Did You Know?

In the US, Google Maps now offers step-by-step biking directions; bike trails outlined directly on the map; and a new Bicycling layer that indicates bike trails, bike lanes, and bike-friendly roads. The following video explains in more detail:

The following is an adaptation of great little article that appears on www.agencylogic.com:

Many REALTORS don’t know they can use a different browser to ’surf the web’ (that seems like such an antiquated term), in fact many don’t even know what a browser is. They just think the little blue ‘e’ means “internet”. They click it, they see Websites.

RISMEDIA, March 15, 2010—By Brian Friem - Transparency is talked about by many in the real estate industry. But what exactly is transparency and is it really important to consumers? Does transparency provide any benefit to brokerages? Reviewing case studies in other industries provides us with some answers that will seem obvious and others that won’t.

Merriam-Webster
Transparency: 2d: characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices

RISMEDIA, March 12, 2010— The Word on Appraisals by Jeff Schurman -Close to a year after the launch of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC), more agents are seeing value in increased appraisal transparency and consistent processes for ordering, tracking, delivery and quality-monitoring. But some appraisal-industry misperceptions persist—including in the area of pricing.

A typical story an agent might hear goes like this: “The HUD-1 said the appraiser was paid $450, but the appraiser only received $325. So where did the rest of the money go?”

Two out of five real estate professionals who use a smartphone to conduct business use a Blackberry (41.2 percent), while 26.0 percent use an iPhone and 14.0 percent choose a Palm, according to the 2010 Smartphone Survey by Center for REALTOR® Technology.

RISMEDIA, By Steve Brown - (MCT)—Baby boomer buyers fueled a big run-up in U.S. home construction and sales in the 1970s and 1980s. Now beleaguered homebuilders say they’re hoping aging boomers, who are just entering retirement age, will once again give them robust housing sales.

“We believe this segment of the market is going to lead the housing industry toward recovery as the market turns around,” said Sharon Dworkin Bell, a senior staff vice president of the National Association of Home Builders.

RISMEDIA, March 10, 2010—The economic recession in the United States has generated a powerful sense of engagement between workers and bosses, with more than a third of employees surveyed saying they are more loyal to their employer, according to the latest survey from global workforce solutions leader Kelly Services.

The survey, conducted between early October 2009 and the end of January 2010, finds that 34% say the economic downturn has made them more loyal, while 14% say it has made them less loyal, and 52% say it’s made no difference.

NEW YORK – March 9, 2010 – Search engine optimization (SEO), which involves strategies to ensure that a Web site lands on the first page of search results, is not the only important component of an online marketing strategy.

Real estate agents must compete with lead aggregators for top search engine rankings; and even if agents make it onto the first page of search results, they must have an attractive and engaging website to convert visitors into leads.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (AP) – March 8, 2010 – In March 2009, Frank Mumenthal toured his Elk Grove Village home after adding a fresh coat of neutral-colored paint, new carpeting and other changes. He was ready to sell.

Since 1976, this had been where he raised two daughters and a son, now grown and living in Schaumburg, Lombard and Grayslake. The children and grandchildren have played in these rooms.

In the master bedroom, he took care of his wife until she died from ovarian and breast cancer. In the kitchen, he saw the cabinets he installed.