My Top 10 Real Estate Tools

By
Real Estate Agent with Associate Broker, Momentum Realty
https://activerain.com/droplet/hMk

In 2005, my partner, Carol Kearney, and I started our own firm, Momentum Realty. We embraced the decentralized model that so many other practitioners have selected and created good, solid home offices and no commercial presence (we have an office of record, as required by state law).

Technology has made this vision easier and easier to implement. Rarely is there anything at all that I can't do from my home office.

So what are my top 10 tools (technical and not), in no particular order?

  1. Smart Phone (currently a Blackberry, but considering an iPhone)
  2. HP All-in-one Printer/scanner/copier
  3. Docusign
  4. efax
  5. bluetooth
  6. Closing office doors and hanging the 'Do Not Disturb' sign
  7. Laptop
  8. Verizon Fios Connection
  9. ZipForms
  10. Digital Camera
  11. ActiveRain (oops, that is 11)

With these items, I can handle just about anything that comes along. Some of the value of this stuff is obvious, but let me explain a couple of items.

Docusign: Initially I began using for an out-of-town client. I have found it to be invaluable in every transaction since. Of course, now banks are asking for things to be resigned with authentic signatures, but it is still valuable for reaching agreement and getting contracts in place.
Efax: Sends all my faxes to my computer as .pdfs; I can save them to my hard drive for future use and email them to the interested parties.
Closing my office doors: I stayed home with my kids for 8 years; sometimes they need a reminder that my office is for working (and I need to not hear bickering and dogs wrestling)
ActiveRain: my virtual office where I can seek advice, bemoan a problem or make a new friend. It has become for me what land-based offices are for others.

If you ever need advice about products that I have used or configurations that I have set up to make my office productive, don't hesitate to ask. I would love to hear about tools that you use that allow you to present yourself professionally while working from home.

Working at home is a privilege for me; doing it well is high on my list of accomplishments!

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 Momentum Realty

A GREAT Real Estate  experience.

If I can help you, your friends or family buy or sell their next home in Northern Virginia, please let me know!

If you need help with a home outside of Northern Virginia, I have an extensive network of referral agents and will make sure you are working with the best!

The contents of this blog may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of Holly Weatherwax.

 

 

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Re-Blogged 3 times:

Re-Blogged By Re-Blogged At
  1. Bobbie Smith 09/14/2011 01:53 AM
  2. Demarco & Marisa 08/26/2012 04:35 PM
  3. David Saks 07/18/2013 12:46 PM
Topic:
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Rainmaker
636,054
Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

Mike, I agree. If you notice, this post is a year old. I am not sure why/how people are suddenly finding it--but I am not complaining!  I will check out HomeSnap....

Aug 28, 2012 12:41 AM #26
Rainmaker
206,570
Chuck Mixon
The Keyes Company - Cutler Bay, FL
Cutler Bay Specialist, GRI, CDPE, BPOR

It is amazing how that list is always changing with all the new techie tools on the market.

Sep 05, 2012 01:05 PM #27
Ambassador
2,343,570
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe Just Call...408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

That's a great list of top 10 tech tools for agents.

Sep 14, 2012 05:28 PM #28
Rainer
14,803
Olga Vasquez
Park Regency - Granada Hills, CA
Olgasells

that is a nice list, thank you.

Sep 18, 2012 05:28 PM #29
Ambassador
566,489
Rosemary Brooks
BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA
The Mother & Daughter Realty Team

I love the list - in fact, it is similar to my list except:  iPad is not on the list, I am now using Cartavi that gives me a fax that I can give out and have all the documents pertaining to my closing either emailed or faxed to me direct there.  I am getting pretty close to being paperless.... still a bit to go.

Sep 19, 2012 03:36 PM #30
Rainer
3,914
Selda KIRKAN
Miami Beach, FL

Holly, Thanks for the list, I like DND sign the most. I am an HTC/Android person who also switched from Blackberry. I wonder the advantages of IPhone besided being user friendly for most of the users. 

Thanks

Selda

Nov 24, 2012 09:48 PM #31
Rainmaker
711,063
Frank Harper
Idaho Family Real Estate - Boise, ID
Broker/Owner, Realtor, GRI, SFR.

I really like the closing of the door and outing up the sign Do Not Disturb!

Apr 26, 2013 09:54 AM #32
Rainmaker
951,085
Norma J. Elkins
Elite Realty Group - Morristown, TN
Realtor - Elkins Home Selling Team
Thanks for sharing. I love the list. Especially the sign for the door. It is a MUST!
Jul 17, 2013 08:34 PM #33
Rainer
258,644
Matt Kombrink
RE/MAX All Pro - Saint Charles, IL
Your #1 Source For Real Estate

Holly, excellent post.  I love these lists and being able to see what other professionals are using in their day-to-day life.  I need to get a "Do Not Disturb" sign...

Aug 06, 2013 02:07 AM #34
Rainer
163,236
Elizabeth Bouchard
Long & Foster Realtors - Arlington, VA
Associate Broker in Northern Virginia

I am part of a large company with a physical office but I find I can be more productive working from my home office where everything is at my fingertips.  Love the comment about the do not disturb sign - my 13 year old doesn't always "get" that I may be working at home and need to not be disturbed.  One of the best things I did is get distinctive ring on my phone - and I use Accessline as my one phone number - it tries to find me by dialing my cell phone, my home office (at the distinctive ring number) and my work office.  At least then I know when it is a business call.

Oct 11, 2013 08:03 AM #35
Rainer
24,171
Lani Stern
Toronto, ON
Your lifetime agent

I was not familiar with EFax. Great tool, but not sure how I would implement that with my office sharing their fax machine? 

Thanks.

Oct 15, 2013 03:01 AM #36
Rainer
211,391
Jack O'Neal
HomeSmart Elite Group - Gilbert, AZ

You forgot the most important, docusign, leave the fax at home

Dec 04, 2013 10:43 PM #37
Rainer
14,504
Doug Van Etten
Cherry Creek Properties - Grand Junction, CO
Make your goals a reality with my help.

I clicked to subscribe to your blog and was taken to a broken link. Please chceck that out ASAP.

Jan 09, 2014 11:19 AM #38
Rainer
25,226
Mary Ann Smith,
Keyes 786-278-6598 www.MarySmith.Keyes.com - Kendall, FL

Excellent post.  Thanks for sharing

Feb 03, 2014 11:29 PM #39
Rainer
13,916
Sam Kulathunga
Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Marketer and service Provider

Nice post Holly.Tools are not effective unless solid softwares.IREM is the best i known.

Feb 03, 2014 11:52 PM #40
Rainer
101,637
Jimmy Chickey
Keller Williams Realty Southwest - Las Vegas, NV
Realtor, Nationally Recognized Author, Teacher

Great post.  Even though this was dated awhile ago, we have alot of similar top 10's!  

Apr 06, 2014 08:02 AM #41
Rainer
47,567
Bryan Beckstead, KOmKards, Care-Connect-Communicate, on auto pilot, 24/7.
Start MAXIMIZING the Internet.... Kommunicon.com - Priceville, ON
Become a KOmKard owner today,

Holly, great post about some tools that can make our lives a lot easier. 

Thanks for the post.

Apr 23, 2014 07:02 AM #42
Rainer
1,610
jursten consults
broker - Berryville, TX

BGs | SBLCs | LCs | DLCs | PBs | BANK DRAFT ET AL GENUINELY BEING LEASED AND SOLD AT LOW RATES.

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I am a direct Mandate to a genuinely renowned Investment Finance Company offering Cash & Asset Backed Financial Instruments on Lease and Sale at the best rates and with the most feasible procedures.

Instruments offered can be put in all forms of trade and can be monetized or discounted for direct funding. For Inquiry contact
Email: jursten.consults@gmail.com
Skype: jursten.consults

Aug 12, 2015 04:40 PM #43
Rainer
1,610
jursten consults
broker - Berryville, TX

BGs | SBLCs | LCs | DLCs | PBs | BANK DRAFT ET AL GENUINELY BEING LEASED AND SOLD AT LOW RATES.

GENUINE BANK GUARANTEE (BG) AND STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT (SBLC) FOR LEASE AND SALE AT THE LOWEST RATES AVAILABLE. OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS MTN, CD, DLC, PB ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

I am a direct Mandate to a genuinely renowned Investment Finance Company offering Cash & Asset Backed Financial Instruments on Lease and Sale at the best rates and with the most feasible procedures.

Instruments offered can be put in all forms of trade and can be monetized or discounted for direct funding. For Inquiry contact
Email: jursten.consults@gmail.com
Skype: jursten.consults

Aug 12, 2015 04:40 PM #44
Rainer
1,610
jursten consults
broker - Berryville, TX

BGs | SBLCs | LCs | DLCs | PBs | BANK DRAFT ET AL GENUINELY BEING LEASED AND SOLD AT LOW RATES.

GENUINE BANK GUARANTEE (BG) AND STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT (SBLC) FOR LEASE AND SALE AT THE LOWEST RATES AVAILABLE. OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS MTN, CD, DLC, PB ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

I am a direct Mandate to a genuinely renowned Investment Finance Company offering Cash & Asset Backed Financial Instruments on Lease and Sale at the best rates and with the most feasible procedures.

Instruments offered can be put in all forms of trade and can be monetized or discounted for direct funding. For Inquiry contact
Email: jursten.consults@gmail.com
Skype: jursten.consults

Aug 12, 2015 04:42 PM #45
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A Great Real Estate Experience
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