Easy.  Behold:  The magic of IDX.  IDX is one of the functions of our Triangle Multi-List System.  You can search all listings from one agent’s website IDX solution.  Listing Agents purposely share listing information and data on the MLS with hopes that another agent will have a qualified buyer with the need for the listing.

And those MLS listings are shared through broker’s sites like mine via IDX, Internet Data Exchange.  So, I can show and sell almost any listing on the MLS.  And visitors to my site can view any listing on the MLS that is enabled through the IDX system.  And that is just about every listing.

IDX offers great flexibility to buyers.  Imagine picking 7 houses in Cary and Raleigh to view one evening after work.  And then imagine having to schedule to meet with an agent from each listing office, or multiple agents from one office if some of the listings were held in one office.  

Nightmare averted via good use of IDX.

You can call me, or any other agent who works with Buyers and we can arrange all the showings for you, for your convenience.  And you can engage one agent to represent you and your interests as your Buyers’ Agent.

The system also functions to offer Sellers the most possible exposure to their homes and other properties, with thousands of Realtors having access to show the property listings to their Buyers.

Sounds like a win-win-win-win all around to me!

IDX.  It is a Best Practice.  And on my site, with my “No Hassle Search,” you can search all day without obligation or without having to register, if you prefer not to.  Call or email me when something floats your boat!

There is a whole lot more than blogging going on in development of interpersonal communication, and coming to terms with change is daunting, since change seems to be happiest on an always shifting landscape.

Why blog? I read Seth Godin’s blog, and one of the messages that has stuck in my mind is his pronouncement of the death of “Intrusion marketing.” Seth says the public expects “permission marketing.” Gain the permission before the contact.
Blogging and taking inquiries from visitors to my blog is one way to accomplish that.

So, I don’t call at supper to tell you I sold the neighbor’s house.
Generally, I don’t call or email you unless you have requested the call, or are expecting the contact.
And the use of the internet and affiliated means of distribution of information, and collection of information, has positively exploded.
Even writing this post was briefly put on hold, as I took a phone call from a man whose wife located me on the internet. Best for him to contact me at his convenience. Much better than me calling him at home, at dinner with his family to promote myself.

I loved this video.

It points out the evolution of the means and methods and habits of distribution of information, the blindingly fast pace of that evolution, and illustrates the need to embrace changes in how we interact.

Visitors to this site can use my new powerful home search function with more search field options than nearly any other site.

You can search residential, rentals, land, multi-family, and commercial listings. 

Options include too many to list, but school assignments, fenced yards, 1st floor master bedrooms, and lot sizes are among the most desired.

Hal and the guys did a great job of integrating it onto the site, and we will be looking at customizing some of the functions and appearance over time.

And my personal “No-Hassle” Search Guarantee is stronger than ever:

“You don’t register to search for homes on my site until you want to.  Period.”

I like it that way.  Who wants to give up personal information just to have access to widely available free information?

Search your eyes out.  If I can help you further in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, or somewhere else in or around Wake County,  NC, just touch base with me, and we’ll see what we can do.

And we will do it “No-Hassle” Style!

With over 3,000 photos posted, and over 8,000 views of photos, I have to say I really have enjoyed my first year using Flickr. I have the Flickr Pro account, that offers me unlimited monthly photo posting for only $24.95/year. A bargain, I think.

Flickr has served me many ways:

I can take photos of neighborhoods and send them to folks who make inquiries.

A lady called me from out of town and asked me to check on real estate she owned, without ever having seen it. 60+ photos later, she had seen it, and felt a lot better.

Flickr lets me post photos, and easily link to them in emails and blog posts.

When I do a Cary, NC, neighborhood profile blog, I can link to the Flickr photo slideshow for that blog, and visitors can see all the photos I have taken in the area. I can do the same thing for listings, offering photo sets for the home, far above the limits of the MLS and Realtor.com.

The features on Flickr are simple to use, fairly intuitive, and responsive. I have uploaded as many as 115 photos in one batch. It takes a few minutes, but sure beats anything else I have tried.

That wariness is warranted.  Agents are taught to “capture” visitors; that it is good business to “capture” them to be able to stalk them for business.

Just the term “capture” seems to indicate an adversarial stance from the beginning.  It seems to promote that increasing wariness of consumers.  “Capture” seems symptomatic of treating the visitor like a commodity, rather than a valued and trusted client.

So, I don’t do it.  You can visit, search, save, and email listings as long as you like.  No P.O.W. camp here.

Similarly, I don’t use toll-free 800 numbers for call-ins for listings.  Agents are encouraged to do that because Caller ID block doesn’t work on 800 numbers.  So the Listing Agent can “capture” your phone number whether you agree or not.  Ouch!

If you want details regarding neighborhoods or a listing, read my blog, or please call or email me.  The information is free, and freely given.  Would I like to be your agent, or sell the listing?  Sure.  But not under duress, or snatching your number through a subterfuge of toll-free convenience.

I think that is Cary, NC Real Estate done right.  At least, it is how I would like to be treated.