes that make the software harder to use. There had better be a huge benefit, otherwise we don't make the change.

But don't be fooled by the large fonts and uncluttered user interface.

Underneath it all is a pretty efficient engine. Simple is really the key to speed.

Since Contacts, Tasks and Appointments sync with Microsoft Outlook, people can use RealtyJuggler as an enhancement to Outlook. We provide the realtor stuff and Outlook provides the basic contact management and e-mail stuff. Not that you have to use Outlook, we just make this available - as part of the package (no extra charge). One nice benefit of the Outlook Sync is that you can sync with any smartphone for free - Blackberry, for example. As long as the phone sync's with Outlook then you are golden.

It works like this:

RealtyJuggler <=> Outlook <=> Blackberry

and is pretty simple. We sync Contacts, tasks and Appointments to Outlook and then you can use any off-the-shelf phone you like. You don't pay extra for anything. If you change phones, that's not a problem at all. It means that you don't have to install any custom software on your phone. You just use the stuff that comes with your phone. That way, there's less than can go wrong and less that we charge you for.

RealtyJuggler pricing is simple - $99 / year / user. The price will never go up as long as you keep your subscription active. There are no extra modules to purchase. You can sign in on a Mac, or PC or iPhone or Google Android or Palm Pre web browser. You can even use the Firefox browser if you are so inclined.

Results are what really matters. When you take a call and need to pull up your clients info, can you do it quickly? Can you find what you are looking for while distracted talking with your client? Can you enter information quickly? Are the features you require available and do you know how to use them?

In the end, this is all a personal value judgement. So, I completely understand your feeling about RealtyJuggler not being right for you.

Scott Schmitz

RealOrganized, Inc.

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Taryn Merrick - Virtual Assistant

Dandridge, TN

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