Your friends are on Facebook. Your boss is on Facebook. Even your mom is on Facebook. In fact, this popular online network reached over 1 billion users in May – making it the largest social platform around. So are your clients on Facebook? You bet they are. If you’re ready to reach a larger audience and close more sales, you just have to remember the three most important rules of real estate: location, location, location. Where you do business matters as much, if not more, than how you do business. In today’s online marketplace, Facebook is a prime location to attract and interact with consumers. With that in mind, here are 6 tips that will help you optimize your Facebook business page to attract more prospects, whether you’re a real estate agent, a property manager or a leasing agent. 1.       Complete Your Profile First things first, complete your profile so that page visitors know who you are, what you do and how to contact you. Include your phone number, your email address and a link to your website. Add a description of your business that includes industry-relevant keywords. And be sure to choose attractive and professional images for your cover and profile photos. (For example, if you sell houses for a living, using a family photo as your cover image might not be the best choice.) 2.       Promote Your Page Share a link to your Facebook page on your website, but don’t stop there! You should also include the link in your email signature and post about your business page on other social media channels. 3.       Empower Your Fans Once you get people to your page, how do you keep them there? Think of your business page as the social version of your website....

Microsoft’s latest tablets, Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, are now on the market with a number of new covers and other accessories (dock, mouse, and charger). Both tablets seem like iterations of the concept Microsoft first demonstrated last summer. They kept the same angular design with metallic finish, announcing upgrades to the processing power and battery life, to the display and camera resolution. Enhancements in Windows RT 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Pro promise to make the two tablets more powerful and customizable. Surface 2 The lower-priced ARM received a 1.7GHz Nvidia Tegra 4 processor and 2GB of RAM and flipped the 1366×768 screen with one of 19290×1080 with better color accuracy. Basically Microsoft addressed two of the most complained about features of the predecessor – weak performance and low screen resolution. The Surface 2 is just a bit thinner and slightly lighter than the previous version, with 25 percent more battery life and a USB 3 port. The cameras are improved to 3.5MP for the front and 5.0MP for the rear for Skype and other webcam uses. To differentiate it from the more powerful brother, the Surface 2 tablet will only be available in a silver/magnesium color with just the front surface still retaining the black bezel. It looks good and feels more comfortable, but the main concern remains the software; it’s clear that Microsoft patched some holes and added some much-needed functionality to the mix, and the number of apps in the Windows Store is rising (there are now over 100,000 apps), but the fact that this version of Windows can’t run the same apps and perform as well as the full-blown Windows might be a momentum killer. Interesting about the two tablets are the keyboard covers (Touch Cover, Type Cover and...

Since the introduction of the first Samsung Galaxy Note in 2011, competitors have placed on the market  many phones billed as “bigger than ever before.” But none could match Samsung’s success or give the users a compelling reason to own such a big smartphone. Samsung smartly created a sub-market for the device that’s primarily a phone, but also pretends to be a tablet, and the Galaxy Note 3 is the latest model for this niche. The price of the Galaxy Note 3 is proportional to its size, larger than average – it retails for around $950 contract free and $299 with a two-year contract. OS is Android 4.3 with Samsung’s TouchWizz skin over the top. Its dimensions (5.95 x 3.12 x 0.33) suffered almost no modifications, but magically the display is bigger, reaching 5.7 inches, and has been upgraded to a 1080p Super AMOULED panel with full HD at 386ppi. The colors are vibrant, maybe even a bit too saturated when using the camera viewfinder. The weight of the device has dropped from 6.45 oz. to 5.93 and the sensitivity of the screen can be increased to make it possible to use the phone while wearing gloves, perfect for cold climates. The appearance of the device shows improvement. Unfortunately the edges continue to have that faux-metal finish that soon will start to peel off; an actual metallic band would really give the premium feel we’re looking for in a smartphone, especially one that’s as pricey as the Note 3. The back of the phone feels much better than other Galaxies of late: the leathery finish looks much better, picks up no fingerprints, and provides a good amount of traction for the fingers. Although it’s still plastic, it feels strong and is removable to allow...

The industry leader in property management software has released a new version of its flagship product that is browser and device agnostic, generating great excitement from clients and prospects industry-wide. Yardi Voyager 7S is here. There are multiple reasons clients are thrilled about the latest version of Voyager. Leasing professionals, property managers and executives can now use their property management software without access to Windows or even a PC. “You can run Voyager 7S on your iPad, you can run it on your Android tablet, you can run it on a MacBook, you can use Safari, and you can use Google Chrome. We’ve opened up the floodgates for all of our clients to be able to use any browser or OS they want,” said Ami Kearns, Product Manager, Voyager 7S. In addition to the exciting new cross-browser and mobile capability, the upgrade process to Voyager 7S is fast, seamless and easy. “Our clients have been shocked at how quickly the upgrade to Voyager 7S can be accomplished,” said Becky Sanvictores, Vice President, Client Services.  “End user training is recommended on the enhanced and modern UI, but the methodology for using Voyager 7S is still the same.” Enhancing the experience are newly designed and highly intuitive transaction screens. Product highlights for the new release, which is now available, include: Mobility. With the device and browser agnostic Voyager 7S, any user will be able to access the software from anywhere. A regional executive could review month-end reports on an iPad at the airport. A leasing agent could summarize current rental pricing and availability for a prospect on an Android tablet at a coffee shop. The possibilities are endless. Streamlined upgrade process. Requiring a simple schema update and end-user training, clients can be live within a week...

The password and its powers to secure our data is a topic that’s constantly on the minds of technology companies, and equally discussed by users. The central problem with the current form of data protection is what it needs to be most effective: passwords should be long, complicated, and changed regularly, thus increasing the possibility that they are forgotten by the account holder. Considering that that typical person nowadays requires 11 unique passwords, the system is unsustainable. The security landscape is subject to change even more since employees started bringing their own smartphones and other devices to work. Proliferation of individual devices is seen by many as a serious security threat, but there are also those who see this as a chance to improve security by using biometric authentication. Some researchers are inclined to think that mobile computing will be the driver and enabler of it. Biometric authentication is not new technology; it actually started in 2004 when IBM introduced the first fingerprint reader in its ThinkPad T42. Clain Anderson said then that the customer response to the fingerprint reader made biometric security a must-have feature; they invested in development of built-in iris scanners on portable computers. The trend continued, and now many of the laptops come with built-in fingerprint readers. Living in an era dominated by smartphones, the same tactic is slowly being adopted. The latest iPhone model, the 5S, has as one of its main attractions (and distractions at the same time), the Touch ID function, the sensor that scans the holder’s fingerprint, but only unlocks the device if the finger is that of the owner’s. Responding to privacy concerns over who will have access to this data, Apple stated that the fingerprint record won’t be saved on their servers, but on...

When it comes to property management software, every company’s needs are unique. But one thing many companies have in common, according to a recent survey by a software review website, is a desire to increase the operational efficiency and effectiveness of their properties through smart software solutions. Companies across many industries are finding that that their technology goals are more easily achieved when working with fewer vendors. Saving time and money and increasing productivity and efficiency are motivating factors for such a shift, not to mention that single stack technology solutions are integral to building useful databases, better serving customers, and producing dynamic business intelligence. A recent survey from software review provider Software Advice provided insight into what needs and expectations property managers have from industry-specific software.  The company’s website provides detailed reviews, comparisons and research to help property managers choose the right software. Aundraya Ruse is an Editorial Coordinator for Software Advice. She helps manage Software Advice’s content and primary research across six enterprise software markets, including property management and construction. She answered a few questions for us about overarching trends in property  management software, as revealed by the summary report findings. 1. What overall conclusions can you make about the state of the property management software industry based on the results of this survey? Ruse: We found the majority of property management software buyers in our sample are looking to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their property management operations. This was by far the most common reason buyers purchase property management software (based on responses from our full report). Reasons for Purchasing – High Level Overview   We also learned most of these buyers were using spreadsheets or other manual methods to manage their properties, while buyers already using property management software...

Technology has known massive development in the last few decades. The newer technologies surpass the older ones when they’re created as their upgrades. The surround sound replaced stereo, the word processor superseded the typewriter, and high-definition television replaced standard-definition TV. But there is one technology that ejected another although it’s far worse than it: cellphone voice calls. A recent survey conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Prospect reflects that 72% of cell owners in America experienced dropped calls, and 32% face this problem a few times a week or more. Much to everyone’s displease, failed calls, incomprehensible speech and poor voice quality exist and are a major problem for a large number of people; this problem won’t disappear anytime soon, despite the efforts of the carriers. Convenience and ability trumped quality, the mobile phone and especially the smartphone replaced the traditional landlines, changing the nature of communication altogether. With every American that drops the landline for a cellphone, the importance of strong connection at home grows exponentially. The quality of a call that started on the street decreases significantly when entering the house, barely adequate signals turn worse when they have concrete, metal, and multiple walls to penetrate. Two main factors cause the poor signal: the distance from the closest cell tower and the obstructions that cause interference. Cell coverage comes from strategically placed cell towers provided by the carriers. Whenever within the network, the mobile device automatically connects with the closest one and as you move it jumps to the next closest tower. As you further from the nearest tower and get close to the edge of your carrier’s coverage area you’ll experience degraded signal; when you’re too far to maintain a consistent connection, your call will drop. Furthermore, every object standing...

Canonical’s Ubuntu Edge won’t happen after the company’s effort to raise $32 million via crowdsourced funding fell short with nearly $13 million raised in 31 days. However, the experiment proved that mass market phone companies can’t rest too easy – there are still ways to tackle the status quo, and room for innovation that many customers would be excited to pay a premium for. The Ubuntu Edge has been highly praised – the mammoth with a 128GB SSD and a minimum 4GB of RAM, equipped with a multi-core CPU. Its announced ability to turn into a desktop when docked gave a clear idea about the direction for the mobile era. But the 24,000 supporters were not enough for this project to become reality. Is it that the world is not yet ready for convergence, unwilling to use a single device that acts as both phone and PC? Or is it too high of a price? Perhaps both.  Rumors have it that despite the ambitious funding target of $32 million, the device would have coasted backers $830 to get a phone. Mark Shuttleworth, the founder of Canonical, thinks the core lesson here is first to secure substantially more industrial commitment to the concept as that will take care of covering the base development costs. The domino effect will be to set a lower target of $10 or $20 million and to signal the backers that they’ll get the device at cost before it actually goes onto the market. Words of wisdom? Despite the failure to raise the full amount that would have made possible the manufacture of the Ubuntu Edge phone, the plans for it are shelved, not abandoned. In the meantime, a Linux-based smartphone is expected to be launched next year, followed by a...

Some memories are so powerful that you’d want to mark them somehow more than just in your mind. Memories that you want to be able to access from miles away, simply displayed on a map, memories that describe themselves through photos, notes, and even videos. It can be a new place that you’ve visited, it can be a recurring place you go to for family reunions, it can be a restaurant that marks anniversaries with your loved one, your amazing work place, or even your home. Under this concept Findery landed on Google Maps. Serial entrepreneur Caterina Fake, known as the co-founder of Flickr, sensed the need for a tool that allows internet lovers to gather their memories in a soulful and sincere manner, without that “social peacocking” some of the apps today offer. She describes it as an attempt to bring humanity back on the internet, and the intention behind this new network is to tell the story of your life, connecting it with places. You are the one to decide of it’s for the general public or for your eyes only. Aside from the personal side of Findery, business owners can sign up for accounts. Real estate company Corcoran has already done so and is providing information about its properties and other local knowledge on the network, in an attempt to attract future clients. This tells a lot about the potential of this idea: out-of-towners, tourists or people who need to relocate due to their work or school, can easily learn about the new city from the people who placed notes with their experiences. Prospective renters could easily pull up Google Maps and search for apartment communities in the area they are interested in moving to. Everything is laid out on a...

Take a minute to think about your email inbox. Visualize it. Did your heart rate go up? A recent study conducted by the University of California, Irvine attached heart rate monitors to two test groups of workers – one with access to email and the other without – and found that those with email access had steady “high alert” heart rates. The group without email access reported feeling less stressed and better able to focus on the tasks at hand. Yikes! But we need our email, right? If you’re in real estate or property management, the answer is yes. From clients wanting to set up appointments to property notifications to contract updates, a ton of useful information lands in your inbox each and every day. So how can you shrink both your inbox and your stress levels? We’ve got three tips and three tools that will help you manage the constant influx of emails generated by today’s 24/7 real estate industry. 3 Steps to Optimize Your Inbox 1.    Priorities, schmiorities Having a strategy that allows you to sort your email quickly is key. Start by deleting the obviously unnecessary emails in your inbox. Are there emails you’d like to read later that don’t require a response, like newsletters or special offers? Create a folder with a title like “Read Later” and move these emails out of your inbox. Next, go down the list and tackle any email you can reply to in two minutes or less, no matter the level of urgency. Better to deal with minor concerns and get emails out of the way than to leave them lurking in your inbox until later. Finally, use your sorting filter to flip your inbox so the oldest emails appear at the top. Working backwards...

Moments of our life materialize into memories; photos, movies, music, their number increases from one year to the next.  In a world where the electronic format has gained supremacy, our devices need a secure, offsite replication spot where these electronic records of days gone by are backed up and secured. These days information has moved to the cloud, in theory. Practically we still feel the need to possess the information in a material form, one that we can actually touch and take with us to the highest mountain where internet is not yet present. And for that we have portable hard disk drives. There are many choices in such drives these days, and it’s difficult as ever to choose the best. Depending on your needs, you might find the following helpful. Western Digital My Passport This is a small drive (0.82 x 4.4 x 3.2 inches) that can store up to 2TB of data. The newest versions of it feature the new USB 3.0 cable, which is still compatible with USB 2.0. The new port gives the hard drive a significant performance boost, speed-wise. It has multiple back-up options including making automated duplicates of any file you save and upload what you save to a Dropbox account. The WD Drive Utilities can run quick or complete drive tests to look for bad sectors, it can also set the sleep timer to limit power consumption, use “drive erase” to reformat the drive, or register you for customer support. WD Security is an application that locks the drive with a password; however, “WD cannot retrieve your password. If you forget your password, you will permanently lose access to your data.” The price ranges from $80-$150. Seagate Backup Plus The successor of GoFlex is also a success...

I’m always curious to discover what innovations manufacturers have brought to the market when they announce new smartphone devices. Fortunately for my budget, I can’t purchase all those that make my eyebrows rise. Like most, I am on a standard payment plan that limits me to upgrade every two years. However, smartphones have hit a level where innovation has slowed down. At this point, they all flaunt beautiful screens and high-quality cameras. The new models don’t differ drastically from their previous versions, and this decreases the urge to purchase newer ones more frequently. Fewer and fewer consumers are upgrading year after year. Obviously, this is not so good for the business and the big players in the US know it, so they decided it was time they took action. First it was T-Mobile USA who announced their new plan called T-Mobile Jump. It entails an upfront payment for a smartphone followed by a period of monthly payments. This action can be done twice a year and the down payment amount is quite decent – $146 for an iPhone 5. AT&T followed with their AT&T Next, a plan that encourages customers to upgrade their phone once a year instead of every two years. They’re proposal is more of a phone rental than a phone purchase – there will be no upfront payment, just monthly installments for a year that vary based on the device. In the case of “renting” an iPhone 5, the customer would pay zero upfront, followed by $32.50 every month for a year. Once the period is over, the customer can upgrade to a new smartphone. Verizon is said to be coming out with the VZ Edge, a plan that supposedly allows the users to upgrade their phone once they’ve paid off...

You might not have realized it, but there are robots among us. Thanks to dramatic advances in technology, the real estate industry has evolved rapidly over the past few decades, and those changes have not been limited to the smartphone/tablet revolution. The field of robotics has progressed rapidly, too, making it possible for property owners and managers to enjoy the benefits of robots that can mow lawns, take listings photos and even sell sundries to residents in need. Want to learn more about today’s crop of real estate robots? Keep reading to discover our four favorites. The Robot Shop Q: When can a robot be a profit-generating resident amenity for multifamily housing? A: When it takes the form of a robotic convenience store! Imagine supplying residents with a convenient, nearby shop that never closes and never has staffing problems. A place tired parents can visit when they run out of milk, without having to bundle the kids into the car or find a sitter. A place students can grab a snack without taking time away from their studies. A place that generates revenue by providing a useful, fully-automated service. Enter the robot shop. Robotic convenience stores starting popping up at apartment complexes in Texas last year, packed to the gills with everything from salty snacks to cleaning supplies to motor oil. These self-contained shops can be placed indoors or outdoors, stock up to 200 products and are open 24/7 – ideal for high-traffic complexes. Each module is able to accept cash, credit and debit cards. The stores come equipped with video surveillance and can be managed online, in real time. Shop24 Global LLC, the company that produces these robot shops, takes care of all the stocking and maintenance issues, so housing staff can stay...

In a world where people are always on the road to somewhere, portability is key to ensure that technology doesn’t slow them down. The power of notebooks has been on the rise for quite some time now, and the leading product developers continue to improve their best-in-class work each year. Two notable new models caught our eye with power, light weight, and gorgeous looks: the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 13-inch Sony Vaio Pro. The major difference is in the OS – OS X Mountain Lion for the Air and Windows 8 for the Vaio. We’ve briefly presented the new air of the new MacBook Air 13, but it deserves a bit of additional attention. Strong features make it the leading slim and light laptop in the US.  According to NPD, it outsold all Windows Ultrabooks combined in the US retail market during the first trimester of 2013. Ageless in appearance, Apple hasn’t changed the Air’s physical design in years, but it still transports you to the future. The fact that it’s so slim – only 0.11-0.68 inches thick and 2.96 lbs. light, makes some think it is not solid enough, but it is not fragile either. The aluminum case is much more resistant than it feels. If the design needs no alteration (actually, competitors seem to find inspiration in the Air’s lines), the technical specs show continuous focus. The new features make the device even more fabulous than the previous models: the fourth generation processor Intel Haswell, made available the new i7 of 2.0GHz that drives 12 hours of battery life. The battery life should improve even further under the OS X Mavericks, which will add even more battery life-preserving features to Apple’s OS. The 802.11 ac Wi-Fi networking card complemented by the...

According to Gartner, the worldwide PC shipments are expected to drop from 341 million units in 2012 to 305 million this year (-10.6 percent), and reduce to 289 million in 2014. Sales are on a downslide partly because of the competition from tablets, and even smartphones to some extent. At a first glance, this decrease may seem worthy of one of those frequently used online headlines like “The end of the PC era.” Up close, it appears like PCs have arrived at an equilibrium. Those currently in use have enough power to satisfy the needs of most users, while the incremental improvements in the newer models are not enough to warrant investment in another PC. For the business environment, the stable, reliable, unexciting PC remains an important device. The Gartner report divides the devices and provides shipment numbers for other ones, also, such as “ultramobiles,” tablets and mobile phones. Each research firm has developed its own measurement system, and the categories are not always cohesive. For Gartner, ultramobiles include “Chromebooks, thin and light clamshell designs, and slate and hybrid devices running Windows 8.” All these sectors are thriving, the report shows that the overall shipments are up 5.9 percent this year, and predicts further growth for next year. An increase of over 60 percent year over year is forecasted for tablets as consumers and professionals have discovered that portable devices can meet many of their needs, freeing them from their desktops and allowing them to move freely. The lower priced basic tablets seem to be taking up a higher share and at a faster pace than previously anticipated. Case in point: sales of the iPad Mini represented already 60 percent of overall iOS tablet sales for the first quarter of 2013. “The increased availability...

Realcomm recently announced the winners of the 2013 Commercial Real Estate Digital Innovation Awards (AKA the “Digies”), including an award for Best Real Estate Technology Innovation, which was won by Yardi’s Commercial Leasing Pad. Additionally, numerous Yardi clients using the company’s products to automate and improve their companies’ digital efficiency were honored. This year, one of the main Digie categories was Best Use of Automation, described by Realcomm as “for companies that have significantly automated traditional business processes or impacted their industry segments.” Yardi Commercial Leasing Pad is a trendsetter when it comes to use of mobile solutions for the property management industry. Realcomm singled out the application as an “intuitive mobile tool for managing the lead to lease process,” noting that it “takes advantage of full integration with Orion and the Voyager platform.” Leasing professionals are able to use Commercial Leasing Pad to aid them in the leasing process anywhere, whether touring a building with a prospect or meeting with them over lunch down the street. Real-time data is provided from Yardi Voyager, meaning agents are never without the information they need to answer a question or make a sale. The entire leasing workflow is accessible and the product is intuitive and easy to use. Simply sign in with your Voyager login and get started. This is Yardi’s fifth Digie in eight years, following citations in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2012. In addition to Leasing Pad’s Digie Award, numerous other Yardi clients, and one consultant were recognized by Realcomm for their automation efforts, digital impact and intelligent building development. Among the projects honored for Best Use of Automation, Commercial Real Estate was Prologis’ consolidation of its entire portfolio of 4,000 properties into single technology platform, using Yardi. The effort was deemed “a real...

With increasing attention and concern about online real estate data distribution practices and policies, many Multiple-Listing Services are seeking better control of their members’ listing information and looking for opportunities to direct qualified lead traffic straight to brokers and agents. After extensive engagement with high-level MLS officials and National Association of REALTORS® executives, as well as input from thousands of Realtors®, Point2 has come up with an exciting alternative to third party real estate aggregation. Among the organizations taking advantage of this exciting new offering so far is The Greater El Paso Association of REALTORS® (GEPAR), which has partnered with Point2, to develop a public-facing real estate listings portal focused on the greater El Paso area. The new website, ElPasoTX.com, provides consumers with information about local properties for sale and rent using timely and accurate data that originates from the GEPAR Multiple Listings Service (MLS). In a move to benefit their 1,900 members, GEPAR created this competitive public portal to send qualified leads directly to the listing brokers and agents. “Leveraging the same platform already in use for high-traffic international real estate portals like Point2 Homes and PropertyShark, the technology behind our El Paso portal is proven and ready to provide results to GEPAR’s members,” commented Saul Klein, Industry Principal for Point2. “GEPAR has always been on the forefront of technology. We’re very happy to have this opportunity to work with them to bring El Paso a world-class real estate search portal that provides the accurate and up-to-date listing data that today’s consumers demand.” Point2’s Public Facing MLS Portal Initiative is a way for MLS’ to directly monetize their listing data on a public-facing website that looks great and is easy to navigate and maintain. This white label real estate sales solution, featuring user-friendly, customized...

As a Peace Corps volunteer serving in rural Paraguay, I encountered moments when a quick internet search would have been a blessing. The resource could help with verb conjunction as I fumbled through Spanish or event planning during the rainy season. I shrugged off the inconvenience as part of the job. Away from the city, internet connectivity simply wasn’t an option. Now, an exciting new project delivers life-altering internet connectivity for isolated communities. Google’s recent launch of super pressure balloons, dubbed Project Loon, has drawn attention to the emergence of balloon-based internet connectivity. Space Data and World Surveillance Group have launched similar projects, mainly for military purposes. Google is the first to use the technology to bring 3G speeds to remote areas for civilian use. The company is also the first to attempt long-term operations using the balloons, currently up to 100 days. If it works out, here are the kinds of problems that Project Loon could solve: Back in 2010, my Paraguayan students were in a frenzy over the FIFA World Cup. I jumped on the opportunity to turn their fanaticism into a learning experience. We began a geography series highlighting dominant teams like Spain, Brazil, Uruguay, and the Netherlands. As I began the class session on Japan, I remembered a college friend who was teaching in Tokyo at the time. I thought: How awesome would it be to have our students interact with each other in real time. They could see one another’s faces and take a little tour of each other’s worlds. In my rural station, access to basic necessities was scarce. Forget smartphones and data plans. The infrastructure simply was not available. Google’s balloon-based connectivity could change that. On a larger scale, balloon-based connections permit nonprofits, hospitals, and businesses in developing regions...