5 Tech Moves to Save Time, Money

For Brent Lauinger, a longtime network and software engineer, incorporating technology into his real estate business is a matter of convenience.
"Moving from a tech career into real estate, it was a challenge dealing with antiquated systems," says Lauinger, a Sales Associate with RE/MAX First in Calgary, Alberta. "You end up with filing cabinets overflowing with hundreds of files that are virtually unsearchable. And when you do the math, you realize you're spending a ton on office supplies that could be better spent on electronic solutions that make the process easier for you and your clients."
Here are Lauinger's top five technology solutions for streamlining your business systems:

1. Maximize the iPad – It's a game-changer in real estate, Lauinger says, especially once you outfit it with key apps, such as Trulia and Zillow (both RE/MAX Approved Suppliers), and ones that connect you directly to Facebook, Twitter and other social networks. You also can store all of your files virtually and access them on the go. By default, the iPad cannot open PDFs, but the PDF Expert app is a great solution. And with services like DocuSign, also an Approved Supplier, you can have clients safely and securely e-sign documents right in the living room of a home they'd like to buy or sell.
   
2. Tether your smartphone – You can work around Internet access challenges and costs by using your smartphone as a modem, Lauinger says. The iPad and BlackBerry Playbook can both piggyback on the current data plan of a companion phone to help manage expenses and make it easier to monitor usage and rates. Check with your service provider regarding tethering policies.
   
3. Focus social media monitoring – Lauinger says the best way to manage your time on social media and the expectations for ongoing interaction is to use the apps for Twitter and Facebook, plus services like TweetDeck and Twitterific for iPads and iPhones. TweetDeck, in particular, connects users to their contacts on various social media platforms – not just Twitter – and keeps them updated on topics they care about.
   
4. Manage documents anywhere – An increasing number of products, such as DropBox, allow you to store your files virtually (in a cloud) – and access them anywhere you have an Internet connection. Lauinger developed his own web-based contact- and transaction-management software, Opreie, which now integrates with DocuSign's e-signature technology.
   
5. Stop paying for email marketing – A lot of people don't realize they can get email services for free, Lauinger says. He uses MailChimp, which has a free base package up to 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month. Various low-cost packages are also available. Using a bulk email service provider allows him to create dynamic HTML messages, plus send hundreds of emails that are less likely to be marked as spam.