5-Ways To Close Anywhere, Anytime w/ Your New IPAD

IPad applications can streamline your business and help you get to closing quicker.
By Katherine Tarbox | January 2011
Since Apple Inc.’s iPad hit the market last spring, more than 3.5 million units have sold, beating the market’s expectations for the product demand by 162 percent, according to the manufacturer. The 1.5-pound device has also beaten the expectations of many real estate pros, allowing them to show listings, schedule appointments, sign documents, and ultimately get to closing more easily.

Users say you have to be realistic about the iPad’s capabilities. "You need to think of it as a consumption device, and not necessarily for writing documents," says early adopter Bill Lublin, CRB, CRS, CEO of Century 21 Gold Advantage and a partner with the Social Media Marketing Institute, both in Philadelphia. So while it may not replace your laptop or smartphone, the iPad can help improve your relationship with clients. Here’s how:

Schedule on the spot. "I survive in down markets because I never let a client leave without booking another appointment," says Lublin. These days, after buyers have looked at three properties and come up empty-handed, he brings out the iPad. "I have a large visual way to show them my free times, and we pick a slot." A built-in application called iCal syncs the device with an iPhone or Mac. For those looking to connect with Google Calendar or Outlook, there’s an app called SaiSuke ($9.99), which works with all three of those scheduling systems and also connects with social networking calendars such as those on Facebook.

Have listings at your fingertips. Although MLS capabilities vary, many are now accessible through an iPad. "I was able to get information on the road for my last two buyer clients without too much trouble. I know they appreciated that I had the data on hand," says Atlanta-based Tim Maitski, a sales associate with RE/MAX Greater Atlanta. Maitski accesses his MLS through an application called LogMeIn. "A couple of taps, and I’m showing clients what they wanted to see." Some MLSs have their own application; expect others to debut in 2011.

Don’t just tell, but show. Loreena Yeo, SFR, a broker with 3:16 Team Realty in Frisco, Texas, bought an iPad last spring with the primary intention of using it for listing presentations. "Before, I think my clients somewhat grasped my marketing plan, and I always followed up with an e-mail with links." Now, while she’s making the presentation, she can search for terms on Google to show her SEO power and demonstrate her neighborhood and property videos. "The key is for them to understand that I do what most agents haven’t even begun to realize yet," she says.

Get their autograph. DocuSign and other electronic signature applications have helped to streamline the closing process, but an iPad can take it one step further by allowing clients to sign on location. Although the device is designed to be a touch screen, clients can use an electronic stylus pen (around $10 at electronics stores) to put their John Hancock on documents. "It’s saving me lots of paper and time," says Michael LaPeter, a sales associate with Resonant Properties in San Francisco, who has used this method about 12 times with clients. "They appreciate the ease."

Download more to do more. As iPhone and now Android smartphone users have learned, an app exists, or is in development, for just about any function you can think of. Real estate practitioners, for example, may enjoy photo editing apps such as Amopic and Crop Suey (each under $10) for making quick crops to photos before sending them buyers. Even the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has gotten into the act with NAR Express, an app that provides quick access to the latest headlines and market statistics. And NAR’s newest offering, MIDCalc, helps users quickly calculate the value of the mortgage interest deduction.

Mortgage Rates Little Has Changed

The volatility in mortgage rates continued during the first week of the year. Prior to Friday's Employment report, nearly all the economic data was stronger than expected, which was negative for mortgage rates. Rates improved after the Employment data, though, and ended the week nearly unchanged.

Over the last two months of 2010, investors began to focus on a trend toward stronger economic growth, which helped push mortgage rates higher over that period. Nearly every economic report released this week showed greater than expected improvement from last month, including Services, Manufacturing, and Construction. Stronger economic growth and job creation is positive for home sales, but it also results in higher inflation, which leads to higher mortgage rates.

The condition of the labor market is among the most important economic data every month, and this week there was some additional suspense. On Wednesday, ADP, a private payrolls firm, released its forecast for private sector job growth in December, and it was for an increase of an enormous 300K jobs. The ADP forecast has always been considered an imprecise labor market predictor, but the sheer magnitude of the ADP forecast caused many investors to increase their expectations for the government's monthly Employment report. Friday's data showed that the economy added 103K jobs in December, and revisions to prior months added an additional 70K jobs. The combined total of 173K jobs was close to the original consensus estimate, but was below the number that some investors expected after the ADP forecast, and mortgage rates improved after the news. Another big surprise came from a drop in the Unemployment Rate to 9.4% from 9.8% in November, far below the consensus forecast of 9.7%, and the lowest level in 19 months. Economists suggest that seasonal factors may have played some role in the large decline in the Unemployment Rate, so next month's results will be highly anticipated.

Inflation Risks Are Low; Same For Disinflation

Here is some of what the Fed discussed last month:

•On inflation : Core inflation levels "trend lower"; disinflation risks are low.
•On housing : The market is still "quite depressed"; demand is "very weak".
•On stimulus : The Fed will stick to its $600 billion support plan