Evernote: Are You Missing Out??

Evernote... you may have heard of this incredible app. You may even have it downloaded. The big question is, are you truly getting the most out of this powerhouse of an app and utilizing it for every single one of your real estate needs?

People in real estate tend towards being disorganized. Now, don't get me wrong... there are definitely some organized agents out there but the majority of us are sorely lacking when it comes to clean uncluttered desks, immaculately maintained file folders, and crisp clean notebooks. Evernote has the capability of ending the chaotic madness IF you use it correctly.

So, first things first...

You know all those reciepts you have piled up in that accordion folder that you typically don't take out until right before your taxes are due and you dump them on your poor accountant? Well I want you to take out that folder and then take your phone and open up your evernote app. Click the + sign to add a note and then click on the camera icon on the top tool bar within the app. Take a picture of the first receipt you manage to uncrinkle and lay flat on that tiny available space of desk that is free of clutter. Once you have an acceptable picture of the entire receipt, click the use button and then click the i button in the top tool bar. Select folder for receipts 2012 (make sure you have a folder available for this by creating one first on www.evernote.com on your computer) and then add tags from general to specific such as "business expense", "marketing expense", "open house expense", "open house signs" (so you can search for items by these tags later when wanting to categorize expenses differently or see how much you've spent in various categories or add them to a budget). Repeat until all your receipts are in the app and now... THROW THAT FOLDER AND ALL THOSE CRUMPLED RECEIPTS IN THE TRASH. OMG... you have just taken your first steps toward being PAPERLESS!! From now on, just take photos within evernote of every receipt as it comes along and throw away immediately.

Now for project number 2...

You know that folder you have buried somewhere with all those cool ideas you never really took advantage of but you know you WANT to... someday... Yeah... take that folder out and do the same thing you did with your receipts, tag appropriately and file under GREAT IDEAS. Now throw that folder and paper away. From now on, every cool idea you come across, record it within evernote. If you hear it, just repeat it to the evernote voice recorder, tag, and store. If you see it written or pictured, click a pic, tag, and store. If you see it online, use the evernote web clipper, tag, and store. You are really getting AWESOME at this now!! Just look at you taggin'... ;-)

Okay, now for some BUYER fun...

Have an iPad? If you don't, here's a good reason to buy one... Go into your MLS and create a report of homes you'll be showing to your buyer. Remember printing those all out, handwriting showing instructions on them, and then carrying them with you as showed the homes, scribbling notes on the back of the pages while fumbling with everthing else you're carrying? You'll never do THAT again thanks to evernote. Email that link to yourself and open the link on your iPad to view the report. Take a screenshot of each page by clicking the power button and the home button simultaneously and then opening the screenshot photos in Skitch (skitch is an evernote add-on and just as free as evernote, so make sure you have it installed on every device). Now you can handwrite all over that report in whatever color you prefer, and send it directly to evernote. While you're walking around with your buyer, add their notes by utilizing skitch again to handwrite or by allowing them to voice record their thoughts directly into evernote. If you use the voice recorder in evernote they are gonna think you're way cool and techie. 

***Storage Tip***

When you store these listings to evernote, store in a file folder named with your buyer's last name and click on "add to stack", then "create new stack", then name the stack folder "Buyers". With every buyers name you can now just click on add to stack and then select Buyers as the stack to add to. It will sort all your buyers by last name under the main heading of Buyers. 

Now you want to click on that little arrow at the end of your buyer's name specific folder and click on "share this folder". You'll now be given the option to invite your buyer to view that folder (and that folder only) by sending them an invite via email. All they need to do is click on "join this folder" in the email and they now have access to everything you have stored in this folder. Not only can they view all the listing reports for the homes they've viewed, they can see/hear all associated notes on those listings. You can upload anything to their evernote buyer folder along the way such as their accepted contract, inspection reports, anything at all. BTW, if you want them to even sign contracts on your iPad, ask me about the iAnnotate PDF app. 

There are of course many more advanced features to evernote but these few will put you on the right track and open up a whole new world of organizational possibilities and help you manage a lot of that clutter and chaos. Just remember, if it's a piece of paper taking up space, it could instead be a digital file in evernote. If you need help in setup or have additional questions, don't hesitate to reach out. :)