About the Course

National Association of REALTORS' statistics indicate that more than 70 percent of home buyers look to the Internet FIRST in researching information on the home they eventually purchase. In addition, a majority of them find the agent they will work with through Internet research as well.

Just as the Internet has clearly changed the business world, real estate licensees must recognize they need new skills and knowledge to serve “wired” consumers. As a result, most agents use technology not because they want to, but because they have to.

There are so many different aspects to the technology of real estate that it's difficult to get a solid overview. This course will help to tie together many things licensees have “some” knowledge of, and introduce them to the latest concerns, issues, and tools.

The first day of this course covers:

E-mail is not just e-mail any more!

• Incoming & Outgoing Mail Servers (POP3 & SMTP) - The journey of an e-mail 
• E-mail Clients 
• Check your e-mail from anywhere, online
• Web based e-mail - what are the pros and cons?
• IMAP - It's been around forever, but teams are just beginning to understand it's power to help them manage a complicated task 
• Setting up e-mail accounts in Outlook & Outlook Express 
• Spam - several ways to minimize it; filters and the dangers of the easy ways out, the CAN-SPAM Act. 
• Scraping - spammers are stealing your e-mail address from all over the Internet. Learn how to control it. 
• Phishing - don’t be fooled by that e-mail professing to be from legitimate institutions or businesses, such as PayPal; your bank; your credit card.
• Malware in it's many forms -Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Hoaxes, Spoofing 
• Permanent and unlimited e-mail addresses - how, exactly, to get one
• Backing up - step by step - what to back up, and what software to do it with

Annoyances - and what to do about them.

• Pop-ups, spyware/adware
• Viruses - Trojans, hoaxes, spoofing. What's the best Virus software?
• Firewalls - What do they do? Fix it with hardware, or software?
• Reciprocity/IDX - What it is, and how to add it to your Web site.
• Transaction Management Platforms - Take a detailed look inside Settlement Room
• Agent Productivity Software - Compare them, and take a detailed look at Agent Office
• Freeware - Some handy free utilities to make your life easier
• Virtual Tours - What's out there besides IPIX?
• Importing and exporting database files, mapping

Online auctions

• Buying on Ebay – It's much easier than you may think. How to save money on Ebay, click by click
• PayPal – An easy and safer way to pay for purchases online - click by click

Virtual Assistants

• What are they; what are the advantages of using one; how much do they cost; what can they do for you.

Palm vs. Windows CE vs. Blackberry

The second day of this course consists of:

Establishing a relationship when you are not face-to-face

• With content to establish credibility!
• Having a Web Site Built 
• Four Web Site Alternatives - Advantages & disadvantages of each
• Using template sites
• Learn how to create and maintain your own sites
• Hire a web site designer to create and maintain your web sites
• Hire a web site designer to create a site, and maintain it yourself
• Why a Web site is not productive - The inefficiencies of poor design

Niche Marketing

• Get better ranking with a niche

Site content and design

• Web Site Content - screen shots and links to great content
• Web Site Design Tips - what to put where, load time, navigation.
• Buying a Web Site - a look at Sizzling Studios & Advanced Access
• Driving Traffic to your Web Site
• Search engine ranking
• Link Popularity 
• Submitting your site 
• Search Engine optimization (SEO)

Understanding Web Site Statistics - what are they & what do they mean

Getting visitors' e-mail address - tools to get that elusive e-mail address

The importance of responding immediately

Following up on Internet Leads - tools for automated follow-up

Successful completion of this course helps students earn the Real Estate CyberSpecialist (RECS) designation conferred by the Real Estate Cyberspace Society. A one-year membership in the Real Estate Cyberspace Society is included in the Polley Associates' course fee(s).

This is a two-day, 15-hour course. It is Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission-approved for 1 credit towards broker's license requirements. It fulfills ALL 14 hours of mandatory continuing education (MCE) required by the Commission for salesperson's or broker's license renewal.