Artificial Intelligence: What It Is, What It Isn't, and How It Benefits Your Business
If you've paid even a little bit of attention to technology or real estate industry news, you've heard this term a lot lately: Artificial Intelligence, or AI.
So why the sudden interest in this topic, and what exactly do people mean when they say artificial intelligence? Machines that think? Cars that drive themselves? And what does all of this mean for my real estate business?
Those are just some of the AI-related questions that we'll be answering next Tuesday. Join us on April 10 for a FREE, live webinar that explores what AI is, where it's going, and how it can benefit your real estate team.
Here's a peek at the agenda:
The Basics: What AI is, and what it is NOT
The varying degrees of AI, from simple to advanced
Real examples inside real estate
How to get started with AI
LIVE demo of AI used for real estate
Will your business suffer if your competition is using it and you aren't?
Artificial Intelligence 101
If you've ever wondered about artificial intelligence, Tuesday's webinar is like a freshman survey course on the topic. Here's a quick summary of the more in-depth information we'll be covering:
What is AI?
There are about as many definitions of AI as researchers developing the technology, according to Inside Real Estate, our webinar co-hosts. It's part of now-familiar digital assistants like Siri and Google Home. It includes Spotify's ability to learn your music preferences, and Amazon's uncanny ability to suggest just the product you need. At its heart, AI is a machine-based intelligence that learns patterns from data inputs and actions.
Like all intelligence, artificial intelligence exists on a spectrum. There are simple AIs, like smart thermostats, and advanced AIs like Alexa, Siri, and the broader Internet of Things (IoT).
AI is not a type of software, nor feature of software (like automate marketing). It is not something like automated marketing or drip campaigns, which is based on scheduled or triggered events. It's not here to take over the world. (It's true. Just ask "Okay Google, are you Skynet?" and see what happens.) And it's not going to go away.
"...strategic use of data and artificial intelligence are not fads," according Steve Murray, President of REAL Trends. "That would be like saying that Billy Beane and Paul DePodesta of Moneyball fame were just data geeks. Except, they showed how using data could change an entire industry forever."
AI and Real Estate
Now that we understand AI in a broad sense, let's focus in on how artificial intelligence is used in real estate. Here are a few examples:
Chatbots helping buyers search for homes on your website
A CRM that rates and scores leads, then suggests which to follow up with
Predicting which leads that are most likely to transact soon
Intelligent lead follow-up that takes action on your behalf
In addition, artificial intelligence can help you map out sales goals and evaluate the effectiveness of your lead generation and nurturing strategy.
Want to learn more? Register for Out-closing the Competition with Artificial Intelligence, a FREE, live webinar coming next Tuesday, April 10 at 1pm ET/10am PT.
MORE >
RETECHNOLOGY PREMIUM MARKETPLACE RELATED PRODUCTS | WEBINARS | SPECIAL OFFERS
3 Changes in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update that Will Most Benefit Realtors
Microsoft is releasing a large update for Windows 10, which they have dubbed the "Anniversary Update." There is no official release date at the time of this writing, but it is expected this summer, near the one-year anniversary of Windows 10's release. This update promises dozens of changes to Windows, some behind the scenes and some front-and-center. Let's take a look at the three changes that will be significant for Realtors.
Additional Security with Windows Defender
Virus, Malware, Adware—these issues are among the top reasons Realtors call Tech Helpline, so we know additional security will be beneficial.
Although viruses, malware, and adware plague Windows users, historically it has always been a bad idea to run more than one anti-virus at the same time. For example, having both Norton and McAfee on the same computer leaves you just as vulnerable as having no anti-virus at all. But no single anti-virus is perfect enough to catch everything, so having a second line of defense, such as anti-malware software, helps keep you safe without causing issues. With the Anniversary Update, the built-in Windows Defender can be set up as a "second opinion" anti-virus that won't interfere with your main protection.
To enable Windows Defender as a second anti-virus, you will need to go to your Start Menu (in the bottom-left corner of your screen) and click "Settings." From there, click "Update & Security," then "Windows Defender." If you have an anti-virus other than Windows Defender installed, you will see an option called "Periodic Scanning." Once that is enabled, you will have even more protection against malicious software! Please note that this option won't appear if you don't have an anti-virus beside Windows Defender installed.
MORE >
Turning Prospects into Customers…for the Long Run
As media reports continue to confirm on an almost daily basis, things are on the rise for real estate. With 2013 panning out to be a big year of recovery, agents across the nation are seeing a significant upswing in business as buyers and sellers get off the sidelines and jump back into the game. With this upswing come more leads, clients, appointments ... and more need for organization and close management of day-to-day demands. According to Karen Werling of Prudential Chaplin Williams Realty in Fernandina Beach, Fla., the right technology and systems are critical to taking care of business and maximizing the opportunities of the market rebound.
As is the case for many real estate professionals around the country, Werling has witnessed noteworthy growth in her market. "The biggest change in the market is that buyers are ready to purchase," she explains. "They're no longer holding off to see what the market is going to do. Inventory is dropping, and prices are going back up, so they're taking action."
Five-to-seven years ago, Werling and her team were prepared for the imminent advancement of technology in the real estate arena. Therefore, they focused on Internet leads and marketing. "Five years ago, home prices were spiking. We've been in the real estate profession for over 25 years, so we knew it was going to be short lived. We needed to prepare for what was to come. As we expected, the economy took a downturn, but we were ready for it," she says.
Over the last year, Werling's market has recovered very quickly, which was also anticipated by her team. "Our inventory is down 30 percent from three years ago and our sales are up 40 percent. This is a result of attractive pricing and rates and the pent-up buyers who are ready to buy," she says.
MORE >
Prescription for Wireless Congestion
If you have sinus congestion, there's an entire aisle of the drugstore dedicated to bringing you relief. But what if the congestion is in your wireless connection? Given the exponential growth of Smartphones and tablets, wireless carriers are experiencing significant congestion in their cellular networks. The very companies that have been encouraging the use of Smartphones are staggering under the heavy use. Unfortunately for wireless carriers and Smartphone/tablet users, the fix for wireless congestion isn't as easy as treating sinus congestion.
MORE >