Category: REO Resources
You know, when you do a lot of volume in REO, you spend a lot of time looking at the big picture and you sometimes forget about the small improvements that could greatly impact the efficiency and morale of your team. Sit here for just a moment now and imagine that you are sitting in your office chair trying to get a little work done. As you stare at the words on your computer screen, words that look a lot like the ones you see on your screen now, black on a white background, you begin to feel yourself tuning in. The more you stare at these words and the the tasks they represent, the more you settle into your place and get so focused that you can almost feel your chest rise and fall with each breath you take. You are in your zone, to the point that you are feeling super energized and ready to accomplish the work of two or maybe even three people. Then all of a sudden...
There are certain tools that can just make life a heck of a lot easier if you're an REO broker.
RoboForm2GO Pro is just about the best little piece of software that I have ever purchased. It auto-fills registration forms and remembers passwords to all of your clients' on-line platforms. I cannot tell you how strongly I feel about having this little tool. It WILL be the best $49.50 you have ever spent. I prefer the RoboForm2GO Pro version. It can be loaded on to a flash drive and you can take it with you wherever you go. Get RoboForm2GO Pro version here RIGHT NOW.
Your website should be very "buyer sticky". By that I mean that it should give buyers reasons to stay around and seek out more information. Let's face it, buyers want to see homes. They don't care about how great you are or about your silly sales pitches. I have always gotten the best results by providing a "one stop shop" for REO searchers. I found exactly ONE IDX software that can be fully customized to your own specs - IDX Broker. Do not be fooled by companies who say there's is customizable. If you can't have access to the code then you can't really customize. For example: on my site REOAtlanta.com I have been able to code in special parameters that identify potential REO properties and short sales in ways that I could NOT do with any other IDX provider. This is like GOLD to REO investors and they come back to my site over and over each day. Try IDX Broker. It's the only truly customizable IDX solution on the market today. Don't know how to custom code? No problem. Email Brent Guest of BHGDigital LLC for custom web design (he does 100% of mine-including REO Rockstars.)
For BPO information I use a service called REDLINK. They don't service a lot of states but see if they service yours and use them if you can. It's a big shortcut to information for my valuations staff.
Lastly, I have a self-designed site called UnlistedBankHomes. It is a subscription based site for investors where I list homes that are about to hit the market. We list the homes here after getting a listing agreement from the seller and IMMEDIATELY before placing them on the market (we also give information on pre-list homes but it is very limited). This information makes investors drool and keeps them locked in to you as the expert resource they seek out. I would recommend using every one of these tools if you are going to be serious about making serious money selling REOs. Check them out and get 'em!
It is extremely critical that you have the right information and good resources for insights into the REO industry. I for one am a big fan of one of Donald Trump's sayings: "Know everything about what you are doing". Two resources truly stand out for me: DS News is the REO industry's resource for industry events and information that's of high interest to every REO broker. Each year they publish their famous "Red Book" that highlights the major financial institution players in the business.
RealtyTrac is the number one provider of accurate real estate and REO statistics. This is THE best place to get data feeds, widgets and foreclosure article RSS feeds to dress up your website and make it "buyer sticky". The Foreclosure Trends subscription is the real "hook" for investors. Get it here.
Again, if you need help setting these tools up simply contact Brent Guest at BHGDigital LLC for custom web design.
Hopefully you've purchased RoboForm2GO Pro and are registering with every company on the REO Blackbook registration list .
You also need to set up accounts on these two platforms: Res.net allows you to register up to 100 zip codes per account. So if you are a large broker and cover more than 100 areas you will need to set up multiple accounts (I have 4). Res.net is only about $250/year for each account.
Equator (formerly REOTrans) allows you to list as many zip codes as you like and you pay a per zip code monthly fee. Equator is much more expensive than Res.net but you must be listed on BOTH. Asset managers routinely search these databases for agents located in a certain proximity of their REOs.
In addition to being on their own in house systems, many require that you use Res.net or Equator to process the sale of their properties.
