Jack Miller Consulting http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com Thoughts on real estate, technology, and the internet Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:02:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Updates from the Austin Real Estate Market – New Construction Project in Austin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/updates-from-the-austin-real-estate-market-new-construction-project-in-austin/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/updates-from-the-austin-real-estate-market-new-construction-project-in-austin/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:06:24 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/?p=185 In January, the Goodlife Team formed a relationship with Ken Blaker and Bob Tims of of the Antero Homes project at Knollwood.  We are pleased to now represent 250 units of 2 star green new construction homes on the Colorado river, only 4 miles from downtown.  I’ve been out at the project for many days at this point, and I am very excited about the possibilities I see for a great neighborhood in a part of of town that people didn’t even know existed.  Yesterday we closed our 1st sale at the project, and we are excited to have the opportunity to work with our new partners to create something great for home owners.

The market for new construction homes in Austin continues to vex my real estate friends nationally; I call and talk to them about what we are doing at the goodlife team with new developments and their don’t understand it in the context of the national real estate market, which is perfectly understandable.  If you only use the national news, it would seem like there would be no new construction until 2020 at the earliest due to the glut of resale inventory.  Austin exists in it’s own economic climate, not unaffected by the national market, but also with some peculiar advantages – reasonable unemployment given the circumstances, diverse business environment meaning we don’t depend on any one industry for jobs, and the reasonable appreciation rates in our housing market prior to the national bust.  Plus, people still want to move here :-)  Garry Wise is writing about this every month as part of our blog – see the latest market stats at Austin Real Estate Market Stats – this is updated every month with our interpretations of what is happening in the Austin real estate market.

Of course, if you are searching for any property in East Austin, come visit us at www.goodlifeteam.com.

Jack

]]> http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/updates-from-the-austin-real-estate-market-new-construction-project-in-austin/feed/ 0 Recent interview about utilizing Salesforce for the Goodlife Team http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/recent-interview-about-utilizing-salesforce-for-the-goodlife-team/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/recent-interview-about-utilizing-salesforce-for-the-goodlife-team/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:23:16 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/recent-interview-about-utilizing-salesforce-for-the-goodlife-team/ http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/video/0,297151,sid201_gci1374987,00.html

]]> http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/recent-interview-about-utilizing-salesforce-for-the-goodlife-team/feed/ 0 Interview at Inman August 2009 http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/interview-at-inman-august-2009/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/interview-at-inman-august-2009/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:42:51 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/?p=181

A short interview I gave on what else you can do to affect the sale of a home besides the price.

]]> http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/interview-at-inman-august-2009/feed/ 0 My Goodlife Team Story http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/my-goodlife-team-story/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/my-goodlife-team-story/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:26:12 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/?p=177

]]> http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/my-goodlife-team-story/feed/ 0 A change http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/a-change/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/a-change/#comments Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:35:40 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.net/?p=84 Hi folks-

In January of 2009, I accepted the position of CTO of the Goodlife team real estate brokerage in Austin, TX, run by my friend and collaborator Krisstina Wise.   I chose to do this for a number of reasons.

  • The industry is changing.  I have been consulting and coaching with brokerages and agents since 2005, and in the industry since 2001, and I can see the structural changes that have challenged my clients.
  • The Goodlife team brand and Krisstina’s leadership in the industry offer a unique and I think valuable difference to real estate consumers and agents.  She and our team are offering something different, and we think, better.
  • I believe that the best way to solve a problem is to get in there and solve it.  The Goodlife team is inventing technology, marketing, and customer service practices like crazy, and having a great time doing it.

I will be updating this blog site periodically (but a lot less frequently), and many of my posts about the industry and technology in it will appear on www.goodlifeteam.com/blog as part of the conversation with and about the industry.  If you are a past client or friend from the Keller Williams days, feel free to participate.  I am also fairly active on twitter, and you can follow me at www.twitter.com/jackmiller

Wishing you the best while we re-make the real estate industry,

Jack

Editor’s note: A number of Keller Williams related posts were removed from the content of this site since many of them are no longer applicable.  If you are looking for technical help with Keller Williams systems or tools, please contact the fine folks at support.kw.com.

]]> http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/a-change/feed/ 2 How to post notes on facebook to a group of friends http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/how-to-post-notes-on-facebook-to-a-group-of-friends/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/how-to-post-notes-on-facebook-to-a-group-of-friends/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:35:10 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/?p=167 This is a short video I recorded on how to post a note to a restricted list of people on Facebook.
Too bad that Facebook doesn’t allow this for status updates :-(

FaceBookPostingNotesOnFacebookToFriendList

]]> http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/how-to-post-notes-on-facebook-to-a-group-of-friends/feed/ 0 How to import your blog into facebook http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/how-to-import-your-blog-into-facebook/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/how-to-import-your-blog-into-facebook/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:51:42 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/?p=173 FacebookImportingYourBlog

]]> http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/how-to-import-your-blog-into-facebook/feed/ 0 Example Autoresponders http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/example-autoresponders/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/example-autoresponders/#comments Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:47:24 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.net/?p=153 These are some example auto response emails to use with your real estate Website.

IDX Search Saver Registration

Subject: Account Information with http://www.mywebsite.com

Thank you for creating your Profile at http://www.mywebsite.com. Please make sure to save this message for future reference.

You now have access to thousands of area listings, and can set up saved searches that will notify you as soon as properties come on the market that meet your criteria!

You can log into your Profile at any time by pointing your web browser to:

http://idx.mywebsite.com

Your free Profile allows you access to several time saving features including SearchSaver and Favorites:

SearchSaver:
* Save searches and receive email notifications when new listings match.
* Choose notifications for just new listings or for new and updated listings.
* Email your Saved Searches to your Realtor, a co-buyer or a friend.
* Save as many searches as you like!

Favorites:
* Save listings to your Favorites folder for easy future reference.
* Email your Favorites to your Realtor, a co-buyer or a friend.
* Save as many Favorites as you like!

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can to do to make your home search easier, please contact us any time by email at example@mywebsite.com or 555-555-5555.

Thank you again and happy home hunting!

Joe Agent
mywebsite.com
555-555-5555

Contact Us Auto Responder/Buyer Information Request/Seller Information Request

Subject: Thanks for contact us

Thank you for your request!  We will contact you shortly!

In the mean time, you can browse all area properties at our website at http://www.mywebsite.com/search.  You can also register and have new listings that match your search sent to you via email as soon as they are on the market!

For home sellers, we offer a home value report based on current sales in your area of comparable homes.  If you would like a free home value report, please submit your request here: http://www.mywebsite.com/freehomevaluereport

Alt:

Home sellers can also register and create a search profile – find out what homes like yours are on the market!

Alt:

For home sellers, we offer a free report on the 10 steps to selling your home.  Request this free report here http://www.mywebsite.com/freehomesellingreport

We will speak with you soon!

Thanks

Joe Agent
mywebsite.com
555-555-5555

Property Inquiry/Showing Request Auto Responder

Subject: Thanks for your inquiry

Thank you for your inquiry about one of our properties!  I will be back with you shortly about your request!

Also, our property listings feature many additional tools, such as mortgage calculators, school district information, and neighborhood data.  Please let us know how we can help you improve your home buying decision!

If you are interested in being notified of similar properties, you can register for a search saver and have new listings emailed to you that match your criteria – register with our website here:  http://www.mywebsite.com/register

Joe Agent
mywebsite.com
555-555-5555

Email Newsletter Subscription Form

Subject: Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter!

We will be sending you periodic newsletters on the real estate market and buying and selling in your area.

Also, did you know that you can browse all area properties at our website at http://www.mywebsite.com/search. ? You can also register and have new listings that match your search sent to you via email as soon as they are on the market!

For home sellers, we offer a home value report based on current sales in your area of comparable homes.  If you would like a free home value report, please submit your request here: http://www.mywebsite.com/freehomevaluereport

Joe Agent
mywebsite.com
555-555-5555

Career Information

Subject: Careers at Keller Williams

Thank you for contacting me about your interest in a career with Keller Williams!  I would be happy to talk to you about what I have experienced with KW, and some of the key differences I found between Keller Williams and other firms.

I will be in contact with you shortly!

Joe Agent
mywebsite.com
555-555-5555

]]> http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/example-autoresponders/feed/ 1 Internet Lead Generation Free Conference call – notes http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/internetleadgenerationfreecall/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/internetleadgenerationfreecall/#comments Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:24:05 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.net/?p=53 These are my notes from April 14th web conference call.

Basic Free Way to Advertise your Website
Google Seach Submit
Yahoo Search Submit
MSN Search Submit
Google Local (Free)

http://www.google.com/local/add/

This adds you to the Google Local Business Directory. You can create a link back to your site.

Yahoo Local Submission Program

http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/local/business.php

Local Basic Listing (Free)
Local Enhanced Listings ($9.95/month)
Local Featured Listing ($25/month)

This is an example of the local business directory:

http://local.yahoo.com/results?p=real+estate&fr=&sortby=&csz=Austin%2C+TX&flnstr=2&flsstr=0&ppg_nm=1&pg_nm=2&xargs=

Featured listings are in the blue box at the top, regular listings appear in the list. Recommend starting with the free listing – have some past clients give you a review, it helps your placement on the site when people search for highest reviewed.

I don’t think the $9.95/month buys you much, the premium placement of local featured listing would generate more traffic due to the placement on the page.

Promoting Your Listings
Postlets, free web-flyer for real estate listings
Other, pay-for options for single property site web-flyers.
Craig’s list
Trulia Advertising

http://www.trulia.com/advertisers/agents/

Featured listing Program (Priced at 10 listings for $50/month) and
City Banner program ($250/month)

Zillow EZ Ad

http://www.zillow.com/learnmore/WhyUseZillowAgents.htm

1 cent per impression.

Yahoo Directory Submission Program (National Listing)

$299/annually

http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/dirsb/dirsb_pr.php

Google Adwords

http://adwords.google.com

Enjoy!

Jack

]]> http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/internetleadgenerationfreecall/feed/ 0 Scoble’s Starfish in Real Estate http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/scobles-starfish-in-real-estate/ http://www.jackmillerconsulting.com/blog/scobles-starfish-in-real-estate/#comments Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:59:06 +0000 admin http://www.jackmillerconsulting.net/?p=62 I’ve been following a discussion by Robert Scoble and others about how people find you, and eventually decide to transact with in in the context of the Internet.  Of course, things are a little different in real estate, but the core concepts are basically the same.

This is a diagram that I created early last year to explain what is being called the “Starfish”, the multiple tentacles that extend into different user contexts and that lead them back to your website where they are captured.

Scoble Starfish in Real Estate

I’m developing a list of all the places that I think it makes sense to place your tentacles – some are mentioned in this diagram, and some I’m still collecting information about.  There are a lot of places you *can* show up on the Internet, and it helps to have evaluated the value of some places over others in terms of traffic and audience.

Click here for the article about the starfish social media concept on Robert Scoble’s blog.

I hope you had a great holiday and a happy new year!

Jack

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