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Real AI: AI will kill showing traffic, headlines, fast facts and AI quote of the week
Real AI is a 100% human-created weekly roundup of all things AI in real estate and emerging AI innovations in other sectors likely to impact real estate. AI will kill showing traffic but that's a good thing The big AI takeaway from the 2024 National Association of Realtors Legislative Meetings (known in the industry as Midyear) held last week in Washington, D.C., was an unexpected consequence of AI. This concept materialized during the Q&A at the end of the Emerging Business Issues & Technology Forum, "Integrating AI and AR/VR Into Your Business." Julie Whitesell, SVP/Broker in Charge at Meybohm, moderated the panel, which included Jeff Allen, President of CubiCasa; Chris Christensen, NAR, Director of Tech Policy; Sam DeBord, CEO of RESO; and Scott Richard, Owner of Richard Realty. After covering a slew of AI-related topics (nearly void of all discussion on AR/VR until the Q&A despite being in the title), a Realtor in the audience shared her experience of creating a first-class listing, supported by all the tech bells and whistles. She observed that showings plummet when a listing reveals all the property data and insight when you include drone footage, 3D tours, floorplans, and high-res photos that highlight and identify all the amenities. The reason is that many home shoppers turn away when all this data and complete visual details are shared online. They read about or see something in the listing that turns them off, and they nix the idea of seeing the house. But that's a good thing. Why? Because the buyers who do ask for a showing are ready, willing, able, and, most importantly, highly interested. A highly tech-empowered listing will narrow the top of the funnel, qualifying buyers in a way that has not been possible until now. AI is going to narrow the top of the funnel even more. The more data AI consumes, the better it gets, and AI will enhance listings through tools like computer vision to unlock more data. For example, leading AI real estate firm Restb.ai can do so much more than tag photo features (e.g., Wolf stove, quartz countertops, etc.) and automatically write pithy photos and property descriptions. Its computer vision power is being used by appraisal firms to assess a property's condition. What AI will do for listings will result in fewer showings, but the buyers that come are the only ones the sellers want anyway. A great tip from the Realtor who shared her experience: You should educate your sellers upfront that their super-tech-empowered listing will result in significantly lower foot traffic. When you explain why, sellers will understand that lower foot traffic really is a good thing. AI Fast Facts 1 in 4 desk-based employees stated they have experimented with AI tools for their work tasks – Slack 73% of sales professionals feel that they're able to retrieve insights from data they otherwise wouldn't be able to find without the assistance of AI – Hubspot 55% of employees using generative AI at work are doing so without the formal approval or oversight of workplace management – Salesforce 60% of businesses using AI are not working to develop ethical AI policies – IBM Employers surveyed by Amazon acknowledged they would be willing to pay a 43% higher salary on average for staff with AI skills in sales and marketing – Amazon Source: Vena Solutions AI Headlines – Take 5 Navigating the Future of Real Estate Investing With AI: Insights for Small-Business Owners | 5/7/24 - ForbesAI can assist with real estate investing. The 5 subtle AI announcements Apple made at its big iPad 2024 launch event | 5/7/24 - TechRadarApple's products continue to integrate AI-powered features. Docusign to acquire Lexion for $165M in exit for Seattle-based AI contract management company | 5/6/24 - DocusignDocusign can now modernize as it buys Lexion's AI-powered tech. OpenAI working on new AI image detection tools | 5/7/24 - The VergeThe latest OpenAI tool will detect if an image was made with the DALL-E AI image generator. Microsoft announces $3.3 billion investment in Wisconsin to spur artificial intelligence innovation and economic growth | 5/8/24 - MicrosoftPart of Microsoft's investment will go toward developing an AI-powered data center. AI Quote of the Week Subscribe to our free Real AI newsletter here. Content suggestions welcomed: email [email protected]. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group

How to Sync Your Google and Apple Calendars
Are you an iPhone owner who uses Gmail? Or a MacBook owner with an Android? If you're any kind of technology cross-pollinator, chances are good that you've had some issues synching things, like your calendar. A transaction deadline or client appointment is the last thing you want to miss, so if you use a mix of Apple and Google products, it's important to make sure every crucial date is on the the calendar you use most. Syncing your Apple and Google calendars is a great way to make sure no important dates slip through the cracks. Fortunately, that's an easy process, and the video above shows you just how to do it. Watch it to learn how to: Add your Google Account to your Apple Calendar so transactions syncing to your Google Account also show on your Apple Calendar Add your Apple Calendar to your Google Calendar to get all your appointments, tasks, and events in one place Make Your Calendar Work for You Leveraging Google Calendar for Real Estate Real Estate Smartphone Tricks: Using Your Phone's

What Should Your Open House Tech Checklist Contain? 9 Must-Do Items
Open houses are a tradition that started more than 100 years ago. According to the National Association of Realtors, before 1919, anyone could claim to be a real estate broker. So when a home went up for sale, multiple "For Sale" signs, each from a different broker, could be strewn all over the lawn. The open house, like the first professional real estate organization, was born to add organization to the home-buying process, which was chaotic. The NAR archives show the first recorded open house was held in the 1910s. Called "Open for Inspection," it was held over several days. The first "staged" home was in 1925, and in the 1930s and 40s, open houses gained popularity among agents as a powerful personal marketing tool. In the 1950s, "open house" was the new nomenclature for "open for inspection." Today's open houses have come a long way and are powered by technology. As a result, real estate agents can leverage tech tools to better promote – and host – an open house. Agents also need to remember that many of today's homes boast an array of new tech of their own. That smart home tech can positively impact an open house, but you must be prepared. Here's your tech checklist for an open house: 1. Wi-Fi and internet access: Make sure the home you are hosting offers a strong and reliable Wi-Fi signal. If not, check for cell phone coverage because you'll likely need access when hosting. Plus, you can create a hotspot to connect your laptop. Finally, having internet access can come in handy when you're trying to answer a question from a prospect or share online resources. 2. Make sure all your devices are fully charged: When your devices are fully charged, you won't panic if you leave your charger at home or in the office. 3. Do you have the alarm code? If the property has an alarm system, have a guest alarm code to turn it off — always double-check. 4. Do a run-through of the home's tech with the owners: Smart houses have some really cool features you can show off – if you know how to use them and what to say to Alexa or Google Home. Getting a demo and taking notes can add fun to a routine open house tour. 5. Let buyers know about cameras: Many homes have cameras today, which may always be on. Make sure you disclose this fact by having a sign that shares this information. 6. Offer a mobile charger: Here's a tip to get people to stay a while and spend time taking in the whole house. Set up a charging station for mobile devices and put out a sign to encourage use. 7. Digital sign-in apps: Instead of using a traditional paper sign-in sheet to track traffic, use an open house app – search the app store for your device. Most of these can connect to your CRM to add their contact info or are built to send out a follow-up email immediately afterward. It's the easiest way to track who visited the property and sync up with potential buyers. 8. Virtual staging software: While you know that professionally staged homes sell faster than vacant ones, sometimes, you must show a vacant property. Why not set up your laptop and virtual staging photographs to showcase the property in the best possible light? This helps potential buyers visualize themselves living in the space and may lead to more interest – and offers. 9. Live video broadcast: If you are accustomed to using video to showcase your listings and have tried your hand at live broadcasts such as Facebook or YouTube live, why not promote on your social channels a live broadcast at a specific time from your open house? The best part is your live video is recorded and archived for others to watch in the future on demand. Overall, this tech checklist for an open house may need to be modified depending on the type of home you are showcasing, your local market, and ultimately understanding the preferences of the potential buyers you are trying to reach. By going through this checklist before hosting your next open house, you can be well prepared to leverage technology – and spotlight the home's technology – that can help create a memorable experience for visitors and win more offers. And remember, if you are among the more than 725,000 Realtors in North America with free access to Tech Helpline, you can always reach out by chat, phone, or email for help with your open house tech issues. If you don't have access to Tech Helpline for free as a member benefit, ensure your MLS, association, or brokerage goes to TechHelpline.com to learn more. Finally, if you have an interesting open house tech story, please share it in a post on social media using the hashtag #TechHelpline! Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns and operates Tech Helpline and Form