Cutting Costs With Free Software

Everyone is looking to cut costs. Buying software can be expensive, and sometimes you are buying features that you won’t ever use.

Recently there has been explosion of free software available that can do the job just as well as expensive branded items. For instance take Microsoft Office; standard issue for nearly all businesses. There are now some great free products available that are worth considering. Check out Open Office. This suite of free tools provides word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases, and is compatible with MS office.

Ever need to manipulate photos or graphics? Have you heard of Photoshop? Have you seen the price? Consider Gimp. Having used Photoshop we find Gimp an excellent substitute, easy to use and with many similar features to Photoshop. Now they have released a manual its even easier to use.

If you have ever needed to create a web site for the internet or your intranet but have struggled, try NVU. Its an easy to use web authoring tool, lots of features are similar to the famous Dreamweaver, but its free.

If you want to create documents that can be shared easily then consider Google Doc’s. Its their online version of MS Office. It features word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and best of all any authorised user can log on from any location and collaborate. For instance you could create a spreedsheet called ‘weekly office figures’ which all your branches or departments of your business can log on to and add their performance figures. There are lots of uses, and no doubt google will be increasing functionality and features

Why are google ‘giving away’ these free tools? Just a theory but we think they want to keep you online as long as possible, as that’s where they sell their advertising.

There are many more free software tools available which perhaps should be considered especially when you factor in the price of some licensed products. Here’s an article relating to business take up of google docs.

Perhaps we should start a group related to free software for business?

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Is the media willing iSold to work?

Another article in The Times about Tescos over the weekend. Is it just me or is the media willing iSold to work? To be fair the article is pretty unbiased but the amount of free publicity Tescos is attracting is pretty impressive.

There seems to be mixed reactions from our estates agent members. Some are choosing to ignore isold as a gimmick that will go away and wont have any impact on their business, others are taking the threat a bit more seriously. We had a constructive chat with one of our most innovative members last week. The owner of the firm that has two offices is giving serious consideration on how they could fight back if Tescos opened on their doorstep tomorrow. They have a major Tescos store just round the corner which could provide acres of advertising for an isold agent which our member agent could not compete with.

He wondered what we thought of him creating another department within his current set-up to take head on the threat of cheaper fees. Perhaps launching a cheaper version of his service? We thought the problem with that would be that the cheaper service could impact on his current upmarket style and drive custom away, or at least taint  it in someway. Along with the fact that he would have to advertise more for probably a lesser return increasing costs. So we suggested working the other way round and re-branding his current service and promoting it as excellent value, but then creating a more expensive Premier brand with better advertising, better quality brochures, advertising in upmarket publications, video tours etc and best of all charging more. It also provides the opportunity that if you are in danger of losing on a valuation to another agent you could suggest to a vendor that you will provide your Premium service at the same cost as your standard service.

Any comments on this idea?

Here is a link to The Times Article: click here

More Agents Joining

Last week was another good week for agents joining swapproperty. We now have coverage in Liverpool. We are also currently in negotiations with a large group of independent agents in Devon/Cornwall which will provide much needed coverage in those areas.

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Creating Sales From Your Mailing List

Your instructions have dried up, you’ve trawled your mailing list for potential local valuations, you’ve done leaflet drops, phoned all of your previous valuations and nothings doing. Time to look again at your mailing list. If you are a member of a inter agency referral group like swapproperty there is real potential for you to get creative. Revisit your mailing list. Look for potential valuations out of your area. Use your estate agency skills to turn someone on your mailing list from out of your locality into a valuation lead for  another member of your referral network.

Its potentailly easy to do. Simply carry out an update, are they still looking? are they still looking up to the same price, same area? Is your property on the market? Has it been on long? As members of swapproperty we have agents all over the country who can give you an up to valuation, or maybe they can put their finger on exactly why your property hasn’t sold, there’s no obligation and it’s free

If they say yes phone or e-mail us the details and we will place the valuation with a member agent. If they sell the property you receive 20% of their fee. Not bad for a couple of calls.

Quiet afternoon, why not give it a go? Any leads you can phone them through on 0844 3579812 or e-mail them: info@swapproperty.co.uk

New Agents Joining

We are pleased that agents are continuing to join, and why not , it’s free.

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Property Auctions

Brisk Business at the property auction today. We have a property auction partner that our members can utilise for properties that may be suitable for auction. These include: run down properties, part residential part commercial, plots, probate properties.

The turn out today was pretty good and when I spoke to the auctioneer he was hopeful for a good day. Nearly every lot met and exceeded its reserve, but in our opinion there were some good deals to be had – if you had the cash. A property that we introduced exceed its reserve by £10k which isn’t bad seeing that it has structural problems. The property had been on and off the open market for years, with literally a hundred viewings, but the structural problem meant that no bank or building society would touch it, so the sale today was quite a relief  for the vendor.

If you are one of our members and perhaps have a suitable property or interested in a chat with our auction partner, please let us know. E-mail: info@swapproperty.co.uk

By joining swapproperty you get access to our auction partner as well as other benefits. If you are interested in joining, please e-mail us at the address above

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Tesco – Every litte helps?

There has been some serious debate generated on blogs, twitter etc and lots of valid opinions about Tescos upcoming launch. Our thoughts are that High Street agents ignore the threat at their peril. If nothing else the Tesco /Spicer model will legitimize online agents even further and create a tangible alternative for vendors eager to save money, irrespective of the quality of service. For example where we are based in Hertfordshire an online agent will ’sell’ your property  for £199.00 upfront and £199.00 on completion. The service is sold as being just the same as High Street agents, but from what our member agents are saying is that when you check a chain you will be lucky if anyone answers the ‘phone, let alone knows whats going on. Having said all of that vendors seem to be willing to give it a go.

We can fight back

With the support of our member agents we can capture potential vendors who are thinking of using an online agent. A classic route will be a potential vendor visiting our public site interested in property swapping or part exchanging. They will perform a search. We contact these vendors and turn a search into a valuation. This is not easy, but we are trained to convert these leads. They are then passed to our members who will convince these potential vendors to list with them. Why? Because our agents provide a quality service, superb chain chasing facilities and updating systems. These key points will probably not be delivered by a cheap bucket shop approach.

We’re too busy to bother

There’s a lot of  closed down estate agents office out there. One problem could have been the lack of desire to realise that things are changing rapidly. Nowadays if you don’t adapt or look for new avenues of income . . . .

Lets throw our money away How many of our agents are now displaying ‘the button’ on their web sites? (example below)

If this is not displayed on your site you are throwing money away. It generates valuations for you and other member agents. One of our agents is averaging 5 searches a day from the button on their site. If you have lost the code please let us know urgently and we will resend it.

If you have not joined yet, please take a look at our latest video: Please click the link

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Our New Video Intro

It can get very difficult to explain your company’s service, so one way to do it is via YouTube. It does not need to be a Hollywood production, and you don’t need your 3d glasses (mind you that would be cool).

We’ve just created a short video to provide a brief explanation of  what we do. Please take a look if you get a chance, I think Liz who is responsible for business development did pretty well. Not sure if its Oscar material though!

http://www.swap-property.co.uk/swapproperty-video.html

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It Pays To Join Us – Actually Its Free To Join!

Its getting interesting.

In our drive to extend membership of Swapproperty we have come across some interesting scenarios. Some agents are suspicious of who and what we are. Can’t blame them, especially in these instruction strapped times, so when someone calls out of the blue and says they have got a valuation for you on a plate it may seem odd. However once Liz my colleague has explained that we are basically a referral network with a USP, and that its free to join, the barriers come down and we are all in business.

One agent who has joined  is Neil Robinson & Associates with offices around Wigan/Manchester. They are fully embracing the SWAPPROPERTY ethos, with web links all designed to create valuations and instructions for both themselves and other member agents.

Rayner Coffey Estate Agents have also joined. Based in the Addlestone/ New Haw area, they offer a personal pledge that at all times you can expect:
Honesty with Realism, Frequent Communication, Transparency and Sincerity, Unquestionably Ethical Behavior,  A Passion for Results. Sound exactly whats needed to maintain the reputation of independent local agents.

Inspire Estates in Crawley have joined. An excellent independent agent who we are pleased to have on board

GET THE BUTTON!

Remember all agent members that this button on your web site can earn you commission from leads and generate valuations for your own agency. If you have not got your code yet, or you have lost it in a list of e-mails, please send us an e-mail and we will re-send it: tech@swapproperty.co.uk

STILL NOT JOINED? – IT’S FREE

If you are still not convinced about joining then visit our corporate site: www.swap-property.co.uk or why not call Liz Renmans (new business development) on 0843 289 5893 she would be delighted to have a chat with you and explain how it all works.

Finally today. This blog is brought to you via PropertyOwl Real Estate Network. Its a really useful site and a hub for like minded agents. Its amazing what you can learn from the forums and it’s free to join. Check it out here: www.propertyowl.co.uk/

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Agents Continue To Join Swapproprty

With the lack of instructions it’s vital to make sure you are doing everything possible to attract more business. Mail drops, more newspaper advertising are the obvious ways to do it. But are they too obvious? Are all the other agents doing exactly that too? The answer is probably yes. So you need a new way to win instructions, or at least get a foot in the door. That’s where we come in.

We supply pre-qualified valuations t our member estate agents. You can charge your normal commission rate, all we ask is for a small part of that commission if you should sell the property.

This afternoon we have passed two valuations through to our members. Why not join us? Its FREE.

We are pleased to welcome RealEstates in Coventry to our team. Although based in Coventry they cover surrounding areas

New agent joins

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Another Agent Joins Swapproperty

We are really pleased that so many independent agents are now starting to join our referral network. It seems that the lack of instructions is a growing problem, but not in all parts of the UK.

We have all seen this situation before. An election just around the corner always slows down instruction levels. Vendors are always waiting for something,  be it changes in stamp duty, tax levels and of coarse the introduction of HIPS. So we are back to square one with HIPS. Are some vendors now waiting to see if HIPS will be abolished if a Tory Government wins the election? We will see.

Our latest estate agent member is Peter Banfield Estate Agents in Crowborough, East Sussex. Welcome Peter and staff.

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Birmingham Agent Joins Swapproperty

We are very pleased to welcome James Charles Estate Agents to SWAPPROPERTY.

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