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Real Estate Tools I Could Not Do Without

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster 0225078705

When you think about all the tools that that we use everyday in real estate, there are a few I could not do without.  So I thought I would make up a list .  They are not gadgets, and I am not a gadget person.  I am into productivity.  I take a listing today, I want it blasted all over the place within 24 hours and flyers delivered to the property the next day.  So the tools are for access, productivity, communication, marketing, self promotion, contact, presentation, and to elimate the paper files.  I also feel many of these tools allow us to serve our clients much better, and offer a higher quality of service.  Here is my list, and I know there are many I have just overlooked.  I feel tools must be easy to use, not a gadget, fill a need, and cost effective.  I am not into magic shows.  What is your criteria for real estate, and is there something you use that you would like to share?  What do you use daily in your business?

  1. Websites
  2. Internet
  3. Virtual Tours / Video Tours
  4. Auto-Response Drip Systems
  5. MLS Online
  6. Tax records online
  7. IDX - Broker Reciprocity
  8. E-mail
  9. Cell Phone with Camera
  10. Caller ID
  11. Call Forwarding
  12. Toll Free Number
  13. Digital Camera
  14. Online Contracts
  15. Fax Machine with - Fast Scan PDF Capability
  16. E-Fax
  17. Personal Computers
  18. Laptops
  19. Wireless Connections
  20. Personal Color Laser Printers with Duplex Printing
  21. Personal Lable Machines
  22. Software: Desktop Publishing, Online, Contact Management, Word Processing, Excel, Power Point, SnagIt,Smart Draw
  23. Go-To-My PC
  24. GPS for Each Vehicle
  25. On-Star
  26. Blogging - ActiveRain
  27. Blog syndication via RSS Feeds
  28. Paper Shredders
Posted by

James Crawford Broker Associate

Long & Foster Fredericksburg Virginia

678-595-5286 Direct

 

Fredericksburg VA Real Estate Agents, Spotsylvania County Homes for Sale, Spotsylvania County VA Homes, Stafford County VA Homes, and City of Fredericksburg VA – Luxury Homes, Lots, Land, and New Home Construction. Buying or Selling Call Me!  

 

Long and Foster Fredericksburg VA

Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Carol Culkin (Houlihan Lawrence Realty)  Designations were good a few years ago, but became so diluted with so many new agents, and lower standards... that I now question the value of them.

Jan 12, 2009 03:37 PM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Phil   Phil, I forgot about those tools.  You also reminded me about the other tools I used.  Windex, a mop, vacuum, a toilet bowl cleaner, A Can of Comet, Bar-keepers Friend, Clorox Bleach, paper towls, garbage bags, boxes of spare lightbulbs, and Lysol Spray!

 

Jan 12, 2009 03:42 PM
Nancy Brenner
Referral Associates of Georgia, Inc. - Roswell, GA
Roswell Georgia Real Estate Agent

Great list Jim.  RE: your last comment...  Don't forget toilet paper!
My laptop and cell phone are my most valued tools.

Jan 12, 2009 04:30 PM
Janice Roosevelt
Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA
OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

What ag reat list Jim. I agree with Ros  about toilet paper and tissues :)

Jan 12, 2009 10:36 PM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Roswell Georgia Real Estate Agent - Nancy Rivera (RE/MAX Leading Edge in Roswell Ga) LOL!  The most important one.  It is in each vehicle!

Jan 13, 2009 12:59 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jim  What a list - as I look back over my 33 years I am astounded at all the "tools" I didn't have when Arthur and I got our license in 1976.  So this is progress?  Karen

Jan 13, 2009 01:10 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA
Scott Guay
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty - Ocean Pines, MD
Associate Broker. Ocean City and Ocean Pines MD

Nice list.  I don't have a few of them (12,23,24,25) The rest have become indispensable.

Jan 13, 2009 02:03 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Scott Guay REALTOR® Ocean City and Ocean Pines Maryland (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)

The Toll free number has brought me more business than anything!  You should look into one.  My broker offered them years ago in RE/MAX.  A personal toll free number, and I beleive the cost was less than $7 a month.  

Jan 13, 2009 02:07 AM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Jim,

That's a bunch of stuff we mortgage guys can identify with. Then we have our own gadgets we can't do without: pricing software, automated underwriting software, paperless document authority etc.

Jan 13, 2009 01:32 PM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Esko Kiuru - Las Vegas NV Mortgage Consultant (Sinifox Financial) I use desktop publishing software for marketing.  I could not live with out.

Jan 13, 2009 02:36 PM
April Stephens
RE/MAX One Realty - Clayton, NC
Broker/Realtor - Johnston & Wake County

Great List!  Thanks so much for sharing, I love my laptop and phone as well, email on my phone is priceless!

Jan 14, 2009 11:18 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

April Stephens Broker/Realtor - Johnston & Wake County (Diamond Contracting Inc. Realty Services) Thanks.  I use my laptop so much that I forget how useful a tool it is.

Jan 14, 2009 11:23 AM
Mike Klijanowicz
Cummings & Co. Realtors - Perry Hall, MD
Associate Broker @ Cummings & Co. Realtors

MY CRACKBERRY!  I absolutely, positively, do not know how I could live without it!

Jan 14, 2009 11:26 AM
Bobby Wallace
Vacant Land Solutions - Charleston, SC
Sell Your Vacant Land The Hassle Free Way!

Jim -We have "evolved" a long way since starting out with a handful of business cards. Good list!

I appreciate you!

Bobby Wallace

Charleston Real Estate Investors Association

Jan 14, 2009 12:06 PM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Bobby Wallace (Charleston Real Estate Investor's Association)Thanks Bobby, I really appreciate that!

Jan 14, 2009 12:41 PM
Sabrina Kelley
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO
Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

It is crazy how things would change if the lights went.

The power is always on at my place thanks to sun. I am amazed that all of this equipment is an absolute necessity in this age.

I was aware but sometimes it takes a list to really put things into perspective.

Jan 14, 2009 05:19 PM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA
Jan 15, 2009 12:40 AM