Bad actors are taking advantage of surging demand for remodeling projects and home warranties to dupe consumers. Share these warning signs with your clients. Housing-related phone scams surged by more than 300% in May, according to telecommunications technology provider First Orion’s 2022 Mid-Year Phone Scam Report(link is external). Scammers increasingly are trying to dupe consumers …
Category: Real Estate Tips
Aug 23
Transform Your Short-Term Rentals Using Channel Distribution Tech
Navigating the short-term rental business wasn’t the easiest task when real estate agent Jessica Larsen got started, but channel distribution technology helped her streamline her process and save money. When Jessica Larsen, broker-owner at Kismet Enterprises in Dennis, Mass., added short-term rentals to her business model in 2012, she did well, even though she juggled …
Aug 22
How to Build Out Your Smart Home
I’ve tested hundreds of smart-home products over the years and provided written and video comparisons in each product category. Along the way, I’ve learned a lot about what’s needed and what’s not, what the top brands are, and where to get started. (And big thanks to my wife for her unending patience as I tinkered …
Aug 21
The Best Video Doorbells for Your Smart Home
The tech behind the video doorbell is ever evolving, so this updated list includes the best options based on what’s available today, plus a few recommendations. Since this series first compared Ring and Nest in 2020, much has changed in the video doorbell realm. The technology has improved, new models have come out and options …
Aug 21
12 Tech Startups Vying for Glory in the Real Estate Space
At NAR’s iOi Summit this month, the annual Pitch Battle will aim to identify the next great innovation to help your business flourish. Twelve technology startups in the real estate space with new offerings such as fractional ownership, home renovation and rental solutions are poised to shake up the real estate industry. These budding companies will take …
Aug 18
13 Essentials to Protect Your Most Important Investment
Moved in the last few years? Smart features and a few tried-and-true essentials provide the options you need to protect your new home. Your home is a major investment. If you are one of the many Americans who moved over the last several years or are planning to buy a new home soon, you might …
Aug 17
Renovation Startup Revive Wins iOi Pitch Battle
The company, which enables home sellers to update their property with no upfront costs, was crowned at NAR’s annual technology conference. Revive(link is external), a technology startup enabling home sellers to update their properties with no upfront costs, was named Thursday as the winner of the fourth annual Pitch Battle(link is external) at the National Association of …
Aug 16
The Many Benefits of Smart Locks
Safety and security is a given with a door locks, but aesthetics, ease of use and the many features available make the smart lock a smart home must-have. Any listing agent or home building will tell you that a home’s curb appeal is important. When the prospective buyer pulls up in front of the house, …
Aug 15
Ensuring the Integrity, Security of Your Member Data
NAR uses a three-tiered strategy to keep cyberattacks at bay. With well over 1 million member records and an e-commerce system that processed more than $1.5 billion in transaction volume in 2021, NAR databases are an attractive lure for cybercriminals. That’s why comprehensive data security is one of the most important benefits NAR provides its …
Aug 14
Why First-Time Buyers Are Ideal Victims for Scammers
Cyber criminals aim to take advantage of those who aren’t familiar with the nuances of the closing process. Younger home buyers who don’t have prior experience in the real estate market may be more naive to the red flags of wire fraud. That’s why scammers likely are targeting first-time buyers, which means you need to …
Aug 11
Help Innovators Get New Real Estate Tech Right
As a conduit to consumers, you can help technology developers understand how their products are—or are not—meeting homeowners’ needs. Imagine you’re a Florida property owner with an electric car and an EV charging station at home. You may be at the forefront of the electrification trend in real estate. But if you were in the …
Aug 10
Expect These Tech Disruptors to Grow in Influence
NAR’s 2022 Technology Survey reveals the innovations members are using now and watching for the future. REALTORS® believe cybersecurity, 5G and drones are the areas of technology that will have the most impact on the real estate business in the next two years, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2022 Technology Survey. Nearly half …
