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4 real estate technology products I’m thankful for this year

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Have suggestions for products that you’d like to see reviewed by our real estate technology expert? Email Craig Rowe.

Some products are more fun to write about than others.

I like to see new things and fresh ideas, stuff that I’d ask to be passed from the end of the table before diving into what’s already in front of me.

Here are some of the more satisfying technology dishes I’ve sampled this year.

Chime

Chime is as much a lead generation tool as it is a real estate CRM. Its developers know that to need a CRM, you need customer relationships to manage.

Chime’s insides are elegant and clean and fun to watch in action.

Chime Dashboard

It drives leads with geo-targeted Facebook and portal ads, monitors the ensuring click activity on a website and uses that to build smart user profiles. The software can also build agent websites and run email marketing campaigns.

The company is actively building in new features and integrations, too. It’s worth a look.

KoaWare

I strongly urge all agents to build websites for their listings. At the very least, it gives people a definitive destination at which to learn about a property. Plus, everything surrounding the message is under the agent’s control.

KoaWare upload process

KoaWare is a terrific way to build single-property sites in very little time.

In fact, KoaWare sites can be completed in a couple of minutes and turn out very effective. They have call-to-action forms, plenty of imagery and will embed YouTube and Matterport videos with only a URL.

Spacio Projects

Spacio is determined to prove the value of open houses to agents’ business plans, and it’s using software to do it.

Projects is so cool because its aim is focused solely on the often tedious process of selling higher-end urban properties.

Spacio Projects reports

Spacio founder Melissa Kwan experienced an industry problem and used her already-sleek open house solution to solve it.

From my full review:

This is the type of great-looking product every real estate developer would want associated with a new property, especially given the crazy big budgets associated with outfitting showrooms.

Spacio Projects is currently in about 75 New York City properties.

Preclose

This app promises to “take the chaos out of closings.” And they sure can be chaotic.

Preclose doesn’t need to be fired up until the ink on the contract to purchase is dry.

Preclose file

At that point, a user plugs in everything and everyone associated with the closing.

The app’s automated workflow uses dates, names and contact information to keep everyone in the loop about what needs to get done and when.

Documents can be uploaded and signed via connections with Dropbox, zipLogix, HelloSign and DocuSign.

What are your thoughts? Have you used any of these solutions this year? Any of them not sit well with you?

There are other apps and tools I’d like more people to sample as well, and I’ll touch on those as the year comes closer to its end.

Now, when’s dessert?

Have a technology product you would like to discuss? Email Craig Rowe.