10 Tips from your Brokers IT Department. 
Being in the real estate and related businesses for 10 years as an IT manager I have come across many issues that agents have with their computers. Here are some solutions I have put together to alieviate those issues.
1. Backup, Backup BACKUP!!!
I don't care what operating system you have you need to be backing up. A hard drive is a moving part just like in a car and they do fail, go bad and I even have had one go up in smoke. So I say again BACKUP. But you're busy and don't have time to think about that and when you do it is something that you never get around to doing. A good if not great solution for agents is backblaze. for $5.00 a month your computer will get backed up and even better than that it will be OFFSITE so it your house burns down or implodes your data will be safe. Set it forget it and pay $5.00 a month for it. Whatever happens you will have your data thing covered. Yes they have a solution for Mac as well
2. Become Cloud Based and move your current customer files to the cloud that way they are with you no matter where you are.
I have seen as I'm sure you have seen, agents running back home because they forgot their clients file. I used to stop them and say hey buy a $20 usb memory stick and put your files on that. Now I just email them saying sorry you just lost $10 in gas and by the way here is a link to dropbox http://db.tt/OWrZvHv Now your files will be with you as long as you have an internet connection. BTW this one is free
3. Use an antivirus program (even if you are using a mac or linux).
A good free antivirus comes from Microsoft which you can get from here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=e1605e70-9649-4a87-8532-33d813687a7f or if you remove your antivirus software then perform a windows update under custom updates it is listed here as well.
For Mac clamXAV http://www.clamxav.com/ is a good antivirus as well. I have used this on a Linux server for years so I trust them.
For Linux users you can use avast http://www.avast.com/linux-home-edition
4. You don't need to buy Office 2011 or 201 save yourself $500.00 and use OpenOffice
This office program can open most if not all Office documents and yes this is free.
5. You don't need to buy Adobe Photoshop (or elements) to edit photo's for windows
Paint.net http://getpaint.net is free and for Mac and Linux users you can use Gimp http://www.gimp.org/ (yes you can use this for windows as well)
6. Don't use Adobe PDF viewer you can use Foxit http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/ Software which is faster less updates and smaller (think netbook) Adobe is slow most of the time and this is quicker.
7.Learn to print from anywhere (yeah even off of your phone) - http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/33088/print-files-from-anywhere-via-any-device-with-dropbox/ (Mac users you are out of luck)
8. Don't trust any computer shop with your computer.
I have run into hundreds of agents that get ripped off from their local computer stores (and even the big box stores) Find a computer person that you can trust and stick with them. Usually they are the small owner operated shops that do the best job because they know you can go to a big box store. Do not use your next door neighbor or your friends children! (unless they happen to do this professionally)
9. You may not need to buy a new computer but just clean yours.
(and I mean really clean) Only do this if you are sure that you have backed up everything on your computer. If you computer is running really slow try formatting it by sticking in the factory disk and let it erase everything off of your computer. If you are in the market for a new computer because your old one is slow try do this first before purchasing a new one. You might breathe new life into what you have now. After you get up and going the first thing you need to run is PC Decrapifier http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/home This will remove all of the crap that your PC came loaded with.(unless you have the original windows OEM DVD’s) Mac and linux users do not need this. AGAIN - DON'T DO THIS UNLESS YOU BACK UP EVERYTHING!!!!
10. Defrag!
Download and install smart defrag http://www.iobit.com/iobitsmartdefrag.html this is one of those items that you should do once a month. Just start it and go to bed. Do not use the windows defrag since it is really slow. You will see a noticeable speed increase if your hard drive is even 7% fragmented. (Mac, Linux use the OS de-fragger)
With a little work and learning you can make sure that your computer will continue to work for you and your business. I would like you to use my backblaze link since I am an affiliate of theirs and yes I also would like you to use my dropbox link so that can have increased space. Either way there is no extra cost to you and these are both great resources I personally use. Personal SEO is your business solutions provider for online marketing and website SEO.
~Have a productive day!
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