Xobni which is inbox spelled backwards is a great plugin for Outlook users. It has been out for quite a while but had some issues. I have been using it for quit some time and it is a sweet tool. The newest version is great and no bugs to speak of. Makes searching your email easy, groups conversations together much like gmail, and even tracks attachments.
You should check it out, it's free!

http://www.xobni.com

Every wonder what people are searching for online? Want to compare different words or phrases that are searched for on Google? Well Google has the tool for you. www.google.com/trends. Off the top of my head I can think of a ton of great uses for this, but top of the list would be finding top search phrases for your area. Finding the top words or phases would be helpful for your website keywords, and topics for your blog. You can also compare cities and neighborhood or just about anything else. Below is a graph comparing Homes vs. Real Estate. Real Estate is in Red and Homes Blue. In addition you can see top search cities and regions.

For those of you using IDX Pro thru IHouse 2000, you should check out the new new "phone friendly" MLS search tool. It works great on my Iphone and is supposed to work well with the BlackBerry platform as well. It's great when you are on the go. The listing agent and info is displayed along with dial now links built in for quick and easy dialing.

To use your IDX on your mobile phone use the following instructions.

#1 Login to your web site.

#2 Click on the the IDX tab at the top of the screen

#3 One the left hand side of the screen in first box  it reads as follows.

New - IDXPro Mobile for Agents

 

Along with the following image.

Click the link for more info.

 

#4 The following screen and image will appear. Take out your Iphone (or other devise) and open the browser and type in the unique link. Presto, you have access to you your IDX on the go. Please read the info below carefully.

 

IDXPro Mobile

Your IDXPro Mobile link is:
http://idxpro.cisdata.net/AR14166/Search/mobile
Use this link on your smartphone to display the mobile optimized version of IDXPro.

The best way to see if your smartphone works with IDXPro Mobile is to visit the above link on your mobile device and give it a try.

iPhone and Blackberry Optimized - IDXPro Mobile may not display well on all devices.
Although IDXPro Mobile was designed for iPhone and Blackberry devices, many other devices with a wide screen (340 pixels or more) may display well and function nicely. Smaller display screens will not display well with this version.

iPhone and Blackberry devices can expect much of the device functionality to work nicely.

Features Include:

• - Search by MLS Number, Street Address, City, Zip
• - View full listing details and up to 10 photos
• - While viewing a listing, find comparable listings nearby
• - iPhone - view map location of properties
• - Email a listing to an interested buyer
• - Call by highlighting a phone number
• - Email by highlighting an email address

For Agents Only
This version of IDXPro Mobile was designed for agent use and not intended for use by the potential home buyer. Included in the listing details is contact information of the listing agent and office to allow you to contact them from the road.

Using IDXPro Mobile
This service is very simple in design. You will be able to navigate your way around easily.
Bookmark your IDXPro Mobile link now!
Tip - Use the top navigation bar as an indicator of the options available from each page.
Additional help is available at our help center at:
http://forum.cisdata.net/lore/article.php?id=675

If you aren't reading the 1000watt blog, you should be. It's written by Marc Davison, and Brian Boero from 1000 watt consulting.I don't endorse a lot of blogs, but this one is a home run.

 These guys bring a real world perspective to the crazy world of real estate. I believe the vast majority of realtors get lost in the maze of hype surrounding our industry. We loose site of the core of our business, people and relationships.  Marc and Brian do a good job of bring the "real" back to real estate.

 Check it out, I know you will be glad you did.

1000 Watt Blog

I listen to my Ipod in my car on the way to work, when I travel, and even before bed. Ok, addict may be a bit over the top.

 It's not the Ipod devise itself (although it's hands down the best), it is the content you can get. You can download/listen to incredible information from just about any topic you can imagine. If you need to improve your sales skills, change your attitude, find out what the markets are doing, learn how to market your business on the internet, and more.

Some wise people once told me, your car should be your university. My Ipod has turned into my master program for advanced education. I figure an Ipod doctorate is not far behind. Best of all, I'm not drowning in student loans.   

We have all heard the sayings, "learners are earners" and "readers are leaders." And one of my favorite quotes.

"In times of change, the learners will inherit the earth, while the knowers will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."    

                                                                                                            Eric Hoffer

Learning, growing, and improving your skills has never been more important. So if you have an Ipod, stock it up with some great info.

Here are a few of my favorite Podcast.

Get Real Real Estate Inventing

Market Watch-Real estate Roundup

Internet Business Mastery - Business Development and Internet Marketing for Web 2.0

Sales Gravy-Power Principles

Harvard Business Idea Cast

Inspiring Words-Zig Ziglar

Manager Tools

If you are more of a visual learner, you can down load video podcasts.

Google released their new web browser named Chrome yesterday. I downloaded it and have been using it. Chrome seems to work well with the new web site, toolkit, ihouse, and A2Stalk.

Chrome has incorporated some cool features I really like. When you type in the address bar a search automatically pops below the address line. You can choose to go direct to the address you typed or perform search for the site/topic. Makes searching really easy. You can create application shortcuts for your desk top that will open the website/page is a streamlined window. This is great for sites you use on a regular basis, mail, bank, a2stalk, etc. Like most browsers there are tabs across the top. You can open multiple tabs. When you open a new tab in Chrome a screen opens with screen shots of recently viewed web sites. This makes it easy to navigate to sites you use often.

So far I really like Chrome, but it is early. The one big downside is no Chrome for Mac or Linux. Apparently there is a Mac version in the works. 

You can get more info and download Chrome here  http://tools.google.com/chrome/?hl=en-US

Chrome Site

Finally a neutral party finds out what consumers really think about the real estate industry. In their September issues Consumer Reports surveyed consumers about commission rates, if they were happy with the service they received, if they negotiated the commission, and other topics. You can read the story here.

I found an interesting audio discussion on the topic on a web site call Real Estate Radio USA. You should listen to the show, at least the first 15-20 minutes. You can listen to the show by clicking here.  The hosts make the case for the industry going towards a  discount type model. No doubt Assist-2-Sell is leading the industry shift.

I found a quote I thought I would pass along.

"Knowledge is power. The more knowledge, expertise,

and connections you have, the easier it is for you

to make a profit at the game of your choice."

• - Stuart Wilde

Never stop learning, growing, and making connections!

When I am online looking at homes, or anything for that matter, I like to see photos. Craigs list comes to mind. I don't even look at listing without photos, the same is true for ebay.  Maybe it's the "see it to believe it" mind set. I want look at something I am going to buy from different angles, front, back, top, bottom, sides, etc.  I might be interested in the item because it has a unique quality or appearance. The point is the more photos from different angles the better.

So the question is how many photos do you need to take of a home you are selling?  I don't think there is a perfect the number but I would say at least 5-6. I know when I see a home online that has only 1 photo, the first thing that comes to mind is what is wrong with the house?  Do they not want me to see the rest of the home?  For me, the important photos are the front of the house, back yard, Kitchen, master bedroom, and living area. In addition I would post photos of any unique features like a separate work shop, finished attic area, decking, views, etc..

According to point2 technologies, the more photos the better. Homes with 21 photos or more received double the number of responses.  (piece of the article below)

To sell a home with an Internet listing, it pays to provide pictures -- and lots of them, according to a recent study from an e-commerce and online marketing firm that serves the real-estate industry.

Compared with listings that had only one photo, those that had 21 or more photos received double the number of responses to the listing broker or agent, according to Point2 Technologies. Listings that included no photos generated significantly less response than those that had one, the firm said.

"The days of putting out little information in the hopes that buyers will phone in to learn more are gone," said Carey Tufts, director of marketing for Point2, in a news release.