I spent last week at the 2008 NAR Convention and Expo in Orlando. It was a rewarding experience, and a lot of fun, too. One of the cool things that I got to do was meet Tom Everitt. Tom is a REALTOR in Vancouver. He sent me an email prior to the convention, sharing with me some of the cool video stuff he has been doing with his wife on his website, ThinkTom.com. He asked if I would sit down for lunch with him at the convention. I'm glad I did.
Tom and I talked about all things real estate, and even a few things Canada (hockey, in particular). We talked about video and the upcoming digital video summit at Inman Connect NYC '09. Tom has been successfully using video for quite some time now. After lunch, he asked if I wouldn't mind doing a quick interview. I was happy to do it, and he sent me the link:
Tom is a great guy, and a dedicated real estate professional, making him a perfect fit in the Inman Community. This got me to thinking, what do Stephen Jagger, Ian Watt, and Tom Everitt all have in common? Not only are they using video, and not only are both Stephen and Ian going to be speaking at Connect NYC '09, but all three men are CANADIANS!
I don't want to start an international incident here, but I think some friendly border competition is in order. Our friends from up north have made it known that they are on the cutting edge of real estate technology and that they are going to be well represented at Connect NYC '09.
What say you, pride of the Stars and Stripes? When will we hear from the American contingent?
Share your videos, share your expereinces, and tell us why YOU are excited to be at Real Estate Connect NYC '09, among the top real estate professionals from around the world. Make a video, and just email me the link: daniel.rothamel@Inman.com I always love when I have the opportunity to promote our members to the world.
If you haven't registered yet for Connect NYC '09, now is a great time. There is still time to save on the registration fee. If you are a real estate blogger, there is even very special Blogger Pricing available.
Many of our members and users have questions about how to use the features of Inman.com. We decided that it might be a good idea to have a place where people can go to find out how to use the most popular features of Inman.com. Not only can you find out how to use the site, but I'll even show you how. . .
Check out the ongoing series of video tutorials that demonstrate the features of Inman.com. Right now, the videos will show you how to create an account, how to sign-into your account, and how to create an Inman.com profile. There are more videos to come, so keep checking the video page. I tried to keep the videos as short and interesting as possible, so it won't take you a ton of time to get the answers you are looking for. If you have any feedback on the videos, or have features that you would like so see included in future videos, just let me know: daniel.rothamel@inman.com.
We're looking for interesting stories and you want to tell us in person. So shoot a video and share it with us.
What do we want?
Developers - tell us what you've been working on and why it's important. Tell us the genesis of the idea and how you're responding to a real need in the marketplace.
Agents - tell us how your integrating technology into your business. How you've changed up your marketing to react to Web 2.0.
There's only one rule.
Keep it short - 2 minutes maximum.
We'll choose the best entries and publish them on Inman.com.
To submit your video for consideration:
Grab a Flip video camera - or something similar (we'll even send you one if you need it - email glenn [at] inman.com for details).
Pick an interesting location.
Tell us your story - no fancy editing required.
Send us the raw file or upload to your favorite video sharing site and send us the link.
The band Radiohead made history last year (or got lots of attention, anyway) by offering their album, "In Rainbows," for download over the Internet -- and letting the buyer name the price. About a third reportedly paid nothing, but the average price paid was £4, or about $8 today.
With that experiment in mind, how much would you pay for a 29-minute DVD that offers an "easy to follow, step by step program where you can stop foreclosure and return to current status on your mortgage without a new loan, and without bankruptcy." I'm willing to bet more than one-third of folks might say nothing. What if I were to tell you the price is a non-negotiable (but supposedly fully refundable) $199?
The folks at 1000Watt Consulting debuted this video of people -- consumers we presume -- speaking frankly about their real estate needs. The jist is that people are people, not leads.
Marc Davison, a partner with 1000Watt and Inman News columnist, has addressed the topic of lead generation in past columns. (See "Lead generation is dead.") Davison's tongue-in-cheek satire of the death of lead generation appears to be a cry for a return to conversation and value, rather than numbers, clicks and drip e-mail.
From Davison's column: "Lead Generation is survived by Customer Engagement, its decidedly more social, open and confident offspring. Some industry observers familiar with Customer Engagement note that it also shows the influence of its grandparents, Conversation and Value."
The video raises some interesting questions about the future of automated lead generation, which seems to work wonders for some in the industry while leaving others frustrated and hostile. Which business model will work for brokers, consumers and agents?
Google this week poses the question in its blog: "What would your phone do?"
With an expanding list of features on cutting-edge mobile devices and a growing population of tech-advanced mobile users, what features are on the wish list for real estate professionals?
Phones are increasingly all-in-one multi-media communications portals, with users creating, viewing and sharing text messages, e-mails, photos and videos. With Google's news this week about an "Open Handset Alliance" to create a standard mobile software platform and prod the industry toward a faster pace of innovation, the incessant buzz of the iPhone, and the real estate industry's increasing reliance on mobile tools (see Inman News series), you can expect to see more real estate-relevant applications that fit snugly in the palm of your hand.
So what's missing for real estate professionals? What mobile innovations do you expect to see for the industry and which ones do you think will stick?
Let us know where you think the mobile market is boldly going.
Ellen DeGeneres has been making headlines lately for a real-life dog adoption drama involving a pooch named Iggy that she addressed during her talk show. Her love for animals is well known, and DeGeneres has also taken time during the show to talk about Realtors.
The show has a regular comedy bit, called "Real Realtors," that features actual promotional photos used by real estate professionals accompanied by some of DeGeneres' snappy one-liners. The segment opens up with "Movin' on up," the song more popularly known as the theme to "The Jeffersons" sit-com.
A recent "Real Realtors" segment (see video here) features a collage photo (see photo at left) of family members who all work in the real estate business in Cottage Grove, Minn. Among the Ott family members are: Floyd Ott and wife Laurie Ott (the Ott couple?), Tom Ott, Pam Ott-Morse, Sandy Ott-Norblom, Rhonda Ott-Swenson, Tina Ott-Angell and John Angell. TheOtts.com Web site includes this family photo and the description: "Stack the Otts in your favor."
Another photo featured a Tucscon, Ariz., real estate agent outfitted in cowboy gear and a large moustache. DeGeneres had this comment: "Let's meet at the saloon at high noon and I'll show you some prospects I found for you."
The Web site for the talk show asks audience members to send in photos of their real estate agents. The site does contain a misspelled three-syllable version of the Realtor word (a variation that makes some Realtors cringe, whether it is spoken or typed): "realitor."
This is a funny video with a tragic ending. Ben Aaron Anglin, the young man featured in this video, was killed in a car accident shortly after filming this. Anglin left behind a wife and two small children. If you'd like to help support the family, a donation effort has been set up at the link below.
Rudy Mayer, a Realtor in Nashua, N.H., is inviting an Internet audience to virtually visit open houses, tour the neighborhood, ask him questions, and interact via a live video feed -- all from the comfort of their own computers.
Mayer, who is affiliated with ERA The Masiello Group, is offering these virtual open houses via his Web site, InteractiveOpenHouse.com.
Traditional open houses, he said in an announcement, "have been declining in attendance for several years -- they're a relic. With a record number of properties on the market, record gas prices and easier access to multiple photos and virtual tours online, buyers are less inclined to go out and drive around to traditional open houses."
"The virtual open house will allow the buyers to tour the home room by room, by high-definition video, as well as tour the neighborhood and ... drive down the street," according to the announcement. Mayer, who will be in the house, will communicate with virtual visitors via a live video feed.
Mayer's first open houses at InteractiveOpenHouse.com are planned from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, and on Thursday, Sept. 27th.
Doug Lebda is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the online real estate space. He tells his story from start-up founder to selling his company to becoming an influential executive with Barry Diller's IAC.
