These real estate pros lead impactful charitable efforts, from fighting food insecurity to organizing disaster recovery, and you can vote for your favorite cause.

REALTORS® don’t just help people buy and sell houses. They also pour their hearts into their communities to make them better places to live. The 10 finalists for the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2023 Good Neighbor Awards are displaying that type of commitment through their unrelenting support for charitable efforts that are getting lasting results.

This year’s finalists are devoted to a number of causes, including fighting food insecurity, helping low-income families achieve homeownership, helping breast cancer survivors or mass shooting victims—and even coordinating emergency response teams in Maui, Hawaii, after recent wildfires there.

“Each year, the Good Neighbor Awards serve as a poignant reminder of the heart and soul of our real estate community,” says NAR President Tracy Kasper. “It’s not just about buying or selling properties; it’s about investing in the places we call home. These finalists exemplify the essence of what it means to be a good neighbor, turning their passion and dedication into real-world change.”

NAR’s Good Neighbor Awards, now in its 24th year, recognizes REALTORS® who volunteer their time, money and passion to make a difference in their local communities or abroad. Nominees are selected by their personal contributions of time, finances and material contributions that go toward benefiting their cause.

Of the 10 finalists, five will be announced as winners later this fall. Honorees will receive a $10,000 grant, national media exposure for their charity and will be honored in November during NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience(link is external), in Anaheim, Calif. Five honorable mentions also will each receive $2,500 grants.

Vote for Your Favorite Cause

Now through Oct. 31, you and members of the public can vote for your favorite Good Neighbor finalists(link is external) online. The top three vote-getters will be named as “Web Choice Favorites.” The top vote-getter will receive $2,500, and the second- and third-place finishers will each receive $1,250. The Web Choice Favorites, as well as the five winners of the Good Neighbor Awards, will be announced Oct. 5.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Barb Betts hosts the popular “Real Estate by Relationship” podcast.

Podcaster: Barb Betts, broker and CEO of The RECollective, Long Beach, Calif.
Podcast: Real Estate by Relationship
What it’s about: How to build a real estate business based on relationships
Date started: September 2020

Why did you start a podcast?

From the beginning of my real estate journey to becoming a broker and opening my own boutique brokerage, I always knew I wanted to do real estate differently. I was taught all of the basics of cold calls and farming, but it never felt authentic to me. It took a couple of years of trial and error, but once I found my niche of building real relationships with real people, I knew I had found the secret to making real estate work for me. I use my podcast to share my journey in the hope of inspiring others and to give advice that, quite frankly, I wish someone had told me 20 years ago.

What’s the benefit of having a podcast?

The most rewarding benefit is having newly licensed agents and even peers tell me that my story has helped them take charge of their own career. The icing on the cake, of course, is deepening relationships with an amazing network of colleagues across the U.S., which ultimately leads to incoming referrals.

What’s one tip for success?

Just do it! The best way to learn is by doing. Look to others who are making big waves and emulate their approaches. Never be afraid to ask for help. This community is always willing to share their experiences and tips. Before you launch, make sure you have a bank of podcasts recorded and a list of topics you can talk about. I will be honest—it can be hard to keep it going if you don’t have some content in the bank ready to go.

Betts’ favorite podcasting tools:

• Canva (canva.com(link is external))—online design and publishing platform used for creating digital marketing designs, like podcast covers
• Planoly (planoly.com(link is external))—app and web-based dashboard to schedule and manage social media content to promote the podcast
• Buzzsprout (buzzsprout.com(link is external))— podcast hosting service that automatically posts on the main platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and iHeartRadio
• Samson Technologies’ Q2U dynamic microphone (samsontech.com(link is external))—a digital and analog microphone that includes XLR and USB outputs for home studio or mobile recordings
• Zoom (zoom.us(link is external))—video platform for recording podcast episodes and exporting audio to Buzzsprout

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

The REALTORS Property Resource® is a powerhouse of data.

The REALTORS Property Resource® (narrpr.com(link is external)) puts instant information on properties at your fingertips. Here are nine ways to get more from this exclusive member benefit.

1. Build a CMA on the go. When you’re away from the computer, turn to your RPR® app. From any “Property Details” screen, choose “Create Comps Analysis” to launch a four-step wizard that walks you through confirming the home’s facts, selecting comps, identifying a price, and generating a report.
2. Save properties for quick access later. Your activity is always in sync between the RPR® website and mobile app. So when you save a property using the website, you’ll see that same property in your saved items on the app.
3. Tap in list view for short-cuts. In the RPR® app, tap the button in the right corner of any property to reveal shortcuts for saving it, calling the listing agent, adding notes, and creating reports.
4. Zoom to parcel level when canvassing a neighborhood. The RPR® app displays homes on a map. Press “Locate Me” at the top of the app, then pinch and zoom the map to street level, and press “Redo Search in this Area.” Pins over the properties display the REALTOR Valuation Model® (RVM®). Press a pin to reveal the home and owner information.
5. Send reports by text message. Many consumers prefer to communicate by text. Use the app’s Share button to text an RPR® report to your client. The link will be active for 30 days.
6. Create buyer tours. The buyer tour report enables you to select properties, choose the most convenient order to tour them, and create a colorful, client-friendly report.
7. Use 3D-touch shortcuts. When you’re standing outside a property, press and hold the RPR® app icon to display a shortcut with buttons to This Property, My Listings, Recent Reports, Saved Searches, and Share. Choose This Property to experience 3D-touch, available on iOS 10 and later and Android 7.1 and later.
8. Do advanced searches. Need to dig deeper on a property? Swipe the RPR® app’s home screen to access the Search screen. Press Advanced Search to access recent searches, saved searches, and advanced searches—such as by APN, owner name, school, or even your own listings.
9. Display full-screen photos. If photos displayed on the app’s Property Details page aren’t large enough, simply hold your phone in landscape mode to display the photo full-screen. Rotate back to the portrait orientation, and the property record appears again.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Learn key strategies and products for making sure a smart home and all its devices are safe from hackers.

Securing your smart home starts at the front door, says Christopher Dow, CTO of Smart Residentials at ASSA ABLOY(link is external), the parent company of August + Yale(link is external).

Homeowners should consider a smart lock that gives them 24/7 control and visibility over their front door, Dow says. This type of lock will allow them to grant guest access or monitor activity all from their phone, wherever they are. Installing a doorbell camera will also allow homeowners to keep an eye on their porch and virtually welcome visitors from your phone, he adds.

“Make sure you enable privacy practices like two-factor authentication on all your smart device accounts. This can help prevent hacking and keep your home safe on the software side, not just the mechanical one,” Dow says.

As homeowners add increasingly more smart devices, it’s a best practice to put them on a separate network where the devices are isolated from each other and only have access to the internet, says David Nguyen Regional Product Manager for Linksys(link is external) Business Products Belkin International. The Linksys Cloud Manager(link is external) includes features like Wireless Client Isolation and Isolate Wireless from Wired LAN. These ensure that smart devices can talk to the cloud and internet but can’t interact with anything else, providing optimal security, Nguyen says.

“Having a router is parallel to locking the front door of your home—it will keep most intruders out,” Nguyen says. “Putting your smart devices in a separate network is like putting those items in a vault inside the home. It acts as another barrier that an intruder would have to overcome it something gets compromised.”

Homeowners should have:

1. Main network
2. Guest network
3. Surveillance camera network
4. Internet of things smart-device networks (e.g., robot vacuum, thermostat or lights).

“It’s more complex to configure, but it’s worth the effort,” Nguyen says.

Manufacturers regularly update software and firmware to patch potential security threats, and homeowners should be sure to periodically check for updates and audit what information is being shared.

Why Purchasing Your Own Modem and Router Is Best

Every internet service provider is different, but generally customers receive a basic modem for a rental fee or a modem, often combined with a router with Wi-Fi, for a higher rental fee. But Nguyen recommends that homeowners buy their own modem and router, especially if they plan to stay in their home for a long time.

“You’ll get better performance and a better user and configuration experience buying your own router—and you’ll save on the monthly rental fee,” he says. “You also have full control over your network configuration, whereas you may have to go through the ISP to make changes to your ISP router.”

Often, when a data breach occurs, hackers will try to use the username and password for other accounts and services that you may be signed up for. By using a unique password for each application, you’ll mitigate the risk of a hacker gaining access to all your accounts. Be sure to change the default password—often it can be as simple as “admin” or printed right on the bottom of the device itself.

Investing in a Firewall

Firewalla(link is external) is a smart firewall that plugs into any router to enhance security of home networks, including the plethora of smart-home devices connected to them that most households now use. It monitors all devices on the network, blocking unwanted sites and ads, with customizable parental controls, and a personal VPN server for security away from home.

It monitors network traffic and uses an “intrusion detection system” and an “intrusion prevention system” to identify and stop any suspicious activities. Users receive an alert from the Firewalla app if any devices on their network start abnormal or unwanted activities, such as uploading data to a server in a particular country or connecting to a video streaming site. Users can opt to stop the activity through the app, or if they decide the activity is normal, they can mute the alert, so they do not receive it in the future. Firewalla will also automatically block hacking attempts.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

A new Google feature may help house hunters get an aerial look at neighborhoods and communities before they visit in person. Some recent descriptions of the new feature describe it as a 3D view that is like flying a drone over an area.

The Google Maps’ new “immersive view(link is external)” feature is limited to only a few markets so far, such as New York and Los Angeles, but Google says more areas will be added soon.

Google Maps’ immersive view displays an aerial street view that allows users to drop to street level for a closer look. Users can see nearby areas. The feature allows users to better understand an area’s topography and rotate their perspective to look between buildings, to see nearby restaurants, and to scan the surroundings.

The images in immersive view are all computer-generated, combining Google’s satellite and street view images. “We’re able to fuse those together so that we can actually understand, okay, these are the heights of the buildings,” Liz Reid, vice president of engineering at Google, told The Verge.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Of all the business touchpoints available in today’s digital world, your website is one of the most important to market yourself. Make sure you’re maximizing its use and attracting clients with these tips.

Key takeaways:

• Use SEO to help attract your target audience.
• Create clear, consistent messaging within all facets of your branding efforts.
• Analyze your website’s performance and update it periodically.

Even in the age of social media, websites are an important asset for real estate professionals. They act as the equivalent of a personal billboard that announces who you are and what you stand for.

Today, many professionals have at least one dedicated website that may link to their brokerage’s website or stand on its own. Some consider it the primary way to appear professional.

“I feel my website gives me credibility,” says Lisa Kahn, a new member of Jennifer Ames Lazarre’s Ames Group team at Engels & Volker’s Chicago office. 

Salesperson Sally Goldkamp, an agent with Gladys Manion Real Estate in St. Louis, agrees. “It’s confirmation and shows I’m an active professional,” she says.

And salesperson Alex Wolking, at Keller Williams OneChicago, concurs with his peers’ assessments. “Your website is your online business card, resume, and profile. So many consumers start their search online and research you before they contact you,” he says.

But even the best websites are not the way most prospects will find you, says broker Jennifer Ames Lazarre. “Google analytics are far more likely to put consumer sites such as LinkedIn, Zillow, realtor.com®, Facebook, and Instagram higher in searches, so you also should be on those, too,” she says.

Broker Stafford H. Manion, also in St. Louis, also finds it beneficial to be on those third-party sites. “Our website pushes our listings out to them,” he says.

Why Build Your Own Site?

Because a brokerage typically provides a web page on its site for an agent, some may wonder whether they need their own site. But some salespeople find it helpful to have an additional website. They find they have more flexibility and control that way. Wolking, for instance, currently has one site, unaffiliated with his brokerage, and soon will have a second focused on his forthcoming quarterly luxury report.

“Using a website provided to you by your brokerage is a great tool when you first get started and your marketing budget is tight, or you haven’t yet made enough money in the business to build a website that stands out,” he says.

Creating a site unaffiliated with the brokerage also ensures the salesperson retains their leads and the work they’ve done. A firm might offer to set up a website for a salesperson independent of the brokerage’s main site. But Wolking offers this caveat:

“Before having your company set up a website for you, make sure you can take the leads that come in with you if you decide to leave and go to another brokerage,” or you’ll have to start over again from scratch, he says, adding, “When you sell real estate, you own a business—treat it as such and own your site!”

If you plan to hire someone to help develop and maintain a site for you, carefully vet your candidates. After all, the process is expensive, and you want your site to yield results. Ask your prospects how much they’ve increased a client’s traffic and bottom line. Find out what their specialty is. Some people offer only design, while others manage hosting as well. And others offer a full suite of services, with design, hosting, and search engine optimization.

Design Considerations

Make the homepage dynamic. Good visuals and crisp copy with active verbs are critical to grabbing attention in the increasingly crowded field. Look at several sites to get ideas of what you like.

Think about how many website pages you’ll need and what information should be included on those pages.

On its company site, Gladys Manion features a bold header, navigation for more information, a photo of its office exterior, a “search by address” feature, new listings, and background information about the generations-old company.

Goldkamp’s dedicated page on the Gladys Manion site includes an “Ask Sally Goldkamp” button so visitors can pose questions. She and team partner Ally Healy are planning another website specifically for their team.

Barbara Hicks, owner of Atlanta-based B-Graphic, a marketing and graphic design firm, considers it important to limit homepage information to the key messaging you want to send to your target audience, so they can read it fast.

Use your website’s additional pages to help your audience understand why they should choose you. Maybe it’s information about your team, success stories, and properties listed or sold, says Hicks.

Contact information should be on every page, and should include a phone number and email address, not just a contact form to fill out since many wonder if a human will read it and respond, she says. She cautions against having too much information and too many links. “They’ll compete for attention, and people won’t know where to go first. Make it easy for them,” she says.

The Importance of SEO

Including the right keywords in the right places on your site is critical if you want people to find you when they search for a real estate professional. This is called search engine optimization. The content at the top of your homepage, which Hicks calls “the first impression,” is critical not only to capture the eyes of your target audience but also to attract Google’s attention.

The more specific you are, the easier you may find creating your optimization. For instance, if you sell luxury real estate, cater to first-time home buyers, or work in a specific region, you’ll want those keywords front and center. The right words bring you higher through algorithms in a search, Hicks says.

Therefore, an expert in SEO is critical. It is also one of the more costly parts of developing your own website. You’ll want an SEO expert who can do the keyword research for you and audit the site periodically to see how well it performs, says Jason Weamer, founder of Orange County, Calif.–based Visual Identity Group, a full-service digital marketing website and web development company.

“The audits collect data over a period of time that tell where you’re ranked for any particular keyword or phrase, as well as your competitors,” Weamer says.

Differentiate Yourself From Competition

Because there are more salespeople than ever, it’s important to offer more than a “great team” and “extensive experience,” because many competitors may say the same, Hicks says.

Weamer suggests, “Make them feel that they’re losing out if they don’t select you as their salesperson.”

Include information that speaks to your skill set. Maybe you share that you’ve helped 1,000 families find their dream home, Hicks says. Or maybe it’s a link to a blog you write, says Ames, who adds, “I’ve gotten clients because we both fly fish, or they were interested that I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.” Wolking suggests another tactic—a bio video.

Keep Your Brand in Mind

Make the website a consistent part of your branding. Branding—what Weamer describes as a professionally designed, curated experience—should be consistent across all marketing materials and messaging. Manion says his firm does so by making sure colors, styles, logos, and fonts match up through its websites and all other postcards, business cards, ads, and touch points.

“But keep in mind, your brand is more than your logo, colors, fonts, and graphic elements,” says Hicks. “Your brand is your reputation, how people describe you to their friends. If you drop the ball or miss opportunities, that’s what they’ll say. Your brand must start with stellar customer service and good work to be successful,” she says.

Whatever you do, make sure the information you provide on your website is up to date and relevant and relays whatever a consumer might be searching for. Think about the site from the perspective of your prospective client.

“We live in a world where people fast-forward through commercials, FaceTime their loved ones, and can find anything they need in an instant on their iPhone,” Hicks says. “Society has turned impatient, and if your audience doesn’t find exactly what they’re looking for in the first seven seconds, they will go elsewhere.” 

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Still holding onto some of these oldies? It may be time to let go.

Technology has an expiration date. New tech quickly pushes out favorite devices from years past. Here are some tech devices you may be able to retire.

1. Dashboard-mounted GPS devices. The GPS unit may have faded from dashboards, but the technology is still critical to get from point A to point B. But it’s now in both smartphones and vehicles’ consoles.
2. 3G-connected devices. 5G cellular connectivity is gaining ground, and devices that run on older networks are becoming obsolete. Older tablets, smart watches, fire alarms, and security systems that still rely on 3G network access may soon stop working, which will impede users’ ability to text, make phone calls, or connect to the internet. Check with your wireless provider to see which of your 3G devices may be affected.
3. BlackBerry. The once-loved Blackberry, with its signature micro QWERTY keypad, went dark on Jan. 4. Devices using BlackBerry’s operating systems and software “will no longer reliably function,” the company stated earlier this year. The old devices won’t be able to send text messages or dial 911 in an emergency, either.
4. Wired audio devices. The emergence of Bluetooth is quickly bringing an end to connected headphones and speakers. Many popular smartphones no longer have headphone jacks, and as more wireless products pop up, people are ditching their corded devices.
5. External hard drives. Rethink stockpiling external hard drives or thumb drives for data storage. They’ll likely just end up laying around your house or office collecting dust. Cloud storage of your documents, photos, and videos on platforms like Google Drive, iCloud, or Microsoft OneDrive allows you to access your content from anywhere. Bonus: You don’t have to worry about device crashes or malfunctions.
6. Point-and-shoot digital cameras. Smartphone cameras have become so advanced that many people are leaving behind their digital cameras in favor of smartphones that can take high-resolution photographs.
7. Passwords. While the practice won’t vanish immediately, typing in a password is becoming an outdated practice. Some Windows and Macintosh computers, as well as many smartphones and tablets, use biometric recognition to authenticate your identity. Also, the traditional use of passwords will go away as more sites and devices use a verification code sent to your phone or email account.

If you find out-of-date gadgets in your desk drawers, consider recycling them. Not sure how? Check out places like Call2Recycle.org(link is external), the Consumer Technology Association’s Recycle Locator(link is external), or Earth911’s recycling database(link is external).

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

From vehicles to lawn tools, electric features are here to stay and growing in popularity, which means homes need to be equipped to handle the demand.

Key takeaways:

• As the demand for electric vehicles, solar battery backups, and electric tools increase, so too will the need for charging options at home.
• Retrofitting existing homes might mean upgrading electrical panels or coming up with creative solutions in the garage.
• Electric is here to stay, and builders will want to plan for sufficient charging capacity in new homes.

According to Sense, an energy monitoring company, household energy consumption rose(link is external) at the onset of the pandemic and will likely continue to increase. Several factors contributed to the increase, such as more people staying home because of COVID-19 protocols, extreme weather, and warmer summers. Another is the ongoing trend toward increased household electrification, which consumers are turning to in an effort to lower carbon emissions and fuel-related costs.

Increased production and demand for electric vehicles will push the need for home-based energy consumption even further. Currently, there are 20 completely electric vehicles available in the U.S., comprising about 4% of the market; that share is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. Automobile makers currently project that an average(link is external) of about 50 percent of vehicle sales will be of electric vehicles by 2030.

General Motors is committed to offering 30 electric vehicles by 2025, and Ford expects 40% to 50% of its vehicle volume to be fully electric by 2030.

The prominence of electric vehicles is only one reason housing design will need to change to accommodate electrification needs at home. And the current housing stock will need to be prepared to ensure homeowners’ electrification needs can be met.

Equipping Homes With EV Chargers

“The rapid increase of electric vehicle adoption comes from a need to provide simple, easy-to-use, and easy-to-install options for charging at home,” says Douglas Alfaro, general manager of North America Wallbox, which offers at-home EV charging stations.

According to Forbes, about 80% of vehicle charging takes place at home, so having access to a 240-volt outlet in the garage, which is considered level 2 charging, is important for both new builds and resale. Many homeowners can take advantage of off-peak pricing to save more—with overnight charging, they receive the equivalent of leaving your home with a full tank of gas each day.

Likewise, rental or investment properties owners might consider adding EV chargers so that tenants and guests with electric vehicles can charge during their stay.

Some considerations are required when outfitting homes with EV chargers. In older homes or homes that have inadequate electrical panels, installation may be difficult. These panels could be inadequate for a level 2 charger, and an upgrade could add $2,000 to the project’s cost. The location of the panel can also add to the cost. Ideally, the panel would already be located in the garage, but in many homes, it’s on the opposite end of the property or a different level of the home. Because of these factors, installation can range from $500 to $2,500.

Although EVs can use a 120-volt charger, known as level 1 charging, most users will want to upgrade to level 2 charging which requires 240 volts. If there isn’t access to electrical connection where the car is typically parked, that can become an issue to work out.

Temperature Control and Electric Vehicles

Electric cars are sensitive to temperature. Recurrent(link is external), which creates battery reports for EV drivers, has published several studies on temperature impacts(link is external) on EVs.

“Your electric car and its battery do not enjoy extreme conditions,” said Andrew Garberson, head of marketing at Recurrent. “While cold weather causes temporary reductions in EV range, prolonged exposure to high heat or charging in hot conditions can permanently reduce battery health.”

This is a factor when designing the garage’s climate control. Depending on your region and the insulation in your garage, it could be helpful to install or upgrade the HVAC as part of your EV investment.

Driving during winter is a common concern for EV owners. When temperatures drop below zero, an electric vehicle’s range can drop by as much as 50 percent. While this should still suffice for many commutes, the ability to control the vehicle’s temperature in the garage could make a difference. On the positive, EVs warm up faster than cars with internal combustion engines and produce neither harmful carbon monoxide nor carbon dioxide, so you can warm them up in the garage with the door closed.

Battery Backups for Solar Energy

Owning an electric vehicle is often a gateway to the overall awareness of energy consumption that spurs the desire to seek out renewable sources of energy, which often leads to solar panel investment. Homeowners have two options for unused energy created by the solar panels: sell it back to the local utility provider or store it in a battery backup.

Many states and utility providers offer net metering, which means that the utility will buy excess power. Homeowners without a battery backup can essentially use the grid as a battery or energy bank, receiving a credit for their excess power. Still, homeowners will face times when energy does need to be purchased, particularly on a cloudy day or in winter months when the sunshine is less strong. This is when a battery backup might come in handy.

Battery backups allow homeowners to store excess power from solar panels. This is a great option for a number of scenarios:

• The stored electricity can be used on days when not enough energy is made through solar.
• Though connected to the electrical grid in most areas, solar-powered homes with battery backups are not dependent on the electrical grid. Using a battery backup means that the home will still have power during outages.
• Battery backups allow you access to real-time tracking of how much energy your home is using and producing.

SPAN(link is external) is a company focused on the rapid adoption of renewable energy, a company that creates energy storage solutions for homes, offers an intelligent panel that monitors energy usage and allows users to prioritize loads should there be a power interruption. This is a useful option for a homeowner who has solar and a battery backup system.

It also offers a companion EV charging system, called the SPAN Drive, which the company claims to be the most advanced at-home electric vehicle charging solution. It allows real-time coordination with home loads, solar panel output, and home batteries for the maximum available charging speeds and optimized energy usage. Expect to see companies offering bi-directional wall connectors in the future, which will allow electric vehicles to work as battery backup systems for homes.

Electric Lawn and Outdoor Tools

Electrification has expanded to outdoor tools. Companies such as Ego Power(link is external) are gaining popularity with new, efficient versions of electric lawn and snow equipment, including lawn mowers, snow blowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, and even chain saws. These tools are more efficient and require less maintenance; they’re generally quieter than their gas-powered counterparts and have no emissions. A full charge typically provides from 45 to 90 minutes of use; the batteries can typically be charged in the same amount of time. While the batteries will degrade over time, they should last for many years without noticeable performance issues. Ego’s batteries are compatible with the company’s 50-plus tools and are recyclable.

Electrification is a trend that is not going away. Agents and home builders should advise clients to prepare for the future by upgrading electrical panels, installing solar panels and battery backup storage capacity, and adding or planning for EV charging in the garage.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission