The Malibu Real Estate Blog

Let’s face it, technology has drastically changed the way buyers search for real estate. Information is power. The serious buyer will use a multiple of tools to find a home, research value, and monitor price reductions. Used correctly, these tools will enable the buyer to be efficient, educated, and ready to buy when the time is right. Here are a few tech tools you should know about.

• Listing Book- This is what we call an automated “Drip” program that will send morning  MLS updates to a clients email. It also give clients full access to our MLS so you really can search like an agent would. If you are a computer/info junkie like me you likely wake up in the morning and get a quick dose of info for the day. My routine is to check email, look at any changes to all Malibu listings, read the Drudge report, and check weather and surf reports. People interested in real estate need to have a morning update that includes seeing all new listings and price reductions within the market they are interested in. The smart buyer these days targets a house, does the research, then sits back and waits for that morning update that says “$500,000 price drop” then goes after the property. This program enables the buyer to become aware of new listings or price changes within  minutes of the change . Email me if you’d like to sign up for this info. Click the contact tab above and tell me price  range ,type of home you need, and email and you’ll be signed up. You can even search for Malibu REO, bank owned, short pays, or probate sales.
• Blogs like this!-The point of this blog is to convey information to people that want to know about Malibu Malibu Real Estate. Real estate agents for the most part  area addicted to gossip and usually know important background information about a home. I may post an article about a great deal or best buy because I know that the owners are getting a divorce and have already purchased separate homes.  When I’m out on caravan this is the type of recon and info I gather  to make articles for the blog.
• RSS FEED-Instead of checking the blog randomly, why not get notified when there is a new post? That’s what an RSS feed is all about. I write a post about a huge price reduction, publish it, then you get an email alert about the new post. Again, using technology to quickly get info. subscribe to my RSS feed! If you have no clue what an RSS feed is click here for a quick video.
• Twittter- I’m using this tool to send out live updates about the Malibu Real Estate scene. If I get word of a price reduction or smoking deal on the beach I’ll send out a “Tweat” about it. Those that  follow me on  Twitter get the updates within seconds of them happening. See the little blue box to the right? That’s my Twitter Feed and where you can click to follow.

Bottom line…..use technology to get ahead of the curve instead of behind it.

My favorite new tool is from a company called Whammobile.They offer text messaging services for real estate agents. You know the plexi-glass box on the for sale sign that is always empty? Well, they’ve replaced it with an option that doesn’t let it’s contents blow away or requires a driver to get out of their car. They give you a sign rider with a sms text number. The prospective home buyer pulls up to the front, sees the sign, pushes a few buttons on their PDA or cell, and gets all the information about the property sent instantly to their phone! The price, sq.ft, website, and your contact info. Best of all you capture their cell phone number! That means you can call them up and see how you can be of service to them! Without the sign the phone call might have gone to a floor agent that can’t “sell” the house because they haven’t even seen it!
Best case scenario…….you make an appointment for a showing. Worst case scenario (which is really good)…. is they say it’s not in their price range…..BUT WAIT…..you are now the agent on the phone with them that can offer to show or email listings that are! It’s all about using technology to get to the client first!

Click Here to use it at your listing. At minimum bookmark it because texting is the future and you’ll be using it soon when a home seller says to you…”What are you going to do differently to get my house sold?”

WHAMmobile

Try it now!

Long version for first timers to Text Messaging.

Dial 555999 on your phone but don’t push the normal call button. Find the option to send SMS TEXT and push it. You should now have a screen that let’s you write something. Write Realtor1 and then send or maybe dial. You should get 2 messages back instantly about a sample property.

Short version for people with sore thumbs (pro SMS’rs)

Text Realtor1 to 555999

Watch this video to better understand it. Skip to 1:30 to get the quick gist of it.