Archive for the 'Business' Category
Lifestyle and Technology: People are talking about you!!
March 12th, 2010 categories: Around TORONTO, Business, Food, Technology
Last Summer a group of us techno-weenies were in San Francisco for a Conference and wanted to go out for a great dinner. After some discussion we decided on Chinese food and rather than walking aimlessly through Chinatown, we decided to YELP the restaurant.
For those of you who have not YELPED before…Yelp is a website that is a repository of peer reviews, mashed with GPS . It uses the GPS to find you, allows you to search under numerous categories for whatever service you are looking for and once you start narrowing down your search offers up peer reviews to help you make your decisions.
That night we ended up only a few blocks from the Hotel we were staying at, ate in a very non-descript inexpensive Restaurant and had one of the best meals of the trip. We based our choice on the peer reviews and on leaving could have added our own views on the experience to the Yelp web site with photos.
Now I am a confirmed Yelper. I have downloaded the Yelp app to my Blackberry and have a profile that you can visit, become my friend or leave a review of my work as a REALTOR. Check it out in your area and write some reviews to help build the content that will make it a more valuable tool as time goes by. Get out there and start YELPING !!
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Going Small Screen…
March 7th, 2010 categories: Business, Technology
The man with the biggest TV wins….has been the marketing chant for Home Entertainment Systems…but at the same time…
Technology never slows and keeping up is a full time and expensive job.
A year ago I was given an Amazon Kindle for Xmas and have loved being able to access my own library from the Amazon Bookstore on a moments notice. Then came the Sony Reader and other E-books…Recently, Apple announced it’s latest product the IPad .
I believe that the IPad will be very successful… small screen format is the way of the future and these new tools are tools that provide content through Apps allow the owner to be more mobile…
The point of all this is that we are in the process of mobilizing my websites. The mobile version of www.RichardSilver.com is already launched with Torontoism.com and DowntownTorontoNews.com to follow soon.
If you search www.RichardSilver.com on your Blackberry or IPhone it will automatically recognize that you are using a smartphone and will show you the small screen format. I would like to give a shout out to the team at MobilizeMe.com who have done such an excellent job with the participation of the webmaster of all three site.
Check out www.RichardSilver.c
om on your smartphone and let me know your thoughts… Here is a sample…
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REAL ESTATE: January 2010 Article in “Today’s Buyer’s Rep”.
February 9th, 2010 categories: Business, Real Estate, Technology
Almost a year ago I travelled to Chicago to sit in on a day of “rebooting” a course offered by REBAC, the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council of the National Association of REALTORS. The course was called Innovative Marketing and after a day of meetings and numerous subject matter discussions the course was relaunched in November of 2009.
“REBAC is the world’s largest organization of real estate professionals focusing on BUYER representation. By providing specialized training and ongoing skill development, REBAC helps its members—and the home buyers who work with them—experience more successful real estate transactions.”
Since last year I have sat on the Advisory Council of REBAC and in early December 2009 was interviewed for the article attached, both a great honour. Hope you enjoy the read..it will give you a sense of how our business has changed in the past years…to read it easily you may choose the full screen version.
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The Canadian Real Estate Market: Consumer confidence in Canada ends on a stronger footing in 2009
January 24th, 2010 categories: Business, Buying in Toronto, Economy, Real Estate
Below is a great article from the Canadian Real Estate Association about the levels in Consumer Confidence as one moves across Canada:
National consumer confidence ended the year 2009 on a stronger footing compared to pre-recession levels, despite having edged down slightly the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter. According to the Conference Board of Canada’s index of consumer confidence, confidence eased slightly in the fourth quarter for the first time in three quarterly periods. The decrease in confidence reflects weakening sentiment about making major purchases. Read the rest of this entry »
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Impressions of REBarCampNYC and Inman Connect NYC 2010!
January 22nd, 2010 categories: Business, Economy, Real Estate, Technology, Travel
So I have been home a week and trying to make sense of all the information that I gleaned in the four hectic days of meetings in New York City. Instead of the usual “Blow by Blow” and who said what, I will just give you some of my impressions:
First and foremost, the four days were all about Social Media . Like it or not, just the way we used to say that Realtors with Technology will replace Realtors without it, now, Realtors and Brokers who have a Social Media presence will replace those who do not. As one of the speakers said, being a “Geek” is the norm and fashionable. Grandma’s are on Facebook , tweeting and showing off their new IPhone ! Read the rest of this entry »
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Canadian Real Estate Association – 2009 Resale Housing Market Ends On a High Note.
January 20th, 2010 categories: Business, Buying in Toronto, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Toronto
Existing home sales activity reached the highest level ever for the month of December, according to statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association . Strong demand in the second half of 2009, especially in the fourth quarter, pushed annual sales above 2008 levels.
Residential sales activity via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) of Canadian real estate boards numbered 27,744 units in December 2009. This stands 72 per cent above activity in December 2008, when activity dropped to the lowest level in a decade. New records for the month of December were reported in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland & Labrador. Read the rest of this entry »
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GREATER TORONTO AREA REALTORS® REPORTING JANUARY MID-MONTH HOUSING STATISTICS
January 19th, 2010 categories: Around TORONTO, Business, Downtown Toronto, Real Estate, Toronto
TORONTO, January 18, 2010 Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 1,749 existing home sales on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) during the first two weeks of January. This result was almost double the 888 sales reported for the same period in 2009, when sales had dipped to a recessionary low.
“We have had a strong start to 2010,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President Tom Lebour.“Widespread sales growth in terms of geography and housing type indicates that many households remain confident in their ability to purchase and pay for a home over the long-term.” Read the rest of this entry »
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Lessons in Customer Service: Holland America’s Onboard Internet Service.
January 17th, 2010 categories: Business, Lifestyle, Technology, Travel
While on a Holland America Cruise recently, I messaged my Facebook and Twitter friends that I was enjoying the “Techspert” classes that they had on-board. Like a lot of Companies today, Holland America , is monitoring the Blogosphere and Tweetosphere and I heard back quickly that they “were happy I was enjoying myself”. My response was to tell them that although I was, I thought that their Internet charges ($100 for 250 minutes) were excessive in view of the poor service (back to the OLD dial-up days). Their response was “I’ll pass it on”.
Over the next weeks as complaints on-board grew and my Internet bill reached over $600.00, I again posted my thoughts and was told by the responder that they would “pass it on”. What does “pass it on” mean? Read the rest of this entry »
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The Problem with REALTORS.
December 23rd, 2009 categories: Business, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Selling in Toronto
Before I even “go there“…let me first say that I am speaking totally on my own behalf and not in any of the positions that I hold in organized Real Estate. This is just some of my ramblings that come in go in my mind and need a Blog outlet, so please bear with me.
I began in the business 30 years ago and when I say “the business” I am referring to Real Estate or any other service industry. We had all been trained to strive to be the best in our field. Success equates to the sale of property, a satisfied Buyer, Seller or both. Read the rest of this entry »
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Hooked on Travel and My Video Pocket Camera.
December 17th, 2009 categories: Business, Economy, Lifestyle, Photos
Giving you an update for the next few weeks and talking about how much I love my Video Pocket Camera, a VadoHD by Creative Labs .
Any thoughts? Comments below?
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