Northwest Inhabitants

Know the Truth, No Matter How Hard It Hurts

Smith_Goomzee — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:07:38 -0800

“A 2% reduction in negative word of mouth boosts sales growth by 1%”
- London School of Economics and Political Science, “Advocacy Drives Growth” Study more...

Alternative Business Models

Goomzee Heats Up The Summer By Signing Four More Multiple Listing Services

Smith_Goomzee — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:45:43 -0700

Missoula MT Sept 8, 2009 - Agreements with Intermountain MLS of Boise and Northwest Montana Association of REALTORs in Kalispell, plus two others, continue to grow Goomzee’s nationwide footprint. Goomzee®, a leading text message marketing and lead generation provider that connects buyers and sellers in real time, announces agreements with four more multiple listings services. more...

Technology, Tools and Tidbits

Goomzee Simplifies Photo Management for Real Estate Professionals

Smith_Goomzee — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:53:25 -0700

Below is a press release from my company, Goomzee. It was syndicated this very morning and discusses our latest product enhancement: Drag & Drop Photo Re-ordering. more...

Technology, Tools and Tidbits

Will The Real Fidelity Please Stand Up?

Smith_Goomzee — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:36:18 -0700

As you may know, the holdings of Fidelity National Real Estate Solutions have recently been re-branded as LPS Real Estate Group. Some individuals in the industry instantly labeled the move as a “Fire Sale”, but in reality the situation is really nothing more than a simple name change. Well, maybe I shouldn’t have spoken so quickly. “Simple” is misleading, as the advent of LPS has caused a bit of confusion among Real Estate agents and RE tech vendors alike, many of which work with FNRES-now-LPS on a daily basis. more...

Technology, Tools and Tidbits

How Being 'Hyperpersonal' Helped Me Meet New Bloggers

Smith_Goomzee — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:32:56 -0700

Everyone knows the importance of having ‘hyperlocal’ content on your blog, but how many people, I wonder, recognize the importance of being ‘hyperpersonal’? Last week I was tasked to uncover some hyperlocal blogs in our current clients’ markets. Most ‘experts’ will say the best way to get on another blogger’s radar would be to lurk around the site until you find a post you feel comfortable commenting on. But I must say that I am not a fan of waiting, plain and simple. more...

Reforming Real Estate

"What happens if I put a '0' here..."

Smith_Goomzee — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:15:37 -0700

Last week’s team meeting produced an interesting tale of ‘overpricing woe’. The parents of one of my associates listed their house in mid-2006 at $590,000. The inaccurate list price was determined by their real estate agent, and the property sat on market for nearly 2 years, suffering a price drop of almost $200K. By the time my co-worker’s family unloaded the property, they had to settle for only $400,000; this unpleasant situation could’ve been avoided if only it had initially hit the market in the correct price range. more...

Alternative Business Models

Apexstone Amoy Marble & Granite

apex1 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:58:25 -0700

Apexstone Amoy Marble & Granite
http://www.apexstone.net
6th floor, Guangxing Building, 466 Nanshan Road, Xiamen 361006, China
592 3761099
Tel：+86 592 3761099
Fax: +86 592 3761099
Email: apex1@apexstone.net
公司类型：生产
主营业务：Stone Slabs，marble&granite slabs , granite tiles, countertops, vanity—tops
企业行业：建筑、装饰、房地产 >> 建筑材料 more...

Northwest Inhabitants

Wishing I Was a First-Time Homebuyer in '09

Smith_Goomzee — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:58:53 -0700

I am in no position to stand on a soapbox and preach a “How To” on revitalizing the real estate market. I can however let you in on today’s most un-secretive, yet still ambiguous headline that stands to be one of your greatest selling tools for 2009: The $8,000 1st Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit. more...

Alternative Business Models

'Green' Goomzee

Smith_Goomzee — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:26:29 -0700

A recent sign order resulted in our supplier mistakenly printing over 30 extra sign riders.

Acknowledging the mistake, our supplier offered to dispose of them at no charge, a courteous gesture...

...but in today's economic and environmental climate...

...how could we just throw away 30ish perfectly good signs? Instead, we returned the signs, and asked our provider to simply re-label them when the time comes for the next order. more...

Hot off the Press!

GOOMZEE INTRODUCES NEW TEXT MESSAGE MARKETING INNOVATION; INCREASES SALES OPPORTUNITIES

Smith_Goomzee — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:24:09 -0700

GOOMZEE INTRODUCES NEW TEXT MESSAGE MARKETING INNOVATION; INCREASES SALES OPPORTUNITIES

MISSOULA, MT May 11, 2009 – Mobile technology startup, Goomzee, introduced a new innovation to its text message marketing platform to further reduce lost sale opportunities. The new innovation, rightfully called InterAct, enables a text message chat conversation between potential buyer and seller. more...

Technology, Tools and Tidbits

Challenges of Consumer-Facing Mobile Apps

Smith_Goomzee — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:12:48 -0700

It seems today that many vendors are enticed by the perceived ’sexiness’ of mobile applications.

“A mini-program I can access on-the-go, and it only costs $4.00? Sign me up!”

Or perhaps vendors are lured not by the app’s sexiness, instead drawn to the mobile platform after hearing consumer raves like the one above. Sadly, while the ‘quote’ may indeed reflect the way most Americans approach their cell phone, the facts don’t lie; and the facts are telling us that mobile apps have a market reach of 13%. more...

Northwest Inhabitants

Ensure Your Next Commission is Secure

Smith_Goomzee — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:16:27 -0700

“I question the validity of a practice that allows you to be paid when you didn’t do the job you’re getting paid for.” - Brenda Florida, Century 21 Alliance of Lansdale, PA

“Procuring Cause should simply go away. It’s an antiquated system.” - Tom Early, President of National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents more...

Reforming Real Estate

3 Tips for Brokers That 'Inspire to Hire' Pt. 1

Smith_Goomzee — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:37:59 -0700

An oft-overlooked aspect of the real estate brokerage is the new agent hiring process. While not so much different from any other business’ hiring process, there are several nuances that brokers must take into account when screening the new blood. The important thing to remember is that you, the broker, are a different type of boss than what one would encounter in, say, an In-N-Out burger. more...

Reforming Real Estate

RETS...Can't You Get That From Mosquitos?

Smith_Goomzee — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:49:44 -0800

There's been a loud hullabaloo in the industry lately concerning IDX feeds. Unfortunately, the staggering amount of people who are unreasonably excited about IDX is equaled and possibly even surpassed by the amount of folks who couldn't tell IDX from their own left hand. I myself was included in the ranks of the un-knowledgeable until I received enlightenment not twenty minutes ago. Now, verily do I pass unto you: more...

Technology, Tools and Tidbits

How To De-Ice Your Phone Line

Smith_Goomzee — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:53:08 -0800

A few weeks ago, while driving down California’s sunny coastline, my sister asked me what made me different from every other telemarketer in America. You know who she was referring to: those guys that only seem to call between 6 and 7 p.m. offering you authentic, discount Cuban cigar bundles straight from the tropical beaches of New Jersey. At the time I wasn’t sure how to respond. But the crisp weather of my native Missoula Valley has since jarred my brain into production, and I am now equipped to answer my sister’s query. more...

Real Estate Marketing 2.0

Caveat Emptor

Smith_Goomzee — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:31:17 -0800

It is common knowledge that REO and foreclosure properties are selling like hotcakes, and that new home sales are lower than they’ve been since 1995. That’s all well and good, but how are we supposed to get a cut of the action? Those of you who are interested in buying decent properties at highly discounted rates: step into my office. more...

Real Estate Trends

Foreclosures - Is There A Light At The End Of The Tunnel?

Smith_Goomzee — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:10:02 -0800

Happy mid-January, from Sunny San Diego! Unfortunately, the Inland Empire’s falling median home price is a harsh antithesis to the joyous sunshine that is causing the glare on my computer screen. A major headline in NBC-LA’s evening newscast last night, DataQuick statistics highlight a 35% drop in SoCal home prices since December of last year. The San Diego-based research company reported an MHP (Median Home Price) of $278,000 last month for the six-county region of Southern California. This figure contrasts harshly with December, 2007’s MHP, a dazzling $425,000. more...

Real Estate Trends

Best Business Management and Marketing

VirtualInvestorPLUS — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:38:56 -0800

This is the realtors and investors world of buying up properties for cheap prices in today's economy. I have a system that is used by real estate investors and professionals that will maximize your efficiency, reduce your costs, and provide you with the greatest marketing exposure possible. Tired of talking on the phone to unqualified prospects? Let our team of professionals answer those calls for you and prequalify them for you. You will get instant notification to see if you need to waste your precious time on that call. There is so much more included. more...

Northwest Inhabitants

It's Just a Matter Of Time

Smith_Goomzee — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:03:46 -0800

Half-empty or half-full? Ethereal vengeance or a blessing in disguise? Whatever your view of the industry’s recession, know this: Those who can, will. Those who can’t will cease to be. And simply put, those who can are the agents who are most effective at self- and time-management. Economic duress will weed out the sun-dried agents in your office that aren’t producing, leaving more on the plate for those of you who are hungry and harbor a willingness to manage your time effectively. more...

Real Estate Marketing 2.0

Tips To Make You Someone Worth Listening To

Smith_Goomzee — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:34:25 -0800

In 2007, Forbes Magazine published a list of the 9 most commonly aroused fears. Included on the list were spiders, snakes and bats (oh my!), confined spaces, heights, and public transportation. Surprisingly, there is something else that most people fear more than death: public speaking. Apparently, many out there are afraid of embarrassing themselves in front of large groups, especially in a business setting. Who knew?

Well, don your backpack and grab that Batman lunchbox, ‘cause we’re going to speech school! more...

Alternative Business Models

Holiday Life Staging

Smith_Goomzee — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:54:31 -0800

When I began plotting out this week’s post, the topic I had in my sights was a how-to on home staging. But then I remembered, “Hey, it’s Christmas tomorrow. Nobody wants to hear about something that might resemble work.” Sadly, by the time I had this realization an hour of research had been logged and I had a full page sitting before me of transcribed brainstorming. Well, “waste not, want not,” Mom used to say. more...

Real Estate Trends

Is Your Customer Service as Old-Fashioned as Nebuchadnezzar?

Smith_Goomzee — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:05:51 -0800

Yesterday, just before we here at Goomzee had had enough for one day, our Business Development Manager, whom we’ll call Joe, shared an interesting story. A few years ago he and his wife hired a contractor to build their new home. Instead of hindering the process with forests worth of paper, Joe chose to operate on a one-page contract, augmented with verbal agreements whenever a change in the build came up. more...

Real Estate Marketing 2.0

Turn That Engine Over!

Smith_Goomzee — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:59:09 -0800

Hello Northwest!

Of all the groups i am part of, this is the only one where my recent post stands alone. This just can't be!

As fellow inhabitants of the beautiful Northwest region, we (the members of this group) are part of an as yet untapped community that holds the promise of new friends, some great advice, and plenty of room for some heated debate!!

I just wanted to encourage my fellow westerners to speak their mind, don't be sheepish. I would like to hear what you all have to say! Ill even start: more...

Northwest Inhabitants

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It!!

Smith_Goomzee — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:30:38 -0800

Yet another product of our faltering economy is the rise in the rate of foreclosure throughout the country. But how do we go about fixing it? I don’t know about the rest of you, but I support the concept of extended terms and reduced interest, as opposed to billing me, the taxpayer, for the bailout. more...

Real Estate Events