Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

Nudge 2.0

The post goes out to all my MLS peeps-

Earlier this year my company partnered with the guys from 1000watt Consulting and launched a new web app we called Nudge. It’s a simple little app that helps real estate professionals answer the age old question, “How’s The Market?” As part of Nudge we came up with a number of cool “indicators”. These indicators were animated graphics that were a visual way of displaying market conditions. Here’s a sample of and indicator showing whether its a buyers or a sellers market.

Agents set the indicators, and send these as a short “Nudges” via email, Twitter, or post them on their Facebook page or blog. The secret to these is they all include the magic ingredients to any successful digital marketing campaign.

1. A bold Headline.
2. A compelling Image.
3. A few short lines of text.
4. A strong call to action.

With Nudge 2.0 we went a step further and also added the ability to upload their own images or link to photo from their Instagram account. So far the response of Nudge 2.0 has been fantastic. Our first webinar for Nudge, hosted by Chris Smith, sold out 100 slots in less than 30 minutes. The ability to add their own images has really been the killer feature we were looking for. Here’s a few samples.

Name That Barista!
http://getnudgeapp.com/users/81/reports/17138

Are Home Prices Static?
http://getnudgeapp.com/users/7290/reports/17145

Open House
http://getnudgeapp.com/users/1521/reports/17155

So enough of the shameless plug. Here’s where you come in. We would like to get the word out to agents about Nudge and need your help. So we set up a program, a quick way to make some of that “non-dues revenue” goodness. Here’s how it works:

1. We set you up with special link/promo code.
2. You send at least 2 dedicated emails to your membership promoting Nudge before the end of the year. (We’ll even write the email for you)
3. We pay you $10.00 for each Nudge account that goes to billing (Nudge comes with a 30-day money back guarantee)
4. You’ll be able to track your progress via a special Nudge Revenue Dashboard. (Maybe we’ll post a “leader board” on Vendor Alley)

The offer to your membership will be discounted from the normal yearly price of $149. We will also provide support and host a weekly webinar every Wednesday to help agents get started. Nudge doesn’t require any MLS integration so it will be simple to get started.

Maybe you’ll earn enough money to help fund your Holiday Party. Or take the staff out to a nice lunch. Or buy your favorite Vendor a steak dinner or take them to the ballet.

If you’re interested just email me. If you want to play around with Nudge 2.0 just email me and I’ll set you up with a free Nudge promo account.

But wait there’s more….

I’ve already been approached by some MLS Providers who would like to use Nudge as a tool for communicating with their own members. Here’s what I mean;

Maybe you want to tell them about the trade show you are hosting.
http://getnudgeapp.com/users/81/reports/17157

Or maybe about that Lockbox buyback program
http://getnudgeapp.com/users/81/reports/17156

Nudge is simple and fun way to send out short messages that your members will read. If you are interested in a Nudge licensing plan for your MLS just, you guessed it, email me.

For more information on Nudge you can visit www.GetNudgeApp.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

gr

P.S. Here’s a short video I put together about Nudge 2.0

Warren Buffet Bets Big On Real Estate

HomeServices and Brookfield Announce a New Residential Real Estate Franchise Brand—Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices®

“The combined networks of more than 53,000 Prudential Real Estate and Real Living Real Estate agents generated in excess of $72 billion in residential real estate sales volume in 2011, and operate across more than 1,700 U.S. locations.

“Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a new franchise brand built upon the financial strength and leadership of Brookfield and HomeServices,” said Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. “I am confident that these partners will deliver value to the residential real estate industry, and I am pleased to have Berkshire Hathaway be a part of the new brand.”

“We are honored and proud to be entrusted with the use of the Berkshire Hathaway name as our new real estate franchise brand,” said Ron Peltier, chairman and CEO of HomeServices. “We will convey the strength of Berkshire Hathaway’s reputation and its associated principles of integrity and financial stability in everything we do.”

The message is loud and clear. Warren Buffett has decided its time to bet on real estate again. And bet BIG.

This is great news for all of us in the real estate industry. But lets peel away the layers of the onion.

If you look up wwww.BershireHathawayHS.com (BHHS) on WhoiS you find out that the URL was purchased by HomeServices back in June of 2012. So either Home Services was already making plans to rebrand itself back then or this deal has been in the works for a long time.

This move solves Brookfield’s brand problem with Prudential. Since the Prudential name was going away they needed to come up with a brand the Pru brokers would not stick their noses up to. How are you going to compete with a “piece of the rock”? I think the Berkshire Hathaway brand will be something that will be very enticing to Pru brokers. I mean, what agent, at a listing presentation wouldn’t want to say that their company is owned by Warren Buffett?

Which brings me to another point. This could be a big risk for Berkshire Hathaway. They are leveraging the Berkshire Hathaway name for the first time. And who are the stewards to this exclusive brand? Real Estate Agents, which are just a couple steps above used car salesmen on the public respect scale.

Ron Peltier as Chairman makes sense. Earl Lee as CEO is interesting. Buffett is famous for being a great business operator and cultivating managerial talent. Broker-owners love Earl, but will he cut the mustard?

The other two execs, recently pictured with Earl on the August cover of RIS Media’s REAL ESTATE Magazine, are also interesting choices.

Aleya Chattopadhay rose from the ranks of Brookfield to become the CMO. She has a lot of experience internationally and in conversations I’ve had with her I can attest to her smarts and passion about the industry.

Steve Phillips came from GMAC Relo division before he joined Brookfield. I wonder since this is technically a JV between BHHS and Brookfield if they are still employees of Brookfield or have they left Toronto for good?

Time will tell.

The rate this industry is changing is dizzying. Think about it.

Here comes the Canadians!
Brookfield acquires GMAC Real Estate
Brookfield acquires Real Living, then merges GMAC Real Estate brand into Real Living.

Here come the “Interlopers”!
Zillow goes public
Trulia goes public

The Old Guard makes a stand!
Realogy goes public

There go the Canadians!
HomeServices acquires majority stake in Real Living and Prudential RE from Brookfield.

My head hurts!

A few takeaways:

HomeServices of America has always had a stable of multi-branded real estate companies. Think Long Real Estate, Edina, Prudential X,Y, Z etc. While I can’t see a company like Edina changing brand names I do see the Prudential brands under HSofA moving toward the BHHS brand. This will give them a web presence they haven’t had before. If I was Zillow and Trulia I would be watching these developments very carefully.

A wise man once told me that Joint Ventures never work. In this case HomeServices owns the majority share, so that will help, and Brookfield gets the cachet of being partners with Warren Buffett.

You gotta feel for the staff at what was GMAC, Real Living and Prudential Real Estate. They been through 3 years of nothing but change, and now this!

The Harley Rouda story that leaked yesterday I reported on. Was it an honest mistake, a crossing of wires due to the Hurricane? Or was Harley tweaking Brookfield’s nose?

No matter. Right now I’m optimistic on real estate’s future.

So Nouriel Roubini can go suck on it. The Housing Recovery is official, Warren Buffett said so!

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