Real Estate Techie

Whether you are a Realtor or a Real Estate Investor (REI), if you are serious, then you need your own website.  But just having a website is a waste if you don’t know how to drive traffic to your site.  You can have the most beautifulest website in the whole wide world, but if  you don’t have visitors, then your website got dressed up for nothing.  So, if you want leads, you’ve got to have visitors, because visitors convert to potential leads. Read more…

You may have read my earlier review of Dropbox, and know that I’m a firm believer in the functionality, ease of use, and increased productivity it offers.  I have been using another cloud based sync service called SugarSync.  Both SugarSync and Dropbox allow you to sync files across multiple computers, mobile devices and platforms, which allows you to access those files most anywhere.

I’m using SugarSync in our real estate firm to go paperless.  We scan a contract, and then shred the paper.  The files are backed up in multiple locations, so why keep a paper file?  It allows our brokerage to be more green.

It works basically like a “My Documents” folder.

1. You install the SugarSync free software manager on each computer or mobile device you want to sync files with.
2. Then, you add your files to the “Magic Briefcase” folder.  The next time you turn on your other device, the SugarSync servers will add the file/files by syncing with that device.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.  SugarSync also allows you to sync multiple folders across multiple systems.  To add folders other than your “Magic Briefcase”, you just open up the software and “add folders”.

What’s even better about SugarSync is that it’s more than twice the storage of the free Dropbox account giving you 5 gigabyte for free (If you sign up for the free account through the following link, you’ll get an additional 500 MB of storage for FREE – Sign up for FREE File Storage with SugarSync).

SugarSync is available on all of the major mobile platforms.

• iPad, iPhone, iTouch
• Android
• Blackberry
• Windows Mobile
• Symbian

You can also access your account from any web browser.  Being able to access your important files while you’re out of the office anytime is priceless to me.  If you have tried Dropbox, I believe you’ll like SugarSync even more.

I’ve had Google Chrome installed on my computers for some time, but I’ve been more partial to Firefox.  However, on the MAC, Firefox has had some issues, so I started using Chrome more (on the MAC at least).  I found that it was fast, and that I was growing to like it more.  So much, as I started using it more on my Windows machine.  And when I found IE Tab today, I thought just maybe…Tempo MLS will work on it.

Well, SNAP!  It did, and it works great!   But it only works on Windows!!!  If it only worked on the MAC, I would sing Chrome’s praises from the mountain top!

I would say, I’m using Chrome about 50% of the time now.  There are many extensions you can use to customize it’s feel.  Some of my favorite extensions are Last Pass toolbar (password manager), Delicious Bookmarks, Spring Pad, and SEO Quake.  And if you don’t like using Internet Explorer (does anyone really like IE?), but you visit sites that must, then give Google Chrome a shot.  I believe you’ll like it.

Being a real estate professional, I’m always looking for ways to make my business run more efficiently.  A big part of that is organization, which  can be a challenge for me…at least my desk that is    Another thing that helps with efficiency is having access to important information while out of the office.  I have been using a free service from DropBox.com that is awesome for both of these.

The Drop Box Cloud Computing Process

Drop Box uses “cloud computing” to allow you to store, sync and share files between multiple computers.  Basically, the way it works is to download a file on each computer, which installs a special folder on the computer.  Add any type of file, including pictures, audio, video, and office docs (.doc, .ppt, .xls, .pdf, etc) to that folder, and the files are then synced across the different computers.  Each file that you add is also added to your Drop Box online account.  So, you don’t have to worry about backing up the files that are in the folder, because they are also stored on the Drop Box servers.  Currently, I am syncing files across 4 computers (3 pc’s and 1 Mac), and it has worked like a champ!  The limit on files is 2 GB, however you can purchase additional storage for a fee.  You can also get an additional 250 MB if you sign up through the link below.  (*** be sure to read the update at the bottom of the post.)

Get 250 MB Extra Drop Box Space FREE Here

Drop Box is also available as a mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android.  Their website says an app for Blackberry will be available soon.  I am using Drop Box on Android, and it really comes in handy.  For example, today, one of my agents was having problems getting an “offer to purchase” form to work on his home computer.  He was puzzled, so he called me to see if I was in the office so that I could email it to him.  I was out for lunch, but I had already added our most often used forms to my drop box folder.  So, I told him to give me a few minutes, and it would be on the way.  I got my phone out, went to the drop box app, and accessed the needed file.  I then shared the file via email with the file attached.  Within a few minutes, he had the file and was able to get his form filled out without too much stress or coming back to the office to get it.  Pretty sweet!

Since I use Android, I will explain the process of how to install it.

1. First set up your account (and just a reminder, if you use the links on this site, you will automatically get 250 MB extra for FREE).
2. Then go to the Android Marketplace to install the app (make sure Drop Box is the developer.).  You can also scan the QR Code to the right and below.
   

   Dropbox QR Code

3. Click “Install”
4. Sign in with your account user name and password.

Android Screen Shot

You are now ready to access your Drop Box Files.  Once you open the file, it is stored on your phone’s SD card.  You can then hit the Drop Box Menu and share the file through various Android programs.

To summarize using Drop Box on your smart phone.  You can do the following:

• Access your Dropbox on the go
• Download files for offline viewing
• Sync photos and videos to your Dropbox
• Share links to files in your Dropbox

I rate Drop Box a 5 Star out of 5.  It’s truly an awesome product to use.  Sign up for Drop Box, install the app on your smart phone, and check it out for yourself.  You will become more organized and ready to do more business away from the office.

Drop Box Features

***  UPDATE 12/10/2010 – It looks like there is a another sync app called SugarSync with gives you more than double the free dropbox account at 5GB.  I just installed it today, but it looks promising.  I’ll review soon, but check out for yourself and get FREE BONUS storage at the following link. Sugar Sync Free Bonus Storage