Real Estate Technology & Tools

Saving buyers time, wear and tear on sellers too ... simple run and run real estate videos.Maine is a big state. Heck, Aroostook County where I live in Maine is the largest of it's size east of the Mississippi River. Bigger than CT and RI combined.Northern Maine is a haul up Interstate 95. And every time a new property listing comes up for sale, real estate videos are the best way to spread the word.To instantly tap into a very large online real estate audience.Real estate videos make the show and tell easier for everyone.Properties for sale in Maine. By far the easiest way to get more folks to "come in from the curb" for the look around, the virtual tour.It happens today with technology advances using real estate video!Here is an example of the latest, simple run and gun real estate vi... 11/14/2025

This class I attended on Tuesday was FULL of great information I thought you all may enjoy, or even need.   For these 3 hours, it was TOO much to put into one post, so I thought I would share in bits.    As the instructor said, this class could be like a fire hose!He called the agents LAZY who did not have a lock on their phone.   OK, that would include me, so Tuesday I put not only a Pass code, but also a facial biometric, which is great, and still quick to access my phone.I know most of you know you should not use the same password on different sites, but gosh, I have about 9 pages of locations, which is A LOT of passwords.   You can go HERE, and Google will check your online passwords and let you know if you have multiple ones, and ones that need to be stronger.   Also, using a mixed... 11/14/2025

This is a very interesting wake up call. Our interest rates are not that high right now but coupled with the high prices it is impacting affordability. Current Economic Landscape (November 2025) As of early November 2025, the US economy shows resilience amid headwinds: real GDP growth is tracking around 2.8% for Q3 (annualized), following a strong 3.8% in Q2, though forecasts point to moderation in late 2025 due to tariffs and uncertainty. Unemployment stands at 4.3%, up slightly from 4.2% earlier in the year, with inflation cooling to 2.7% (PCE) but still above the Fed's 2% target at ~3% CPI. The federal funds rate is at an effective 4.09% (target range 3.75-4.00% after a recent 25 bps cut), reflecting a normalization from post-pandemic highs but still elevated to curb lingering inflat... 11/13/2025

 Blue Ridge Electric’s Peak Hour Power Shift: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Bill DownIf Blue Ridge Electric serves you, you’ve likely noticed your power bill creeping up — and it’s not just because of colder mornings. For about a year now, Blue Ridge has been using “time-of-use” pricing, meaning electricity costs more during certain hours of the day when demand on the grid is highest.Last summer, that peak period ran from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., when everyone’s air conditioning and appliances were going full tilt. But as of this winter season, the peak window has shifted to 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. — right when most people are getting ready for work, taking showers, brewing coffee, and cranking up the furnace.It’s a seasonal cycle: Summer: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Winter: 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. Chan... 11/12/2025

I haven't been to a class on this topic for a couple of years, and I thought an update would be in order, especially since everything changes so quickly.Have you looked to see how your emails are doing on the Dark Web?https://haveIbeenpwned.comIt will show you where your emails have been hacked!MANY have been hacked, and a notice shows up on your screen that says - DO NOT SHUT OFF YOUR COMPUTER.   BUT, exactly do that!    This is the beginning of a ransom notice, so don't click anything!   It will stop anything further!Don't be lazy (like me) and put a code on your phone to open it.  In fact, do biometrics and do either your face or fingerprint to go one step further!I wrote SIX PAGES of notes, so going through a few at a time, as it is overwhelming!~ do updates on your router, computer... 11/12/2025

This week's Zoom meeting was super fantastic. I enjoyed it tremendously. It started with a bit of confusion because the link wasn't working correctly, but after hours of hard work behind the curtain, Kathy Streib  and Carol Williams  corrected it and notified us. It added a little spice to the afternoon for us, but it was stressful for Kathy and Carol to create a new link . So next week, look to Q&A for the link.   It is always nice to discuss how we did or didn't do our homework. My problem was not Grok, but converting it to a video. It seemed I was not the only one who had this problem, so I was not embarrassed. Therefore, I am hoping that someone will make a how-to video on the conversion, as I am totally at a loss on how to do it. Perhaps they will show us how to make a GIF from Gro... 11/11/2025

My Tip of the DayI recently realized that reducing the maximum number of emails displayed on the screen makes large quantities of miscellaneous stuff easier to process.  Maybe its just me.  11/09/2025

Most organizations aren’t afraid of AI—they’re overwhelmed by it.The tools are changing faster than the strategy. The result? Missed opportunities, mixed messages, and marketing that can’t keep up.Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t replacing #marketers and #copywriters —it’s amplifying creators who understand #AI, audiences, attention, story, systems, human patterns best practices, and psychology.That fusion is what I call Augmented Storytelling: pairing human narrative instincts, experience, and a robust talent-stack full of skills with machine-scale patterning to produce work that’s truer to the #brand and sharper in the moment.With every technology lifecycle there is a sweet spot window to jump in and ride the wave to success.We are there now with AI. Right at the beginning of the ma... 11/08/2025

Current Economic Landscape (November 2025)As of early November 2025, the US economy shows resilience amid headwinds: real GDP growth is tracking around 2.8% for Q3 (annualized), following a strong 3.8% in Q2, though forecasts point to moderation in late 2025 due to tariffs and uncertainty. Unemployment stands at 4.3%, up slightly from 4.2% earlier in the year, with inflation cooling to 2.7% (PCE) but still above the Fed's 2% target at ~3% CPI. The federal funds rate is at an effective 4.09% (target range 3.75-4.00% after a recent 25 bps cut), reflecting a normalization from post-pandemic highs but still elevated to curb lingering inflation. Geopolitically, ongoing wars in Ukraine (stalemated) and Gaza (with Iran-Israel tensions) dominate, alongside Sudan's civil war and rising risks in ... 11/07/2025

Is Your Brand Ready for MS Publisher’s End? Microsoft has announced that in October 2026, support for its Publisher software will come to an end and it will no longer be included in Office 365 or Office suites. If you use Publisher to manage your business collateral and, like many, have switched to Office 365 subscriptions, you will be left high-and-dry without a way to easily update listing flyers, presentation materials, or open house tools (to name just a few). You’ll lose the ability to open or edit Publisher files, unless you have prepared beforehand. Thinking ahead and converting your materials now makes a lot of sense. You have nearly a whole year to adjust to new publishing tools, but the best benefit may just be getting to use something other than Microsoft’s largely long aban... 11/07/2025

The “Sponsored” posts in this screenshot are fake Facebook ads designed to look like real Facebook notifications. Here’s how you can tell and what’s going on:🔍 What You’re SeeingThese are malicious “clickbait” ads that imitate Facebook’s interface: The icons (Messenger and Bell with red badges) are meant to trigger your reflex to click. The text mimics real notifications — “Someone just messaged you” or “You have (5) new notifications.” The domain name is fake — for example, facebook.c0m (with a zero) instead of facebook.com. 🚨 Why It’s DangerousClicking one of these typically leads to: Phishing pages that look like Facebook’s login screen, asking you to “sign in” — stealing your password. Malware downloads or browser scripts that can inject adware or hijack your Facebook session. Somet... 11/07/2025

WHO KNEW?    I have always had yellow ethernet cables, and did not even KNOW there were other colors.The most common colors are gray, blue, yellow, orange, and white.Gray - are considered "standard" and are often found in residential and commercial networks.Blue - are commonly used to connect a terminal server to a LAN network.Yellow - is generally used for what is called "power over Ethernet".  This means that your cable can supply both electrical power and data over a single connection.Green - commonly used to classify a crossover connection, which connects different computers and/or devices directly together.Black - are usually outdoor Ethernet cables made using outdoor-grade black PVC that resists wind, moisture, and sunlight.It is important to note: The color-coding system will be ... 11/07/2025

AI virtual staging is now part of many listing workflows, yet a set of myths still shapes expectations. The points below separate perception from practice so teams can choose the right approach per property.1) All AI virtual staging tools are the sameThis view usually comes from trying one or a few platforms and assuming the rest behave identically. In practice, tools differ in training data, rendering methods, room classifiers, fixture safety rules, and post-processing. Those differences appear in shadow behavior, scale, material realism, and error rates on tricky scenes (very wide lenses, mixed lighting, mirrored walls). Think of them as different lenses with similar aims but different results.2) AI virtual staging alters room fixtures and misrepresents propertiesSome systems overstep... 11/05/2025

I didn't realize how the Active Rain archive function worked.  I'll be darned.Toggle between Recent and Archives with the little orange button at the lower right of the blog post list screen.In Archive view, click/tap the down arrow under the current year, and it will display a drop down list of all years, with number of posts in each month. 11/04/2025

I'd like to thank Eileen Burns 954.483.3912 for the idea for this post!Hope it debunks the myth - SEO are not going to be replaced by Chatbot!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let's take a scenario:Imagine this: It’s 10 PM on a Sunday. You’re finally winding down after a whirlwind weekend of showings, paperwork, and client calls. Suddenly, your phone pings. A potential buyer, scrolling through listings, has a burning question about property taxes on 123 Main Street.Do you answer? Or do you risk losing a hot lead by waiting until morning?What if you didn’t have to choose? What if you had a super-powered assistant who never sleeps, never takes a coffee break, and handles those late-night queries with charm and effic... 11/01/2025

If you are reading this, you probably know I am working diligently to retire and move to Portugal.    So, first on the list is my business.    Make sure my clients are taken care of and have someone they can trust to assist them after I leave.    Next, is the website, which has provided me with a good amount of business over the years.   Just looking over briefly, it has provided me with $175,000 over the last 5 years.   Not BAD!When I spoke to Direct Nic (my domain hosting company) he said it isn't about the TOPIC, it is the domain seasoning itself that is worth the money.    So, went into Zillow to find all the Joan Cox REALTORS in the US.    Only one left in Chicago   I also went into LinkedIn, to see if any people there have the same name.I called the agent in Chicago - THAT was a f... 10/30/2025

Buyers today make decisions online long before stepping inside the property. Photos are the first showing, and if the rooms look empty, dark, or outdated, engagement drops quickly. Virtual staging has become one of the most reliable ways to improve listing appeal without the logistics or cost of physical staging. Here are five short essentials every agent should understand before choosing a solution.1- Which virtual staging companies are worth considering?There are dozens of providers today, and the quality varies widely. Agents should review sample galleries carefully and look for correct lighting, realistic shadows, and furniture scale that matches the room. Pricing models and turnaround times can also be deal-breakers depending on listing volume. For a detailed breakdown of leading c... 10/27/2025

💻 Real Estate Tech Talk:What Browser Are You Actually Using?Download COMET here.Hi ActiveRain family!  Quick real estate tech question for you.When you fire up your laptop, what browser are you opening first?And when you’re on the go — checking listings, sending docs, or chasing signatures from your phone — what browser’s keeping you company there?I know, it sounds like small talk… but honestly, it’s not. The browser’s basically our office. Between MLS, CRMs, DocuSign, Google Maps, Canva, and fifty tabs of “just in case,” we live in that little rectangle. And I am guilty of that. About 224 tabs open as I am writing this post!Some folks are loyal to Chrome — fast, familiar, and full of integrations (until your laptop starts sounding like a jet engine).Others swear by Safari — clean, batt... 10/24/2025

What Exactly is GEO?In simple terms for real estate, GEO is all about location, location, location.It stands for Geomarketing (using location data) and, more recently, Generative Engine Optimization (using AI's location-aware ability to answer questions). Compare this with Search Engine Optimization.Think of it this way: Old-School GEO (Geomarketing): This is making sure people physically near you, or in the specific neighborhoods you serve, see your stuff. If you're hosting an open house, this is running an ad just for people within a two-mile radius. It's about drawing a small, precise circle around your target. New-School GEO (Generative GEO): This is making sure that when someone asks an AI (like the one built into Google Search) a question about a local topic, the AI uses your info... 10/27/2025

Here's the real estate video weekly question! Looking to get into real estate video, the kind where you "roll your own"? And want to compare notes with other Active Rain real estate marketers in the same boat?This group is where you learn how to harness and produce simple but effective real estate videos to expand your market, to increase your reach for faster sales, more listings. Think what if you were a buyer, looking for a property and with little time but major pressure to find a place to buy. Would you want to one by one set up a showing, wait for a convenient time to get in and tour a property?Or would you rather have simple produced real full motion real estate videos to tap tap, sit back and watch, listen, tour.One after another for as long as you have to binge.That's the beaut... 10/23/2025