Technology That Helps Your Business

Hi, I’m Christian, the Director of Information Technology for GHAR. I’m the official techie for the Association and it’s my duty to keep the network at our office running smoothly. When Keara, our Communications Director asked to me write something for the blog, I pondered what should I write about since Technology encompasses a wealth of information.

I thought about writing commentary on what’s going on in the tech world, writing reviews of products I personally purchased, or providing instructions on how to accomplish something. I decided not to write about news items because my turn to write for the blog comes up every six weeks or so and that wouldn’t be timely. Now I’m left to either writing how-to’s or reviews and I thought there are plenty of those types of blogs on the Internet already.

I looked at a number of technology blogs to see what other techies were writing. The publications I read published by MIT (Cambridge, MA) and IEEE (a professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation) are great, but they’re geared for academics, scientists and engineers.

So I thought I would share a few of my favorite technology blogs for the average person: “All Things Digital” written by Walter Mossberg and Kara Swisher for the Wall Street Journal, “Pogue’s Posts” written by David Pogue and “Bits” written by eleven contributors for the New York Times. What’s great about these blogs is that these authors write so that everyone can understand.

On my quest to find a technology blog that relates to the real estate industry, I found a technology blog on NAR’s website. On their blog was “a quick fun video created” at the NAR convention held last year in San Diego “about technology and its role on the member” called “How Technology Affects You!” published by Chris McKeever.

If you’re interested in making technology work for you as a real estate professional, there’s a great conference recommended by Todd Carpenter; author of the “Geek’s Guide to #NARdiGras.” The two-day conference, REtechSouth will be held next Spring in Duluth, Georgia (near Atlanta). It’s for “real estate industry professionals looking to incorporate new technologies and best practices of existing technologies into their overall business strategy.” National instructor, Amy Chorew, will speak at REtechSouth. If you can’t attend the conference, go to the West Region event “Leverage Your Listings: Get More In Return For Your Online Marketing” where she will instruct this CE elective on November 12th at the Golf Club of Avon.

If you have a radio, tune in to the weekly radio show REtechRadio. “It’s a fast paced 30 minutes of real estate technology tips, insight, interviews, and conversation” hosted by Ken Cook on Thursdays at 12:00 pm EST.

REtechSouth and RETSO the robot can be found on Facebook.

MLS Answers from the MLS Director

I’m Shelley LaPaugh, Director of MLS for GHAR and this is my very first attempt at a blog entry. I hope to be blogging regularly and I am looking forward to reading your questions and comments!

I’ve been in the real estate business for 23 years, ten as a practicing REALTOR® and thirteen with GHAR handling MLS issues. I am also the staff liaison to the South Region Committee, which bring classes, events, and programs to local venues south of Hartford. But, my main focus is providing support for all things MLS to you, our members.

I get calls from some of you everyday about a range of MLS topics; from Legal questions to “MLS won’t let me in!” Just today I received an interesting call I’d like to share with you.
An agent wanted to put MLS listings on a personal website. The agent had spoken to other agents (who already had listings on their websites) and asked them how they did it. Then, after the agent followed the advice, months were spent on getting written approval from the company broker to get an internet data exchange (IDX) data feed from MLS.

Unfortunately, this agent wasted a lot of time and effort, because the other agents must have set up their websites years ago and didn’t know that the technology and the rules had changed. Today adding MLS data to either your MLXchange website or an independent website is simple. Your personal link to a frameable IDX site already exists under your website settings on MLXchange. Just go to Settings/Personalize/Website Management and then click on the Website domain button. A list of the URLs is displayed there.

Getting information from your fellow REALTORS® is great. There is a wealth of experience there just waiting to be tapped. But, when dealing with MLS issues, it’s best to refer to GHAR. Don’t waste your precious time! We have up-to-date information that will help you navigate the MLS, and everything it has to offer, that will help make your business more efficient.