Real Estate Software – An Agent’s Guide to Software

Each, day thousands of real estate professionals go online to
research real estate software. But what is real estate software, and how
can it help you improve your real estate business? These are the
questions we will address here.

What is Real Estate Software?

When
we talk about real estate software, we’re actually covering a wide
spectrum of software products. In general terms, real estate software is
any software that helps you manage some aspect of your real estate
business.

The “some aspect” part of that definition is important,
because to date there is no real estate software that will help you
manage all aspects of your business. Instead, most types of real estate
software are designed to help you manage a certain element of your
business, like contract preparation for example.

Various Types of Real Estate Software

Below,
we look at some of the most popular types of real estate software. As
you will see, each type of software is designed to help you perform a
certain part of your real estate business. Please note that this list is
not all-inclusive. There are more types of real estate software than I
could possibly cover in this one resource. So at the end of this guide,
I’ve listed some additional resources where you can find any type of
real estate-related software imaginable.

Content Management Systems

Some
types of real estate software are designed to help you manage property
listings on your website. Basically, these are content management
systems (CMS) that have been adapted for real estate purposes. A good
example of such a program would be Realty Manager by Interactive Tools.

Such
programs allow you to add, edit or remove property listings (including
house photos) within your real estate website — without any knowledge
of web coding. If you have listings on your website that require
constant management, you can see the convenience of this kind of real
estate software.

Real Estate Contract Software

As the
name implies, this type of real estate software helps agents prepare
real estate contracts. As you well know, contracts are a big (and often
time-consuming) part of the real estate business. So anything that can
streamline and simplify the process would be welcomed by real estate
agents. That’s what contract-management software strives to do.

One
of the best features of real estate contract software — a feature you
should look for when purchasing this type of software — is the ability
to create contract templates by pulling in required disclosures and
other commonly used items from your city and state. This way, once you
have the real estate contract software set up how you want, you would
simply enter new client details and listing prices to generate
contracts.

Real Estate CMA Software

Once again, the
name tells you what this type of real estate software does. CMA software
helps you prepare comparable listings / sales reports that you can show
to clients. The biggest benefits of this type of software are time
savings, professional appearance, and basic mathematical functions. CMA
software will help you produce an attractive and informative CMA report
in less time than doing it without software assistance.

Contact Management Software

Contact
management software is not to be confused with contract management
software. Though they only differ by one letter, these two types of
software have nothing in common. Contact management software helps you
manage your contacts, or client communications.

Most of these applications are built around databases.
You enter client information into the database (with details such as
name, phone number, neighborhood of interest, etc.), and then you can
easily search the data later.

When choosing a contact management
solution, look for one that allows customization of the data fields. You
want the ability to create whatever info fields for each contact that’s
important to you. All of these programs will let you enter the basics,
like name, phone number, address and the like. But what if you wanted to
also label people with buyer vs. seller? Or by price range? Or by the
neighborhoods they’re interested in? You’ll need this kind of
flexibility, and any good contact managements solution should offer it.

Real Estate Educational Software

This
is another popular type of real estate software. As the name implies,
this kind of software helps you advance your professional education. The
most common types of real estate educational software are the test
preparation programs. These programs help you prepare for state
licensing exams and other real estate-related professional exams. For
just about every real estate exam you can imagine, there’s a piece of
software that can help you prepare for it.

Virtual Tour Software

Virtual
tours are extremely popular among real estate professionals these days.
Home buyers love virtual tours, so when you add them to your real
estate website, you’ve increased your website’s value for your key
audience. The only problem is, virtual tours are not an easy thing to
put together. That’s where this type of real estate software comes in.

One
way to create virtual tours is to have a virtual tour company do it for
you. With this option, you shoot the photos or film footage yourself,
and send it to a virtual tour company who creates the finished product.
But for the more adventurous agents, there is also the virtual tour
software path. Using this software, the agent creates his or her own
virtual tours, using photos taken by the agents themselves.

Real Estate Website Software

This
software covers a pretty broad spectrum. Real estate website software
can help you with many aspects of your website, from creating graphics
to capturing leads. But one product rarely does it all. Most types of
real estate website software are highly specialized, performing a
certain aspect of website enhancement.

Conclusion

So
we’ve seen that for every type of real estate business function, there’s
a piece of software to help you do it more efficiently and (ideally)
more effectively. Does that mean you need all of the real estate
software on this list? Obviously not. My advice is to look at the
business functions where you spend the most time, and shop for a
software product that can simplify that process for you.

It’s also
a good idea to play around with different types of real estate software
before buying. Most software vendors have either a free trial or an
online demo through which you can judge the product for yourself. If you
come across a software vendor who offers neither of these trial
options, then keep shopping. When purchasing real estate software,
always follow the rule of “try before you buy.”

* You may
republish this article online if you retain the author’s byline and the
active hyperlinks below. Copyright 2007, Brandon Cornett.

Criminal Law Consider the Top Reasons to Hire a Lawyer for Your Case

If you have been accused of committing a crime, you need to defend yourself in order to avoid getting a record, paying fines, or even doing jail time. Though it is possible to represent yourself in court, most people doing so find themselves to be at a disadvantage since they do not know all the ins and outs of criminal law. Therefore, it is helpful to get a lawyer to assist in this process. Consider the reasons to get legal help.

You may do some research on your own about the legal process, especially regarding what you have been charged with. However, hours of research online or in books does not typically make up for a criminal law degree. Therefore, you will still have much less knowledge than the typical lawyer does, which gives you a much lower than average chance of winning your case. Do not risk going to jail or paying huge fines simply due to neglecting to hire an attorney to represent you.

There is bound to be plenty of paperwork and lots of meetings when it comes to your defense, whether you are representing yourself or hiring a lawyer. This means that there will be a lot of work for you to do, and having someone with your best interests at heart can help greatly. You may not fully understand the paperwork you have to do, and you might not remember every deadline or meeting time. Messing up any of these details can result in you losing your case, which can mean jail time, depending on what you are being charged with. An attorney can help you go through paperwork, making sure that it is legally sound first, and can also keep you apprised of deadlines and meetings.

During the process of defending yourself, you will find that there is no one available to help you, as it is the job of the offense to ensure that you are punished, and the job of the judge to try to remain neutral. This means that if you have questions or just need moral support, you will be disappointed since few people are willing to help you. Sometimes, having an attorney well versed in criminal law is worth it just for the answers and moral support, even if the case never makes it to court.

Clearly, there are various reasons to seek help from a lawyer. No matter what you have been accused of, having some legal help is advised. Not only will it help ensure that the outcome is favorable for you, but also that you feel supported and not alone throughout the whole process.

If you need a Criminal Law Collin County please visit .

Choosing Your Boat Building Designs

As the ultimate do it yourselfer, you may look to boat building designs to find not only that perfect boat but also the one that is within your abilities to build. Even if you are a beginner, you can find plans to assist you in building a boat whether it is a simple design or something a little more complex.

Beginners can learn to make a variety of boats such as inboards, houseboats, human powered boats, outboards, power cruisers, sailboats, workboats and even special purpose vessel. Those of you familiar with the designs of Ken Hankinson can even find plans to recreate his famous designs. You can choose to build boats according to material such as aluminum, fiberglass, steel or stitch and glue constructions.

Special purpose watercraft include airboats, boats made especially for kids, drift boats, ducks boats, flats boats, fold up boats, glass bottom boats, kayaks, paddleboards, paddlewheel vessels, pedal boats and tugboats. You can even buy trailer plans so that you can build your boat at home then transport it to the water.

Even after you have decided the primary type of boat you want, you still have choices to make. For instance, if you choose to build a sail boat, do you want to make a dinghy, a take-apart sailing dinghy, a foam or fiberglass sailing dinghy, a sloop or a cat-rig? If you choose a human powered boat, will it be a river rowing drift pram or a flat-bottom rowboat? Did you remember to pick up plans to make the oars you will need to power your watercraft?

In many cases, you can buy boat building designs and accompanying kits that have all the materials you will need to undergo your project. Otherwise, you may have to individually buy some hardware and supplies like the application materials (glue, etc.), bow eyes, cleats, deadman throttle, drain plugs, eye and deck straps, fasteners (nails, screws, etc.), fiberglass fabrics and tapes, oarlocks and fittings, paints, sealants and wood filters and various safety supplies. You might also pick up a few book and DVDs to help you along with your written plans to ensure you do the job right.

Boat building designs are vast, but you should find something to suit you when you realize what you want. Building a boat can be a demanding but fun project to undertake to fill your weekends or any other spare time you can devote to the task.

The Amazing Burj Khalifa Tower Dubai

If you plan to visit Dubai make sure to add the attractions in Burj Khalifa Tower to your list of things you must see. Standing at over 828 metres, this remarkable example of high tech architecture is the tallest building in the world. It is a world-class destination considered the masterpiece of downtown Dubai.

Records mention Dubai as far back as 1095. The first settlement named Dubai town dates back to 1799. Today, Dubai has developed into a world-class business hub. The economy was originally based on the oil industry, but with the emirate’s new business model major revenues are now derived from real estate, tourism and financial services.

Recently, Dubai has attracted world recognition through various large construction developments and sporting events. However, this extra attention has highlighted human rights and labour issues faced by the largely Asian workforce.

The Tower

The Burj Khalifa Tower Dubai is located in the heart of the city. It is surrounded by luxury, five star hotels, fabulous shopping destinations and a wide variety of entertainment options. The tower houses Burj Khalifa residences, private residences, corporate offices, hotel guestrooms and suits, a four story fitness club, fine dining restaurants and an observation deck.

The Park

The design of the park was inspired by the unique Burj Khalifa triple-lobed shape. It spreads out over eleven hectares featuring luscious greenery and spectacular water displays. The landscape includes three distinct areas which serve the three main uses of the tower: hotels, residences and office spaces.

The three areas are linked by the pedestrian walkways and the tower. Visitors are welcomed with astonishing stone paving patterns at each entry. The main entrance is encircled by a palm court, fantastic water features, open green spaces and a luscious forest grove above.

The Observation Deck

The Burj Khalifa Tower Dubai has aroused more curiosity and intrigue than any other building in modern history. From the observation deck you can see for yourself what it feels like to be at the top of the world.

Your visit begins at the reception area. From here you are guided through an amazing presentation chronicling the exotic history of Dubai and the fascinating story behind the Burj Khalifa aboard a 65 metre moving walkway, called a travelator. The travelator pauses briefly to give you a close-up view of the amazing height of Burj Khalifa.

A super high speed elevator takes you the rest of the way to the top. As the elevator doors open you are greeted with floor to ceiling glass walls that offer a breath-taking, unobstructed view of the city, the surrounding desert and the ocean.

Commercial Mortgage Loans – Do I Qualify

Commercial mortgage loans are not available to persons, but rather to businesses, which include partnerships, incorporated businesses, limited companies, etc. The business must be sound financially and the process to verify the business income can be more complicated than verifying the credit worthiness of a specific individual. That is why traditional commercial mortgages can take six to nine months to underwrite.

Commercial loans are procured for a variety of reasons: to buy the premises of an existing business, to make improvements or enlarge existing premises, to make commercial and residential investments or to develop the existing property in other ways. An example would be to buy already constructed business premises, like offices, shops, restaurants, or pubs. Additionally, they can also be used to buy business assets such as plant equipment and specialized machinery.

The Interest rates for commercial mortgages are generally higher than those for residential mortgages but lower than interest rates on unsecured business loans. A fixed-rate loan is the most common commercial mortgage. It is similar to the fixed rate home mortgage loan in that the interest rate remains constant throughout the term. However, the term for most commercial mortgage loans is between 3 and 10 years but they can be extended for as long as 25 years.

The commercial mortgage loan amount and interest rate that you can receive is a direct correlation of the credit worthiness assessed by the lender with respect to your ability to repay the loan. If you have an excellent business record with a verifiable profit and loss business statement then you will have little trouble getting a commercial mortgage at an attractive interest rate.

Commercial loans are not provided without extensive scrutiny regarding your business stability and profitability. The Lender usually wants to see your last three years of audited financial statements including a Profit and Loss statement, balance sheet and a cash flow forecast. Favorable business information is critical to the lender and to you because, as stated earlier, if you default on the loan the lender can repossess your property and sell it to repay the outstanding mortgage balance.

The best place to find commercial mortgage loans is on the Internet. There are enormous numbers of commercial lenders vying for your business and they all advertise on the Internet. It is possible to compare many loan quotes side by side and determine which is best for your financial situation.

Finding Your Niche As A Home Staging Professional

Remember when you first started college? As a freshman, the classes you took were all general education courses like math and English.

By your second year if you were a Business major, you started taking general classes within your major like basic Accounting and Economics. Then by the time you were ready to graduate, you were taking advanced classes specific to a subject within your major like Marketing.

This is very similar to your growth as a Staging Design Professional. When you first get started, you’re working with everybody (the general public), or in some cases, “anybody” because your business depended on it. You didn’t have the luxury of being choosey because you just needed to get business NOW.

As your business evolves, you may naturally start creating a niche because you just organically attract certain clients or types of projects. If this doesn’t come naturally, you will eventually want to figure out what your distinct segment of the market is or more affectionately, “define your niche”.

This is not only the “who”, but also the “what” in the marketplace you serve. For instance, as Stagers, you can work with homeowners, Realtors, builders, developers or investors.

Choosing to work with one of these types of folks is part of your niche. The “what” or your specialty, such as model home merchandising or only staging owner occupied properties is also part of your niche.

I was recently at a Mastermind meeting where one of the Realtors mentioned that when she first started her business, she met a mentor who called himself the “Condo King” so she decided to call herself the “Condo Queen” and went on to be known as a condo specialist.

I know of a local Stager that specializes in Staging Lofts.

I found one of my niches was in Managing Remodel Projects for Resale. I was the “go to” person when those projects came up because I was known by the local Realtor community as the expert in that area. That also led to several condo conversion renovation projects that I was hired to consult on.

SO WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO FIND A NICHE?

You want to be seen as the Expert in that particular niche. As an expert you will find that:

– Experts are able to command higher fees.

Your clients want to know that they’re getting the best and they’re usually willing to pay more to have someone who is an Expert. After all, Cardiac surgeons are paid a lot more than a generalist M.D.

– Experts have more credibility.

More people want to work with Experts rather than Generalists. There is a higher demand for Specialists and as a result, they command more respect.

Just as an Enrolled Agent is paid a lot more for their technical expertise in the field of taxation, particularly IRS audits, than your local H&R Block tax preparer.

– Niching can help separate you from your competition so that you’ll be remembered.

Recognition is particularly with the “green” movement. Incorporating those principles into your Staging services will not only get consumer attention but you can potentially dominate that market since this is an emerging concept.

– Niching helps you clarify your marketing message.

Now that you know who your target market is and what your unique service offering is, you can now build your customer’s awareness of your services as well as your brand with more focused campaigns.

SO HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR NICHE?

You need to ask yourself a few questions.

– What do people already see you as an expert of?

– What are you known for or what do you want to be known for?

Take a look at your previous projects or your client profiles.

– Was there a group of folks that you worked with more often than another?

– Is there an area that you’re particularly better at than anyone else?

– Where can you be a “first” at in your marketplace?

It could be that you only do vignette staging which creates a look and feel without the need for a lot of inventory which reduces your overhead expenses.

Perhaps you’re known as a Color Specialist or the “Green” Stager. By positioning yourself as the Expert in this sexy, new niche, you will probably get a lot of media exposure since it is the “HOT” topic of the moment.

As you can see, niching helps you clarify who and what you want to work with. By communicating that specialty to your clients, you can help ensure that you’re not taking on projects that are outside of your expertise and eliminate those that bring you the least joy.

Over time I found my niche just by working on all kinds of projects and figuring out which ones I enjoyed and which I could easily say “no” to, regardless of the money.

Figure out what your niche is and you will find that the journey to your Staging success is a lot more fun!

Copyright (c) 2009 Alice Chan

Defending Drug Crime Charges with Legal Help

Why is it always a better option to get legal help from the initial stages? Why does it become even more important if you were facing criminal charges? The reason is simple – you need to get a criminal lawyer from the initial stages of the case to ensure adequate legal representation and proper defense.

Drug related crimes are among the worst of the lot. Why is this so? The degree of the penalties you may suffer on conviction is what makes this serious. Which activities classify in this category? What possible consequences may you face? Which defenses may work in your case? Your lawyer is best suited to provide these answers.

Mere possession of drugs may not lead to much trouble, and you may get away with a simple -possession’ charge and admission into a corrective program. However, if the quantity of drugs you possess is very high, you may face possession with intent to distribute charges, which may result in penalties that are more serious.

Manufacturing or producing drugs is also a criminal charge. If the law enforcement search results in findings of marijuana plants, cannabis seeds, equipments and tools, and such items on your person or property, you may face such charges. Even possession of drug paraphernalia is a criminal offense.

The most serious in the category of drug crimes is perhaps drug dealing or trafficking. If you trade in drugs, you may face these charges and need a criminal lawyer for defense. The charge you face depends on certain factors – the type and amount of drug, the geographic area of trade, the involvement of minors, and injury or death as an effect.

Possible penalties on conviction may range from admission to a rehabilitative program to life imprisonment and even the death penalty. A hefty fine to compensate for the losses of victims is also another possible penalty. Other possibilities include probation and parole, restitution, and so on.

Criminal laws are very strict about punishing such offenders. However, as per the American legal system, you are innocent until proven guilty. What you need to do is get a good criminal lawyer to work on the case on an immediate basis. Whether it is a manufacturing charge or a trafficking one, the right defense may let you go free.

Working out plea-bargain, using an alibi, opting for an affirmative defense – the options are various. If you have a competent lawyer, he/she may help you utilize the right strategy to avoid conviction.

Dave Watson, a legal consultant, offers practical tips for people trying to find legal solutions regarding criminal laws. If you were looking for a Criminal Lawyer, he suggests you to visit http://www.miami-criminal-lawyer.net/ .

Aravali heights Construction Updates- Real Estate Trends in Dharuhera

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Dwarkadhis Projects Pvt Ltd is among the fastest growing developers of residential property in upcoming areas such as Dharuhera, Rewari, Gurgaon, Delhi Ncr, Noida and near of Gurgaon sector. Buy Apartment in Dharuhera Buy Apartment Real Estate Trends in NCR Real Estate Trends in Delhi