Many have observed that the World Wide Web is tailor-made for the real estate industry, both as a marketplace and -- very soon -- as a vehicle to bring together all the players and services (real estate salespeople, lenders, appraisers, title companies, insurers, etc.) involved in the completion of a real estate transaction. Most real estate agents have yet to harness the communications and marketing tools of the Internet to enhance their careers. This book offers to fill that void.
Computers and electronic communication have become essential tools for success in the real estate profession. During the past year, the World Wide Web has exploded as a real estate venue. Most agents now realize that, instead of digging in their heels to resist traveling the information superhighway, they need to learn how to make the Internet work for them.
This book is designed to do five things for real estate agents: 1) ease them quickly into using communications tools related to the Internet; 2) show them how successful agents use the Net and the World Wide Web to build business; 3) show how to harness the Net to give agents greater control over their own careers; 4) give them a quick opportunity to immerse themselves in the Internet world many of their customers and competitors already know well; and 5) help them create the kind of effective Web presence that can bring them business.
The book begins by showing readers the value of email for their business and getting them comfortable with being connected and using online tools. Throughout the book, we explore the wealth of real estate resources and useful information available on the World Wide Web, including tips by two of the most respected commentators in the country. The book describes some successful real estate Web sites and shows what makes them work. It also presents the pros and cons for building the Web site yourself and whether you should take advantage of the multiplicity of service providers ready to help.
Planning for a Web site forces real estate agents to take a look at their business plans and how the Web fits into them. Besides giving them some guidelines on creating a Web site business plan, the book explores how agents can establish a Web presence that will stand them in good stead in the uncertain world of technology.
While most of the book focuses on the home buyers market, it also addresses how the Web is affecting commercial real estate, REITs, exchangers, and lenders. Seeing the way they use the Web offers real estate agents valuable perspectives and options.
NetSuccess demonstrates how being connected to the Internet can liberate real estate agents from the limitations of time and place and help them bring in more commissions. Through working agents' stories and "A day in the life" scenarios, readers follow some telecommuting agents to show what changes and what stays the same when you make technology a full partner in your working life. Includes CD-ROM with Internet software.
