Technology and Tools to Boost Up Your Real Estate Dealings

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The real estate world has seen a dip in the dealings be it leasing, buying or selling, especially in the recent times. In today’s tough economic times, making a new customer is challenging and so is retaining an existing one. Real estate agents have to be at their marketing best at all times and for it they need to be tech friendly.

You might be the best at what you do, but until you communicate it in the right way with the right tools, your efforts might be getting wasted. Technology and communication need to go hand in hand and failure in this issue can see you lag behind compared to your competitors. More importantly, there needs to be a balance between the two and to bring that balance in your profession you need to be working on both the aspects simultaneously. Everything from client communication, connecting with new customer database, sales pitch, after sales service and other such interactions need to be done effectively with the help of technology.

Being in the real estate business, you might have noticed that the presentation or bidding of a real estate agent lacking in the technological aspect affects the whole deal. So instead of avoiding technology why not adapt it to fare better as it will assist you in ways you couldn’t have thought possible. All you need to do is incorporate a few of the technological tools in your everyday dealings making it swifter for you and effective for the customer.

Here are some tips to get you started.

  • Smartphone

If you are still using your old mobile phone it is time you switch to a smartphone with a data plan that lets you incorporate database tools. It will prove to be really helpful when you need to contact your prospective clients no matter if you are in the office or out on the go. You can do it all from your smartphone be it sending or receiving emails, browsing property websites, downloading real estate related news apps, communicate instantly no matter where you are.

  • SMS marketing

SMS marketing is an highly effective way to keep in touch with your regular clients and even getting acquainted with new ones. Make it a part of your client communication strategy where you can send notifications, inform them about new properties on the market, send reminders for installments, invite them for property related events, send them links, details and other market related information.

  • Email communication

Emails have become an essential feature when it comes to client communication. It is a quick and convenient way to reach out to property agents, builders, customers especially when it comes to commercial property clients. Make sure to use the best data software for both your computer and smartphone so you can send and receive e-mail even when on the go.

  • Software

Many software packages are especially designed for the real estate industry and are available at affordable prices to assist the real estate professionals. You can integrate it in your system for database entry, facilitate management of broker, staff, leads, quotes, customer account, auditing and other processes. The softwares are designed to meet the ever-growing demands of the real estate industry and can be used by all, developers, builders, contractors, infrastructure developers.

  • Website

Your personal website can boost your clientele and your work reputation as it will be easy for clients to know all about your work increasing the trust and dependability factor. They will have a gateway where they can access your property listings and inspection information related to all the properties that you have on offer.

  • Presentation software

While presenting a property to many clients or a team you could make use of presentation software with the help of which you can add site photographs, 3D images, manage content, basically create an awesome visual experience for the client giving your property bid a boost.

All these and more can be a part of your everyday dealings when it comes to presenting, negotiating, selling or closing a deal. Like every other field, real estate too is embracing technology and it’s time you too go for it.

3 Pitfalls That Can Kill Your Real Estate Investment

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Countless of people have been known to have made their fortune through real estate investing, and you might have heard of a friend, relative or colleague who likewise, have achieved a significant increase in their net worth when they sold off a property they have invested in years ago. Others have found financial freedom through their property investments, as their portfolio of well-chosen properties has given them a sustainable flow of rental income. Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad Poor Dad fame is one of the major advocates of property investing.

However, just like investing in any other assets, investing in real estate requires thorough planning, preparation and implementation work. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid before you invest in your first real estate.

Pitfall #1: Investing in real estate is not a get-rich-quick scheme

Investing in real estate is often promoted as a get-rich-quick scheme by the so-called gurus of real estate investing. However, this cannot be further from the truth. It takes time to pick a great property that will appreciate in value, and in the event if you picked the right property, more time is needed for it to appreciate in value. And just in case you are wondering, the flipping of properties in an attempt to get rich quick can be a risky endeavor!

Pitfall #2: Not doing a thorough preparation and research

Real estate as an asset class works just like any other long-term investment, you will have to plan in advance, work hard to search for worthy property deals (or get a property agent to do it for you), understand how a property can fit into your investment plan, calculate the cash flow that can be derived from the investment, and the list goes on.

Furthermore, unlike liquid assets such as stocks real estate constitutes an illiquid asset class. This means that it is difficult for you to liquidate this asset immediately without the risk of suffering loses to the actual value of the asset. Thus, a more thorough research is needed to justify the investment.

Pitfall #3: Not doing due diligence

Not all properties will appreciate in value over time. Factors such as the future development plan of the vicinity, the population trends of the city, the economic health of the city or country all contribute to the viability of a property investment.

Unfortunately, new investors make decisions to buy properties based on ‘gut feeling’ or on a vague idea or belief that the given properties will appreciate in value. They buy it based on the sales pitch given by their real estate agent. They don’t do their due diligence about the deal, the costs or the market conditions, and they wind up draining their personal savings because the house needs extensive repairs or they can’t sell it.

Conclusion

These are the three major pitfalls of investing in real estate. Read widely and research thoroughly in the property you are keen in investing. If you can commit to thorough research before committing to a property, you will avoid the common pitfalls that has plagued investors and radically increase your probability of making a successful investment.

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Why Using Social Media Marketing for Real Estate?

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Your potential clients are using social media. Why aren’t you there networking with them? Now that you have an online presence through your website, you might think your web marketing plan is complete and you don’t need SMM – but think again. Agents who are neglecting SMM miss out on lucrative listings, and they lose the chance to connect with potential buyers who are seeking their dream home.

What is social media marketing for real estate?

You, personally, probably use social media every day. You just don’t know it. And, that’s why it hasn’t been working to your marketing advantage. You read and commented other people’s blogs. You use Facebook to keep up with your family and old friends. You tweet on Twitter to say witty things. You’ve watched many videos on YouTube. And, you’re a true fan of blogs. So, time to use SMM for real estate!

Social media marketing for real estate Choices

Here is a short list of just a few available choices of the popular SMM.

  1. Blog for Your Brand – share relevant content with your target market
  2. Facebook Business Page – make “friends” that are interested in your brand, product or services
  3. Twitter Business Account – Share your expertise by tweeting to your online “followers”
  4. LinkedIn – networking for businesses, including B2B
  5. YouTube – market your commercials online for free

Social media marketing for real estate Blog Content

A blog, which is short for “web log”, is an online journal for your SMM campaign. It’s your company’s opportunity to introduce your brand by marketing your niche. Your business blog lets your target housing market get to know you, who you are and what you do through SMM

Get more clients with social media marketing for real estate

Are you looking for ways to gain more clients? Of course, you are! All experts, brokers and agents have a passion for making money. Informative content is what gives you that extra edge in the market. When you provide free, relevant, useful information to your target market, you become an expert in their eyes.

When sellers are ready to put their homes on the market, they will turn to a real estate expert – the agent or the broker who is professional and able to market their homes. Even banks selling REOs use SMM for content to help them connect to qualified agents to provide them with commercial services. Content helps to connect yourself with your readers and turn your followers into actual clients.

Use Your Social media marketing for real estate Now!

Social media is where networks of consumers share details of their lives, including the businesses and agents and brokers that they recommend. SMM for marketing is a great strategy to have online users to share your listings, price reduced posting, announcing great buying opportunities, provide informative blog posts to gain authority within your network. It is today’s digital way of gaining word of mouth advertising to potentially millions of online consumers. Don’t be a secret agent! Every agent needs social media marketing for real estate to help market their agent’s brand online.

5 Ways, Real Estate Agents Teach Clients, What They Need To Hear

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The difference between the finest real estate agents, and the rest – of – the – pack, is, often, the lesser ones, are content to remain within the restrictions and restraints of their personally, created, comfort zone, while the best ones, often, realize, it is, their duty and responsibility, to, tell their clients, what the need to know, not just what they want to hear (TM). This service – marked slogan, identifies, the epitome of responsible, responsive, realistic, representation, in order, to seek a real estate transaction period, which minimizes clients’ stress and tension, and prepares them, for the realities, potential challenges, strategies, etc. With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, 5 ways, the most desirable, real estate agents, teach their clients, what they should better understand, and realize.

1. Thorough initial interview/ discussion: When someone, initially interviews potential agents, it’s important to ensure, you take full advantage of this, to discover, who might be, best for you! Since, for most of us, the financial value of our house, is our single – biggest financial asset, doesn’t it make sense, to wisely proceed, to achieve, the finest, bang – for – the – buck? Listen carefully to this discussion, and consider, whether, an individual, explains thoroughly, his strategy, plans, marketing system, and reasoning, and how it will benefit you! It is essential for client and agent, to proceed, on the same – page!

2. Genuine empathy: During this initial interview, does the individual, effectively listen, and learn, and proceed with genuine empathy, in order to minimize potential stress, and produce the finest possible results!

3. Regular discussions/ re – evaluations: Inquire, how often, someone will discuss, with you, the results, to – date, and, what this, will entail! You are best – served, when there are regular discussions, regarding consumer/ qualified, potential buyers, marketing strategies, and pricing. When is a price adjustment, a desirable strategy?

4. Strong representation: Will they offer you, professional, well – considered, strong representation? How will they negotiate, in your best – interests? Will they explain options and alternatives, and why, a specific strategy, is being recommended? Do they make you feel more confident, in their suggestions, and professionalism?

5. Explain benefits, not just features: Don’t accept, being told, merely, some of the services, and features, they offer you, unless/ until, this is done, with an emphasis on the true benefits, and, why, they offer, something, somewhat, unique, and to your advantage!

It’s wise to consider these 5 factors, before choosing, your real estate agent. Will you proceed, with your eyes, wide – open?

Claude Muller Real Estate Megalomania: What Happens When the Sharks Are Above the Law

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While reading an article on Alexis Muller Pellerin, described as a rising star of the real estate world, I have also discovered his grandfather, Claude Muller, retired property developer in Cannes. I managed to find the book published by Hélène Constanty in 2015 “Razzia sur la Riviera” (Raid on the French Riviera). When you mention the real estate industry on the Côte d’Azur, you immediately think of collusion with local elected officials, bribes, corruption, yachts and stories of suitcases filled with bills. In this book, the description of this universe is worse than you could ever imagine!

There are several definitions for offenders. Offenders who flout the law in need of money, assets, etc., and offenders who flout the law for more and more profit. The wealthiest sitting on their fortune, searching by all means – lawful or not, to accumulate more and more. Petty crimes which directly result from megalomaniac desires of men in their wild silk three-piece suits. The golden organized crime of various businesses, sharing a common practice: tax evasion.

The case of Claude Muller ideally depicts the profiles of the ravenous meat-heating shark. Indeed, tax evasion and property fraud punctuated the career path of this real estate star.

Commissions paid on accounts in Switzerland and Lichtenstein

As a real estate developer and broker, Claude Muller prospered in the 1980s. He got along with local public figures and maintained influential relations in Cannes and Antibes. He was known for his imposing bearing, had the gift of the gab and maintained an exceptional network. Three useful qualities that enabled him to attract wealthy customers, especially from the Gulf. Claude Muller was a repatriated “pied-noir” from Algeria, fluent in Arabic.

While conducting businesses with his wealthy clients, he took the opportunity to initiate a tax evasion scheme. This scheme was tried and tested but efficient. Claude Muller implemented an invoicing system to the benefit of the Arabic princes he worked for – the main part of his customers, while collecting a real fortune for his services. His fraud system was the following: he worked with a Geneva attorney Baudouin Dunand, who founded customized real estate companies (SCI) in order to receive money of the financial transactions of the sold villas. These SCI were always established in countries known for applying confidentiality policies in terms of client identity, such as Lichtenstein and Switzerland. The wealthy investors transferred the funds on the SCI founded by attorney Baudouin Dunand, and once all providers and suppliers, who had worked on the construction site, were paid, Dunand transferred the remaining sums on a bank account held by Claude Muller. Then, the sums received by the real estate developer were enormous. Thanks to the SCI which served as a support structure for transferring money of each real estate transaction, Muller accumulated a real fortune. As for the Geneva attorney who assisted Claude Muller in these tax frauds, he is known to be the administrator of a number of offshore companies – essential parts of a broader tax evasion scheme.

Incarcerated in Grasse for fraud

In addition to the tax fraud, Claude Muller was also linked to other swindles such as town planning, privileges and real estate frauds, while being clever enough not to face the legal consequences. In 1982, he bought the sumptuous property called “Le Grand Jardin” on the island of Sainte-Marguerite. Spread on two hectares and composed of two 17th century mansions, it is the only private property of the island. With a very skillful trick, the property was exempt of the French fortune tax; Claude Miller claimed it had been bought for professional purpose. Indeed, indicted by the civil, criminal and administrative courts, he explained he bought the property for his business of real estate broker, with the intention to resell it. And during the 25 years he owned the property, the mansion was indeed for sale, but at price three times higher than its actual value. A clear message for potential buyers: “Move along, there is nothing to see here.”

Claude Muller was also involved in several fraud and swindles in Cannes and Antibes. The real estate developer did not always manage to flee from justice.

Indeed, on December 8, 1992, he was indicted for alleged forgery and fraud. Once again with his partner in crime Baudouin Dunand, he swindled the head of the government of Qatar of 13 million francs on the construction price of his property. Claude Muller was incarcerated at the Grasse jail, where he stayed three months before being freed with judicial review.

My research led to the undesirable Russian businessman Arcadi Gaydamak, involved in arms trafficking of the Angolagate and Clearstream cases, and subpoenaed in fraud cases linked to Claude Muller.

The passion of real estate seems to be handed over to the next generation of the Muller Family because Alexis Muller Pellerin, Claude Muller’s grandson, has also become a real estate developer. The young man aspires to big projects and especially when it comes to investment. We hope the name of this future major player of the real estate market will not be linked to sordid stories of money and tax evasion, and hope greed will not corrupt his intentions, as it used to be with his grandfather.