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Keys to Consider when choosing a technology partner
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Things have gotten complicated for realtors. VOW, IDX, SEO, Social Networking, Blogs, Facebook,
Twitter - what does it all mean? How do you optimize your technology strategy? It can be confusing
with so many options for todays real estate professional on just what do to and look for when deciding
on how to leverage technology for their business.
One thing is for certain: Whom you decide to work with is critical to your success.
As a realtor, whomever you decide to
work with, it will a valuable partnership for your business that can either greatly benefit or cost you. The
most successful real estate companies today are the ones using technology to their advantage.
Regardless of what your goals are, we have compiled a list of things you,
as a realtor professional, should consider whether you are developing your first site or have had an
online identity for years.
1. What does their portfolio look like?
Working with an experienced firm that has developed previous sites specifically for the real estate
industry is critical. Many people can design sites, but may not have built realtor-specific
applications. Nu
Frontiers works with some of the top realtors for over 12 years in many areas and you can find
our software on multiple highly-ranked sites on the search engines.
2. Are they focused on the Chicago Real Estate Market?
Real estate is local. If you are in Chicago or it's surrounding suburbs, use a firm that specializes
in and is familiar with the Chicagoland area. Nu Frontiers is located in the Chicago area and focuses
on the Chicagland market. We can meet with you face to face and are here locally for you.
A nationally-based firm will not understand the details of the Chicago area market and might not be best
suited to make recommendations to help you reach your goals.
3. Chicago-Based realtors: Do they offer a search that is customized for the Chicago area?
For downtown clients, Nu Frontiers has built a graphical custom interactive Chicago MLS search by
neighborhood and is doing the same for our suburban clients. Having an effective search is key
for converting browsers to clients and offering your customers the best experience possible.
4. Are there any hidden fees?
Most vendors will charge you extra for even the smallest updates to
your site. Nu Frontiers includes hosting and email and maintenance in your
monthly licensing fee’s.
5. Are they available and do your requests get handled in a timely fashion?
There is nothing worse than investing in a website, only to have the development company
go missing once the project is completed. Unlike other
vendors, you speak with the person actually doing the work on your site at Nu
Frontiers. There are no ticket numbers or call centers taking your requests.
Ninety-nine percent of our customers requests are handled the same
day.
6. Are their rates competitive and are you being locked in to a long-term contract?
For the level of service and quality of work we offer, Nu
Frontiers’ services and costs are very competitive and all our agreements are on
monthly terms. There are no long-term commitments.
7. Do they specialize in customized work?
Nu Frontiers does not offer cookie-cutter solutions. Each of our
sites is it’s own application, fully customized to the clients specific needs. Going with
another provider means your site might look just like the guys down the street, and usually
your site costs just as much.
8. Is their back-end management system effective?
Nu Frontiers’ comprehensive back-end management software has assisted in
the growth of many realtors. It closely tracks the activity on your site and improves
your productivity and helps you increase your sales.
9. Do they stay up to date with the latest technologies?
Nu Frontiers has pioneered in paving the way with our custom
Chicago search and VOW/IDX hybrid solutions. We are constantly monitoring and updating our
systems to give our clients the very latest in technology - ensuring that your application
will keep kept current in today's ever-changing environment.
If you have any more questions, we would be glad to answer them. Just email us at
support@nufrontiers.com or call 847.227.8669.
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