Our Top 10 Most-Read Articles of February

February is the month of love, and in our round-up of the most-loved and most-read articles of the past month, RE Technology subscribers particularly had their eye on lead generation-focused articles--you can check out articles #1 and #6 for those.

Readers also ate up ways to show your clients a little love with memorable closing gifts (see #5), and looks at recent trends like interior design (#2) and how the ongoing pandemic is impacting the market (#4).

What else were agents and brokers reading last month? Check out the full list of the top 10 most popular articles of February below:

1. Friday Freebie: Absentee Owner Prospect List
Ready to shift your real estate marketing strategy to a potentially lucrative niche? Thanks to the pandemic and record low inventory, one group of homeowners is particularly ripe as a source of listing leads -- the absentee owner. Get a FREE mailing list of absentee owner prospects in this week's Friday Freebie.

2. Top 10 Interior Design Trends for 2021
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has altered the way we work and school, home owners have had to alter their home environment to adjust. Here are the top 10 design trends for 2021 that real estate agents have observed their clients adopt or request.

3. 10 Veteran Agent Tips for Real Estate Rookies
Some rookie agents may not have the opportunity to ask a well-seasoned, experienced agent for advice or the lessons they've learned throughout their career—so we thought you'd find value if we collected tips veteran real estate agents wish they knew when they first started their career.

4. The Collateral Damage of the Pandemic on Real Estate
Almost a year into the COVID-19 era, and the collateral damage of the pandemic on real estate markets continues to grow. Overall, real estate sales have fared extremely well, but other aspects of the market have not been immune to economic fallout. In fact, just about anyone in the market who isn't selling has faced headwinds from the pandemic—and for some, relief is nowhere in sight.

5. 10 Creative Ideas for Memorable Closing Gifts
Finding just the right closing gift isn't always easy. You want something special and thoughtful that stands out and communicates how much you value your clients' business. It also needs to be memorable -- you don't want them forgetting your name for possible referrals any time soon! If you're struggling to find just the right thing, get inspiration from our 10 creative closing gift ideas.

6. 3 Ways to Get More Leads in 2021
Listings are the lifeblood of real estate. And absolutely no one enjoys enduring feast and famine routines as they try and build sustainability into their business. To gain—and maintain—momentum month after month, we need to have in place some solid practices around listings and lead generation.

7. Pets and Zoom Rooms: 2 Property Features Every Real Estate Agent Should Focus On
More people have been pushed or have chosen to work from home. Studies also show that new couples and first-time buyers are more concerned with home offices and pets than kids' or guests' rooms. All of these new trends are important signals for real estate agents. From now on, they can take advantage of these trends and provide new details in their property promotions.

8. How Safe Is Your Computer? Check Out This Safety Checklist!
Cyberattacks can occur in a variety of ways, including routine things you may do when surfing the web. Malware still can infect your computer, and cybercriminals may steal personal information about you online. What should you do? Here is a quick checklist to bolster your computer's security.

9. Leading Real Estate Vendors Now Offering Access, a 'Pay at Closing' Option for Agents
The emerging trend of "Buy now, Pay later" is now available to the real estate industry with the launch of Access™ by eCommission®, a unique payment option tailored around the timing of when agents earn their commissions.

10. Virtual Showings and Open Houses: Before, During and After COVID-19
In the first weeks of shelter-in-place, real estate experts came together to find new ways of doing things, knowing their professional community depended on it. Virtual showings and open houses are emblematic of that effort. Let's take a closer look at virtual showings and open houses and how this technology shapes the future of the real estate industry.