The more I use my iPad, the more I see how valuable it is for real estate agents.

In addition to the “cool factor” – there are tons of great productivity tools for real estate agents and brokers. Not only that, but using an iPad in the field eliminates the need to lug around a laptop – making your job much easier!

Here are my top 5 must-have iPad apps for real estate agents:

1. Keynote – This is a must for all real estate professionals. It is $9.99 but well worth it. Think of Keynote as PowerPoint, but so much easier and more intuitive to use. This is the perfect tool for creating a simple and very slick listing presentation. Don’t want to use Keynote because you love PowerPoint? Download Documents on the Go – the only app available to edit PowerPoint files (also $9.99.)

2. Open Home Pro - This is a fantastic free tool for open houses. No more open house register needed! Simply tap the app, enter the basic details of the listing, and you are ready to go. Once you have buyers come in, they simply sign in with their name, email and any other pertitant info. You can add notes too. After they have entered their info, the screen reads “Please hand the iPad back to your real estate agent.” Love it!

3. Dropbox – Dropbox is the easiest way to store, sync, and, share files online. There’s no complicated interface to learn. This is the easiest way to transfer files from your desktop or laptop to your iPad. This free app is must-have for any real estate agent.

4. GoodReader for iPad ($4.99), iAnnotate PDF ($9.99) and PDF Expert for iPad ($9.99) – All of these apps allow you to annotate PDF’s in a variety of ways. You an edit text, move notes with your finger, draw, and add a personalized signature and so much more. iAnnotate PDF and PDF Expert for iPad support VGA-out, so you can share your work on the big screen if needed.

5. DocuSign – This free app is simply a must for any real estate agent. Send, track and sign documents anytime and anyplace. View real-time business document status so that you instantly know what is completed and what still needs your attention. Create, tag and modify documents for e-signature.

What are your favorite iPad apps for real estate? I’d love to hear your experience using any of these apps. Leave me a comment below!

Written by: Katie Lance, Senior Marketing Manager, Inman News, @katielance

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I am so in love my my shiny new iPad2 that I’ve gone a little app-crazy. One of the newest apps just introduced to me is Keyoobi. At first glance, although not a real estate app, this app seems to be made for real estate agents. More often than not, so much of an agent’s day is spent in the car!

Keyoobi is the first iPad application that lets users see their day’s appointments as a route using Google Maps.  It shows users the amount of travel time they’ll have between appointments, displays the best route to get there, and identifies clients or prospects in the vicinity that may be scheduled in along the way.

(Can’t view the video? Click here)

Keyoobi will:

• Integrate with Contacts, Calendar and Maps
• Work for Enterprise users who synch their calendar and contacts with Exchange servers or Gmail
• Display appointment times and Color code routes based on travel time and appointment time
• Group Contacts with customizable pins and categories that are shown on the route map
• Route your next appointment in real time based on current location.

As a real estate agent – I could see using this to plan out appointments with clients, to plan a route for Broker’s Tour or even to plan a route for taking clients out to view property.I also really like that it maps your route most effectively – saving you time. Who doesn’t like to save time?!

Keyoobi retails for $9.99 and is available for download now in the App Store.

I’d love your opinion about this app – leave me a comment below. What other apps are your must-haves?

Written by: Katie Lance, Senior Marketing Manager, Inman News, @katielance

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I just downloaded one of the coolest and latest real estate apps on the iPad – the new “House of the Day” app from The Wall Street Journal. Just released this week, this app is based on the popular “House of the Day” feature from WSJ.com, in which readers can peak inside breathtaking houses all across the country.

What I love most about this app is that it is sleek, features gorgeous full-screen photos and minimal text. At first glance, the app features a variety of luxury homes from the beaches of Santa Monica, to the snowy ski slopes in Aspen, and the lavish apartments in Manhattan. In the coming weeks, dedicated sections for homes in NYC, Europe, and Asia will also be added.

According to WSJ.com, the app features included:

• Homes with vivid slideshows for a close and inside look at architecture, landscaping and design details
• Share the latest houses on Facebook and Twitter or email photos to friends
• Save images to the photos folder on the iPad or within the app

You can download the app from the iTunes store here >>

The big question I’m sure every real estate agent is asking is, “How do I get my listing on here?” I have checked with their media kit and have contacted several different sources at the WSJ and have yet to receive an answer. I t would only make sens to me that they would monetize this as an ad product. As soon as I know the pricing and process I will post it here.

Have you downloaded this yet app yet? What do you think? Leave me your feedback below!

Written by: Katie Lance, Senior Marketing Manager, Inman News, @katielance

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It seems like the hot topic all over the technology news channels is – “When will the new and improved version 2 of the iPad be revealed?”

According to a Wall Street Journal article today,

“The new iPad will be thinner and lighter than the first model, these people said. It will have at least one camera on the front of the device for features like video-conferencing, but the resolution of the display will be similar to the first iPad, these people said. It will also have more memory and a more powerful graphics processor, they said.”

“The new iPad will initially be available through Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc., but not Sprint Nextel Corp. or T-Mobile USA in the U.S., according to some of the people familiar with the matter.”

The big rumor swirling is that the iPad 2 is in production and be released in April 2011. Since the iPad’s release, Apple has sold 14.8 million units. The cost rumors are that it could be anywhere from $499 – $899.

So the question is – will real estate agents buy the new version of the iPad? If you have one, will you upgrade? Personally, I can’t wait for Version 2. Historically, Apple products get better and better with each generation – so hopefully, this one will be even better than the original.

It is truly amazing how the iPad has and will revolutionize so many industries – especially the real estate industry. At Real Estate Connect and Agent Reboot the rooms were full of agents taking notes, blogging, tweeting – all from their iPad. More and more agents are using the iPad in their listing presentations. Real estate professionals across North America have discovered tools like Evernote, Dropbox, Keynote and so many more that are available on the iPad and just make work faster, simpler, and more fun!

Want more of the Apple iPad rumors?

Here are a few great articles that I came upon today:

Would love your feedback about the iPad – what do you love the most about it? Will you be purchasing the new one? Leave me a comment below!

Written by: Katie Lance, Senior Marketing Manager, Inman News @katielance

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Where were you in 1984?

Do you remember a world where having a computer was a really big deal, and the thought of having a computer that would fit in your house was unbelievable? Most people who were born after 1984 can not imagine a world with out computers – let alone the internet, mobile devices, email, iPad, and the list goes on and on.

This week, 27 years ago in January 1984, the demo of the first Apple Macintosh by Steve Jobs, took place in front of 3000 people.

Andy Hertzfeld captured the moment quite well in his retelling:

“Pandemonium reigns as the demo completes. Steve has the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face, obviously holding back tears as he is overwhelmed by the moment. The ovation continues for at least five minutes before he quiets the crowd down.”

Can you imagine being there? It is truly amazing for me to watch this and realize just how far we have come. It sure puts the iPad into perspective!

Here is the video: (click here to view)

I wonder what we’ll be talking about in the next 20 years?

Written by: Katie Lance, Senior Marketing Manager, Inman News @katielance

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REALTORS® – did you receive an iPad under the Christmas tree this year? If so, here is your quick-start guide to setting it up!

1. Remove from the box and remove the clear plastic cover.

2. Plug it into your computer to sync it up. When iTunes launches, you’ll be asked to activate the iPad, agree to its Terms and Conditions, and register your device. If you have never had an iTunes account, you will be prompted to set one up. You will need to provide your credit card information. This is the card that will be used when you purchase anything from the iTunes store like apps, music, videos and movies. You’ll also need to come up with a username and password. Take my advice and write that down somewhere so you don’t forget! If you already have an iTunes account, you will be prompted to add your iPad to your account. One of the best things about Apple is how untuitive their set-up process is. But, if you need assistance, you can go to apple.com and use their live chat feature or view any one of their video tutorials.

iTunes will serve as your iPad’s “backup system.” If you already have an iPhone or iPod, I recommend that you start fresh and do not automatically sync everything from your iPhone or iPod to your iPad. Why? Not everything is compatible and it will take a lot of time!

Next, you can choose to automatically sync applications, photos, music and videos or customizing your options.

You can also skip the iTunes process temporarily if your iPad was activated at the Apple Store.

To set up your email, click on the General Settings app button on your iPad, enter your login information, and you’re ready to go.

3. Now the fun part – let’s download some apps!

Apps are already segmented between “universal” apps (that work for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad) and apps that are designed specifically for the iPhone. So you can sync all of the universal apps you already have, and then either track down the iPad equivalents of the iPhone apps you love.

4. What apps should you download right away? Here are just a few of my favorite for REALTORS®:

• Flipboard (Free) - Overwhelmed by the amount of content streaming through your Facebook, Twitter and RSS streams? Turn your social media and RSS feeds into an easy to read magazine.
• Friendly Plus for Facebook ($.99) – Until Facebook creates it’s own app, this is the next best thing. I also love how easily you can switch between accounts if you have more than one person sharing your iPad. This is great if you are part of an agent team and sharing one iPad – you can all easily flip back and forth on your Facebook accounts.
• Keynote ($9.99) This app is gorgeous! If you are creating presentations, this is a must-have. As a real estate agent, I would use this all the time with clients, especially listing presentations. You can create animated charts and transitions and so much more.
• Numbers ($9.99) This is the best spreadsheet app hands down. If you live in Excel, then you will love the abilities of Numbers. Plus, it’s just a fantastic app for organizing data. Completely redesigned for the iPad – this one is a must-have for every real estate agent or broker,
• Pages ($9.99) The perfect word processing app out there. Create letters, documents, PDF’s and so much more. Another must-have for the mobile real estate agent.
• …there are SO many more great iPad apps for real estate professionals – check back often for more blog posts about this very subject!

5. Purchase a case for your iPad. Your iPad will get banged and bruised very quickly without getting a proper case. Do a quick google search and there are millions of options or search right from the Apple store.

Am I missing anything? Feel free to chime in with your tips and feedback – leave me a comment below! Stay tuned – we are planning on many more iPad blog posts for 2011.

The iPad has truly changed the technology industry – and for REALTORS®, the possibilities are endless!

Written by: Katie Lance, Senior Marketing Manager, Inman News @katielance

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Matthew Shadbolt is the Director of Internet Marketing for The Corcoran Group, Manhattan’s largest real estate brokerage.

Follow Matthew on Twitter at @corcoran_group

The web is really good at connecting people. Really good. It’s also incredibly efficient at holding people at a distance. As connected as we are, our attention spans are collectively being pulled in ever increasing directions all day. Attempts to own more aspects of our digital day is becoming the key competitive strategic play of Apple, Google and Facebook.

All week here I’ve advocated problem solving, connecting and helping people as the key driver behind everything that’s done online, and I believe the main way to do this is to have fun. When I think of the things I enjoy about the internet, they are very rarely because they made me think about a business model in a new way, or that I loved the way they worked or even what they looked like. What I love about them, and why I’d repeatedly go back, is because they were fun.

This is where many online marketing strategies struggle. Facebook is fun. Facebook for business is inherently not fun. YouTube is really fun. YouTube for real estate, is very, very rarely fun.

The process of purchasing a home is one of the most terrifying, life-changing and thrilling things you could ever do in your life, especially if you’re a first time buyer. That feeling of opening the door to your new home, taking a deep breath and saying “this is mine” is one of the most incredible things you’ll ever feel. How is this experience being translated online? Is it fun? No. It is checkboxes, drop-downs, and pages and pages of ‘matching listings’.

‘Browsing listings’ is a far cry from ‘finding homes’. It’s like asking someone ‘how’s the market?’ and being presented with an Excel spreadsheet. Sure, there’s been some primitive attempts at ‘lifestyle search’, or ‘visual search’, but nothing that resonates with the real-world process of home buying. One of the main reasons home-purchasing or selling is so intimidating is that it’s essentially NOT fun. How different would it be if it was? This is one of the big lessons the real estate industry can learn from working online. Why do millions of people use social media every day? Because it’s FUN. Why are people NOT visiting your website or your Facebook page, or watching your home tour videos – because they’re NOT fun.

Many of us in the real estate marketing world equate confusion, anxiety and frustration with the technology inherent in using these services. Thankfully, this is a short-term problem. As technology gets smarter, it starts to disappear and become invisible to the user. The iPhone or Facebook’s new messaging service are great examples of this. I can only imagine the intense complexity behind these services, yet it’s not there when I’m looking up restaurants nearby or chatting with friends on the other side of the world. I just don’t care how it works.

This is one of the big challenges for our industry. ‘Browsing listings’ needs to transition into ‘finding homes’, and we’ll hear less and less about the ‘conversion funnel’ and more and more about long term customer advocacy across many different types of platforms. As a truly impatient New Yorker, I can’t wait to see what comes next.

And speaking of truly fun ways of connecting people, here’s an old one, but a great one (32 million views anyone?):

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Do you have an iPhone 4 yet? Sadly I do not have my hands on this new device – YET! So, I am living vicariously through the reviews that are all over the internet.

I’ve compiled a list here of some of the most helpful reviews (in my opinion):

Everything you need to know about the iPhone 4 - review from MobileCrunch – This is really fantastic and thorough review of all the new features and benefits.  I love this quote below:

An iPhone Lover’s (Initial) Thoughts On iPhone 4 – review from TechCrunch. This review is coming from someone who is a diehard iPhone lover – he has a great video embedded into his post demonstrating some of the features. Here are a couple things the writer said that stuck out to me:

“The biggest thing that stands out in my mind one day later is that immediately after I put down the iPhone 4 and went back to my iPhone 3GS, the latter felt kind of like a toy in comparison.”

“….it’s not just that the iPhone 4 has four times the pixels of the earlier iPhones, it’s that much of the distance between the glass you touch and the pixels have been removed as well. It’s subtle things like this — things that most people will never even realize they’re noticing (but they are) — that make Apple, Apple.”

Thinner, Faster, Smarter iPhone Raises the Stakes – review  from The Wall Street Journal. The author took the iPhone 4 through some rigorous tests, dropping it several times from several feet onto a hard surface without any problems. I don’t think I would be that brave to do that! Check out his review to see what happened.

“In both hardware and software, it is a major leap over its already excellent predecessor, the iPhone 3GS.” As for the negatives, he says, “The most important downside of the iPhone 4 is that, in the U.S., it’s shackled to AT&T.”

Apple iPhone 4 – 32GB – black (AT&T) – review from CNet. Included in CNet’s review, you will find video and slick pictures. CNet says:

“This iPhone 4 has us more excited than we were last year when the the 3GS was born. The new features, particularly those in the new operating system, are long overdue, and we welcome any efforts to improve call quality (remember that it is a phone, after all).”

New iPhone Arrives; Rivals, Beware – review from The New York Times. This author loves the new phone, calling it “amazing” and saying that the public has already made the call over whether Apple has released another great phone. He goes on to say:

“Phones running Google’s Android software are gaining rave reviews and packing in features that iPhone owners can only envy. The Android app store is ballooning, multiple phone makers are competing, and Google updates the software several times a year. Apple releases only one new model a year, so the new iPhone had better be pretty amazing to compete.”

What do you think of the new iPhone 4? Have you purchased it yet? Will you? Would love your feedback, leave me a comment below!

Written by: Katie Lance, Marketing Manager, Inman News

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In January 2010, the Center for REALTOR® Technology (CRT) extended an email survey invitation to 45,000 random REALTORS® who have provided NAR with an email address. Close to 1,500 responded to the survey. 93% of those indicated that they were 40 years old or younger use a smartphone to conduct real estate business. 86% of respondents older than 40 use a smartphone.

Here are the highlights of the survey:

Top 3 smartphone brands used by respondents:

• Blackberry (41.2%)
• iPhone family: iPhone 3G (14.1%) ; iPhone 3GS (11.9%)
• Palm (14.0%)

Top 3 reasons why respondents were motivated to choose current smartphone:

• Best device for email (45.9%)
• Ease of use (26.2%)
• Ability to use a keyboard (23.7%)

Top 5 features used most by respondents on their smartphones:

• Telephone (91.2%)
• Email (88.4%)
• SMS/texting (73.8%)
• Calendar (52.6%)
• Web browser (42.3%)

For general purposes, social media related apps were the most popular type of application downloaded by survey respondents (54.5%). This was followed by maps (43.3%) and weather applications (41.8%).

When it comes to MLS listing information:

• 57.3% indicate they have access to MLS listing information through their smartphone’s web browser.
• On a scale of 1-5, where 5 is extremely satisfied – respondents rated their overall satisfaction with the MLS listings available through their smartphone a 3.12.
• 10.7% do not have access to listings via a smartphone because their MLS does not allow it.
• Of this group, 94.4% are very interested in obtaining access via their smartphone.
• 11.4% are not interested in accessing MLS listings via their smartphone.

Out of all this data – the one that is the most disturbing to me, is the MLS info.

Only about HALF of smartphone users have access to MLS data on their phone? And 10% don’t have access because their MLS won’t allow it? REALLY?

It really boggles my mind that agents would not have full and complete access to this data from any internet connection – laptop, desktop or smartphone. I know many times the problem lies in that many MLS’s only work on Internet Explorer – which yes, is still the top web browser but unfortunately it also usually contains the most bugs. Many tech-savvy and smart agents are working from Firefox, Chrome or Opera – just to name a few. In addition many MLS’s are not compatible with Safari – the main browser on a Mac or iPhone. I hope NAR and the Center for REALTOR® technology will help move many MLS’s into the future!

This topic is sure to be a hot debate at Real Estate Connect during our MLS Track held in the afternoon on July 14th.

FOREM fans – what do you think of this survey? Would love your thoughts and opinions – please leave me your feedback below!

Written by: Katie Lance, Marketing Manager, Inman News

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As many of you know, the much anticipated iPhone4 was announced yesterday in San Francisco. Aside from it being leaked a few months back and then Steve Jobs not being able to connect to the Wi-Fi (that was highly entertaining) – there were still some really cool new features announced yesterday. Apple, which has delivered a new iPhone every year since it first came out, sees the fourth-generation device as “the biggest leap” in design and functionality in three years.iPhone4 tech specs

Here are the top 4 features that were announced about the NEW iPhone4:

1. The iPhone4 is thinner, has a better resolution and adds a front-facing camera (with a flash!) The new iPhone sports a new type of glass and a stainless-steel band that Apple says is designed to improve network reception. The resolution on the new phone is the resolution is now 960 by 400 pixels, up from 480 by 320 in all previous iPhones. The camera is now 5 megapixels, which will deliver more detail, and this is the first iPhone with an LED flash (finally!!)

2. 2 cameras! New video program: FaceTime, will be limited to Wi-Fi networks for now. That means customers won’t be able to make video calls using AT&T Inc., the exclusive U.S. wireless carrier for the iPhone. And while the phone can tap fourth-generation networks, that technology won’t be ready from AT&T until the middle of next year. For video, the camera is now capable of 720P resolution – and Apple is offering a slick-looking $4.99 version of its iMovie app that lets you edit movies right on the phone.

3. The new operating system iOS4. This new operating system supports features such as multitasking – the ability to run more than one application at the same time. Jobs said yesterday that there are more than 225,000 apps available. The company has paid out more than $1 billion to developers, who get a 70 percent share of the programs sold through the store, he said.

4. Longer battery life and talk time. According to the company, the phone offers seven hours of talk time or 300 hours on standby, six hours of Internet use on 3G, ten hours of movie-watching, and 40 hours of music playback.

How much is it?

• A 16-gigabyte model will cost $199, and a 32-gigabyte version will sell for $299.

Web developers – check this out:

• An advertising system called iAd will be built into the new iPhone software, giving creators of apps a new way to make money. Software developers will get a 60 percent cut of revenue from ads placed within their apps. After eight weeks of taking orders, Apple said yesterday that it has commitments for $60 million in advertising for the second half of the year.

Real Estate Agents & Brokers – what does this mean for you?

• I think these new features this only enhances how a real estate agent would use the iPhone. Longer battery life – always a good thing for an agent! Multi-tasking – agents are the kings and queens of this and will love this feature. Dual videos – this is a huge opportunity for agents – think about video blogging, house tours, video chats with clients, working remotely, working with international or relocation clients – the possibilities are endless.

What if you already have an iPhone and don’t want to get a new one?

• Upgrade your phone to iOS 4, the latest version of the software that Apple has called iPhone OS until now.
• It’ll be available as a free download on June 21st, and brings many of the best iPhone 4 features to any iPhone 3GS, including multitasking of multiple programs at once, folders for organizing your apps, and a better e-mail program. (It also works on the older iPhone 3G model, but without multitasking.)

I do love my iPhone… now only if I could actually get good AT & T reception A girl can dream, right?!

Did you see Steve Jobs announcement yesterday? What do you think of the new iPhone4? Would love your feedback, please leave me a comment below!

Written by: Katie Lance, Marketing Manager, Inman News

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