In the Loop with DotLoop

Meet Virginia....and Georgia

2010-09-30T07:44:00.013-04:00

DotLoop is putting its Pepsi bottles away as we head down to Atlanta tomorrow for the 2010 REBarCamp Atlanta. We'll be sure to eat lots of peaches while showing lovers of technology how they can simplify their lives with online negotiations.

Speaking of lovers, DotLoop will keeping it real at the REAL Show: the Virginia Association of Realtor's Convention & Expo October 1-3. If you're in town, join us in booth #204; this weekend will be sweeter than maple syrup.

Take Me Out To The Cleaners...

2010-09-29T08:20:00.019-04:00

Let's play a game.

Imagine you're rich. Super rich. Now, imagine you want to build yourself a clubhouse. Fun game so far, huh?

This clubhouse will be built in the middle of town, only you don't want to have to pay for it. So, you convince your neighbors to pony up their money to pay for your shiny new clubhouse. Well, not so much convince as blackmail. See, if they don't give you money to pay for the clubhouse, you will leave and take the town's prized tourist attraction because, well, you own that, too.

So, they agree to build your clubhouse. Once built, you charge your neighbors an exorbitant fee to enter the clubhouse.

Sounds like a rotten deal, huh?

Interestingly enough, that's exactly how most city stadiums are built. Sport teams are no doubt a huge part of a city's culture (indeed, the Cincinnati Reds, DotLoop's own hometown team, won their division last night and clinched the playoffs, causing all sorts of excitement in the city), but often, the city never really owns the team. Or the stadium that is built by public tax dollars.

But don't stadiums bring in revenue for the city? Yes and no. Yes, they bring in some new tax dollars, but no, not enough to offset the cost of building the stadium.

The bottom line: sports teams are great for a city or region's culture and helps them brand themselves, but when private teams reap most of the benefits, shouldn't they be the ones paying for the facilities?

Of course, the resale is where the real money is at. Just ask Detroit, who sold their Pontiac Silverdome last year for a whopping $583,000. That's a lot of money, until you realize it cost the city $55.7 million to build it in 1975.

You can buy an awful lot of Cracker Jacks with that kind of money.

Happy Little Trees

2010-09-27T09:37:00.019-04:00

With fall upon us, many of you no doubt are starting to do some home fix-ups. It is, after all, the perfect weather for painting without panting (no humidity - whoo hoo!).

I painted this weekend myself, actually. As I was going over the old paint, I was careful to stay within the lines, until, at one point, I went outside the parameters just a bit.

At first, I freaked out. Being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted to make sure that the new coat of paint covered the old exactly.

But then it dawned on me: I don't have to follow the same old worn pattern. After all, I have a brand new bucket of paint and can make new lines and new boundaries with my paint brush. I have the power to create an entirely new design.

This is great news, especially since the old lines are faded. After all, it's been two whole years since the economy began to crumble. By now, the old paint has chipped off. The question then, is, are you still following the old path, or are you forging a new one?

I challenge you, then, with your new paint bucket, to go and create bold new brush strokes. Maybe you've decided to take on that challenging listing or make your office completely paperless. Maybe you've even decide to embark on an entirely new career path altogether.

It's completely up to you. With all the doom and gloom about the current economy and with everyone wanting to badly to return to the spreadsheets of 2006, we often forget that this crisis is as much an opportunity as anything else.

So, instead of lamenting that the old paint is peeling off, brush away those paint chips and go create a masterpiece.

Don't miss the forest for the "happy little trees".

Foreclosures, Forgeries, and Fraudulant Financing

2010-09-24T12:11:00.000-04:00

It's been three days since official start of fall and two years since the official fall of Lehman Brothers.

Only now, though, it seems that the question of "how did this happen?" is finally being answered.

The heat is hammering down on the foreclosure and mortgage industries, as it was just revealed this week that thousands of mortgage approvals were shuffled through and never checked. Many more were forged.

As the paperwork piled up, no one bothered checking to make sure that "Bogus Assignee" was a real person (yes, this actually happened) before approving them for a $500,000.00 mortgage. Others simply signed off on forms using a title they did not hold.

Hopefully, it's a lesson learned. Financial dealings are too important to be bogged down by mounds of paper that can easily be manipulated, lost, or forged.

DotLoop finds all of this fascinating, if only because it speaks so loudly about the need for transparent and accurate documentation. With DotLoop, not only is every change documented and attached to a form's history, but changes have to first be approved by a client before a form can be signed.

Who knew verification and approval were such novel ideas?

Pump the Brakes

2010-09-22T07:32:00.024-04:00

While we always have multiple projects going on at the same time here at DotLoop, this week seems especially busy.

But we can make it - we always do. I think the key for us each of us to focus on one thing at a time before moving onto the next project. By week's end, things always seem to fall in place.

No doubt as agents, you've had your fair share of full plates. If you're lucky enough (or skilled enough), you might even be overflowing with work right now.

How do you get through it? Do you focus on one thing at a time or multiple things at a time? How do you handle multi-tasking?

More than likely, you don't.

Scientists are seeing more and more evidence that multi-tasking is a myth, that what we call "multi-tasking" is really just rapid attention shifting. We basically are taking tiny bites of a cornucopia of meals at a time instead of fully digesting one plate at a time.

Between bites, however, we need to refocus, losing productivity despite our "multi-tasking" which, ironically enough, is designed to make us more productive.

But getting one thing done, then moving onto the next actually allows for a greater yield of activity at the end of the day.

I'm sure Jeffrey Stephan wish he had thought of that. The 41 year-old document processor for Ally Financial recently admitted that he signed off on thousands of bank foreclosures, without reading a single one, a requirement for the job. The main reason was the shear amount of documents that needed to be reviewed and hand-signed: up to 10,000 a month.

Now, those who had their homes foreclosed on have ammunition to fight back and call shenanigans on the very banks who tried to do more than one thing at a time. It's sending shock waves throughout the mortgage industry.

Not to say that having another document processor wouldn't have helped, but he did admit to "shortcuts", including taking a glance at the borrower's names and a few other number before signing off, and not even reading the rest of the files.

Sometimes, when your plate runneth-over, the best advice is: when you're in a hurry, slow down.

Reading, Writing, and Real Estate

2010-09-20T07:53:00.008-04:00

Last month, the DotLoop Blog examined what not to do with your website. Among the suggestions were to not use Glamour Shot images of yourself or brag about how awesome you are.

Today, let's go a bit deeper and discuss probably the most important part of your site - the writing.

Great writing can make a ho-hum site shine and bad writing can make a gorgeous site bland. A site's writing is what truly separates it from the competition. Here are three tips to make sure your site is a shining example of crisp and clear composition:

Practice Good Grammar - If you don't know your its from it's or their from there, then there's a good chance you're not paying attention to the details. And in real estate, details matter. Good grammar isn't about looking like an elitist; it's about looking competent. This includes the ever-important apostrophe placement, too.

Say Something - Everyone likes flowery adverbs, but don't forget you're also a business person. Your words need to say something of value, not just empty fluff. Same thing with your listings. What does a "cute cottage" mean, anyway?

Be An Expert - Talk about the local area, not just the specific home. Is there a local jazz bar around the corner from your listing? Do you have working knowledge about short sales and can you lucidly explain the process to your clients? Maybe you have a great tip on how to clean out gutters on a second story home. The more knowledge you can share, the better your brand will be.

Take a look at your site and check to see if you need some editing. Remember - your site's copy is how it communicates to the outside world. Make sure it has something to say and that it says it good, er, I mean well.

Pirate Phonics - Do Your Clients Understand Your Real Estate Lingo?

2010-09-17T08:17:00.010-04:00

As many of you probably know, Sunday is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, a day to celebrate swashbuckling and decry land lubbers.

It's a silly day, one that I never had heard of until a colleague here at DotLoop mentioned it earlier this week.

It got us thinking, though: every industry has its own "language" - real estate is no different. But how helpful is that to your clients?

Do your clients, for example, understand what a short sale is? Or what it means to be FHA certified? Do they know what escrow means or why they need to sign a certain document and only initial another?

A purchase contract, after all, like most legal documents, is not designed to make it easy to understand, but to legally protect certain parties by using obscure, sometimes archaic (sometimes Latin) language.

Your job, then, as an agent, is to translate the legalese and help them navigate the choppy waters and keep them from walking the plank.

After all, with a real estate transaction, your clients are looking to you to be the captain of the negotiation, to keep a watch out for them from the crow's nest, and to help them set sail on their new life in their new home.

Arrrrrrr you up to the challenge?

Is Home Ownership Outdated?

2010-09-16T09:01:00.014-04:00

As a record number of banks carpe domus ("seize the home"), and as jobs keep shuffling around in a more mobile, fluid society, one has to ask: is home ownership outdated?

And I don't mean in terms of fads, as if owning a home were akin to owning a bean bag chair or a lava lamp. Fads come and go, but the underlying structure stays the same.

What I'm asking is whether the underlying structure is changing. After all, it used to be that you could graduate high school, get a good manufacturing job with enough pay and benefits to provide for your family, and retire with a healthy pension. One job in one town for one life.

Owning a home made sense. You stayed put and your grandchildren were raised in the same hometown as you. You paid off your mortgage and maybe fueled your retirement off of its sale, leveraging its increased value.

But in today's world, that kind of life is as anachronistic as the milkmen and paper boys that went along with it. By 2006, workers between the ages of 18 and 38 changed jobs an average of 10 times; many times, switching cities to do so. And, with housing prices falling, a home is no longer a retirement tool.

This new way of living will end up drastically changing the way we work and live. As Richard Florida's new book The Great Reset points out, American society most likely (and in some cases already is) going to become a 'rentership society', rather than an 'ownership society'.

That's not to say ownership will disappear altogether. Indeed, it will end up making good real estate agents that much more in demand, and it will mean those out to own a home will be doing so for the right reasons, not just because they heard it was a good investment.

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

2010-09-15T09:16:00.007-04:00

As you may be aware, DotLoop is going convention crazy this week, stretching ourselves from Texas to Ohio (and soon to be in Virginia).

If you're attending the 2010 Keller William Mega Camp in Austin, Texas this week, look for us at Booth #500 and come get your free complimentary mesh bag to haul around your stuff, courtesy of our friends at American Paper and Plastic Company.

They will also be available at the upcoming Virginia Association of Realtors' REal Show: VAR's Convention & Expo 2010 Conference in Virginia Beach on October 1st.

So stop on by. And remember: with DotLoop, simplified real estate transactions are in the bag.

Overleveraged & Underwater

2010-09-14T09:26:00.014-04:00

A good agent knows that any home buying process doesn't begin with scoping out neighborhoods or searching online for open houses.

It starts with a trip to the bank to get pre-qualified for a loan.

But in the midst of the chaotic economic downturn, such pre-qualification has gotten pretty prickly, with banks now necessitating a perfect credit rating and ties to royalty just to be seen.

Consider the case of the Britos, a San Francisco couple who pre-qualified for a $650,000 home loan in 2006 and who now only pre-qualify for $280,000.

As the article points out, the receding loan amount is maybe a bit of an over-correction in the market.

Still, at its peak, the ratio of borrowing leverage for states most affected by the housing crash (think Arizona, Florida, and California) were as high as 15 times a borrower's income. Talk about risky.

During the housing boom, the old standby of "your house should be no more than three times your salary" went out the door, replaced by "get as much as you can and then buy more than you need."

And we're all see the effects of that logic.

What do you think? Would you rather have people qualify for less or more?

Just Another "Convention"-al Week

2010-09-13T10:22:00.013-04:00

It's a busy week here at DotLoop. Not only have we launched our new features, but we're attending several conventions and conferences around the country.

We'll be live in Austin, Texas at the 2010 Keller William Mega Camp (look for us in booth #500).

We're saddling up for another show in Galveston, Texas at the 2010 Texas Association of Realtors Convention and Trade Expo.

A bit closer to home (in our own hometown of Cincinnati), we are at the 2010 OAR Convention today. This is the 100th anniversary of the convention, and we're excited to help OAR celebrate!

We'll just be getting over our jet lag when it's back on the road at the Virginia Association of Realtors' REal Show: VAR's Convention & Expo 2010 Conference on October 1st.

Whew!

Our Thoughts & Prayers To Those Out West

2010-09-10T08:18:00.010-04:00

Yesterday was a tragic day for our friends out west, in particular those neighbors in San Bruno, California.

A ruptured gas and a massive explosion roared through the residential neighborhood yesterday evening, destroying hundreds of homes and killing six people.

Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones and their homes from this tragic event.

Boulder Colorado also lost many homes in rampant wild fires now threatening the city.

In a week commerating the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks, we hope that these tragedies do not go unnoticed and we hope you put a thought and prayer out to those who lost not just their homes, but in a sense, their lives.

Is It Green Or Is It Greed?

2010-09-08T09:14:00.009-04:00

The construction industry has a 17% unemployment rate, but one sector not suckered into job losses are green buildings.

Accounting for up to one-third of all new construction in the US, green buildings are the hot new trend in construction. They're the asbestos of the new millennium, only without the carcinogens.

But what makes a building 'green' anyway?

For most, having the designation of a LEED certified building seals the deal (or is that insulates the deal?). LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a term created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit consortium of builders and designers.

But does the point-based system really make buildings greener, or just the wallets of its council? As far as new construction is concerned, do we really need any more buildings, or would it be 'greener' to simply rehab older buildings and bring them up to modern code?

It may be time to question some of the assumptions one makes about what makes a home environmentally sound.

After all, like most movements, the green movement seems to be more about making money than saving manatees.

Are You Ready to Evolve?

2010-09-07T07:33:00.006-04:00

Real estate agents are an endangered species.

And, like dodo birds, jobs already lost in real estate are not likely to come back anytime soon.

That's according to the new report from the Labor Department, which speculates that most or all of the 8.4 million lost jobs will be regained by 2014.

The catch?

The new jobs will most likely be filled by two categories: high paying, high skilled jobs or low-paying, low-skill jobs. The middle, it appears, has been sliced out and shipped out overseas.

Of course, as a real estate agent, you no doubt have already seen what having less real estate agents is like on the industry. Perhaps the job-losses were long-overdue residual effects from having too many "me, too" agents.

For the fittest who've survived, however, your evolution is not yet complete.

The real estate world will continue to rapidly change, from less inventory with lower prices to clients who demand paperless, real-time collaboration and updates. Your job is to evolve and grow as this change occurs.

The best part, though?

No matter the changes in the economy, they'll never be able to outsource real estate agents.

What Is a Browser? (And Do You Need To Know?)

2010-09-03T09:46:00.012-04:00

Do you know what a div is?

A what?

Exactly. You probably think I'm lying, but computers aren't magical. They are just language and microchips.

But you don't care. Nor should you - you're too busy getting your work done. Here at DotLoop, we understand that, which is why we create tools to simplify your lives, not add complexity to an already complex world.

As Google points out in the video below, most people don't know how the Internet works, but most people nonetheless use the Internet.

Most people don't know how their car works, either (something about internal combustion), but they drive one every day.

Your clients don't necessarily know how real estate works; they just want their house sold.

Folks just want things to work. At DotLoop, we get that, which is why we are constantly tweaking and updating our site to make it more efficient, more robust, and more useful.

Look for some changes next week and enjoy your holiday weekend.

For the record, a browser is software used to render the Internet onto your computer screen. Think of it as a window into the web. Google, by contrast, is a web site that helps you search the Internet. It's a search engine, not a browser.

Easy, right?

The Economy Tsunami - Are You Prepared?

2010-09-01T09:45:00.028-04:00

This economy is a strange, fickle little creature, and it may be years before we see an upswing.

At least, that's what Jeremy Grantham's predicting. This fabled recovery, he says, will not happen in 2010, but around 2016.

You know - the future.

Of course, he may be just another Economic Nostradamus and might be completely wrong about his "seven lean years" prediction. This downturn, after all, may last even longer.

Our economy is only as fickle as we are, though - we've been impatiently waiting for a recovery for the last three years. Now that it's lasting longer than we had anticipated, it seems a good idea to start thinking long-term about changes we can all make to wade through this economy tsunami.

Here are three areas you, as an agent, can start to cutback on to wade through this recession.

Office Supplies
Between the manila folders, costly ink cartridges, and burdensome storage cabinets (which take up precious office space), the cost of business has always been a bit on the high side.

With today's technology, however, you can run a completely paperless office, saving you space, waste, and haste. DotLoop's paperless online transaction system, for example, means you'll never have to worry about costly paper fees (or paper cuts) again.

Fuel
How much time are you spending stuck in traffic? How much money are you wasting on gas? Fuel costs add up and can eat into your revenue faster than you think. With more cars on the road today than ever before, even a quick trip downtown can waste hours and gallons.

Luckily, with e-mail, eSign, and eFax services so readily available, you can save your gas for when you really need it - to get to the closing table.

Advertising
There are only so many channels agents use to get their name out there; unfortunately, most are not only out-dated, but downright costly.

With free services like Facebook and Twitter allowing you to be your own brand manager (and more easily and effectively connect with your audience) why would anyone still use a billboard or bus stop bench to get the word out?

These are just three areas you can curb your spending to survive this wave of slumped sales. I'm sure you can think of even more.

And hey, even if this economy come back swinging again soon, think about how much more efficient, effective, and economic you will be as an agent.

Card Sharks

2010-08-31T10:26:00.022-04:00

Consider yourselves warned.

As The Wall Street Journal reports, that "professional card" offer you received in the mail last week may give your ego a boost, but not without first raiding your wallet.

With issuing offers of such cards up 256% from last year, you may be asking yourself: has everyone become a small-business owner over night?

Hardly. Thanks to the new CARD (Credit Card Accountability and Responsibility and Disclosure) Act of 2009, card issuers can no longer jack up your rates or ding you with inactivity fees.

Such consumer protections do are not covered for small-business cards, though. So, now, not only can your dog receive a credit card, he can also be a small business owner, too.

They keep finding the loopholes.

Chase spokeswoman Laura Rossi says that only small-business owners should be receiving these cards and that "mailings for small-business cards have not spiked but have remained relatively consistent."

Apparently, a 256% increase is not a spike. "Professional", huh?

So, if when they ask you 'what's in your wallet?' let them know: cash.

What Does Your Website Say About You?

2010-08-30T09:57:00.020-04:00

If you're an agent working today, then you already know the importance of a good web presence.

What you may not know, however, is what constitutes 'good'.

If you have a website, take a look at this list to make sure you're not falling victim to technology. After all, having a megaphone is one thing; using it wisely is another.

1. I'm #1! I'm #1!

Does your website scream #1 anything? Stop it. Sure, you may be the number one agent in your market, and you may have famous clients. But your potential clients don't care. They want to make sure you will help them find a home or sell their existing home.

Who's the focus here anyway: your ego or the client?

2. Music.

Just...just don't play music in the background. The quickest way to lose a potential customer is to automatically play music when they log into your site.

3. Poor Picture Quality.

If you have listings on your site (which you should), be aware that the quality of the photos reflects the quality of the agent who took them (that is, you, even if an intern took them). If you have grainy images taken from your 2 mega pixel camera to show off a home, I will be clicking the red X on the top of my browser and will continue shopping for a competent agent.

4. Misspelled Words.

The descriptions are just as important as the pictures when listing a home. And glaring misspellings give a potential client the same vibe as grainy pictures - this agent doesn't care. With dictionary.com a free service, there should be no reason you should have misspelled words on your page.

5. Glamour Shot Photos.

If your picture is more than five years old, you need to replace it. And don't wear your blouse with shoulder pads in your new picture, either. Clients do not want to be surprised when they meet you. They want to be sure that you are genuine, not Photoshopped.

Of course, easy navigation, informative content, and an ability to contact you are all very important, too. And, if you're a DotLoop user, you can let them know that they will be able to negotiate more easily and quickly.

Websites, like a home, need to be maintained.

Are you maintaining yours?

How Many Clicks Does It Take?

2010-08-27T08:52:00.008-04:00

Here at DotLoop, we're always tweaking our system to make it as efficient and stream-lined as possible.

But did you know how many clicks it takes to get to the finish line of a negotiation?

Mr. Owl knows.

To send a contract to a client, it takes 3 clicks.

For the client to sign the contract, it takes 2 clicks.

To add a new form to an offer, it takes 2 clicks.

To send a signed offer to the other agent, it takes 2 clicks.

And to get the bank to complete a short sale in under 60 days?

Well, I never made it without biting.

To see for yourself how many clicks it takes to create a paperless real estate transaction, visit DotLoop today and check out our Sample Contract to preview the system.

Charge Change

2010-08-26T08:36:00.012-04:00

And finally...

...some good news!

No, the housing market has not returned to "normal" (if you can call the recent boom "normal") and unemployment is still dangerously high (unless you live in North Dakota).

But perhaps this recession has taught us a valuable lesson: live within your means.

For the first time since 2002, the average credit card debt per American citizen is now below $5,000 ($4,951 to be exact).

"Consumers continue to pay down their credit cards in response to economic uncertainty and high unemployment," Ezra Becker, a consulting strategist, says in the article.

Like a kid who ate too much Halloween candy, Americans gorged themselves on cheap and easy credit and are now taking a more healthy approach to spending and saving.

It took a global recession to make us realize our faulty ways, but the best lessons are always the hardest to learn.

Rethink, Regroup, and Reinvigorate

2010-08-24T09:25:00.027-04:00

“Gentlemen, progress has never been a bargain. You've got to pay for it.”
--Henry Drummond, Inherit the Wind

It’s been a tumultuous few years to say the least.

With the economy still stuck in the mud, despite the turning of our wheels, a recovery appears to be a long, long way off and the good old days of 2006 are nothing more than a distant dream.

It seems like Pandora’s Box has been opened as the housing market continues to whimper on.

Later today, NAR will release what is predicted to be a decline in July home sales, and foreclosures continue to rise in certain areas in the country. It seems we're continuously mired in bad real estate news.

But it's not all doom and gloom. This weakened economy may just be the reprieve we need to buckle down, tighten up, and condition ourselves for a post-recession economy. Sure, the sales may be down right now, but never before have agents had so many advanced tools at their disposal. Never before have agents been able to openly and actively communicate with their clients.

We will most likely come out of this Great Recession a bit worn, but also a bit wiser. The proverbial cream will rise to the top and the best agents will shine through. After all, the only way to turn a lump of coal into a diamond is with time and pressure.

The question is, are you bettering yourself in this downtime, or are you still waiting next to the fax machine for the latest offer? Are you talking to your clients on Facebook to see what they feel about the local real estate market? Are you polishing your HTML skills or updating your website?

Because now's the time to regroup, rethink, and reinvigorate your business. This recession, after all, won't last forever.

So, when times are difficult in the midst of all of this bad news, don't forget what was at the bottom of Pandora's Box: hope.

Is The American Dream Changing?

2010-08-23T09:29:00.030-04:00

It turns out that America might just be big enough to have differing versions of the American Dream.

With housing prices still plummeting and unemployment still rising, the old stigma of renting is starting to wear off.

As NPR points out, renting is now being re-examines, with a less-weary eye.

Another article in the series discusses how some renters have found "forced simplicity, [which] keeps [their] overhead very low and lifestyle very flexible."

In a world where the stock market can wipe out an entire life's work and a home's value can plummet to the point where you end up owing more than what it's worth, the younger generation is starting to question the American Dream as it was created in the 1950s.

Indeed, as Raj Date points out in the article, "The world we live in today is not quite the world that existed in 1950", referring to the transient nature of work and suggesting that a middle class American should not "stake themselves" with a house.

With the mercurial nature of today's economy, home ownership may not end up being the ultimate fruition of the American Dream.

After all, as The New York Times points out, one-third of twenty-somethings move to a new residence every year and go through an average of seven jobs within the decade.

With such drastic statistics, it's no wonder that renting, as Joanne Cleaver pointed out in the article, "[isn't] being rootless, [it's] being free."

And isn't being free ultimately what American Dream is all about?

Could You Go Unplugged?

2010-08-20T10:32:00.016-04:00

"Real sacrifice lightens the mind of the doer and gives him a sense of peace and joy."

So says Mahatma Gandhi.

But then again, he never had to give up his cell phone.

In a fascinating little experiment, The New York Times threw down the gauntlet to its readers and challenged them to give up their internet and phone connections. The results are interesting, if not scary - it seems that for some, being connected is as addictive as any drug out there.

Others, however, found solace in the silence, even remarking how they were "less stressed, much calmer, and less distracted."

It's interesting to hear some of the stories of those who took a breather from being connected and either reconnected with the rest of the world or were frustrated to tears.

Here at DotLoop, we encourage you to take a step away from the screen and get some fresh air after you quickly complete your contracts online and easily send them off to your client.

There's no Farmville to distract you here.

A Dim Idea

2010-08-19T10:55:00.004-04:00

Last night, I unplugged my TV after watching a show.

I also drove to the grocery store across the street from me because it was a bit too hot out to walk.

I am such an environmentalist.

As another sign of good intentions, but poor execution, a new survey found that Americans don't really know how to save energy.

As if daily traffic jams were not enough of an indication.

It turns out that just turning off your lights before leaving a room and buying that new ENERGY STAR laptop don't really add up to much in a big-picture sense.

And what's more, the green movement may be partially to blame, with erroneous information leading people into thinking that buying green products is the key to environmental utopia.

The lead researcher from the study, Shahzeen Attari, says that, rather than doing the small, easy things to curb your carbon output, you're probably better off "switching to efficient technologies [which] generally allow you to maintain your behavior and save a great deal more energy."

The idea is to change how you do things, and not necessarily what you do. I mean, sure, you could buy soy ink cartridges for your fax machine and use 100% post-recycled paper to print off your 50 or so pages of documents and drive your new hybrid car over to your client's home for their signature (using a soy-based, recycled pen of course), but wouldn't it be easier, more efficient, and more environmentally-friendly to simply use DotLoop and have everything done online, without wasted paper, ink, or gas?

After all, sometimes being green simply means doing things better.

*Results Not Typical

2010-08-18T08:54:00.018-04:00

Reading this blog post is guaranteed to make you twice as effective within your profession and will also make you up to ten times more attractive to the opposite sex. And, by bookmarking this blog now, you will be able to triple your income and quadruple your tax write-offs!

Just ask DotLoop Blog reader Donnie Ewing.

"Since I began reading the DotLoop Blog, I have been making $5,000 a day in extra income. Plus, I lost ten pounds in three minutes!"*

*Results not typical. Side effects may include nausea, dry-mouth, and headaches. Always consult your doctor before reading the DotLoop Blog.

If you've watched any TV within the last decade, you've seen the small type. As a real estate agent, you know all about small type and the importance of reading it.

And it's not just the "results not typical" variety, either. The infamous "up to" and "as low as" are just as misleading. I especially like car commercials, where they show the most posh, leather-clad car winding through the freshly-paved blacktop of some scenic mountain road. The announcer then comes on and proclaims that you too can get this car starting at $15999. The small type, of course, always says "Price as Shown, $38999."

Car companies are not the only ones over-promising and under-delivering, though. As reported yesterday, broadband "up to" speeds are as bogus as men with sprayed-on hair getting bikini models for a girlfriends.

As it turns out, what's being advertised is not at all what's being delivered.

This of course lends itself to an interesting discussion. In an attempt to stay afloat through this difficult housing market, are you over-inflating your numbers and abilities? Are you only advertising atypical results? Most likely, you're not, but it's something to think about next time a seller is demanding their house be listed at a 2006 price point and you guarantee that you can deliver such results.

As we all know, the devil is in the details and the deception is in the small type.

Free Parking Is Anything But

2010-08-17T07:45:00.019-04:00

Being the first to arrive in the office today, my car was the first to arrive in the parking lot (boy, I really hope my boss reads today's post).

I didn't think much of it, and you probably don't either, but my car is now just sitting there, taking up precious land space outside of the office. And I am not paying a single dime for it.

Or so I think. But the truth is, like freedom, parking is never "free".

That's where subsidies come into play.

But do these subsidies make sense anymore? In an era where people are concerned about their carbon footprint, why do we still subsidize parking, which only allows for more congestion and pollution? Indeed, a full third of all NYC traffic is simply cars looking for a place to park.

That's a lot of wasted time and energy. As The New York Times points out this week, "we end up overusing land for cars — and overusing cars too. You don’t have to hate sprawl, or automobiles, to want to stop subsidizing that way of life."

A more sensible approach would to be to allow parking rates to fluctuate depending on demand at the time, an idea that is being piloted in San Francisco. You simply pay for what you use, like any other commodity.

Designing neighborhoods and cities for people instead of cars will only happen if people think wisely about when they use their cars. Free parking may seem nice, but like free ice cream, it has its consequences.

After all, we're trying to be careful with our resources (going paperless with DotLoop, for example). Isn't it time we start being careful with our land use, too?

"It's Not About Real Estate, It's About Consumer Behavior Changing"

2010-08-11T08:59:00.009-04:00

If you didn't catch it yesterday, Chris from TechSavvyAgent presented a fascinating interview with The Goodlife Team CEO Krisstina Wise and CTO Jack Miller.

This video is a must see, although most likely you'll be pausing and replaying it over and over again to catch all of the gems of wisdom presented.

For example, on the ROI of social media and online connectedness, Krisstina says that "the ROI of all of this is you will be in business in five years. We don't have a choice to do it or not to do it - it is the way the future is going."

Jack has this to say about web design and why it's probably not a good idea to outsource your web presence to an $8/hour college kid: "[Great results] are not accidents and it takes a good designer to produce that."

Chris himself offered the titular quote. Of course, here at DotLoop, we understand how technology will continue to adjust the way home buyers and sellers interact with their agents. The future of successful real estate belongs to those agents that can engage their clients on their terms. That is, online.

Chris, Krisstina, and Jack all offer some amazing insight into what it takes to make that happen. Be sure not to miss it!

You're Suspect, Google & Verizon

2010-08-10T08:00:00.016-04:00

Your desktop computer is safe for now, but watch out for your smart phone.

Yesterday, the much-anticipated Google-Verizon "deal" was announced.

And, as it turned out, the rumors of a Google-Verizon collusion deal to kill net neutrality were much ado about nothing.

Instead, Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg made what they referred to as a "joint policy announcement" that was to be a "suggested legislative framework for consideration by lawmakers."

Interestingly enough, though, it only applies to wireline internet connections, and not the wireless internet connections linked to so many handheld devices.

Still, it seems a bit odd that two corporations are giving the government "suggested legislative framework" in the very industry they do business in. It would be like BP giving suggestions to the MMS.

For their story on the announcement, NPR spoke with Siva Vaidhyanathan, a professor of law and media studies at the University of Virginia.

He is weary as well.

"All of these companies have short-term invested interest in maintaining their power," he said. "Fundamentally, Google doesn't work for you and me, and Verizon certainly doesn't work for you and me."

Which is true, despite what Verizon's tag-line may say.

It will be interesting to see how this all pans out, but my gut is telling me to be careful when two corporate giants want to address public policy out of the goodness of their stocks, er, hearts.

Bye Bye Free Wi-Fi?

2010-08-09T14:33:00.040-04:00

A few years back, I stopped going to my local coffee shop to write and started going to the Starbucks across the street from me.

It wasn't because the coffee was better, or the people friendlier at the coffee conglomerate.

It was because there was no internet access at Starbucks.

Those days are now long gone, thanks to Starbucks' decision last month to offer free wi-fi, so I'm back to ordering the local cup of joe, but for a while there, it was nice to know that all I had to do (and could do) when I sat down in my seat was write.

As it turned out, free wi-fi wasn't a "perk"; it was a distraction.

No checking e-mail. No "researching" new ideas. And no excuses.

As the LA Times reported this week, it turns out I wasn't alone. What used to be a staple of the coffee house scene - free internet access - has now become a selling point if it's missing.

"People still desire and need actual interaction," states the article. "That dynamism is part of what makes us human."

Indeed, technology can be a double-edged sword, yielding fantastic amounts of productivity, yet making people feel isolated behind their screens. Something that should be used a tool becomes just another distraction, a topic that was touched upon here in May.

DotLoop, of course, prides itself on being a tool and not a toy. Our system never replaces an agent; it only allows them another channel to communicate with their colleagues and clients.

Personally, I can see the draw for a web-free cup of coffee; a sort of safe haven from the lightening-fast pace of the outside world. How about you? Do you think being disconnected every once in a while has its benefits?

If You Build It...Do It Elsewhere

2010-08-09T08:21:00.034-04:00

The economy does some strange things to people.

Sometimes, it makes them a bit more practical, if not confused.

In a new study, 68% of people are now “more likely to support new projects in their hometown in light of the current economic situation,” a 10% increase from 2006.

Agent Genius discusses the flux of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) attitudes within this recession.

Of course, not all development is created equal and not all NIMBYS are just Negative Nancies wanting to halt progress. What some see as progress (a new Wal-Mart), others see as decline (boarded up main street shops thanks to said Wal-Mart).

What's interesting, though is that, while the overall population is more receptive to large commercial projects, "three out of four Americans...believe their city or town is already over-developed or fine the way it is", according to Patrick Fox, president of The Saint Consulting Group who did the study.

So, most are okay with building new projects, but more still think that their towns are perfect just the way they are. How...ambiguous.

Still, for a nation currently breaking up roads due to budget cuts, it seems that perhaps new commercial development isn't what we need so much as new infrastructure developments.

Better roads, along with more transportation options, could go a long way in improving streets, neighborhoods, cities and our country as a whole, as long as the NIMBYS understand that their backyards may have to change for such progress to take place.

Progress, of course, is tricky, and some don't see the benefits of it until they experience it for themselves (very much like DotLoop).

It will be interesting to see where our priorities go once the economy gets its strength back. Let's home that when the next development boom happens, we develop for our sidewalks as well as our new retail stores.

Leica iPhone 4, It's Not Built to Last

2010-08-06T08:32:00.015-04:00

When the iPhone 4 was unveiled (at its official launch, not the Gizmodo leaks), Steve Jobs compared it to "a beautiful old Leica camera."

You know, one that's prone to breakage and antenna issues.

Not to sound like an old man, but, well, they just don't make 'em like they used to.

I'm not alone in my thinking, though. Nick Bilton's brilliant blog post today talks about this very notion, one that came about from a cracked iPhone 4.

But it's not just electronics. Cars, furniture, even homes are being built not to last, but to be replaced by newer models a few years (or even months!) down the line. It makes you wonder why anyone would spend top dollar on a device that will be obsolete in eight months, like the new Motorola Droid is now.

After all, I'd be more than willing to spend extra money on a car or phone that will be guaranteed to last longer than the milk in my fridge.

“Electronics today are not built with permanence in mind," says Jason Bruch, from branding design agency Schematic.“If you purchased a Leica Camera a hundred years ago it would still work today. It was bullet proof."

Unlike the iPhone 4. Luckily, the iPhone 5 is coming out in just a few months.

Probably followed by the iPhone 6 a week later.

Maybe that one will live up to the Leica camera analogy Steve Jobs had in mind.

Has Google Turned On Us?

2010-08-05T09:28:00.023-04:00

It's 13 years too late, but Judgment Day is upon us.

Anyone familiar with the Terminator movie series knows that the day the machines become aware was to occur on August 29,1997.

Turns out, it might just be on August 9, 2010.

That may be the day, as The New York Times reports, that Google and Verizon sell out Internet users across the world, when the two announce their partnership allowing Verizon to speed "some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content’s creators are willing to pay for the privilege." Content such as Google's YouTube.

Basically, it means that the idea of net neutrality - that no one person, entity or corporation owns the Internet, an idea once backed by Google - could be dead in the water.

Since the backbone of the Internet - the optic cables and wires that were laid in the 1990s - was paid for by tax dollars, it would be akin to selling off our national highways to private companies and allowing them to charge whatever they want to use the lanes. Those with deep pockets would have sole access to the fast lanes.

It basically privatizes a public utility.

A neutral Internet allows anyone with a bold idea the ability to communicate with the world and provide value and service (like DotLoop). A closed Internet allows a few companies to control what message gets prioritized (like cable) and severely limits users' experience.

Now is the time to act to help save the Internet as we know it.

Before it's terminated.

Surf's Up For Innovation

2010-08-04T12:14:00.008-04:00

Sometimes, what seems bad can actually be good, if you dig down deep enough and ride the wave long enough. Chinese surfboards, for example, only help the industry as a whole.

Confused yet? Let me explain.

With the economy still reeling and jobs as scarce as an Arizona avalanche in August, the outsourcing of jobs and the influx of cheap labor is probably a bad thing, most would agree.

But it all depends on perception.

Case in point: in today's story about the surfboard industry, the rise of cheap, Chinese-made surfboards, made by low-wage workers, who "have no idea what a surfboard is used for" seems like a bad thing for the industry.

But what was initially a scourge to the surfboard industry has turned into a blossoming on innovation from domestic producers. Indeed, as the article points out, the cheap imports have only increased the value of what domestic board shapers do.

“'The shapers out there … view themselves as craftsman and artisans rather than producers of composite material products,' says Sean Smith, the executive director of the Surfboard Industry Manufacturers Association."

DotLoop understands such home-grown innovation. Our products and services are all produced in-house, by a tight, dedicated team of experts. Quality trumps quantity and cheap knock-offs are nowhere to be found.

After all, shouldn't we all be craftsmen and artisans with our work?

New Study Confirms What We Already Knew

2010-08-03T08:08:00.020-04:00

In a new study funded by the Captain Obvious Foundation, home buyers' satisfaction with real estate companies improved while home sellers had a less than favorable view.

The J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Buyer /Seller Study™ was released yesterday and it found that for home buyers had a 12 point increase in satisfaction (803 on a 1000 point scale) from 2009 while home sellers had a 40 point decrease (742 on a 1000 point scale).

Of course, this only makes sense. With the housing market still reeling from its burst bubble, and with interest rates still historically low, buyers with the cash and ability to buy have the pick of the litter when it comes to homes, and sellers have to compete with short sales and foreclosed properties when trying to recoup their equity.

The good news, however, is that regardless of which side of the contract a client's interests are, the need and importance for a good agent has substantially increased. It's almost as if the housing crisis has really shed light on the best agents out there, with the cream rising to the top.

Indeed, for the third consecutive year, DotLoop partner Keller Williams was ranked the highest in customer satisfaction for home buyers and Prudential - another DotLoop partner - was ranked the highest for home sellers.

After all, even Captain Obvious knows that great customer service always leads to greater satisfaction, regardless which side of the contract you are on.

The New Abnormal

2010-08-02T08:38:00.012-04:00

Mr. Homeowner, now that you've just finished your strategic default, what are you going to do?

"I'm going to Disney World!"

We just don't know what to do with ourselves.

As Bloomberg reported late last week, Americans are being schizophrenic in their spending habits throughout this recession, buying cheap toothpaste at the dollar store so that they can continue to buy $3 lattes at Starbucks.

In a nation where a giant shopping mall is a vacation destination and 70% of our GDP is made up of people buying things, it's easy to see why we are so desperate to spend. After all, it's how we're programmed to function.

The phenomenal sales of the iPad - a product that created a brand new need upon its release - is a perfect example. As the article showed, a gentleman who had just foreclosed on his condo purchased the new Apple product even though he had just lost thousands of dollars in wealth.

Of course, in a time of record profits coupled with crushing unemployment, all of these strange economic stories only verify what DotLoop already knows: the world is rapidly changing.

I Just Called To Say...

2010-07-29T10:19:00.010-04:00

Is a sales call free speech?

At what point is calling intrusive?

And finally - is there ever a convenient time to call someone to make a sales pitch?

This week, the National Do Not Call registry topped 200 million people, or about 66% of the population.

So, I think it's safe to say that people loathe being contacted and sold to while trying to eat dinner.

Of course, tech-savvy agents know this. Time was, the only way to immediately contact people was intrusively - either knocking on their door or calling them on the phone.

But now, technology has made contacting people less-intrusive. Text-messaging has surpassed phone calls on cell phones not because text-messaging is easier (although some argue it is), but because it's less intrusive.

E-mail and text messaging have made it possible to communicate and not irritate.

At DotLoop, for example, your clients can be notified via text message or e-mail that their offer has been approved or that their electronic signature is needed. It's convenient for them and it respects their time.

Besides, they may be busy trying to convince the sales guy on the other end of the line that they don't need replacement windows or vinyl siding.

A Porch, of Course!

2010-07-27T09:21:00.012-04:00

Remember front porches?

Like bell-bottoms and vinyl records, they're making a comeback. Well, maybe not bell-bottoms - I really don't know for sure about those. I'm no fashionista.

But front porches - they're hot right now.

It seems people are tired of not knowing their neighbors. As new urbanists take hold of their neighborhoods and try to recapture the lost art of conversing with the neighbors and leaving their cars at home, front porches are back en vogue.

And it couldn't have come at a better time.

With the uncertainty surrounding almost all aspects of our daily lives today, it's good to know that you can still count on your neighbor and have an authentic conversation on your front porch.

Of course, here at DotLoop, we talk an awful lot about community, because we believe a house is more than just bricks, mortar, and copper wiring. Homes help build neighborhoods, cities, and lives.

And sometimes, it all starts with a porch.

Cellular Breakdown

2010-07-26T10:00:00.015-04:00

Your cell phone may be killing you, and eggs are bad for you.

Or not.

Not sure if you heard the news (and if you heard it from your cell phone, you're really not going to like this), but it turns out that cell phones may cause brain tumors.

Or not.

The truth is, nobody knows for sure, but then again, nobody knew if ships would fall off the edge of the world until they tried, either.

This weekend, however, the cell phone industry is suing the city of San Francisco over its new labeling law, which gives consumers access to the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit of each cell phone at the point-of-sale.

It turns out the cell phone industry does not like making those numbers readily available to consumers who are enamored by their shiny phones.

I for one think labeling is fine - even needed - and that this lawsuit is about as silly as the first cell phones.

After all, information is power, and the more information someone has, the better informed their decisions are. It's just like the recent calorie labeling enacted in New York. Who wouldn't want to know how many calories are in a "low-fat" blueberry muffin?

The science of cell phone tumors is still up in the air, so, whether cell phones turn into the new asbestos or if they're as innocuous coffee, knowing the information can only be a good thing.

Who knows, maybe if home buyers knew more than the banks were legally responsible to tell them, our economy wouldn't be so unhealthy.

Real Estate Connect Recap

2010-07-23T14:00:00.007-04:00

Putting a cap on this week, we thought we'd recap last week's Inman Real Estate Connect in San Francisco with a tally of some of the Innovator Awards winners.

As mentioned, DotLoop partner The Goodlife Team won top honors for being the Best Brokerage, but a special mention should be made to TechSavvyAgent, who came away as the Best Blog. Congratulations, Chris!

The other winners:

Best Brokerage or Franchise: The Goodlife Team from Austin, Texas
Best New Technology: ZipRealty’s Home Scan
Best Web Service: Houston Association of Realtors’ Realtor Match
Best Blog: Tech Savvy Agent (Chris Smith)
Best Media Site: ProPublica Eye on Loan Modifications
Innovator of the Year: It was a two-way tie between Sherry Chris, Better Homes and Garden’s CEO; and Dale Stinton, National Association of Realtors' CEO

Congratulations to all the winners! Keep on innovating and have a wonderful weekend!

From Scrolls to Scroll Bars

2010-07-23T09:43:00.001-04:00

Does less paper equal less environmental damage?

Before you answer "of course!", think about it, because context is important.

As mentioned Wednesday, Amazon.com recently celebrated its 15th anniversary of selling everything from Tolstoy to trombones. Obviously, the retail giant has changed the way we buy goods, but with e-books now outselling traditional paper books, it's also completely changed the way we do our summer reading.

The knee-jerk reaction, though, is to assume that that's great for the environment.

But what about the environmental impact of creating a Kindle? Sure, less trees may be destroyed to sell the latest Dan Brown novel (which is a shame, really - that Dan Brown gets to keep making novels, not the saved trees), but how much energy goes into making a Kindle?

It's an interesting question, especially with the nearly monthly onslaught of new, better, and faster e-readers coming to the market (iPad, included).

That's not to say that this latest evolution in reading-from scrolls to scroll bars-is a bad thing; ultimately, any process that makes it easier to access information is a good thing. But before upgrading to the latest and greatest, think about the environmental impact of all your gadgets, or, recycle or re-sell your old gadget after you upgrade.

At DotLoop, we understand just how powerful a paperless transaction can be, not just in terms of saved time, stress, and gas, but with saved trees as well. With the average negotiation taking up to 100 pages of paper to complete, and no need for a specialized e-reader to finish an online negotiation, DotLoop certainly helps the environment.

No ifs, ands, or bytes about it.

Crammed Cells

2010-07-22T11:23:00.011-04:00

With summer vacation in full swing, many of you no doubt have seen the station wagons and SUVs driving down the highways, bursting with suitcases and various pool toys.

You may have even seen Clark Griswold driving his family to Wally World.

As you pass him by, though don't blame an over-stuffed trunk for the weighed-down back tires.

Blame his smartphone.

As reported today, Android smartphones are getting weighed down by more and more "bloatware"- with many phone now coming pre-loaded with trial software and apps that users cannot delete.

Anyone who has to click the little 'x' on the "free" trail of McAfee virus-protection whenever they start their PC up knows all about bloatware.

DotLoop, of course, has mastered the art of giving both simplicity and power in one simple, online site. You won't find any bloated features here, just the most state-of-the-art site designed to streamline your negotiations and get your job done more effectively and efficiently.

After all, who wants to be weighed down with excess paperwork?

Windows™ Shopping

2010-07-21T08:47:00.011-04:00

You might be able to buy a belated birthday card in case you missed Amazon.com's 15th birthday last Friday.

Of course, make sure you buy it over the Internet.

As Time reported last week, the online shopping giant fundamentally changed retail shopping all with a click of a mouse.

Interestingly enough, one of the first known online web purchases wasn't from Amazon.com and it wasn't a best-selling novel. It was a pepperoni pizza with mushrooms and extra cheese from Pizza Hut.

I remember ordering a pizza from my computer during my freshman year of college, marveling how futuristic it was to order from a computer.

Now, most of us purchase items we never thought possible online (eBay cars, anyone?); we often even keep our credit card information on-file for convenient, one-click shopping. That's how comfortable people are with shopping online.

DotLoop, of course, has taken online shopping one step further, allowing clients and agents to negotiate purchasing terms for real estate all with the click of a button. It has made smudged contracts and uncertainty about what was agreed upon a thing of the past.

You know, the past - waaaay back in 1994.

Pregnant Pause

2010-07-20T10:59:00.023-04:00

Attention expectant parents: don't expect to have a baby shower and a house-warming party at the same time.

As you may have heard, banks are getting finicky with their lending, as even a flawless financial record seems suspect these days.

So, it would make sense that the next step to figuring out if you can really afford that mortgage is to see if there will be more mouths to feed at the kitchen table.

As the New York Times reported yesterday, banks are taking a pregnant pause when considering mortgage loans to pregnant couples.

It's a harsh reality and the banks aren't taking any chances. Kids cost cash. Maternity leave may not be counted as a full-time employment and is often considered short-term "disability" leave.

Fannie and Freddie guidelines allow for borrowers to simply get a note from their employer and doctor stating when they will be back to work, but of course, banks are naturally "picking and choosing what parts of the Freddie and Fannie guidelines they want to use and how they will interpret them."

So, now they are preventing you from getting your new crib just because you are getting a new crib.

And, while it's true that it makes sense financially for banks to try to eliminate as much risk as possible for a loan (in some parts of Europe, a borrower has to take a health exam; after all, if you're dead, you can't pay your loan back), for an industry that not too long ago approved NINA (No Income, No Asset) loans, this reeks of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Not to mention hypocrisy.

Of course, if you do happen to get your loan turned down because you are having a baby, it may be a great first-lesson to your child: banks are not your friends.

Duh Dot Com

2010-07-19T11:31:00.012-04:00

Quick, what year was the U.S. Constitution adopted?

Difficulty: No Google allowed.

Do you remember this from high school? Or were you crafty enough to split hairs and use Bing to find the answer?

If you had to hunt for the answer on anything that required a computer chip, chances are you may agree with The Atlantic's article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

The argument goes that with everyone connected to the Internet 24/7, our ability to solve problems or even read a long novel is diminished when we are used to instantaneous access to information.

Last week, Forbes countered, arguing that the Internet is making us smarter, not dumber. Some go so far as to suggest that video games are making kids smarter, not dumber, which may be a stretch.

Either way, the argument is missing a key component, as most arguments today are: context.

We have a lot of information and can site stats, but do we know the story behind the stats or why these facts make up our world? Knowing the underlying connections and not just boatloads of information is what makes us smarter. So, the real question should be: is Google making us link our world together? No pun intended.

DotLoop is a perfect example. Whereas before, any negotiation's history was lost once the over-faxed, coffee-stained contract got blown around by the wind, with DotLoop, every step in the negotiation is tracked, giving the overall process context.

So, whether you are a technophobe or a tech geek, understanding the context of your world is what really makes you smart, not just memorizing superficial facts.

And for all those who like their facts, the U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1787.

Top Prize For The Goodlife Team

2010-07-16T10:21:00.005-04:00

As mentioned earlier this week, DotLoop partner The Goodlife Team was nominated for the 2010 Inman Innovator Award.

As mentioned now, they won! The Austin, Texas-based brokerage won top honors for the Most Innovative Brokerage or Franchise. Here's what Inman had to say about them:

The GoodLife Team, a boutique real estate firm based in Austin, Texas, takes an agent team approach to its brokerage. The small company has a focus on training and technology and is led by Krisstina Wise, principal and broker. The website features property, neighborhood and school details and information about area activities.

Congratulations to the forward-thinking, hard-working, and tech-savvy agents at The Goodlife Team. Keep up the great work!

Keep It Local

2010-07-15T09:01:00.015-04:00

Local wins every time.

Just ask Texas.

Having put up with their shady practices for the last few years, fifteen homeowners have banded together to file a class-action lawsuit against Bank of America for their unfair, illegal, and highly unethical behavior throughout the current housing crash.

From foreclosing on a home that had already been sold, to foreclosing on a home that they did not even have a loan with (oops!), BofA has routinely crossed the line with home owners and sellers and has made the jobs of local agents trying to help home-owners and sellers exceedingly difficult, as reported by AgentGenius.com.

Take, for example, the story of the Floridian couple who had their home foreclosed on earlier this year. The home that they had paid cash for. As it turns out, BofA had the wrong address, which tends to happen when you're processing paperwork in a completely different state. Even a local Realtor could not convince that them they had the wrong home.

Of course, a lot of these headaches could have been prevented by taking a more local approach to banking. This current financial meltdown has unfortunately tarnished the reputation of the entire banking industry, which is sad because there are still a lot of good banks out there.

As any agent knows, in real estate, locally-focused wins every time. Great agents know their towns, neighborhoods and blocks better than anyone. A local approach allows business to transact between people, not ones and zeroes in far-off states.

DotLoop understands this as well; our system helps foster the communication between agent and client; indeed it offers even more transparency to the negotiation process (no illegible changes crammed into the margins of a contract).

After all, when it's all boiled down, even with using the latest technology to aid the negotiation, the home buying and selling processes still require a human touch, and a local approach.

Our-topia

2010-07-13T09:15:00.008-04:00

Yesterday, CNN's Money.com announced its Top 100 Places to Live, and Nice, France was not anywhere on the list.

Upon further review, it looks like this was a USA-centric compilation, so I guess the lack of a Mediterranean local makes sense.

These lists are always kind of funny, really. What makes a place great to live in is just so subjective. I mean, if you hate snow, you'll hate living in the supposed "Best Place to Live" of Eden Prairie, MN with its 3.7 degree January temperatures.

And sure, low crime rates, high employment, and housing prices that won't take three generations to pay off all add up to a nice general idea of a great place to live, but what about all of the qualitative features of a community?

Friendly neighbors, a wide range of local restaurants, sidewalks? These are the things that make a place the "best".

Some things you just can't quantify and chart out.

Good News For The Goodlife Team

2010-07-12T09:19:00.014-04:00

DotLoop is proud to announce that our partner The Goodlife Team out of Austin, Texas, has been selected as a finalist for one of the real estate industry's most coveted awards, the 2010 Inman Innovator Award.

It's no surprise that The Goodlife Team has been nominated. As a leader within the real estate industry, they have applied technology to everything they do, helping ensure an easy, efficient, and convenient negotiation for their clients and agents alike.

“Krisstina Wise and The Goodlife Team recognize that the modern consumer values convenience, ease of use, and transparency,” says The Goodlife Team’s Company Rep. “They also see that being able to work with customer's transactions online not only saves the company money, but creates a brand value that The Goodlife Team is fast, efficient, and easy to work with in what is normally a very difficult process.”

The winners will be announced this week at the 2010 Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco.

Just The Fax, Ma'am

2010-07-12T08:27:00.008-04:00

The Internet is chock full of top-ten lists, enough to make a top ten list for that day's best top-ten lists.

Today's top-ten list of mention, however, comes to us from the folks at MSNBC who dedicated their list to Technologies That Should Be Extinct (But Aren't).

Interestingly, they mention DotLoop's old friend and home buyers' and sellers' fiend, the fax machine. The blurb even mentions the real estate industry as one of the main purveyors of its enduring, screeching noises.

"This endurance," says NPD Group analyst Ross Rubin, "is in part a testament to the failure of digital signatures that would allow us to e-mail certified copies of contracts and similar documents."

Now, that's about as silly as legwarmers. Anyone who has purchased a book through Amazon.com or a Mr. Mister song through iTunes has already used digital signatures. The ESIGN and UETA Acts ensure that contracts signed digitally have just as much validity as a traditional, smeared Bic signature.

As for the fax machine, well, those are about as outdated as Jennifer Grey's old nose.

LaHood Does Good For Neighborhoods

2010-07-08T11:55:00.018-04:00

Here at DotLoop, we talk a lot about designing walkable, people-focused communities that offer amenities and connectedness with neighbors and businesses alike.

We think it's important that people feel connected to their communities and that, as home-owners, they have a sense of home that reaches beyond the end of their lawn.

That's why I'm so excited for today's announcement from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood of $293 million for new transit solutions for dozens of communities nationwide.

The investments include six new streetcar and rapid bus transit projects along with 47 additional projects to upgrade current bus services. This will be part of the Federal Transit Administration's Bus Livability Program. DotLoop is especially excited that our very own city of Cincinnati received investment to begin the Cincinnati Streetcar Project. A complete list of projects can be found here.

Says Secretary LaHood, "Our goals are to provide cleaner, safer, and more efficient ways to get around."

And no doubt do we need it.

As more and more urban cores revitalize, having safe, efficient, and people-friendly transportation options will be a component to creating livable, walkable, and connected neighborhoods.

Perhaps people will be able to get to know their neighborhoods a bit better once they look beyond their car's (La)Hood.

'Net Gain

2010-07-07T10:08:00.010-04:00

The web, as we have all been told, is changing. And it's about time.

Here at DotLoop, we're all about simplifying, so it was with great pleasure that I read about Google Chrome's meteoric rise to the number three position in the Browser Wars between Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Apple's Safari, Mozilla's Firefox, and Google's Chrome.

Chrome more than doubled its users with the last year, and has strengthened the competition between the browsers.

Ultimately, that means a better web experience for all of us, as the competition by Firefox, Safari, and Chrome forces other browsers to become more and more compliant with web standards, which simplify the coding processes for web developers.

These simplified standards mean that web pages will show up as they're supposed to, and your web experience will thrive because of it. Hopefully, this will lead us to a web with no more outdated browsers and unsupported pages.

Thoreau was right: "Simplify, simplify, simplify!"

What the Helsinki!

2010-07-01T11:38:00.006-04:00

For a country with a 100% literacy rate, it's no surprise that Finland today became the first nation to make broadband access a legal right.

As CNN reports, the legislation that goes into effect today was designed to force "telecom operators to provide a reasonably priced broadband connection with a downstream rate of at least one megabit per second (mbs) to every permanent residence and office."

So stick that in your sauna, Big Media.

Of course, we all know the real reason Finland is so keen on getting everyone up and running on the Internet. It's all a ruse to make Linux the number one operating system in the world.

Those sly Finns.

Office (Printer) Abuse On The Rise

2010-06-30T09:51:00.014-04:00

You no doubt have one lurking in your office right now. This very minute. It's just sitting there, waiting to ruin your day.

Waiting to ruin your deal.

Oh sure, everything is fine now. It's perfectly capable now, when you don't need it. But just try and use it when it's a matter of life and death and see how far you get.

Don't get angry. Remain calm. I should warn you, hitting it only makes it stronger.

And may God have mercy on your soul if you are out of cyan.

Is there any one piece of machinery that has caused more suffering than the office printer? Their revolutionary roots trace back to 1440, but with the amount of errors, paper jams, and just plain idiocy rampant in today's modern printers, you'd think they were designed by Steve Guttenberg and not Johannes Gutenberg.

As the Wall Street Journal discusses today, workplace abuse against printers is on the rise. Normally, abuse would not be tolerated, but the victims in this case had it coming.

But don't fear, dear agent. We at DotLoop have a solution for you. One that does not require Q0061z print cartridges or misaligned paper or the need to wait while the printer warms up.

Of course, I'm talking about paperless transactions, the office printer's only true nemesis. So take heart, fellow office workers, and know that your days of ink-stained neckties and blouses is over.

So stop letting your office printer ream you and get your negotiations done digitally.

You can leave your bat at home.

There Goes The Neighborhood

2010-06-28T08:46:00.003-04:00

Last week, The Atlantic's "Future of The City" Conference in Washington, D.C. ended, as I mentioned Friday.

Today, I read up on Christopher Leinberger's ideas on the future of the American neighborhood. He argued that walkability and rail transportation in condensed, urban neighborhoods are what will replace our expansive exurbs that we've been building the last sixty or so odd years.

While his idea of creating privately-funded versus publicly-funded rail is up for debate, I tend to agree with his basic assessment that exurban neighborhoods just won't make the cut in the coming decades. Every time I have to drive out to the suburbs, I am keenly aware of and often surprised about just how much gas and time I spent getting there.

As DotLoop is well aware, efficiency is important. This holds true not only for the business world, but for land development, too. After all, a sewage line that serves thirty people in an exurban neighborhood costs just as much as a sewage line that serves three-thousand people in a well-planned urban core. In the coming decades, as our population ages and energy costs rise, we will have to adjust not only our zoning laws, but our lifestyles as well.

I for one am eager to embrace more walkable, liveable and personable American neighborhoods.

Let the change begin.

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho

2010-06-25T10:42:00.013-04:00

It takes me twenty to thirty minutes to get to work from my home, depending on traffic. That's about eighteen to twenty-seven minutes too long for me.

Like most of you, I hate commuting. So very, very much. I wasn't too surprised then, when I read a report this past spring that found commuting to be the one daily activity most injurious to happiness.

Seems about right.

It was refreshing, then, to hear HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan discuss this exact issue this week during The Atlantic's "Future of The City" Conference in Washington, D.C..

As reported by Infrastructurist, Donovan discussed how many of our pressing issues - obesity, foreign oil dependency, and air pollution, for example - all are symptoms of one problem: "the fundamental mismatch between where we live and where we work."

I am so glad that someone else can see how silly we all are for living our such a Metropolistic existence. Whenever I see a new office building being constructed, I think, "Why?" Most office jobs are done on a computer and most people have a computer at home. With such technology, getting into a car and driving thirty miles to work every day seems as anachronistic as sending an e-mail via carrier pigeon.

Of course, as real estate agents, commuting is a part of your every day lives; indeed, agents can spend more time driving to clients than working with them. Luckily, with DotLoop, you can save your gas and keep your car in park. You don't even have to waste money on ink.

Which, of course, is a good thing. After all, as Secretary Donovan said, the price of commuting has risen by about 1000% over the past few decades.

Why be stuck in traffic anymore than you have to?

It's a Trap!

2010-06-24T11:45:00.008-04:00

This morning, I received an e-mail from one of my bosses; he sent me a link to an interesting article on avoiding the "Busy Trap". After reading it, I was wondering if he was trying to tell me something.

Either way, it made for good reading, and had some very useful advice.

We're all busy, especially in these recent economic times, and especially real estate agents. Home sales are down now that the tax credit has expired, and everyone needs an extra few hours in the day to get their jobs done.

Unfortunately, the earth's rotation is not going to change anytime soon, and with this week's daylight peak on Monday (the summer solstice), we're back to a downward spiral on daylight until December. So, since we're all still stuck with 24 hours in our day, you'll need to find your productivity elsewhere.

Luckily for real estate agents, there are solutions. With DotLoop, you can save hours of time by creating online, interactive forms and send them to your clients with a click of a button. With all that saved time and energy, you should be able to avoid the "Busy Trap".

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to take this phone call.

Real Estate Deals Go Digital

2010-06-23T10:47:00.001-04:00

DotLoop was mentioned in The Lane Report this week on kybiz.com. Read what they have to say about digital documents:
Real Estate Deals Go Digital

Home Closings Made Easy

2010-06-22T08:45:00.007-04:00

Last night, DotLoop CEO Austin Allison appeared on FOX Business Network's "America's Nightly Scoreboard" on the Small Business Spotlight segment.

FOX Trot

2010-06-21T12:45:00.003-04:00

DotLoop will be lighting up your living rooms this evening, with our second appearance this year on the FOX Business Channel.

Says CEO Austin Allison,"It's refreshing to come back to New York and check in with our friends at FOX Business. We are still finding opportunities - every day - to help the broker and the professional real estate agent simplify their lives."

Look for DotLoop on "America's Nightly Scoreboard," hosted by David Asman tonight between 7 and 8 (our segment will be around 7:40PM).

Disguise Phone

2010-06-21T08:52:00.010-04:00

Stuck waiting on someone the other day, I started fidgeting with my phone. I have a "dumb" phone; what the industry calls a "candy bar" phone. It's a bare-minimum, calling and texting machine.

It doesn't even have a camera.

What it does have, much to my surprise, is a pixelated pinball game. I spent a few minutes playing it while waiting for my friend to arrive.

I never knew I had this feature. Later this weekend, I unearthed more hidden features on my phone. I can easily convert Celsius to Fahrenheit with my Conversion Application (ooh! I have "Apps"!) and I have a budget manager. Who knew?

As it turns out, not many. It seems I'm not alone in discovering hidden gems on my phone. As the Wall Street Journal reports today, small businesses have a lot more choices today with their phone plans, but, just like trying to decide which of the 400 brands of toothpaste is right for you, the choices can be daunting.

With cell phones having more processing power than yesteryear's supercomputers, I'm not surprised that so many applications and hidden features can be tucked into such a small device. I wonder what else is lurking in my phone.

Maybe I have a camera on it after all.

How about you? What hidden features have you found on your phone?

Put It In Neutral

2010-06-18T08:58:00.010-04:00

Who owns the Internet? Is the Internet a public utility? Should only a few companies have the ability to filter the Internet to end users?

These are some of the questions surrounding the effort to re-regulate the Internet by the FCC. Yesterday, the cause for net neutrality got a boost when the FCC voted to begin the process of re-regulating the Internet, which would potentially reverse the 2002 decision to deregulate the Internet, which since then left it up to the broadband providers to gate-keep the web itself. This re-regulation would not regulate the content of the Internet, but rather, would ensure that all users have equal access to the Internet and that providers could not discriminate and slow down or cut off a user.

The problem, of course, is that there are only a few major providers. Ever wonder why you only have two, maybe three options for broadband in your neighborhood? Ever wonder why the three prices are almost exactly the same, regardless of which provider you choose? Some call that collusion.

The phone and cable companies, of course, are loathing the decision. But others are applauding this change, such as Google and Dish Network.

And rightfully so.

After all, anytime the communications oligarchy (AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast) are sweating bullets, it's probably a good thing.

The Internet is too important to be controlled by a few parties without any regulation. The door has been opened to revisit re-regulation, which is good, as the public deserves a say in how the Internet is handled. After all, we've all seen the effects of little or no regulation, when companies promise to regulate themselves.

Honey, I Shrunk The House

2010-06-16T09:14:00.004-04:00

As the economy shrinks, so do the houses.

As reported this week, the average home size has officially shrank to 2,438 square feet, which, if you ask me, is still a huge house.

It makes perfect sense, though. We've had decades of increasing house sizes that, for the most part, followed an expanding economy. Now that the tables have turned, it seems more people are embracing this new frugality. Small is the new black. Cash is the new king. And bling is about as socially acceptable as driving a Hummer.

I suspect that house sizes will continue to shrink until we get back to equilibrium between how much house we need and how much house we have.

The new status symbol is a free life, not a McMansion. This can only be a good thing.

Spare Change

2010-06-15T10:51:00.006-04:00

It's trite, but true: the only constant is change.

Or lack thereof.

Take parking meters, for instance. As NPR reported yesterday, drivers in Washington, D.C. will soon be able to pay for their parking without having to hunt for quarters or break a dollar. The district's pilot program, which allows customers to pay for their parking meters with their cell phones, will be rolled out city-wide by October. The reasoning: most people have their cell phones with them, but not a roll of quarters.

It certainly makes sense. A lot of cities have already rolled out such programs; some even allow parking to be paid with their credit card. It looks like Cool Hand Luke will have to find something else to do.

As the world changes from the analog to the digital, the "paperless economy" will become more and more prevalent.

DotLoop, of course, understands this; indeed, we are on the leading-edge of creating seamless, efficient, and paperless real estate transactions.

Change is inevitable.

Change is good.

Even if it isn't needed to park.

Pony 'Express'

2010-06-09T15:47:00.009-04:00

So, what do you do when your client is in another time zone?

If you're like Bill Michul, you'd utilize DotLoop to get the job done. Yesterday, first-time DotLoop user Bill Michul sold a horse farm in Lexington, Kentucky without the need to track down his client for their signature.

Which is good, because his client is in the Mediterranean.

As Bill explained,"Here in Lexington, we have a lot of farm owners who live out of town, or even out of country. Using DotLoop to get the offer completed was great. I'll be using it all the time."

Using his horse sense, Bill simply sent the client the offer in one click.

"It was returned back to me in no time. I couldn't believe how easy and quick it was."

So, next time you need to get a deal done across town, across the state, or even across the pond, you don't don't have to hold your horses. With DotLoop, your documents can be sent and signed in no time, without horsing around with faxes or overnight mail.

Energy Irony: It's a Gas!

2010-06-09T09:19:00.013-04:00

Here's what I find odd: The picture to the left was taken in the 1970s. I'm not a car buff, so it's hard to say which oil crisis this picture is from - the one in 1973 or the one in 1979.

Either way, somehow, us crazy Americans turned the two energy crises in the 1970s into the suburb and exurb crazes of the 1980s and beyond.

How did this turn into this?

It's been nearly forty years since Americans had to wait in long, winding lines to fill up their cars and it's been more than forty days since the Gulf of Mexico has been free of oil.

Of course, the current oil spill and real estate are closely linked; and not just because beachfront properties are now being affected. Every exurb and suburb that has been created since the 1950s is linked to this spill. The more we built out and created cookie-cutter neighborhoods that required more and more roads and cars, the more oil we needed to drill for. Every time a local community dismantled a streetcar or took away bus routes, we needed to drill a bit deeper to keep pace with our "lifestyles".

Luckily, more and more people are seeing the benefits of creating mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods designed for humans and not cars. Neighborhoods where people not only live, but work and shop as well. Only time will tell if we can find newer energy resources.

Ironically enough, this oil spill may just be the emergency we need to finally ween ourselves off of oil.

The Cache in the Rye

2010-06-08T09:03:00.004-04:00

This week, DotLoop will be headed to the 2010 RISMedia Real Estate Leadership Conference. This year's conference will be a summit on real estate social media and mobile strategies for agents and brokers alike.

If you are in Rye, New York between June 9-10, please join us at Booth 133 to see the future of real estate transactions for yourself. We look forward to seeing you there!

Pulp (Non) Fiction

2010-06-07T10:59:00.012-04:00

Here at DotLoop, we talk an awful lot about creating a paperless solution for the real estate industry.

But why?

For anyone who's involved in real estate transactions, that answer is all too obvious. The average real estate negotiation uses 100 sheets of paper. And that's when things go smoothly (ie, no short sales or HUD purchases).

Okay...so what?

I used to ask so what as well; after all, paper is from trees, which, last I checked, tend to grow back. Isn't paper a renewable resource?

Yes and no. True, paper is made from tree pulp, but it's more than just minced bark. In her new book The Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard uses a whole section to discuss paper (don't worry; she also discusses the irony of writing a book that talks about how environmentally damaging paper is - the book uses unbleached, recycled paper and soy ink).

Here are some facts:

The US consumes some 80 million tons of paper each year.
For every ton of virgin office or copier paper, two to three tons of trees are cut down.
The typical office worker uses some ten thousand sheets of paper every year.
Almost three-quarters (71%) of all paper comes from forests, not tree-farms or recycled pulp.
Almost 40% of all municipal trash in the US is paper.

As you can see, there's more than meets the eye when it comes to paper. This list is just the tip of the iceberg, too, and does not account for the bleaching, the chemicals, or the actual production of the paper (not to mention the shipping).

There's no papering-over the facts: using paper is environmentally (and economically) costly. Of course, creating online negotiations using DotLoop keeps the paper where it should be: in the trees.

Is a PC No Longer PC?

2010-06-04T09:45:00.009-04:00

In California this week, the All Things Digital D8 Conference has been in full swing, with the red chairs on stage seating everyone from FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski to Avatar director James Cameron with their takes on the present and future of technology and digital media.

On Tuesday, Steve Jobs went so far as to say that the era of the PC is over and that new mobile devices are taking over, much like small cars took over trucks. "PCs are going to be like trucks," Jobs said. "They are still going to be around." The difference, he continued, is that only "one out of x people will need them."

As The Wall Street Journal reports today, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer countered, saying yesterday that "I think people are going to be using PCs in greater and greater numbers for many years to come."

Of course, in an era where cell phones have more computing power than the most advanced computer from a decade ago, who's to say what a personal computer is and isn't? It may not be PC to call your cell phone a PC, but isn't that what it is - just a smaller personal computer?

Who knows - maybe ten years from now, the implanted microchips in our skulls will be considered "personal" computers, too.

How Sweet The Sound

2010-06-02T08:45:00.008-04:00

Here's where I get confused: the banks were given taxpayer money to buoy the hardships of September 2008, but none of that grace has trickled back down to the average citizen. Most banks have paid back their TARP loans and they're back to doing what they do best: earning money.

But not lending money. Weird, huh?

As is probably evident on your street, foreclosures are up; in fact, the first three months of this year we had a record number foreclosed homes.

Yesterday, the government announced yet another program to help mend the busted housing bubble: the Making Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program. Really? We need yet another program to implement common sense?

Color me confused, but this all seems silly. Banks are repossessing homes that they don’t want (because they can’t resell them) and people are being forced out of the homes that they do want. In the midst of all of this, neighborhoods are becoming scarred with abandoned homes full of busted plumbing, over-grown lawns, and prime-for-the taking copper wiring. This is bringing down the value of homes whose owners have only done the right thing, and it’s causing everyone to financially freak out.

Is it me, or is this a bit backwards?

How about we institute a Making Banks Reciprocate the Grace They Were Given Back in 2008 to Underwater Homeowners (MBRG) program? Here’s how this common sense program would work: banks would go through their backlogs of cruddy loans and restructure some of the payments. After all, I might not be able to pay you my $2100 a month mortgage, but I can afford to give you $1200 a month. Last time I checked, $1200 was more than $0.

It's a win-win: families get to stay in their homes and banks get to keep the checks.

Yup, this will take time and effort on the banks’ part. And, it may just cost them to only earn $14 billion this year and not the $14.2 billion they were expecting. In this economy, we all have to sacrifice a little.

What’s that, you say? It’s not their responsibility? You’re absolutely right - it’s not their responsibility to restructure payments anymore than it was the taxpayers’ responsibility to bail them out 18 months ago.

Grace is a two-way street.

Friday Farewell - Brick Fix

2010-05-28T15:30:00.006-04:00

DotLoop is all about keeping historic buildings from crumbling, but so is German artist Van Normand who playfully used LEGO bricks to fill in gaps on various buildings around New York City this last week.

Hey, when you have a good idea, it just 'clicks'. Sort of like DotLoop.

Have a great and safe Memorial Day Weekend, everyone!

Image is courtesy dispatchwork.info

For Whom The Road "Tolls"

2010-05-28T10:13:00.008-04:00

Let the grill-outs begin! With Memorial Day once again upon us, the unofficial start of the summer season will most likely find you dusting off the BBQ, lathering on the suncreen, and opening up your picnic baskets. It may also find you cursing your local gas pump.

Or not. In a world gone topsy-turvy, this Memorial Day weekend, gas prices will actually be lower almost nationwide, just in time for the summer driving season. The falling euro is the main factor, as investors flock to the dollar (oil prices are always reflected in U.S. currency); generally, as the dollar goes up, gas prices go down.

It's a certainly a short-term gain for Americans, but may be misleading in its overall benefit. Roads are partially paid with gas taxes, so struggling municipalities may have less to work with on local projects.

In Seattle, for instance, local freeways are already being converted to "pay"ways with tolls on some bridges and a predicted toll on every freeway by as soon as 2030.

This may drive (no pun intended) residents closer to the city. As Tim Ellis pointed out in his blog, SeattleBubble.com, gas prices increasing may not be enough to make families rethink their home's location choice, but a daily toll will.

We'll see how this all pans out; like most things in life, news has nuance, with shades of both "good" (lower gas prices) and "bad" (tolls) mixed together.

For my part, I'm going to look at the "good" in today's news and hope every one of you enjoys your holiday weekend.

I don't know about you, but I'm "pumped"!

Watt's So Smart About That?

2010-05-27T09:53:00.011-04:00

A few years ago, I installed a programmable thermostat in my home, making it that much easier to keep my pets from hogging the A/C while I was away at work. Well that, and it saved me some money, too.

Now, Microsoft is trying to tap into the smart grid and cloud technology to offer users a chance to see their energy output and potential waste on their individual home. Although the site, Hohm, officially launched last June, as Ars Technica reports today, only recently has it actually become useful, with users now being able to type in their zip code and address to find out their home's cost.

While there are still plenty of flaws with the system (I typed in my address, and my energy costs were shown to be about double what my actual costs are), it has potential.

And competition as well. Google's PowerMeter is the same basic idea - harnessing smart grid technology (still in its infancy) to give users a better understanding that, when they keep their TVs and cell phone chargers plugged in all day, they are still drawing power.

All of this technology is fine, of course, but it makes you wonder - if it takes 18 servers to help me save a few watts of power, isn't that still a waste of energy?

The Ins & Outs of Electronic Signatures

2010-05-26T11:08:00.008-04:00

Every once in a while here at DotLoop, we get a few questions about our eSignature process.

Luckily, it's very easy to not only use, but understand.

Anyone who has purchased a book through Amazon.com, bought music through iTunes or used PayPal has signed electronically. Once users understand this, they start to understand the legality of eSignatures. The ESIGN Act of 2000 and the UETA Act of the same year both made electronic signing over the Internet as legal as traditional "wet" pen and paper signatures. This past April, the FHA confirmed that electronic signatures would be acceptable for all real estate transactions nationwide.

With DotLoop, there are two main ways to sign electronically: through our eSign System and through our Attachment Feature, the latter of which allows a user to attach signature fields to a static image PDF file.

Our eSign System allows for full trackability and transparency with all parties involved in a negotiation. It's as easy as 1+2=3. E-mail + password = electronic signature. The best part? Your clients and co-op agents won't have to install any additional software to use our eSign System. If they have internet access, they have the ability to sign contracts anywhere, anytime.

The Top Three Traits For A Triumphant Twitter Trail

2010-05-25T10:52:00.006-04:00

Here at DotLoop, we scour the Internet for interesting, thought-provoking and forward-thinking content.

As you might guess, it's getting harder to find. There's a lot of noise out in the ether, and, as it seems, a lot more Top Ten and Top Five lists, some of which actually have value. Some which do not.

With all of these Top Ten and Five Best lists, I got an itching to create my own. So, here are the Top Three Traits Needed to Create a Successful Social Media Presence:

Simplicity – Just. Do. It. It’s a Nike mantra and it needs to be your mantra too if you want to get into social media. Pick one (but no more than three) social media platforms and dive in. Create an account; setup a username, and start. Look to LinkedIn for a more professional social media experience; look to Facebook for the broadest reach, and look to Twitter for easiest posting. Create a blog if you have something to say. And guess what? Everyone has something to say.
Investment – So, you’ve done it, have you? You wrote your first blog post or sent your first tweet? Great! Just don’t expect to show up on Google right away. Or even later this week. It takes effort and time. Social media is like exercising – a little bit of quality every day builds over time.
Accessibility – Plan a holistic approach. If your niche is commercial real estate, don’t waste your time writing blogs about staging or the best gutter guards. Think about how your tweets or Facebook Page will affect your brand image. Do you have a fun, upbeat, and young client base? You’d better write fun, upbeat tweets about things your young clients care about. Make sure your messages match your intentions within the market.

Social media is like driving: you can read all about it, but you won't really know it until you experience it. Did I miss anything? Let me know!

Greece Lightning

2010-05-24T10:17:00.003-04:00

Back in March, the DotLoop Blog discussed connectedness, especially as it relates to real estate. In March 9th's post, I wrote about how "A defaulted mortgage in Iowa can cause a farmer in Taiwan to lose his job."

It turns out I was off by a few thousand miles.

On the front page, above the fold of today's Wall Street Journal is a lead story about how American mortgage rates are declining thanks to the European debt crisis. The fears of rates creeping back up to around 6% have been (surprisingly) abated due to the influx of cash into U.S. bonds from skittish global investors, like manna from heaven.

While this bodes well for us in the short-run, I'm interested to see what this will mean in the long-run. After all, one country's crisis may be another country's gain right now, but with everything so inter-linked, just like the recent volcanic ash, the winds of a faltering Europe may eventually blow our way. The manna may have rained down on us, but are we in store for a round of Greece lightning?

We'll see if what happens to Pierre in Paris, France will eventually affect Peter in Paris, Kentucky.

Friday Farewell - Live From 30 Rock

2010-05-21T12:01:00.003-04:00

DotLoop is back in Gotham this week and today's DotLoop News comes from 30 Rock itself in NYC. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

You Have Egg On Your Facebook

2010-05-21T08:24:00.012-04:00

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to tweet about it, does it make a sound?

This week, Facebook faced the music over its privacy policies. Some concerns were valid (giving advertisers your real name and address, as if we don't get enough junk mail already), but some concerns seem to fall under the category of "much ado about nothing".

I'm talking about the hub-bub over having privacy settings defaulted to "public", meaning everyone can see what you're posting until you figure out how to change them.

Maybe it's just me, but I always thought of Facebook (and MySpace, Twitter, and the rest of the social media gamut) as the online equivalent of a high school hallway. Just as you wouldn't scream your private thoughts in a crowded room, you shouldn't post what you don't what people to know about you.

Last night at the bar may have been fun, but no one wants to see your plastered face plastered all over Facebook. If you don't want people seeing what you have posted, don't post it, even if you have eighteen different privacy settings clicked. And, if you do decide to post your thoughts, don't be surprised if you lose your job.

Privacy is important, and security is one of DotLoop's highest priorities. But for sites that are by their nature social-based, it's best to think about what kind of social media trail you're leaving behind you. Perception is reality - especially when it comes to social media.

So be careful not to make any Facebook follies or trip over your Tweets.

Internet Killed the TV Star?

2010-05-20T10:35:00.005-04:00

A sample of the old business trip packing list:

Cell phone
Files
Briefcase
Portable CD player
CD case
Planner
Contact list
Floppy disks

Of course, now we have a new, easier way to pack:

Smartphone

Sure, you now have to take your shoes off before entering the plane, and volcanic ash may prevent you from even getting to your destination, but it's a fair trade-off if you ask me.

Today, Google and Intel will announce its plans to do to your living room what technology has already done for your carry-on.

As the Wall Street Journal reports, the internet giant is partnering with electronics makers to create software that runs on your TV, a scenario which has been discussed for a decade and a half, with little real-world implications.

Apple, of course, with its Apple TV, has been trying for the better part of this decade to implement a device that will sync your tube with your YouTube. We'll see if Google can overcome the hurdles and if, five years from now, people will be whittling down their living room furniture to a one-item list: their Internet TV.

DotLoop Chicago Chronicles - Week One

2010-05-18T09:57:00.008-04:00

With DotLoop in Chicago, we thought we'd share our taste of the Windy City with our fellow DotLoopers. Here's DotLoop Trainer Dan McKeehan:

This Wednesday in the Windy City

2010-05-17T11:21:00.005-04:00

As mentioned a few weeks ago, DotLoop is now in Chicago and holding one-on-one informational sessions (contact us at sales@dotloop.com for more information).

This Wednesday, DotLoop will be sponsoring a Young Chicago REALTORS entitled "Business Planning For Entrepreneurs", a three-person professional panel designed to help business owners lead, plan and develop a budget.

Representatives of DotLoop will be on-hand to discuss how technology is helping to simplify the lives of real estate agents and brokers.

If you're in the Windy City this Wednesday, please join us!

Friday Farewell - Gold Digger

2010-05-14T11:29:00.009-04:00

Here at DotLoop, we don't think that the best technology should be limited only to those with the deepest pockets. Some, however, do and have made a point of encrusting iPods and USB drives with diamonds and gold. The latest gadget, of course, is the gold-plated iPad, with a price tag of $189,125.

While certainly not a new idea, it is surprising that someone would go through all the trouble of creating an iPad with 53 flawless diamonds wrapped in 22ct. gold. I mean, it's a a 3G iPad, which, everyone knows, is so first quarter of 2010.

It's practically obsolete. ;)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Lost in Translation

2010-05-14T09:49:00.008-04:00

A few weeks ago, NPR reported on the language barrier that is slowly creeping into the Internet and the technology being implemented to ward off any divisive factions to the world wide web.

As TIME Magazine reported this week, Google Goggles Translate is trying to bridge that gap by allowing a smartphone user the ability to translate real world text in a matter of seconds simply by taking a picture of the text itself.

We here at DotLoop are fascinated by the idea, if only because it allows for greater communication, a cornerstone of our negotiations platform. While you won't find any Albanian words on our site, we do allow for clients and agents to review one document and its entire history of changes with ease, lessening the questions inherent in an analog negotiation (who agreed to what, when?).

Check out the video below to see how the new Google App works. For those of you going abroad on vacation, maybe it will assist you in pointing you to the right water closet (translation: bathroom).

Google vs. Microsoft: Cloud Clash

2010-05-13T09:04:00.007-04:00

In February, while holed up in a wintry landscape, I touched upon cloud computing; specifically, Google Docs' ability to transform anything I write into a Word Document without ever having to upload any software.

So, fearing the wrath of Google (or so it appears), Microsoft announced this week that it's releasing a free version Office 2010 (coupled with advertisements) to work in the cloud, so that customers can use the product without every having to download any software.

As the Wall Street Journal reports today, Google released a blog post on Monday advising users to use their Google Docs rather than upgrade to the newest version of Office, which can costs hundreds of dollars per user.

The tech tussle and software scuffle is interesting to watch from the sidelines, but regardless the winner, the underlying message is clear: the future of software rests in the clouds.

Of course DotLoop has been taking the cloud-based approach since its inception, creating an online, fully collaborative interactive negotiations platform that requires no software to download and install.

Looking ahead over the horizon, the clouds are clearly visible.

Innovation Begets Innovation

2010-05-12T13:04:00.007-04:00

When the iPad came out a few months back, DotLoop CTO Matt Vorst was curious as to what I thought. I'm a Mac and Matt's a PC, but honestly, I was not too excited about the device.

What I was excited about was what it would do for the industry as a whole. Apple's designs have a tendency to resonate with the rest of the technology industry so, whether you have an iPod or an mp3 player of a different sort, their innovations will eventually become an industry standard.

In today's Wall Street Journal, it was announced that Google and Verizon are in the midst of creating their own tablet computer. This is great news, especially in light of Monday's announcement that the iPhone had its second-place mantel (behind RIM's BlackBerry) usurped by Google's Android within the smartphone market. After all, innovation begets innovation.

Real estate technology is no different and DotLoop is excited to be at the forefront. Thanks to our innovations, forms software is no longer just forms software; it's a negotiation tool.

As another technology company puts it, "you've got to admit, it's getting better."

Technology: Tool or Distraction?

2010-05-11T08:29:00.022-04:00

Behind all of the pixels, popping graphics, and usability of DotLoop lies a tool. Our website is to agents what a microscope is to a microbiologist or a level is to a contractor - a tool to help get the job done. Our tool just happens to use the power of the Internet to do its job.

So, it was with interest that we read about President Obama's keynote speech this Sunday at Hampton University when he seemingly chided the growth of technology as a diversion rather than a tool of empowerment.

I say seemingly, because, looking at the transcript of the speech itself, it seems all the hoop-la over his hypocrisy (he uses a Blackberry and an iPod, even though in the speech he joked he didn't know how to use them) only further highlights the exact thing he was talking about - a lot of information is out there, but very little context surrounds it.

As one who is online most of the day, I constantly see ill-informed articles designed to grab attention rather than educate the reader. Articles entitled "President Obama Bemoans Technology" may be great for garnering Google's attention, but it completely misses the point of the speech - that education, not just lot of information and cherry-picked quotes - is what we need. Every last detail of the attempted Times Square bomber has been laid out, but how many news outlets are reporting on the flooding in Nashville?

Information is power, but the real distraction is not the technology that provides the information, but a lack of context surrounding it. The out-of-context opinion pieces floundering around the Internet ironically prove the President's exact point - technology should be a tool to assist the citizenry, not a divisive distraction to amass more click-throughs or higher ratings.

At DotLoop, we understand this, which is exactly how we differ - we don't just store all of your transactions, we put the information in context, so that agents and clients can get a full picture of the negotiation, not just bits and pieces.

After all, DotLoop is a tool, not a distraction.

"I'm So Excited I Can Hardly Stand It!"

2010-05-10T08:26:00.004-04:00

Last week, DotLoop visited beautiful Lexington, Kentucky to train the staff and agents of the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS (LBAR).

Steve Peele II, one of our key trainers, talked with Ann McDonald from Coldwell Banker who gave us some great feedback on the training and DotLoop. Check it out.

Friday Farewell - Net Effect

2010-05-07T14:49:00.005-04:00

With all of this talk about the FCC today, I thought I'd share an interesting interview to give you some more perspective on why net neutrality is so important to a free and functional Internet.

The interview below is from last month's Bill Moyers Journal from April 23rd with FCC commissioner Michael Copps where he explains how the Internet's openness came under attack to begin with.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Freedom's Just Another Word For...Net Neutrality

2010-05-07T08:43:00.016-04:00

From one Julius to another, the Ides of March took an interesting turn this year when FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the new broadband initiative, which we discussed that week here on the DotLoop Blog.

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the FCC extended its regulatory push to include broadband as well as traditional communications such as telephones and broadcast TV, within its jurisdiction. This is in response to a Federal Court of Appeals verdict who ruled in favor of Comcast last month in a case over net neutrality.

Here's what happened: in 2007, Comcast had limited access to the Internet to some of its customers. The FCC told the cable giant to stop it, but Comcast argued that the FCC had no business in dealing with broadband.

This was true; in 2002, the big cable and phone companies (At&T, Comcast, Verizon, etc.) successfully lobbied to change broadband from being under the umbrella of "telecommunications" to include it under the category of "information services." This seemingly minor category change meant that the telecommunications companies could effectively police and limit the Internet as they saw fit, which is exactly what Comcast did in 2007.

Net neutrality advocates (those who think the Internet should be open and fully democratic), derided last month's verdict in favor of Comcast. Even as late as this past Monday, it looked as if the FCC would not have the guts to take on the telecommunications giants who would be left as the gatekeepers of the Internet.

But all that changed Wednesday, thanks in large part to a huge swell of grassroots support coupled with a barrage of e-mails and phone calls to the FCC; their decision to keep net neutrality alive was a big win for the public.

So, what does this mean for you? Simple. It means that, for now, the Internet is still in the public domain; that no one company or groups of companies can limit access to it. It means a more open forum with universal access, and it means that once-small start-ups such as Facebook and Google can innovate and grow to change people's lives. It means that services like DotLoop can continue to grow and enhance without fear of being limited by cable or telephone companies.

Basically, it means more freedom to express yourself to the world.

A "Kin"dred Spirit For Agents?

2010-05-05T10:13:00.010-04:00

Today's Wall Street Journal has an article on a fascinating new device coming out next week from Microsoft. It's called the Kin, a phone that doubles as a social media device. As I reviewed the details on the site (kin.com), I couldn't help but think of how useful this device could be for tech-savvy agents.

Imagine a client is meeting with you, but doesn't know the directions to the home. With the phone, you can easily take a picture of the house, search for directions on the web and send both to your client through the phone's "Loop".

Seems like a perfect phone for DotLoop users. Send your client a Loop through the phone's Loop and complete a negotiation without ever having to reach for a Bic pen or hunt for a fax machine.

I'm excited to see where this goes.

Making Some Noise in Illinois

2010-05-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

It hasn't been quite a week since our last jaunt down to Nashville for the REBar Camp, and already, DotLoop is dusting off its GPS system for a trip to Illinois for the IAR Spring Conference & Expo May 5th and 6th.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is the leading private property advocate in Illinois and the recognized voice for real estate with over 50,000 members and 9,500 brokerages, so we're excited to bring the DotLoop Solution to the Prairie State.

Speaking of Illinois, DotLoop, as an Affiliate Member of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, will be in Chicago from May 10th through June 4th to give personal, one-on-one informational sessions on the DotLoop System. If you or your brokerage is interested in a twenty minute session, please contact us to schedule an appointment at 1-888-DOT-LOOP or e-mail us at support@dotloop.com.

DotLoop "Culls" the Best

2010-05-03T08:38:00.006-04:00

On Friday, DotLoop proudly announced its first expansion with its New York office.

Heading that office is long-time real estate vet Jim Cull, a native New Yorker with an impressive track record not only with real estate, but with technology as well.

"In my 32 years in the industry," Jim says, "I've seen four major technologies that, when implemented, were able to change the way business was conducted: electronic MLS, fax machines, mobile phones, and the Internet. I believe that paperless transactions will be the fifth technology."

Jim brings an impressive and esteemed resume to the DotLoop team, not to mention a wicked sense of humor.

So, Jim, on behalf of the DotLoop team, let me welcome you to the DotLoop family. We're excited to have you aboard and are looking forward to bringing the paperless solution to New York.

DotLoop News - Reinforcing Real Estate With REBar

2010-04-29T13:30:00.004-04:00

In today's edition of DotLoop News, Austin Allison talks with local Cincinnati real estate phenom Amy Broghamer (better known as Amy B) live at the 2010 REBar Camp in Nashville, Tennessee. See for yourself:

The First Rule of REBar Camp: No Selling

2010-04-29T08:42:00.001-04:00

Proud REBar sponsor DotLoop is down in sunny Nashville this week enjoying REBar Camp 2010, a one-of-a-kind industry get-together designed to bring dialogue and fun to the real estate industry. Below, DotLoop CEO Austin Allison and REBar organizer and co-founder Brian Copeland discuss all things real estate, social media, and the difference between a gadget and a tool. Check it out:

Don't (Dis)count Me Out

2010-04-28T08:48:00.010-04:00

This weekend, I went shopping, which is a rarity for me because I'm quite the cheapskate. I still wear my favorite fleece sweater that I bought way back in 1995 and my pair of black shoes, though a bit scuffed with some worn down heels, are still affixed to my feet most days of the week.

These two reasons were the impetus for my willingness to spend this weekend. I've decided that, staring down the barrel of the big 3-0, I need some decent clothes. Coupled with this is the notion of buying quality over quantity - I'd rather have three really nice shirts that may be a bit more expensive and are of high quality than fifteen ratty shirts that were a "steal". Of course, here at DotLoop, we understand and embrace the quality over quantity mantra, which is why we focus on delivering the best technology solution for real estate agents.

Coincidentally, I also stopped by a local record store and, ironically, only ended up buying books. Adding an additional layer of irony to the mix, I bought the book "Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture" with a gift card my girlfriend gave me for Christmas, paying nothing for it. Had the book been on sale, I would have completed my trifecta of irony, but alas, it was full price.

Still, like most quality things, it was worth every penny. In this Great Recession, I and most of my peers, are starting to rethink having quantity in place of quality. If you've seen Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, you know that "cheap" has been winning the race for the past few decades (dollar menus, anyone?).

But, like the tortoise and the hare, the tides are shifting. Earlier this week, I read this article about how a home's sales price should not be the main focus, because, like those dollar menu burgers, there are hidden costs as well. And obesity and high blood pressure aren't just side effects regulated to a side order of fries, either. A recent study has found that most home owners constantly underestimate the pain of a commute and that commuting is the one daily activity most injurious to happiness.

So, what's your take? Would you rather pay a bit more to be closer to your work or have a smaller home built with better quality, or is the extra closet space more important to you?

I know what I'd choose. And I'm done with being cheap. From now on, the operative word is thrifty.

Now, where's my shoe polish?

Reading, Writing, and Real Estate

2010-04-27T08:00:00.003-04:00

My girlfriend is one smart cookie, so it really wasn't much of a surprise when she got accepted into grad school a few weeks ago with a full scholarship. What was surprising, however, was the cost of apartments in a college town, which we found out first-hand when we went apartment-hunting last week. Let me tell you: we are both spoiled here in Cincinnati.

Of course, after watching the video below, featuring Tara-Nicholle Nelson from trulia.com, it seems quite reasonable that apartment prices are so steep.

And it's not just apartment rates that are being kept afloat. Housing prices in college towns are also insulated from the national downturn in real estate. In fact, State College, Pennsylvania, the home town of Penn State, saw 82% fewer foreclosures than the national average.

So, if you're a smart cookie like my girlfriend, you'd be wise to hold on to your home if you're living in a college town. After all, where else can you get kegs and eggs for breakfast every day?

"A Serious Evolution of Contracts"

2010-04-26T11:39:00.005-04:00

Local Cincinnati agent Kevin Duffy was recently asked about the evolution and future trends of real estate. One of the major problems, as he pointed out, is getting the clients into the negotiation process. Kevin puts it much more eloquently than I ever could, so I'll let him do the talking:

Friday Farewell - When Your Garden 'Tanks'

2010-04-23T12:58:00.007-04:00

This week, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, I've been discussing how people can easily green up their lives (while saving some green at the same time). DotLoop, of course, makes this process easy for agents and clients, but what about the urban dweller who doesn't have a balcony to start their urban garden?

Luckily, urbangardensweb.com shows those who are a cloistered in their apartments how they too can grow their own garden - in the bathroom. Check out the video below and see how easy it is to go green anywhere.

Have a great weekend!

Earth Day - Forty Years of Keeping It Green

2010-04-22T08:18:00.006-04:00

Forty years ago today, about 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day by cleaning up litter and holding environmental workshops. Today, most Americans will celebrate in a variety of new ways - walking or riding a bike to work, not using any electricity, writing their Senators and Congressmen. Or, by simply going paperless.

If you don't think Earth Day has made a dent on our lives the last forty years, consider this:

The air we breathe today contains 92 percent less lead, 79 percent less carbon monoxide, and 71 percent less sulfur dioxide. (source)
In 1972, two-thirds of all waterways in the US were not safe to use. Today, more than two-thirds are safe to drink and swim in. (source)

We're getting there and DotLoop is proud to be a part of the green revolution, being the real estate industry's first and only fully paperless solution for contract negotiations.

Happy Earth Day everyone and remember: keep it green and keep it simple!

Down on the Farm With DotLoop

2010-04-21T08:24:00.009-04:00

This past Saturday, a team of DotLoopers headed over to the Gorman Heritage Farm in Cincinnati to volunteer their afternoon bailing hay and petting goats. You can find more pictures here. Sometimes, it's good to get outdoors after being behind these screens all day. Luckily for the DotLoop Crew, it was perfect weather. We even found a duck with a pompadour.

Happy Earth Week, everyone! And remember: keep it simple.

DotLoop News - Springtime at the DotLoop

2010-04-20T14:59:00.004-04:00