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Text Messaging Etiquette for Real Estate Agents

October 29, 2014 By CENTURY 21

It has been reported that 31% of Smartphone users prefer text messaging over regular phone calls. Although you may be used to calling clients, your clients may prefer to communicate by text messaging. When it comes to text messaging clients, it can be tricky to know what is appropriate. Here’s the 411 on text messaging etiquette.

1. Proper language and punctuation: When speaking with clients over text, it’s important to remain as professional as possible. It’s best to not use abbreviations or “text message language.” Remember, this is still a business matter and you should behave as if you were talking on the phone, speaking in person, or writing an email.

2. Business Hours: When it comes to text messages, you should treat it the same as phone calls and emails. Would you call a client at 5 am or 11 pm? If the answer is no, do the same with text messages. Only send messages during “business hours.”

3. Length: Keep your text messages short and sweet. Don’t overwhelm your clients with information that is probably best received face to face. Send text messages with information that needs an immediate, short response and be sure to not discuss important, legal information over a text message. Use text messaging to coordinate logistics.

4. Permission: Before you start texting your clients ask them if they would prefer to communicate by phone, email or by text.

Text messaging between real estate agents and clients can help business flow smoothly. It can be beneficial in showing that you are tech savvy. This may be even more important with first-time homeowners who are younger and more accustomed to texting.

Recommended Reading:

-Facebook Tips for Real Estate Agents

-Instagram Tips for Real Estate Agents

-5 Simple Pinterest Tips for Real Estate Agents

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Tech Talk: 5 Apps for Real Estate Agents

August 19, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Real estate agents are often on the go visiting listings, showings, and clients. Luckily, technology makes it easier to get work done from anywhere and maximize productivity while doing so.

There are hundreds of apps on the market that could be helpful for agents but here are five currently on our radar.

Evernote: Evernote is a high tech note taking app. Take notes by hand, type them on your mobile device or tablet, or take photos of business cards and loose papers. This technology allows you to use search to quickly and easily find specific notes or concepts – even if you wrote a handwritten note! Sign up for Evernote Business to collaborate with colleagues in real time.

Sitegeist: Sitegeist quickly provides data about a location. Learn demographics, nearby restaurants and entertainment, public transportation, the average rent price and more. Share these insights with clients as they choose and explore different neighborhoods.

Google Maps: Use Google Maps for transportation directions to and from listings. The app can also help you find restaurants and shops in the neighborhood.

Dropbox: Have access to important documents and files at the touch of a button. Wish you had brought a contract or lease with you? If you saved it to Dropbox, you can pull it up on your device no matter where you are. Quickly share individual files with colleagues and clients. Sign up for Dropbox for Business to share access to presentations and files.

CENTURY21®: Use the Century21® app to view nearby homes for sale or rent, nearby open houses, search for homes, save properties, and find price reductions. Show the app to your clients and use it to find new properties that might interest them. If you are in a neighborhood for a showing, go and visit more homes in the area!

We hope that these apps will help you stay organized in and out of the office. We care about helping you advance in your career. You can find more resources at Century21 SM University.

Recommended Reading:

-Tech Talk: Home Office Essentials

-Productivity Tips for Working from Home

-Let’s Get App-y: 3 Apps for Interior Design

*Some of these apps may require payment for certain features.

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Let’s Get App-y: 3 Apps for Interior Design

May 6, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Interior design? There’s an app for that. We’ve rounded up five apps that will make your interior design projects easier. These apps seem like something straight from The Jetsons, but we can assure you that they are real and really helpful!

1. Benjamin Moore Color Capture® App (Android, iPhone, iPad): This app has multiple uses that are perfect for helping you choose colors for your home. If you’ve ever chosen paint colors before you know how hard it can be to choose between two colors that look so similar, yet so very different. Use this app to share your favorite colors on social media or by email, “favorite” colors, access the full color wheel (without having to carry it around), and write down notes. One standout feature of this app, is that you can take a picture of something that you love and the app will generate the corresponding Benjamin Moore paint colors! Paint different rooms with the colors of your favorite bouquet, sunset, flower, outfit, and whatever else inspires you!

2. Furnish (Android, iPhone, iPad): Wouldn’t it be great if you could see how your furniture would look in your home before you buy it? This app allows you to do just that! Use the app to browse furniture from their partners, Target, Ikea, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Herman Miller, and Knoll, then upload a picture of the room where you want the furniture and see if you like how it looks!

3. Home 3D (iPhone, iPad): Use the architecture functionality to create your home’s floorplan and rearrange it so that it becomes your ideal layout. Use the interior design functionality to add and rearrange furniture, to paint or wallpaper different rooms and to test different looks. If that isn’t cool enough, you can also use the 3D dollhouse mode to virtually walk through your home!

4. iHandy Carpenter (Android, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch): iHandy Carpenter has a plumb bob, a surface level, a bubble level bar, a steel protractor, and a steel ruler all conveniently located on your phone! This is a great app for carpenters, handymen, and people who are decorating their home. No more tilting your head quizzically to see if the painting or picture you hung is straight!

5. Autodesk Homestyle (Android, iPhone, iPad): Use Homestyler to see how furniture, light fixtures, rugs, paintings, mirrors, and more look in your home! The app has 3D images which give you an accurate representation of what your home will look like. Use the app to browse and buy furniture from a long list of brands including Crate and Barrel, Ethan Allen, Jonathan Adler, and Pottery Barn. We all know that choosing paint is a huge commitment. You can try paint colors and wallpaper to see how it looks in your home! Browse the Design Stream for inspiration and ideas, share designs with friends and family, look through Portfolio Pages of professional designers, and ask the professionals for their advice.

Loving your living space is so important. Interior design can be stressful because you want everything to be perfect. These apps help you try before you buy and make sure everything is just right.

Happy decorating!

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