Web 2.0

I am in need of more business cards and decided to place my main social networks on the business cards so that people can find me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  Here’s the design:

With social networking being a primary way of finding people - I thought it only made sense to add my Facebook profile (find out about the personal me), Twitter profile (find out what I am doing and where I am) and my LinkedIn profile (find out about the business me).

Feel free to join me as a friend in any of my social networks!

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
LINKEDIN

After recieving some comments, emails and feedbacks from Michael Wurzer, President and CEO of FBS Data Systems (the company who has created FlexMLS) and Bob Bemis, the CEO of the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, the problem I previously mentioned while trying to search listings on wireless.flexmls.com has been solved!  Hooray and hopefully no more “WTFs” except when clients and I see grossly overpriced listings.

If you haven’t used wireless.flexmls.com (and of course are an ARMLS member) here are some quick tips to get started with wireless FlexMLS access and then to save yourself from the “WTFs” and urge to toss your wireless device across the room:

• Get a smartphone device: Pony up.  Get with the times.  Do what you have to do - but you’ll serve clients much better if you have a smartphone, like the Apple iPhone, a BlackBerry or Palm.  I am partial to Apple products but also think the ease and use of an iPhone would make it the top choice for most agents whether they’re technology gurus or not.Ideally, you’ll want to get a device that has “3G” access, which means it accesses high-speed cellular networks with speeds similar to broadband at home (slow home broadband, but broadband nonetheless).  AT&T calls it “3G”.  Verizon Wireless calls it “EVDO” (although I noticed in a recent radio commercial they actually used the word “3G,” most likely a fallout from all the iPhone 3G coverage).  Sprints calls it “Sprint Vision.”  Currently, at least in the Phoenix Valley, T-Mobile does not have a broadband wireless network.
• Expect to spend about $30 more a month: Wireless companies will charge you, on average, around $30 a month for unlimited data access on your smartphone.  A small investment for the service you’ll be providing to clients and the convenience you’ll have of pulling up stats on the fly even if your paperwork is not handy, flew out the window, got ate by the dog, etc.
• Bookmark wireless.flexmls.com: The iPhone makes it super easy to have one-touch access to the wireless version of the ARMLS.  Here’s a screenshot of my own iPhone.  Now, Michael, can your software developers throw in an iPhone icon so that it doesn’t look so generic and ghetto on my screen (like the Google RSS and Wells Fargo you see)?  Notice the “flexmls Web” icon/link in the bottom row above my calendar:
  

  flexmls Web is located just above my Calendar widget in the lower lefthand corner giving me one touch access to the ARMLS.

  Most wireless devices will allow bookmarks.  It should be noted that even if you don’t have a smartphone, aren’t eligible to upgrade without shelling out full retail price for the handset (which still may be worth it in my opinion) or simply want to hang on to the 1990s, you can still access wireless.flexmls.com from most “regular” cell phones by going to the phone’s browser and typing in the address.

• DESELECT search items for a successful search: As Michael put it, “I know this is lame but what’s happening here is that a couple of the fields are getting selected by the browser even though you’re not selecting them.”  More specifically, the “Compass” and “Street Suffix” fields automatically select options that will make your search come back with zero properties.To clarify, here are some screenshots from my iPhone that show the correct way and the incorrect way for searching:
  

  "Select One" is automatically selected which makes your search pointless and gives you zero results.

  

  Deselect "Select One" as well as "--" in the "St Suffix" field and your address search will come back with results.

  Those two fields - “Compass” and “St Suffix” - have default selections that you may usually assume are instructions that don’t need to be touched or will search all.  Not the case.  Deselect these items for accurate search results.

  As always, it’s usually best to not select a compass (E, W, S, N, etc) for a street because the search is only as good as the agent that put it in the MLS.  The same goes for the street suffix (Street, Way, Cove, etc).  If I recall, FlexMLS uses more accurate address verification through tax records that may take some of the innacuracies out of the picture - but to be safe, keep those fields blank.

If you follow the search directions here, you won’t have the issues I had previously.  Once I deselected the default selections for compass and street suffix I had perfect success that mirrored results on “the real FlexMLS” on my laptop.

Kudos to Michael Wurzer and FlexMLS for offering a Web 2.0 interface on my computer and a viable solution on my mobile device.  Perhaps I can push the envelope and request a iPhone Application that would bring even more functionality to FlexMLS while mobile.

Kudos also to Bob Bemis and ARMLS for finally offering multiple IDX solutions to agents and brokers and bringing us FlexMLS and a MLS solution that allows the industry to do what they need to do easier and better.

Now, if we can only get some competition in the paperless transaction offerings and end the ZipForms monopoly.  In my dream world and others’,

• I pull up the ARMLS on my iPhone App
• Search for properties on my iPhone App
• Open up lockboxes via Bluetooth (no need to carry around a Supra Key or have an outdated Palm).  Supra claims Bluetooth would use way too much battery power, which is probably true.  But this is my dream world, right?
• Click on the property my buyer wants to put an offer on
• Pull up all the current AAR forms with the listing information automatically populated and relevant seller disclosures too
• Review the paperwork on the iPhone App
• Sign it electronically with integrated electronic signature technology or on the iPhone screen with a finger
• Send the paperwork electronically back to the listing agent
• Send the completed paperwork electronically to the title company, mortgage companies, etc.

Of course, in my dream world, all agents are onboard with today’s technology and we could whisk paperwork back and forth from agent-to-agent-to-mortgage company-to-title company-to-agent-to-inspector-to-client’s email.

Well, at least I can search wirelessly now with my clients this afternoon if the opportunity presents itself!

We can always dream …

Most Phoenix area REALTORS are well-aware that this weekend is “the big weekend” where our outdated, archaic and semi-worthless MLS system switches over to a less-outdated and less-archaic MLS system from FlexMLS.  Don’t get me wrong - I am very excited about the changes.  But I guess in this age of constant change and internet data, I’d expect even more from a MLS system than what FlexMLS is providing.  A key thing I must always tell myself is that the MLS system is sometimes inhibited by the agents who make it up.  And let’s be honest, there are plenty of agents out there who post horrible photos, uninteresting descriptions and false and misleading data.

Nonetheless, the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS) made a great decision by moving forward with FlexMLS.  

One of the lesser known features of FlexMLS is it’s sister site - wireless.flexmls.com.

Recently, while looking at some townhomes and condos near downtown Tempe, a client/friend asked if I could find out information on a property that didn’t come up on our original search.  Being the tech-savvy person that I think I am, I pulled up the wireless FlexMLS site on my Apple iPhone and did a simple search with the address of the property.  Most REALTORS know that when searching we often leave out the “compass direction” when searching for a property as well as the street suffix.  For example, if searching for 1234 E Sunshine Avenue, I would simply search for “1234 Sunshine” so that my search doesn’t go haywire and return zero results.

When I searched for the property I got zero results.  I tried the search a few different ways and continued to get zero results.  So, I took my search out to the ZIP code (85281) we were in and still had zero result returned.  As most might say after a few searches with zero results - WTF?

My hope is that the search function of wireless.flexmls.com is simply not working until the official launch on July 28.  The wireless version of FlexMLS could be a fantastic tool for gathering more information on a property that wasn’t on the original search (often times buyers have a change of heart in their search criteria after viewing a few properties) or to pull up info on a property in the search that wasn’t printed off.  It would be great for an agent to know they could leave their laptop at home or the office and just bring their iPhone or other wireless device and have the information they need without having to power up a laptop.

I was able to pull up the property by MLS number on wireless.flexmls.com - but that was the only way a search would give me results.  I have a few saved searches that show up on my wireless homepage that also displayed results.  Here’s what you’d expect to see if you were using an iPhone for wireless FlexMLS:

If you know of something I may be doing wrong - be sure to let me know!  Otherwise, I will hope that this Monday brings the wireless access to the ARMLS that I would’ve expected three or four years ago!

Have an iPhone?  Arizona Fusion has gone mobile!  Our website is now viewable from an iPhone with a unique interface that makes reading easier and leaving comments easier.  Below is a screenshot taken directly from the iPhone version of our site.

I’ve been testing Instant Messaging clients for my website for about a month now.  I haven’t been 100% happy with any of the options.  I’ve tried an AOL Instant Messenger Widget, a service called Plugoo with a similar widget and now have moved on to Google Talk.

My goal is simple: to be able to discuss Phoenix real estate with my website visitors.

My secondary goal:  to be able to discuss Phoenix real estate with my website visitors on the go from my web-enabled Smartphone (preferably on my iPhone).

That’s why I started with AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) first.  I could easily have my iChat (from Apple) up on my computer and my website would show that I was available to talk.  I could use my BlackBerry smartphone and log-in to AIM and stay logged-in while away from my computer.  The concept seemed to be perfect but the execution by either AOL or my BlackBerry client was not so great.  I’d get messages minutes or hours after they were sent which didn’t ago with my own branding of “instantanswers.”

So, I moved on to Plugoo.  Plugoo had a sweet widget that I could customize to fit in my former website design’s sidebar and fit exactly the colors of my site.  It took a few seconds to load up but it seemed to work pretty flawlessly.  However, it only seemed to work on FireFox and Safari.  The widget would load fine on Internet Explorer but my status would always be “unavailable” even though I was online.

Plugoo does have a great option that forwards messages to your email if you’re not available which was a step-up from AIM.  But, it didn’t allow for the instant communication with website visitors that I was looking for even though I was online at the time.

Today, while continuing to tweak my new website design and implement features I came across Google Talk, which I actually use to talk with a friend who is currently in Panama City, Panama.  But, I’ve never considered using it for my website for one reason or another.  And I wasn’t talking to my friend in Panama City when it hit me to start utilizing Google Talk.

I was actually exploring Twitter.  I had set up a Twitter account a while back but hadn’t spent the time to check figure it out.  After reading BloodhoundBlog’s post on Twitter this morning I dove back into it.

More specifically, I was trying to find some REALTORS in the Charlotte, NC area who were tech-savvy to talk about a home my brother-in-law has had on the market that isn’t selling.  I figured Twitter would be a great place to start as Trulia hadn’t really given me any contacts that seemed of interest.

I came across Chad Huck’s profile and then went to his website to do a little investigation.  Low and behold in the upper-left-hand corner of his blog was a “Chat With Chad” link that brought up a Google Talk window.  The widget indicated Chad was online so I thought I’d give it a whirl.

Fifteen minutes later I had learned that although Chad didn’t actively sell real estate, he was in charge of Century 21’s Internet Marketing.  Within that timeframe he gave me a quick snapshot of the Lake Norman market and got me in contact with an agent who sells real estate in the area my brother-in-law’s home is located.

An instant message client on your real estate website is an invaluable tool to instantly communicate with your website visitors.

While I’ll continue this conversation with the agent later today, I am convinced that in addition to contact forms and email addresses on a website, an instant messaging client add immense value to your website and allows you to start a conversation with potential clients while they are in their “real estate mindframe.”

Google Talk appears to be the clear winner for me.  I’ve been able add code to the bottom of every article I write on my website with a WordPress Plugin.  This means if website visitors have questions about an article, besides leaving a comment they can also communicate with me instantly.  Not only that - every webpage on my site has the Google Talk Instant Messaging capability.

Additionally, Google Talk can also be added to my iGoogle homepage.  Whenever I’m on my computer I have iGoogle on one of my FireFox tabs.  It allows me to have all the important things to me in one place - my email, my Google Talk, my RSS Reader and more.  So, in essence, Google Talk is always on and I don’t have to remember to load it up.  I hear a little sound when someone Google Talks me.

The only thing lacking with Google Talk is the portability factor which directly creates a roadblock in accomplishing my secondary goal of being able to take the IM client with me on my iPhone.  You see, I plan to get rid of my BlackBerry once the iPhone 3G launches and iPhone 2.0 Software comes along with it.  iPhone 2.0 Software will allow me get push email similar to my BlackBerry - and let’s face it, the iPhone is way sexier than a BlackBerry.  I’ve already talked at length about the benefits of the new iPhone.

Now, what I’m hoping for is a third-party software application for my iPhone once the 2.0 software drops on July 11.  This would allow me to essentially always be online and allow website visitors many options to talk with me: pick up the phone, write me an email, fill out a contact form or IM me.

Currently, I’ve just been able to possibly give business with a referral to an agent in North Carolina.  In the near future I hope to gain business with this invaluable tool.

Now, you can talk with us anytime from your computer by chatting online.

At the end of every article we write, you’ll see our current availability to chat online with us… it looks like this:

When you click on the GoogleTalk bubble, a small chat window will appear in your browser and you’ll be able to ask us a question and get an instant answer.

I spent a little time messing around with Trulia Snapshot.  It’s a new feature from Trulia that allows buyers (and smart sellers) to view a city’s Trulia listings in a very easy format. If only every website and MLS offered the ease of searching that Trulia Snapshot offers.

Users first input a city and state.  Next, a map (powered by Microsoft Earth) displays the city with eleven listings.  Users can then narrow down the search based on price and time on Trulia.

To search by price, a very intuitive bar with a slider at the bottom of the screen displays a price range.  Users simply slide the bar over the price range they are looking for and eleven listings pop up on the map.  A “snapshot” of the home - including a picture, price, beds/baths and a website link - is displayed.  Users can then click on the link to see the property’s full details.

Searching my time on market is verys similar.  A great tool for those considering selling their home to see what other homes in their neighborhood look like, are listed for and if they’ve been sitting on the market.

I do have issues with the site.  I wish you could search by ZIP code.  Many people narrow their searches down by ZIP code based on schools.  Better yet, allow a search by school districts - which would most likely be a big undertaking by Trulia.

If the search expands as Trulia Snapshot matures then it’s likely to be a big hit with consumers and real estate agents (that don’t fear Trulia, Zillow, etc.).  If users could start with a ZIP code, then narrow it down to normal search parameters like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, one or two story and the like … then Trulia Snapshot will take off quickly!