Agents Top Tech For 2024

When looking at the best tech for real estate agents to use in their businesses, it’s tough to make a definitive list. There are so many different uses, factors, nuances, and features that fit one agent better than another. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to stay away from software such as CRMs, which in most cases are anything but a one-size-fits-all. Still, there’s so much out there that agents need help finding what’s best. That’s why I created this list below – so you can stop digging for answers and start using the tools to increase your efficiency and effectiveness.

Real Estate Marketing. – To start off, we’re going to look at the best tech for realtors to help improve marketing. Marketing is essential to any business, especially a real estate business, as name recognition and brand identity are essential.

Prospective buyers and sellers want to see the work you do, which makes media like photos and video crucial to your success. By leveraging the power of real estate tech, you can improve your marketing efforts, grow your brand, and reach a broader audience.

Videoshop – Advanced feature-set video editing on the go, Videoshop allows you to add text and/or music, apply filters or slow-motion effects, and cut and edit videos directly on your phone. Videoshop is available in the Apple Store as well as Videoshop for Android.

Runway.ML – This AI is like an entire media studio all in one. It’s a superpower with so much to offer. Runway.ML will not only allow you to generate images, video, and more, but you can edit videos with AI. Let’s say you want to remove a person or an object from a video. Runway.ML makes it easy.

Canva – “Online design made easy” is the design app Canva’s claim to fame, allowing non-designers to create beautiful, Instagram-worthy photos, social media posts, marketing pieces, graphs and more!

Sprizzy – The more views your video receives, the higher YouTube’s algorithm rates it. Sprizzy for video exposure takes advantage of this phenomenon by charging a nominal fee to put your video in front of more eyeballs. And yes, they’re real people, not bots. If you need more exposure or are trying to “go viral” or increase your follower count, give it a try.

HomeBot – HomeBot is an AI tool that provides your clients with pertinent, personalized information about their home labeled with YOUR BRAND! It includes the current and historical value of their home, appreciation since they purchased, their equity, tips for saving on interest payments, and much more. These automated reports cement your status as your clients’ “knowledge broker” and keep them coming back to you with repeat business and referrals.

Real Estate Lead Generation. – You should be working on boosting your lead generation efforts every day as an agent. Finding leads can be challenging, especially if you’re in a highly competitive market where dozens or even hundreds of agents are competing for leads. To get a leg up on the competition, take advantage of the resources around you, such as apps for real estate agents designed for lead generation. Explore some of the best apps for realtors to attract more leads below.

PalmAgent – The calculator to end all calculators. This one could go under Marketing, Lead Gen, or Productivity, so I’m just putting it here. PalmAgent allows you to effortlessly run estimate sheets, build your brand, produce informative content that people care about, and more. There is a good reason it’s the most popular app for real estate agents.

Zapier – This one is hard to categorize because there are so many uses. Essentially it comes down to integration. Zapier allows you to integrate apps within one another. For example, you can hook ChatGPT up to your Google Business Profile so that any time someone leaves you a review, ChatGPT will automatically respond. This works for Facebook and other platforms as well.

EspressoAgent – The king of speed dialers. There’s a reason we include an Espresso Agent trial when you sign up for our bestselling training program, Prospecting Bootcamp. It allows you to easily find and dial listing leads for maximum efficiency and success.

ContactOut / SignalHire / Lusha – I’m grouping these three because they were all brought up together and they all perform essentially the same task: They find the additional contact info you need from people’s online profiles so you can call them, email them, engage with them and ultimately, work with them.

Camcard – This is probably my favorite one for Realtors. Camcard takes a picture of a business card and adds the details into your contacts, automatically. Very useful at/after conferences! Makes it easy to put all your new contacts into groups on Gmail.

Boomerang for Gmail – How many times has this happened to you… You meet someone, connect with them, send them an initial email, don’t hear back, and then you get too busy and forget to follow up ever again? Boomerang for Gmail can help you overcome this dilemma because it allows you to pre-schedule follow-up emails. Write it now, send it later. You can even set it to send the follow-up email ONLY IF your initial email doesn’t get a response. Check it out!

Real Estate Apps for Productivity – Being a real estate agent isn’t just showing houses and talking to clients. When you’re not in the field, you’re in charge of mountains of back-end work, such as making calls to leads in your database, producing marketing materials, and collaborating with your team. It’s during these moments that productivity can slip, which can end up hurting your business. Fortunately, there are several real estate productivity apps that can keep you focused and hold you accountable. Learn more about our highly recommended real estate productivity apps below.

Keeping Current Matters Mobile – You know Keeping Current Matters – if you don’t, you’re already behind. They’re the most trusted source of real estate news and data points. But did you know they have a mobile app? You should be reading this every day, so might as well make it easy!

ShowingTime – With high buyer demand right now, it can be overwhelming to schedule all your showings. The Showing Time app makes it easier than ever and allows you to get feedback to provide to your seller, review active listing inventory, and much more!

Dropbox – The Dropbox storage app isn’t a real estate-specific app, but it makes it so incredibly easy to store all your important documents in one place, you might think it was designed with real estate professionals in mind. You can organize files and view them easily from your phone while out in the field. You can access and send them from anywhere, anytime. Dropbox is also compatible with DocuSign, making it easy to get those much-needed signatures no matter where you or your clients are.

Zite – This is a great app that gives you daily updates on just about whatever you can think of. If you have used Flipboard (Flipboard recently bought the newsfeed app Zite), then you know how cool apps like this can be. They are essentially digital newspapers that can be tailored to your liking. The best part is you can share directly to any social media platform, which I do daily, to increase SEO and my social media presence.

IFTTT – IF This Then That – This is one of those apps that at first seems a bit overwhelming, but if you really sit down and think about how to utilize it, it’s extremely powerful. For those of you familiar with computer programming, IFTTT is essentially an “if-then” statement for your phone apps to work together. For those of you not familiar, you create recipes for your phone that if an action happens, then do another action. It’s more of a personal app than a Real Estate app, but a few things I use it for: When I get to the office, turn my phone’s Wi-Fi on. When I leave my house, turn my Nest (thermostat) temperature down. When it’s going to rain outside, send me a text. Send my Facebook statuses automatically to Twitter. Congratulate my LinkedIn Contacts automatically, for their new jobs and work anniversaries. There are thousands of recipes you can create, check it out! And, let me know your favorite recipes by posting in the comment section here or on the Tom Ferry Facebook page HERE.

Tally Counter – This tech is almost so easy, it’s stupid, but it works! It’s a digital counter, where you literally just click the “+” or “-” to add or subtract a running total. I use it to keep track of how many people come through my open houses (for those of you in crazy markets like mine, you know how hard this is). There are a couple of different options of the Tally Counter App available in the Apple app store and the Google Play store. Try them out and find your favorite one!

Mightytext – This is not an app, but an extension on Google Chrome/Gmail. Mightytext is such a useful app for Gmail, that I could mention it. It allows you to send text messages through Gmail, for free (unless you purchase the paid version that gives you more features), and most importantly, it sends the texts through your phone! Use this to send texts to new leads, and it appears to the lead that we sent the text from our phone (it shows up in my text log, and from our phone number on the lead’s phone). You can create template texts for which responses, send mass texts, and schedule texts (paid version), which we use to automatically confirm our consultation appointments.

Real Estate Use Every Day – There are some apps for realtors that are used daily. These apps are used for a wide range of reasons, such as calculating finances, communicating with team members, and simply unwinding before a big meeting. Browse these real estate apps that you can use daily to become more efficient, effective, and less stressed.

LawyersAgent ONE – This handy app helps you figure out buyers’ and sellers’ cost and net sheets. After filling out a few fully customizable fields and hitting the “Compute” button, it will tell you everything: The exact expected payment with principal and interest. Not only is this helpful when working with a client but also in your marketing. Fully integrated with social media, it will allow you to create an example post to give people a detailed look at what it costs to buy a house.

InsightTimer – Have you ever made the mistake of heading into an important meeting frazzled and scatterbrained? InsightTimer allows high-energy, always-on-the-go professionals like yourself a minute to unwind, re-center, and re-focus. The coaching member who recommended this said he’s seen his conversion level dramatically increase since he started arriving early at his appointments and doing a “micro meditation” before going in. Could you benefit from this same approach?

Linktree – Ever get sick of updating your Instagram profile to change your “link in bio”? Or worse yet, you don’t bother with it because it’s too much of a pain? Linktree provides a way to provide post-specific links easily and seamlessly from your Instagram account. Post, update, and manage your links from one central spot, and never change your actual “link in bio” ever again!

Slack – One system every business need is a communication system that connects everyone in the organization. Slack centralizes communications among your team into one platform. It allows you to create separate channels for different projects, and it also integrates well with more than 1,500 other platforms including Google Drive, Asana, Salesforce, and Dropbox. It’s more instantaneous than email and as easy as sending an instant message.

There’s a wide range of apps for realtors that you can use to become a better agent. Above, we explored real estate apps for marketing, lead generation, and productivity, as well as a selection of apps that span various functions and needs. By taking the time to test each out, you’ll be able to improve your workflow, increase brand awareness, and close more deals to grow your business.

Strength and Courage,

Wade

2021 Tech Tools For Agents

Speed, contactless connectivity, and safety are the major challenges for the real estate industry. This week we are sharing with you everything from high-tech smart masks to ultra-mobile laptops and even more connected smart-home gear. What’s going to matter for your business moving forward in 2021 and tech?  Here, we highlight some of the tech products that could be useful to real estate professionals in 2021.

 

LUFT Duo Air Purifier – © LUFTQI

1. Clear the air. Several companies debuted wearable and portable air purifiers that can be used in the car and office or during showings and open houses. LUFT Duo showed off a portable purifier that uses photocatalytic technology to filter out dust, pollen, cigarette smoke, mold, VOCs, and pathogens. The company’s research also suggests the coronavirus can’t survive for more than one hour in a room with a LUFT Duo compared to the virus’s usual 21-hour airborne lifespan. The device draws air from all angles and has a washable filter. LUFT Duo includes a USB Type-C charging cable and a cup holder for your car. $149/Luftqi.com

 

OpenComm Bone Conduction Stereo Bluetooth Headset – © Aftershokz

2. Keep an open ear as you talk. Keep your ear to your phone while going about your workday. AfterShokz debuted the wireless OpenComm Bone Conduction Stereo Bluetooth Headset, which streams audio through your cheekbone, leaving your ears open to your surroundings. The lightweight open-ear design eliminates a physical in-ear sound barrier. The device also features a DSP noise-canceling boom microphone to eliminate background noise in loud areas. A one-hour charge allows for 16 hours of talk time, and a five-minute “quick charge” feature allows for up to two hours of talk time in a pinch. $159.95/Aftershokz.com

 

Portable 5-in-1 Emergency Hub – © BodyGuardz

 

3.Take in case of emergencies. The Portable 5-in-1 Emergency Hub from BodyGuardz can slide in your pocket for use in case of an emergency. It features five emergency tools, such as to help solve power outages or alert authorities when there’s a threat to your personal safety. It includes a power bank, personalized emergency notifications, one-touch alert and siren, flashlight, and emergency radio. It also supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. $99.95/Bodyguardz.com

Binatone’s MaskFone – © Binatone

4. Smarten your mask with Bluetooth. Here’s an easier way to talk while masked: Binatone’s MaskFone is a wireless headphone and mask in one. It includes a built-in microphone with a medical-grade N95 filter. The mask includes built-in wireless earbuds that have environmental noise cancelation features to block out background noise and project your voice. It also enables you take a phone call without having to remove your mask. It features washable twill fabric and a disposable interchangeable N95 filter for 95% virus filtration. It’s compatible with Amazon’s Alexa. $49.99/Maskfone.com


Scout – © Moorebot

5. Send in a robot to investigate. This compact robot can scout around in tough-to-reach places inside a home for security. Moorebot debuted Scout, an autonomous artificial intelligence robot that helps you or your clients more closely monitor key areas in a home. It features a 1080P FHD mobile camera—which includes night vision—that can be used for better surveillance. With its small size (2.8 inches x 4 inches), Scout can be used to autonomously monitor different spaces and perform inspections in areas that may be difficult to reach. It can integrate with Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home. You can remotely guide Scout, whose batteries will last more than 2 hours between recharges. $179 (available March/April)/Moorebot.com


CommScope’s SURFboard – © CommScope

6. Strengthen your signal. Poor Wi-Fi performance in a remote office can derail your workday. Your home network may be overtaxed if you have multiple smart devices competing for the same bandwidth. CommScope’s SURFboard mAX and SURFboard mAX Express offer hotspot boosts through a mesh Wi-Fi 6 system to help remove dead spots in a home. It’s also compatible with many internet plans. The SURFboard mAX system offers two routers that each deliver 6.6 Gbps speeds and provide coverage for areas up to 5,500 square feet. Starting at $249.99 (available first quarter of 2021)/Commscope.com


Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer – © Lutron

7. Flip a switch for the smart lights. Smart plugs can be overridden when someone flips the light switch. Lutron aims to solve that issue with its Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer, which can be installed over light switches on the wall and lock the toggle switch in position. You’ll be able to turn your smart bulbs on, off, or dim them directly from the wall. You can also use an app on your smartphone for voice control. The dimmer will still work even if the Wi-Fi goes out. The device is compatible with Philips Hue bulbs and other Zigbee-certified smart bulbs. $49.95/Lutron.com/aurora


Lenovo’s ThinkBook 13x – © Lenovo

8. Lighten your laptop. Razor-thin at just a half-inch thick, Lenovo’s ThinkBook 13x is an ultra-portable option for those who work on the go. Weighing just 2.65 pounds, it includes a 13.3-inch touchscreen display, high resolution, 90% screen-to-body ratio, 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, and 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. It offers up to 15 hours of battery life. Lenovo is a REALTOR Benefits® Partner. $1,199 (available first quarter of 2021)/Lenovo.com/NAR


Latitude 9420 notebook – © Dell

9. Upgrade with a smarter webcam, 5G capabilities. Dell Technologies showcased its new Latitude 9420 notebook, which can be purchased as a two-in-one or clamshell model. The notebook includes a 14-inch display, optional support for high-speed 5G or LTE, a built-in speakerphone, and an enhanced webcam (including capabilities for background blur and automatic light correction). It also has ExpressSign-in to enable faster auto-wake and auto-lock. Dell is a REALTOR Benefits® Partner. $1,949 (spring 2021)/Dell.com


Bastiyali Inventions’ Smart Sanitizer kiosk – © Bastiyali Inventions

realtor hand sanitizer kiosk

 

10. Try sanitized marketing. Here’s a different way to market your company around town: Bastiyali Inventions’ Smart Sanitizer kiosk allows passersby to sanitize their hands and electronic devices while viewing your digital marketing messages. You can also sell extra video or digital advertising space on the kiosk’s 22-inch LED display. The kiosk can be customized with your logo. It features a UV light tool to disinfect items like cellphones, wallets, and keys within 15 seconds. It also has a body temperature check area and hand sanitizer station. Contact company for pricing/SmartSanitizer.com

Beyerdynamic’s PHONUM – © Beyerdynamic

11. Ensure better mobile sound. Not everything is handled over video. Sound quality still matters when talking over a phone, particularly in your mobile office. Beyerdynamic’s PHONUM Bluetooth/UCB-C Speakerphone can be used for the home, office, and while on the go. Choose from one of three mic positions: omnidirectional, cardioid, and beamforming (which automatically adjusts to the direction of the person speaking). It operates through Bluetooth with a PC, laptop, or smartphone. It also features noise canceling to eliminate echoes and noisy backgrounds. Powered by a lithium ion battery, it can last up to 12 hours and can be charged through a USB port. $199/Beyerdynamic.com

 

MAXSA’s Linked Motion Activated Anywhere Lights – © MAXSA

12. Let there be light. Secure your listings with some added light—no extra wiring needed. MAXSA’s new Linked Motion Activated Anywhere Lights use standard batteries to add light to dark corners around a property. The lights communicate with one another, so when the first light is triggered, all the others activate, too. The lights only come on when they detect motion. If an intruder comes near the house, for example, all the connected lights will automatically flood the yard with light. The lights are powered by 4D cell batteries. The lights can communicate with other MAXSA lights up to 150 feet away. $39.95 per light/MaxsaInnovations.com

There you have some of the latest and newest technology to hit the market this year to assist you with your business during these unprecedented times. Feel free to email me any other great tech tools that you see in 2021. I would be glad to hear from you all about your latest and coolest tech tool.

Strength and courage,
Wade

Hottest Trending Companies Real Estate Agents Should Know About

How to Easily Look Like a Real Estate Tech Genius…

real estate technologyI need to be completely transparent with everyone that I am a real estate technology want to be. I love technology but would never consider myself an expert or guru but this week’s post was inspired by a couple of awesome real estate tech guys in the industry Chris Smith and Jimmy Mackin from Curaytor and their fantastic weekly show called The Water Cooler. I pride myself in knowing what the leading edge ideas and trends are in real estate and really excited to share with you what we see are the hottest trending companies for real estate agents in 2015 that you want to keep your eye on.

1. Zapier.com – Zapier connects the web apps you use to easily move your data and automate tedious tasks.

Zapier lets you easily connect the web apps you use, making it easy to automate tedious tasks.You can wait for third-party app developers to offer the SaaS integrations you need. You can hire expensive freelance programmers to build custom software for you. Or you can simply do it yourself with Zapier, and then get back to the work that matters most to your business.

  • App integration
  • Merge any app with another app
  • Emails convert to notes in evernote
  • Emails contacts to email lists
  • And much more

2. SideKick.com – Powerful Contact Insight Right In Your Inbox

Build and Maintain Relationships with Powerfully Integrated Email Tools

Sidekick shows you powerful information about your contacts right in your inbox.  See a contact’s professional history, where they live, mutual contacts, email history and so much more.

  • Can help you find anything you need about your client contacts right into your inbox
  • Syncs with your CRM and Auto populate info for you

3. Slack.com – Bring your team together

Slack is a platform for team communication: everything in one place, instantly searchable, available wherever you go. Create open channels for the projects, groups and topics that the whole team shares.

  • Chat
  • Text
  • Share files
  • Create your own groups of people

4. Canva.com – Create designs for Web or Print

Canva gives you everything you need to easily turn ideas into stunning designs. Create designs for Web or print: blog graphics, presentations, Facebook covers, flyers, posters, invitations and so much more.

  • Social media graphics
  • Photo collages
  • Posters
  • Infographics
  • Book covers
  • Banners

5. Ruhm.com – WE MAKE HOMES FAMOUS

RUHM is a full-service marketing company of artists, marketers, and real estate consultants who produce, package, and promote the world’s finest properties.

  • Luxury property marketing

6. Matterport.com – You will never look at things the same way again

Scan and upload 3D data to the cloud with our Matterport Pro 3D Camera or with mass-market mobile devices.

Matterport cloud-processing technology generates and hosts fully immersive models from captured 2D and 3D data.

Matterport’s web and mobile apps allow anybody to interact with 3D models anywhere—with just a browser.

7. CallRuby.com – Your real, live virtual receptionist

Our virtual receptionists seamlessly connect callers to you when you’re available, wherever you are. When you’re not able to take calls, you’ll receive detailed messages delivered to you via email or text message. Even voicemail messages are emailed as a .wav file so you never have to wonder if you have messages waiting.

When you’re on the go, feel free to update us as to your whereabouts in a snap with our free iPhone app, Android app or our mobile-friendly Member Services Area.

8. Basecamp.com – The world’s #1 project management tool

Basecamp makes it easy for people in different roles with different responsibilities to communicate and work together. It’s a place to share files, have discussions, collaborate on documents, assign tasks, and check due dates. Basecamp stores everything securely and can be accessed at anytime from anywhere.

Strength and Courage.

Wade

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