REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY 2.0

Admittedly, I did not understand or realize the power of the micro blogging site Twitter.  Although other real estate professionals have raved about the contacts, referrals, etc. that they have obtained from Twitter, I simply did not see its use or potential.  However, a recent news story and my own experience showed me a glimpse of the power of Twitter:

• In this week's edition of BusinessWeek (March 2, 2009), there is a short sidebar article entitled "A Social Networker's Story:  Zappos CEO and UPS Step In."  The story describes how Tara Hunt, a marketing executive with Intuit, initially contacted UPS regarding the tracking of a delivery package and received a generic response from the customer service representative explaining that packages sometimes aren't delivered until 9 p.m. during the Christmas season.  Not satisfied with the response, Ms. Hunt summoned the power of Twitter and posted a message on Twitter (known as a "tweet") describing how she wanted to walk her dog and was waiting on UPS to deliver a package.  The tweet was heard by the CEO of Zappos who was having dinner with UPS's President for the Western Region, who then mentioned the tweet to the UPS exec.  The Zappos CEO replied to the tweet "someone will call."  The UPS exec contacted the operations manager who then was able to schedule a pre-set delivery time.  The UPS driver arrived not only with the package - but also flowers, chocolates, and dog toys.  It was an excellent example of customer service.  But, the question remains, did it pay off?  You bet.  Ms. Hunt now goes out of her way to use UPS and even purchased a pair of shoes from Zappos.

• Similar to the story above, I posted a story to my blog on ActiveRain.com about a hijacked listing on Trulia.com.  It explained my frustration with Trulia.com regarding one of our listings appearing on their site with with links directing prospects to our competitors for information on the property.  The blog post was sent to Twitter via ActiveRain.  Similar to Ms. Hunt, I had contacted customer service only to receive a generic reply indicating that a work order was being opened.  However, Rudy of ActiveRain and Trulia fame saw the post on Twitter, read the blog post on ActiveRain, and rolled up his sleeves and dove right in.  The issue was resolved in 24 hours.  Again, it was an excellent example of customer service.  Although I didn't get flowers, chocolates or dog toys like Ms. Hunt, I did get great customer service.  Similar to Ms. Hunt, I am a satisfied customer and will go out of my way to encourage our agents to use Trulia for their listings.

So here is what I learned from the article and my own personal experience:

• Customers hate automated replies or generic responses.
• Customers can accept mistakes and problems if they know what is going on with their problem or complaint and receive timely updates.
• Whether blogging or tweeting, remember that others are or may be listening (including friends, family, employers, competitors, etc.).
• If you are a company, you may just want to listen in on Twitter to see what your customers are saying about your company and the service it provides.
• A satisfied customer is more likely to be a source of repeat business and referrals.

Interested in City Living?  Interested in learning how technology can help you buy or sell your home in St. Louis?  Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

In the current economic times, home owners are increasingly looking for home repair and improvement projects that increase energy efficiency of their homes in the hope that these repairs will reduce their short and long term energy costs.  In addition to the energy cost savings, there are a number of state and local program that provide financial assistance or other incentives to make these "green" repairs and improvements more affordable. 

Here are a few of the programs available to residents of the City of St. Louis:

• State Tax Deduction for Energy Efficiency Repairs:  Tax Deduction for Home Energy Efficiency Improvements  (100% of improvements up to $1,000 per return or $2,000 cumulatively)
• Utility Loan Program:  Laclede Gas - Loan Programs for Energy Efficiency (insulation financing up to $2,000 at 3% interest rate / financing for the purchase of energy efficient gas appliances up to $10,000 with 5% downpayment)
• Utility Rebate Program:  AmerenUE - Natural Gas Equipment Rebates (cost of programmable thermostat up to 50% of costs with a maximum of $25 / natural gas furnance (residential) up to maximum of $200)

If you aren't a resident of the City of St. Louis, visit the Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency to view some of the state and local incentives in your area for "green" repairs and improvements.  The site offers a brief description of each program as well as the contact information for the program's sponsor.

Interested in City Living?  Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

If you are new to a city or neighborhood or if you just became aware of the need or benefits of recycling, then you may want to take a look at the website - Earth911.  Earth911 is a clearinghouse for information on recycling.  Here are some of the features of the site:

• Search Engine:  Search the Earth911 database for recycling centers and services across the country.
• Information Clearinghouse:  Review articles, new items, and tips on a host of recycling issues.  The site uses categories to group information by the type of material from garden material to construction materials to paper and much more.
• Newsletter:  Subscribe to weekly newsletter governing recycling news and tips.

If you are a resident of Lafayette Square or Soulard, here are a few of the recycling sites in the neighborhood or other specialty programs that may be of interest to you:

CITY RECYCLING CENTERS (PAPER/PLASTIC/ALUMINUM/GLASS)

• City of Saint Louis Recycling Drop-off Site - Firehouse #1:  2910 South Jefferson (63118) - 0.9 mi. Municipal Location - (314) 353-8877
• City of Saint Louis Recycling Drop-off Site - Firehouse #35:  5450 Arsenal (63139) - 3.4 mi. Municipal Location - (314) 353-8877
• City of Saint Louis Recycling Drop-Off Site - Firehouse #7:  2600 LaSalle Street (at Jefferson Avenue) (63104)
• St. Louis Public Schools - Lafayette Elementary:  815 Ann Avenue (at 7th Boulevard) (63104)
• Ritenour Early Childhood Center Drop-off:  9330 Stansbury (63134) - 1.8 mi. Location - (314) 493-6245

CITY TRASH TRANSFER (BULK ITEMS)

• City of Saint Louis South Transfer Station:  4100 South First Street (63118) - 2 mi. Municipal Location - (314) 353-8877

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

• Salvation Army Thrift Store:  2823 Cherokee (63118) - 1.4 mi. Location - (314) 771-2684
• Salvation Army Thrift Store:  3949 Forest Park Avenue (63108) - 2.1 mi. Location - (314) 535-0057
• Goodwill Industries:  4140 Forest Park Avenue (63108) - 2.3 mi. Location - (314) 371-1296

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore:  3763 Forest Park Avenue (63108) - 1.9 mi. Location - (314) 531-4155

SPECIALTY PROGRAMS

• Crazy Crayons' National Crayon Recycling Program:  LAF Lines, Ltd., 721 Village Road, Pelican Lake, WI 54463 - (800) 561-0922
• Educational Assistance Limited:  P.O. Box 3021, Glen Ellyn, IL 60138 - (630) 690-0010
• Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Program:  26755 SW 95th Ave, Wilsonville, OR 97070 - (800) 344-6453

At PREA Signature Realty, we subscribe to "recycling" and "reuse" -particularly of our historic buildings.  If you are committed to the revitalization of St. Louis and are interested in historic preservation, we invite you to view our listings at the Georgian (former City Hospital No. 1), The Abbey on the Park (former Lafayette Presbyterian Church), and Eden Lofts (former Eden Publishing House).  For more information on these properties, visit our website:  www.PREASignatureRealty.com. 

To schedule a tour of any of these properties, please contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

If you are a real estate broker or real estate attorney and you have a strong interest in real estate issues and trends that impact the daily operations of real estate brokerages, then you may want to join the list serv Dirt or BrokerDirt by clicking here.

What is Dirt and BrokerDirt?  Dirt and BrokerDirt are real estate listservs moderated by Professor Patrick Randolph at the University of Missouri - Kansas City's School of Law.  Dirt is a forum more oriented towards real estate attorneys and BrokerDirt is more oriented towards residential real estate brokers. 

These sites receive funding and assistance from the American Bar Association's Section for Real Property, Probate and Trust Law and the University of Missouri - Kansas City's School of Law.   However, the editorial content is not controlled by either of the sponsoring entities and represents the opinions and insights of Professor Patrick Randolph, his talented panel members, and the subscribers to the listservs.

How can Dirt and BrokerDirt assist brokers?  Subscribers to the Dirt and BrokerDirt list servs receive all messages posted to the list servers.  This can range from 2 to 20 e-mails per day.  There are generally two types of messages posted. 

• Daily Developments:  There is a Daily Development usually written by Professor Randolph that discusses and analyzes a reported appellate case.  These messages are similar (but more in-depth) to the posts that you will see either on the National Association of Realtor's website or in state and local association's newsletters covering legal developments in yours state.  Here is an example of a Daily Development on the issue of judicial standards for confirmation of judicial foreclosures.
• Q&A:  The remaining posts are often questions and answers on hot topics.  For example, are you looking for a summary of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan?  Ask and you would receive a response that would include links like the following:  http://www.sonnenschein.com/pubs/pub_detail.aspx?id=49634&type=E-Alerts# or http://www.parealtor.org/content/currentissues.htm.

Any Other Benefits?  Visit the Dirt Website for contributed files (including articles, editorials, forms and other files), for a search engine to search the Dirt archives, or to see a list of articles by year (e.g. 2008).

What does it cost to join Dirt and Broker Dirt?  Nothing - it is absolutely FREE.

If you are interested in selling or buying a home in St. Louis and want to work with a sales staff that stays in front of current trends, contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

Daily Developments from 2008:

• 01/11 Reliving your life when your client turns on you!!!
• 01/14 Editor now turns on closers and title examiners - should privity limitations be preserved?
• 01/15 New case on title insurer liability to relying plaintiffs not in privity
• 01/17 Can sophisticated parties waive damages claims for ANY breach of lease - leaving only equitable remedies and arbitration? Any???
• 01/18 Letter of Credit Guarantee may not qualify for contribution against personal guarantors - draft around it!!!
• 01/22 purposes of registered title, knowledge of line and poles on land does not constitute "actual knowledge" to destroy "good faith" of purchaser relying on certificate to show no easement
• 01/24 Although grantor wouldn't have given deed had he known it was irrevocable by law, the delivery is still good.
• 01/25 "No business" rule bars big, licensed neighborhood child care, but not small, unlicensed ones
• 01/28 What must condemnor do to "negotiate in good faith?" 
• 02/01 Can you challenge ONLY the land appraisal part of a tax appraisal of an improved parcel?
• 02/05 Do water appropriation rights obtained by lessee revert to lessor at lease end?
• 02/06 Can lessee of service station, terminated on account of pending condemnation, share in condemnation award under the Fifth Amendment? How 'bout under Petroleum Marketing Practices Act?
• 02/08 Antitrust issues when tenants "go dark aggressively"
• 02/09 DIRT's first oil and gas lease interpretation
• 02/11 Six years of planted trees can terminate area of easement where they're planted.
• 02/12 Latest RLUIPA conundrum: mixing temples and taverns 
• 04/01 May Court Constitutionally construe an "Act of God" clause, and what happens if it can't? 
• 06/30 Tenant preserves parking rights despite "changed circumstances" argument based on modern shopping center design.
• 07/01 Can landowners collect "stigma" damages when they have suffered no loss of use or physical damage?
• 07/02 Joint Tenancy Severance Gets Easier and Easier.
• 07/03 Can one insure oneself against punitive damages
• 07/07 Tenant's liquidated damages remedy for breach of exclusive use
• 07/08 Equitable servitude binds with notice, even though not part of deed or common plan
• 07/09 Stealing the house from the foreclosure threatened owner_ No harm, no foul
• 07/10 Landowner-friendlier approach to delinquent taxpayer notice issue from New Mexico court
• 07/11 Lender may cancel foreclosure even after sale has occurred (but prior to court confirmation) in order to facilitate short sale by borrower
• 07/14 Failure to index properly eminent domain taking costs town its property after two decades
• 07/15 Executed Licenses The real deal
• 07/16 Good news and bad news for brokers on misrepresentation issue
• 07/17 If Developer jumps maintenance fee, can buyer rescind
• 07/18 The developing trend foreclosing mortgagees must work harder to prove ownership of debt - affidavit of ownership maybe not sufficient
• 07/21 Is presence of sex offender next door a breach of habitability
• 07/22 Condemning authority loses (thirty years later) in curious title case
• 07/23 Dramatically lower sale price, due to trustee's error, valid in anti-deficiency situation
• 07/24 Highway lights kill crops - a taking YESS!!!
• 07/25 Breach of contract of sale by vendor maybe a violation of a state Unfair Practices Act
• 07/28 When your contracted environmental clean up specialist in fact spills more gunk - are you an operator
• 07/29 Conflict between statutory and lease renewal-termination language
• 07/30 Supreme rule on transfer taxes and bktcy reorgs
• 07/31 Easy for buyer to be seen as waiving financing contingency 
• 08/01 Another refinancing lender scores subrogation - it's getting easier!
• 08/04 Lender gets a break on reading of satisfaction statute
• 08/05 Perpetuities Rule undoes corporate developer on buy back right
• 08/06 Is parking of commercial vehicles in the driveway a violation of no business subdivision restriction
• 08/07 Mineral lessor's nuisance damages for lessee's contamination of lessor's estate - permanent damages concept abandoned
• 08/08 Lender's duty to catch foreclosure rescue scam artists
• 08/11 Bankruptcy won't permit cure post statutory redemption
• 08/12 Georgia decides creation of mortgage by one joint tenant is not a severance
• 08/13 Adding square footage to a preexisting nonconforming use
• 08/14 Even though broker unlicensed, seller pays commission when attempting to take advantage
• 08/15 Can long term take out lender to homebuyer be subrogated to construction lender to construction lender
• 08/18 Can same brokerage, acting as buyer's broker, submit offers from two different buyers
• 08/19 Does priority for modifications clause permit future advance
• 08/20 If you want to rely on financing condition - STOP!!!
• 08/21 Secondary market purchaser may have duty to prevent predatory lending by its seller-mortgage brokers
• 08/22 Does bankruptcy mootness doctrine preclude objections to free and clear sale Maybe not
• 08/25 The problem of uniform zoning requirements and development agreements
• 08/26 Two Eminent Domain Access Cases Worth Studying
• 08/27 City can deny building permit, even with validly zoned project, if it concludes that project is not feasible
• 08/28 Subsequent purchasers on notice of judicial foreclosure file as to otherwise unrecorded information
• 08/29 RV park as a property tax exempt activity Why not 
• 09/02 When the Government takes an easement to excavate, can it reuse the dirt
• 09/03 When are diminution in value damages not enough to compensate for nuisance-trespass
• 09/04 You used to be able to see the water from here_ _ _ Is government liable for obstructing water view
• 09/05 If a zoning applicant lies in prior application, can zoning board take this into account in subsequent variance proceedings
• 09/08 Landlord's acquiescence in defaults through one renewal prevent raising defaults to block later renewal, despite anti-waiver clause
• 09/09 If you have a building permit, can you avoid spite fence restrictions
• 09/10 Does broker have duty to disclose to other side client's financial problems that might prevent closing (Revisited)
• 09/11 Transfer of adversely possessed property valid vs_ BFP's
• 09/12 Does common enemy doctrine permit diversion of wet area
• 09/15 Real estate sale agreement becomes unenforceable free option_ Oops!!
• 09/16 Partition lawsuit brought by one joint tenant does not, upon filing, create a severance, and, upon death before final decision in the partition suit, death by one joint tenant creates title in the other and the partition
• 09/17 Cal_ court finds landlord has duty to inspect interior of premises to protect against personal injuries while a writ of possession is pending and tenant remains in control
• 09/18 Important Kansas ruling bites MERS on its nominee status_ No right to be named in foreclosure by senior of the MERS held interest
• 09/19 Can you both adversely possess and permit the true owner use of the land
• 09/22 Title by prescription - a different concept from adverse possession - gets different disability rule 
• 10/07 Excluding Terrorism as a covered risk under Fire and Extended Coverage policy is against public policy in New York
• 10/08 Buyer's specific performance case morphs into damages action with lots of twists
• 10/09 Recharacterization foils Home Foreclosure Rescue Scheme
• 10/10 A seal is a mammal that swims, but why should it make a difference in real estate deals
• 10/13 Can a disappointed purchaser challenge a fiduciary sale approved by probate court
• 10/14 If you don't obtain the cancellation of a refinanced HELOC, it stays open, to your peril
• 10/15 Are mechanic's liens subject to lis pendens notice in foreclosure of senior mortgage where their priority predates date of foreclosure notice, but not the mortgage itself
• 10/16 Federal courts (including bankruptcy) may not retry issues that have been resolved in state court
• 10/17 Overlaps onto neighboring property constitute insured defects in marketability when survey clause is deleted__EML
• 10/21 Renewal rent cap based upon another named tenant or successors becomes irrelevant when named tenant goes defunct and space is subdivided
• 10/22 Does a sale to a family member for less than fair value trigger a refusal right
• 10/23 Easement for telephone poles can grow into right to install wireless communications equipment
• 10/24 Italian Cowboy Creamed in Court disclaimer and ratification problems undo fraud claim
• 10/27 Limiting frustrated buyer's claims when trustee breaches auction contract
• 10/28 Indemnification, suretyship, subrogation - nothing works for guarantors of principle lease to get at assigns
• 10/29 Untimely lease renewal will court require very good excuse, even where dire economic loss will result
• 10/30 Halloween Mechanics Lien for Disposing of Gooey Remains of Corpse_EML 
• 11/03 Timber rights reserved in grantor, heirs and assigns is only a temporary right, ending after a reasonable period
• 11/04 Waiving the Landlord's anti-waiver language on lease assignments
• 11/05 What standard should be used by courts in considering confirmation of a judicial foreclosure sale
• 11/06 Purchaser of 22 year old tax redemption right is BFP with regard to efforts to foreclose such right if foreclosing party didn't record notices of foreclosure
• 11/07 Tax Appraisal Blues entreprenurial profit and functional obsolescence both losing issues for landowner
• 11/10 Virginia takes Statute of Frauds seriously - seller can contract with another if details of first deal not resolved in writing
• 11/11 Big fraud, but no subrogation_ A little lesson in equity
• 11/12 Rerouting traffic may have the same effect on landowner as restricting access, but it's not inverse condemnation
• 11/13 Class actions for mortgagee's breach of prompt discharge statutes may add up
• 11/14 Do borrower's foreclosure defenses survive bankrupt lender's 363 free and clear sale of mortgage assets

Technology plays a very important role in our real estate brokerage.  From the syndication of our listings to lead generation, we use technology to maintain a competitive edge.

Each week, I search the internet to find new tech tools and gadgets.  I read several reviews.  I then select 2 or 3 sites to test during the week.  If the site works as promised, I then put it on the list.  On Monday afternoons, I meet with my business partner to review the sites and to discuss which sites may be useful to our agents.  We then discuss how the sites can be incorporated into our real estate practice.  We then select a website for the week and a real estate tech tip or gadget to discuss at our weekly sales meetings.

I was recently asked "How do you find these sites?"  It is simple.  I turn to these three tried and true websites:

Kim Komando:  Kim Komando is a syndicated talk show host on CBS Radio appearing locally on KMOX FM1120.  As she says, she is the "digital goddess" and is dedicated to "all things digital."  Her website offers a wealth of information including:

• Newsletters:  4 Newsletters including a weekly newsletter, show tip of the day, cool site of the day, and show news of the day.
• Audio:  Streaming audio and podcasts are available for paid subscribers.
• Columns:  Syndicated technology columns appearing in USA Today, Microsoft's Website and other newspapers.
• Downloads:  Download library includes free useful software downloads ranging from office tools to e-mail tools to web tools.  All of the downloads are for FREE software.
• Websites:  A list of websites with brief reviews covering websites ranging from tech tools to photos to homes and garden to finance to food.
• Tips:  Tips on a host of issues ranging from hardware to software to networking to browers to security and privacy issues.
• Buying Guide:  Buying guides with reviews of features and suggested pricing for almost any tech gadget.

MakeUseOf:  MakeUseOf includes a small staff of tech savvy entrepreneurs who search the internet for tech tips, cool gadgets and new websites.  The site is broken down into two basic areas:

• MakeUseOf Articles:  This section offers how to guides, website and software reviews, and a daily recap called "Cool Websites and Tools."
• Directory of Apps:  This section allows you to search for websites and tools by categories ranging from contacts management to browsers to mobile technology to GPS and much more.

KillerStartUps:  KillerStartUps provides reviews of new websites, software, blogs and more.  Whereas Kim Komando and MakeUseOf focus on FREE websites, software, etc., KillerStartUps focuses on websites, software, and blogs that may just be the next BIG THING on the internet - whether free or fee based.  KillerStartUps reviews 30 new websites per day and publishes brief reviews of 15 websites per day.  The community then votes on the websites.  You can also search by broad categories.  However, the category tags are broad, not always accurate, and frankly not much assistance.

Hopefully, these three websites will satisfy your curiosity and thirst for technology.  However, if you can't sleep, need to speak "geek", or have a burning tech question, then try one of these tech and internet marketing blogs:

Mason Tech Beat

Interested in discovering how technology can help you sell your home or purchase a new home in St. Louis, Missouri?  Contact Ryan Shaughnessy, broker-principal at PREA Signature Realty, by telephone at 314-397-3182 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com. 

Looking for homes in Soulard, Lafayette Square, and the historic neighborhoods of the City of St. Louis?  Visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com for list of featured properties, virtual tours, buying tips, MLS access, and more.

When I first started practicing law, the tools for monitoring your or your client's reputation and business goodwill or for researching the opposition were limited.  Back then, we subscribed to a "clipping" service that scoured hundreds of trade journals, newsletters, newspapers, etc. to find information on people, companies, projects and industry trends.  The internet has changed how companies manage information.

Admittedly, the internet is a great tool for accumulating information on just about any topic.  However, there are times when you want to stay current on a subject or topic without the need to conduct repetitive searches of the internet.  Fortunately, there are several FREE alert programs that search the web, blogs, news, videos, social networking sites, etc. for specific names, words, or phrases and then send you an automated alert setting forth a summary of the content and a link to the source.

Here are a few of the established alert services:

Google Alerts:  Search for specific names, words or phrases in specific mediums such as web, blogs, news, comprehensive, groups, video, etc. and receive e-mail alerts regarding the subjects that you have requested Google monitor for you.

TweetBeep:  Similar to Google Alerts in function.  TweetBeep is used for monitoring specific names, words or phrases included in comments on Twitter.com.

However, there are two new kids on the block that deserve a mention and at least a trial use:

MyStepRep:  StepRep monitors your on-line reputation with deep searches of the web and blogs.  You then review and have the option to delete based on relevance and to sort by positive or negative attributes.  StepRep then allows you to create a widget for use on your blog or website to pass on the good news about you, your business or your industry.  It is an interesting tool for promoting you and your business reputation.

Trackle:  Trackle has the potential to revolutionize how people track information on the web.  Trackle contains over 25 categories and adds in the search by creating specific search formats for specific subjects.  By far, Trackle has the best search interface of all of the tracking and alert tools.

Now, you may ask "Why would I want to use an alert service?"  Here are a few ways that we use alerts in our real estate practice:

• Track new project announcements. 
• Track comments of prospects and customers regarding your projects or your competitor's projects.
• Track legislative and other governmental approvals on projects.
• Learn about breaking news regarding projects.
• Monitor your business reputation or the business reputation of your collegues, project partners, and competitors.
• Keep up-to-date on industry trends, changes in technology, hot topics, etc.
• Research information regarding your competitors, prospects and customers.
• Develop new business leads.
• Develop new leads based on comments like "I'm looking at condos in Lafayette Square..." contained on social networking sites.
• Track your listings to see if a competitor or real estate search portal is using your listing information in an inappropriate manner.

If you are interested in how technology can be used to assist in the sale of your home or purchase of a new home in St. Louis, please contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or via e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

Website Graders

LinkVoodoo offers several SEO measurement tools on its site.  I found the Quality Rank Tool to be helpful.  It measures or otherwise ranks a site using several factors including the following.

• Factor 1 - Alexa Ranking:  Compares site against other sites on the internet using traffic statistics, links, etc.
• Factor 2 - Backlink Profile:  Reviews your backlink profile and compares the number of links pointed to the site index compared to other pages of your website.  If you have more links to your index than other pages, your score is reduced as organic links tend to link directly to content as opposed to the index.
• Factor 3 - Directories:  Links to directories have declining value.  However, certain human edited directories continue to hold value such as DMOZ, Yahoo, BOTW, and business.com.
• Factor 4 - Domain Age:  Domain age impacts your rank as Google and Yahoo both use age of the domain and number of years registered as a litmus test of how long your site will be around.
• Factor 5 - External Links:  If you have more than 100 outgoing links on a single page, it is indicative of a plan to manipulate your page rank and you are penalized by Google for this item.
• Factor 6 - Google Page Rank:  Google Page Rank is less important than it once was.  However, PageRank of PR5 or higher provides a small indicator as to the quality of your website.
• Factor 7 - Inbound Links:  This measures the number of inbound links that point to your website.  Although quality remains more important, the quantity of links still impacts the ranking of your website.
• Factor 8 - Social Bookmarking:  Social bookmarking is used as a measure of the quality of the content of your website.  The number of bookmarks is a measure of the quality and appeal of your content.
• Factor 9 - Title Search:  This measures whether or not your title tag ranks in the top five places for the keywords used in your title.  This factor essentially measures your Google juice.

Need a second opinion?  Try HubSpot's Website Grader.  By reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of your website as highlighted by LinkVoodoo's Quality Rank Tool or HubSpot's Website Grader, you have a roadmap as to the things that you should address to improve your search engine optimization and to generate more traffic to your site. 

Website Valuation

Similar to Voodoo and HubSpot, Stimator.com offers a tool to measure the value, popularity, web recognition, web volume, linking data, inbound linking, and social components of your website.  However, this site goes one step further by placing a dollar value on your website.  Be warned - when you see the dollar value of your website, you may just be a bit discouraged.  Need a second opinion?  Try Webvaluer.

In the end, the leads generated from the traffic to your website are what matter.  However, these tools help measure the quality of your website and give you some insight on how to improve your search engine optimization thereby improve both traffic and leads. 

If you use other tools or metrics to evaluate your website (other than Google Analytics), please post a comment as to what you use and why.

Social networking sites and advertising seem to be like oil and water and simply don't mix very well.  However, a relatively new website TwitterHawk may bridge the gap and offer a workable solution for identifying potential leads using Twitter. 

How It Works: 

• Using TwitterHawk, you set it to search for keywords in Twitter posts.  Using search terminology, you can restrict or narrow your search based on keywords, time, georgraphic location, etc. 
• You then set up an auto reply with up to five different auto responses. 
• You then have two basic options for responding to the Tweet:  Option 1 - Automatic Reply.  Option 2 - Hold for your review with manual transmission of reply.  This option gives you the opportunity to confirm the reply, edit the reply or delete the search result.
• Your reply is sent to the person who made the Tweet a single time.  You can also adjust the frequency with which auto replies are sent spacing them over several hours, days, or even weeks.

Now, I hate automated replies.  However, with TwitterHawk, you can hold the search and edit your reply to tailor it to the actual post on Twitter.  For responsible users, this can be an invaluable lead generation tool.  In the wrong hands, the indiscriminate use of this service would probably constitute a violation of the terms of service for the use of Twitter. 

If you have used this service or a similar service, I am curious what your experience has been using it as a lead generation tool.

Interested in using technology to increase the exposure of your home to potential buyers on the internet?  If so, contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

The National Association of Realtor has made it too easy.  I can no longer complain about not having enough training materials.  With NAR's E-Library, you can download e-Books in a variety of formats ranging from Adobe E-Books to MP3 to other audio format in 3 easy steps:

Step 1 - Download software.

Step 2 - Register software.

Step 3 - Checkout e-books.

For more information on how to start, click on NAR Library Instructions.  To review the available books, click on e-Books.

I have never seen or heard of this problem.  However, I was checking Trulia.com to see one of my new listings.  I found that our listing had been hijacked.

Here is the link:  Trulia Listing.  Now, if you look at the listing, there is a brokerage shown in the top right hand corner "Coldwell Banker Premier."  Now, when you click and open the listing, you still see no designation of who is the listing agent. Finally, after you click on more information, you get a final page where PREA Signature Realty is listed as the listing agent.  However, it is on a heavily branded and promoted page for "Coldwell Banker Premier" and when you click on "contact agent" in the listing section it goes to Coldwell Banker Premier.

So, my listing and its content has been hijacked.  My questions are:  How Did My Listing Get There?  How Did My Listing Get Hijacked?  I find this marketing practice, apparently permitted by Trulia.com, to be deceptive as it appears that our listing is a listing of another brokerage and is likely to confuse customers.

Has anyone else noticed this issue?  If so, what did you do to protect your listings?  If you don't want to post a comment, please e-mail Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at ryan@preasignaturerealty.com.

FINAL UPDATE (02/13/2009):  The issue described above has been resolved.  The issue apparently was caused by an error in the feed or the reading of the feed at Trulia.com.  Although I was highly irritated by the situation, I was impressed at how Trulia.com responded to the situation.  The real test of a company is how they respond to adversity and complaints.  I want to publicly thank Rudy and Trulia.com for their responsiveness.  It is a tribute to their commitment to customer service that they monitor ActiveRain and actively deal with problems as they arise.  This issue could have caused me to cancel our brokerage's use of Trulia.com.  However, the manner in which Trulia.com responded actually enhanced my views of Trulia.com.