Friday Farewell - Brick Fix

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"

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?

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

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

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:

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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!"

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

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

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?

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

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

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.