One of these companies is, er, was DIY Real Estate Solutions – makers of some of the most innovative property management software on the market. I say was because as of today DIY is joining the Point2 family, and is now known as Point2 Property Manager!

So what is Point2 Property Manager? At it’s core Point2 Property Manager is an end-to-end productivity tool with everything you need to manage residential property of any type online; including integrated general ledger accounting, credit checks, rent payment and Listing Syndication.

What does this change mean for existing DIY customers? Aside from updating your bookmarks, almost nothing at all. The product is still being developed and supported by the amazing folks at the Property Manager HQ in Cleveland, they are now just working with the rest of the Point2 crew in order to get the word out on their terrific products.

As for current Point2 customers who self-identify as property managers there will be no changes to the products you use every day – everything is staying the same. However, if you are interested in finding out what Point2 Property Manager has to offer, or just have some questions, visit Point2PropertyManager.com, or give the team a call at 866-602-9007.

Stay tuned for more exciting news in the near future!

Just last week we debuted our brand new Express Tools suite of apps,and this week we are excited to unveil a brand new look for our real estate search site, Point2 Homes.

What does this shiny new coat of paint mean for those browsing for real estate?

Besides being (hopefully) pleasant to look at, we have made some subtle design tweaks that should increase the ease at which people pull crucial information from a listing – things such as the price, listing agent, property photos, and contact information.  All with the end goal of generating more leads for those agents whose listings are on Point2 Homes.

Look for some more great announcements coming shortly!

Graduating from beginner to pro takes a lot of time and patience, but it’s truly never been easier to get busy at getting good.

The main advantage nowadays is that with a single instrument you can create both high-quality photo and video. No need to dump money into both fields as most new DSLRs are now equipped with HD video and photo resolution that handles pretty much any job.

If you’ve decided to go out and purchase a new camera and are looking for ways to develop your skills, there are countless resources on the web. Online training doesn’t need to cost a thing, and the pool of informative resources continues to grow by the minute. Here’s a list of just a few of the great places to start learning:

Vimeo Video School
Vimeo is no longer just YouTube’s classy little brother, they’ve began compiling and sorting training videos for the videographer in all of us. The lessons range from absolute beginner to pro, so there’s something for everyone. It’s growing constantly, and worth a look. Go to Vimeo Video School.

Adorama TV
What a stellar collection of videos here for photographers looking to learn. Adorama has seriously outdone themselves producing this epic pile of awesomeness. New episodes come out regularly, so keep checking back. Go to Adorama TV.

Photography for Real Estate
PFRE surfaces a ton of valuable information for real estate agents who are looking to up the ante of their photo and video creation. This blog has been running for a long time, and it’s difficult to search for information that hasn’t already been discussed. Go to PFRE Blog.

Pop Photo
Slightly more on the advanced side, Pop Photo has created a worthwhile “How To” section for photographers looking to gain an edge in their productions. Pop Photo is not real estate focused, but there are numerous tips and tricks that will assist in any genre. Go to Pop Photo’s “How To”.

Video for Real Estate
These guys seem to be riding on the wake of success of the PFRE blog mentioned above. Although there’s plenty of room to grow, VFRE has begun to compile a strong body of content designed to educate and encourage. The bonus here is that they are real estate focused, so the techniques discussed are completely relevant. Go to VFRE.

There’s plenty more out there, and if you have any great resources to add, feel free to leave them in the comments area below. Happy Shooting!

So without further ado…let’s get started!

Point2: What would you consider your most valuable online marketing initiative? (Blog, Video, Website, Syndicate Listings, etc)

Cam: I wish I had more time to blog to enhance the site even further and increase traffic counts. As you know Blogging with “fresh” content pushes your site to top of the charts in the search engines. However, I am guilty of not doing that very often but I am in the market to hire that out (under investigation now to sub that out). The best thing we have done is the video of our listings whereby we either use a little flip camera and do our own thing, or on the larger more elaborate homes we have hired that out and found a great photographer that does exceptional work.

Point2 is to be commended for the quality of the pictures that get posted at amazing speeds. The syndicate listing program is very beneficial as I constantly get people visiting my site through the extensive radio and TV advertising I do, and for those that have accepted me in handshake agreements – I guarantee their listings get tons of exposure via this form of advertising so why not syndicate with most of your colleagues?? In fact, just today I had another inquiry from someone who is asking me questions from the IDX program she had signed up for and is asking about one of my handshake agent’s listings… so everyone benefits from the system… the consumer, the seller and the agents involved.

Point2: Which online marketing activities do you find produce the best results?

Cam: My best results for online marketing is the lead generation that is built into my Point2 site. People who visit the site and enter their names get emailed automatically each home that matches their criteria…. I then get these emails from the customer thanking me for keeping them so well informed. The letters that are created and sent automatically are great and well worded so I just thank them for their business and sell them the house they have emailed me that they want to see… its all good.

Point2: What percentage of your business do you think is generated by your online marketing activities?

Cam: Considering I have not held a Public Open House or ran an ad in newsprint for the past 4 -5 years, I would say that 100% of my business is derived from online activities. Again I touch about the need to drive people to my site via the radio and TV ads, but when they get there they do get the help they are looking for… at the end of the day it spins off into buyers who have come to the site.

Point2: How much time do you spend on SEO and/or social networking?

Cam: Other than Facebooking and spending social time on there I don’t get a lot of business on Facebook. We do post our listings on Facebook (my son who works with me does this)… however, there is plenty of opportunity to promote the site and do more things on  Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, etc that we can all and should all be on. It’s the time factor to be everywhere that makes it difficult to do all this… show and list homes and have somewhat of a social life… it’s tough to get the perfect blend in lifestyle, however, the site has allowed me to make more money and when its time to take a break… it’s a good one.

Point2: Do you keep accurate traffic data of your online marketing initiatives?

Cam: This is just something that we stumbled across within Point2 – the availability to see where all you’re your leads are coming from and what works and what doesn’t. I find this now to be a great way to source my business and do the proper investing to get the best ROI.

Point2: We all struggle to balance the time between being out in the field and finding time to update our website/blog/engage in social media/marketing. What tips would you give to those looking to find a balance between all of these?

Cam: That’s a great question… If anyone reading this has a great answer – would love to hear from them. In the event that I arrive at an appointment early (which seldom happens), I will use my Blackberry and go online and do some little posts just to keep in peoples faces. I do believe too much is bad, as overkill on Facebook can be hard on one’s reputation. The little status updates that say, “Up at 7am sipping on coffee having a left over donut,” are a waste of time for me to even read, and I find them very annoying. So I don’t want to be one of those that give every breath I take as part of my day and post it on Facebook.

Point2: In terms of the conditions of the real estate industry (especially in the United States), what would you say is the most vital thing a real estate professional can do to ensure success during unstable economic conditions?

Cam: We here in Saskatchewan feel we are in an incubator and have been doing very well economically versus other parts of the world, with our rich resources we are fortunate to have.  I have great friends to the south of me in the USA, and for the most part those that stay the course and stay focused on the issues at hand learn to deal with real estate the way it unfolds. We, as REALTORS, did not create the market place but we get to deal with it, and it’s important for us as REALTORS to not take it personally when prices dip below what people paid for the home. There are people still buying homes in the most depressed locations throughout the US, and it all depends on proper pricing.

In 1991, our market was in turmoil and I had to resort to wining and dining bankers. I began to work that angle but one has to adapt and stay updated on the Short sales, and learn the way to win them and get the short sale for their Buyers… that, I understand is quite a technique to pull that off – and for those who have taken the time to read this, and are having problems learning the proper way, ask others in your market on the do’s and don’ts of a short sale. There are still the same number of houses and people… they all need a place to live, so either an investor is going to be buying them and renting them back to the people who have lost them, or the end user -  the owner occupier will be buying them. Everything will sell given enough time to sell!! The Point2 lead generation and drip mail programs are a huge factor to keeping in front of people and showing them you are there to help them buy or sell.

Moral of the story –stick with it, those of us who do come through will be that much better off when things do turn around and they will turn around!

Point2: Where do you see the real estate industry in the next 5-10 years?

Cam: Newspapers will be used to put in your canary cage – they are a thing of the past. I always tell sellers there was a time and a place for a telex machine. When I started in 1985, I had to have the ‘Vendors’ as they were called back than to send me a telex saying that they would take the price or whatever the case, and that little ticker tape type of paper formed part of the offer. In 1986, was the first time I had witnessed a fax machine -so my question to the seller is how many telex machines do you think were sold once the fax machine was created? Not many.

The purpose of my point is the same scenario for the newspaper – it is a dying business yet they wont truly admit it. I have not ran an print ad for 4-5 years, and yet am doing just fine selling my 100+ ends per year here in my market.  How? Its so easy that everyone who has cash has a computer and shops online – that simple! We will have to continue to adjust  and rely on improving technology to keep ahead of the times or stay up with the times, but do I feel that the REALTOR is going to dry up like a leaf and blow away? ABSOLULTLEY NOT! Buying a home is the largest single investment anyone makes in their entire life, to attempt to buy a home without the services of a REALTOR makes no sense. After all, its usually the Seller who pays the fees so why would anyone want to be a buyer and do this on their own? Makes no sense to me, so it always has been and always will be a people business – but for those not willing to adapt to the new technology,  sorry to say but I will be taking your business away from you in a matter of time! All the Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin… plus whatever lies ahead, we had better adapt and accept it – as it is coming, so either adapt or get off the bus.

Point2: Lastly, just for fun… Favorite new home feature? New home ‘style’ and why?

Cam: To save some face, by the time I get this to you and out to the agents my “like” will be old news, so better keep with basics. The technology of being able to adjust the temperature of your home from a cell phone and turn on your surround sound from a cell amazes me… but like I stated, that is old news. I will wait for the robot to be sitting there with my rum and coke when I get home, and I can just dictate to it to do my blogging for me!! My dream home will be backing a golf course in Phoenix, but for style and plans, as long as I can still swing a golf club I will be a happy camper!

Do you have a website you want to show off? Or maybe some useful marketing tips you would like to share with the real estate community? Let us know!

Not only is Cam’s website pleasing to the eye, he has also used Get a Grip Audio Solutions (Point2 Alliance Member) to add an element of sound. His site hosts a ton of listings both via Handshake and MLS, and he also constructs a video ad for each of his listings that are seen both on his website as well as The Real Estate Channel.  Among several things, he also has a ‘Contests’ area where clients can win a night out to watch a hockey game with private box seats (perfect for Saskatchewan folks!).

As an added incentive to his detailed marketing plan, is Cam’s guaranteed sales program.  In fact, if the listing hasn’t sold within 120 days – he’ll buy it himself.

It’s my pleasure to feature to SellingSaskatoon.com this month, and I’m also equally as excited because Cam agreed to do a mini Q&A session with me. Stay tuned for the next post where we’ll get an inside peek into SellingSaskatoon.com.

Do you have a great website/marketing plan? Want to share it? Let us know, and maybe we’ll feature yours!

If you are experiencing issues with uploading photos to your Point2 website, this is due to the most recent Java update. JAVA is the standard technology that powers programs like photo utilities – allowing your internet browser to deal with photos so that they can be uploaded, resized, and shared on the web.

Java is provided by Oracle, and the latest release has broken the functionality of our photo upload tools. Point2 is one of  many software companies that have been affected, and this issue been reported to Oracle. Unfortunately we do not have a definitive time-frame from Oracle as to a subsequent update to address this problem.  However, we hope this issue will be resolved in the next version of Java (update 25).

We realize the frustration and inconvenience many of our customers are experiencing. Trust me, we are too!

In the meantime, there is a work-around for this issue, and we recommend downgrading to Java Version 6, Update 23.

Downgrading is fairly simple for most Windows based computers.  Please follow these steps.

1. Click on the Start menu
2. Click Control Panel
3. Depending on your version of Windows click Add/Remove Programs or Program and Features
4. Click on Java ™ 6 Update 24 – click Uninstall
5. Once this program has uninstalled go to this webpage
6. Download the 32-bit version of Java by clicking the Download button located in the top right corner
7. Click Run Program and InstallJava
8. Once you have installed Java Version 6 Update 23, login to your Online Office and begin uploading your photos.

Apple / OSX Users ;

• We have extensively investigated options for downgrading the Java version in OSX, and have not been able to come to a solution.  We as well as our customers have been in contact with Apple Support, who have indicated that they are also unable to revert the most current Java update.

Lastly, we know how important it is to make updates to your website. This is not an ideal situation in the least, but rest assured we are here to help, and are actively pursuing a resolution!

If you are experiencing any difficulties, please contact our Customer Care Team at 1-866-977-1777 and we will help you get through this!