Video

  • Tell us your stories

    We're looking for interesting stories and you want to tell us in person. So shoot a video and share it with us.

    What do we want?

    Developers - tell us what you've been working on and why it's important. Tell us the genesis of the idea and how you're responding to a real need in the marketplace.

    Agents - tell us how your integrating technology into your business. How you've changed up your marketing to react to Web 2.0.

    There's only one rule.

    Keep it short - 2 minutes maximum

    We'll choose the best entries and publish them on Inman.com.

    To submit your video for consideration:

    • Grab a Flip video camera - or something similar (we'll even send you one if you need it - email glenn [at] inman.com for details).
    • Pick an interesting location.
    • Tell us your story - no fancy editing required.
    • Send us the raw file or upload to your favorite video sharing site and send us the link.

    If you're looking for inspiration check out this company intro from iLookAbout.com.

    Can't wait to hear from you!

    Comments (5)

  • Name your price

    The band Radiohead made history last year (or got lots of attention, anyway) by offering their album, "In Rainbows," for download over the Internet -- and letting the buyer name the price. About a third reportedly paid nothing, but the average price paid was £4, or about $8 today.

    With that experiment in mind, how much would you pay for a 29-minute DVD that offers an "easy to follow, step by step program where you can stop foreclosure and return to current status on your mortgage without a new loan, and without bankruptcy." I'm willing to bet more than one-third of folks might say nothing. What if I were to tell you the price is a non-negotiable (but supposedly fully refundable) $199?

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  • What is a lead?

    The folks at 1000Watt Consulting debuted this video of people -- consumers we presume -- speaking frankly about their real estate needs. The jist is that people are people, not leads.

    Marc Davison, a partner with 1000Watt and Inman News columnist, has addressed the topic of lead generation in past columns. (See "Lead generation is dead.") Davison's tongue-in-cheek satire of the death of lead generation appears to be a cry for a return to conversation and value, rather than numbers, clicks and drip e-mail.

    From Davison's column: "Lead Generation is survived by Customer Engagement, its decidedly more social, open and confident offspring. Some industry observers familiar with Customer Engagement note that it also shows the influence of its grandparents, Conversation and Value."

    The video raises some interesting questions about the future of automated lead generation, which seems to work wonders for some in the industry while leaving others frustrated and hostile. Which business model will work for brokers, consumers and agents?

    See also, "Real estate, the Web and the great divide," by Steve Kropper.

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  • IPhone, Gphone, E.T. phone home

    Futurecell_2 Google this week poses the question in its blog: "What would your phone do?"

    With an expanding list of features on cutting-edge mobile devices and a growing population of tech-advanced mobile users, what features are on the wish list for real estate professionals?

    Phones are increasingly all-in-one multi-media communications portals, with users creating, viewing and sharing text messages, e-mails, photos and videos. With Google's news this week about an "Open Handset Alliance" to create a standard mobile software platform and prod the industry toward a faster pace of innovation, the incessant buzz of the iPhone, and the real estate industry's increasing reliance on mobile tools (see Inman News series), you can expect to see more real estate-relevant applications that fit snugly in the palm of your hand.

    So what's missing for real estate professionals? What mobile innovations do you expect to see for the industry and which ones do you think will stick?

    Let us know where you think the mobile market is boldly going.

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  • 'Real Realtors,' as seen on TV

    Theotts Ellen DeGeneres has been making headlines lately for a real-life dog adoption drama involving a pooch named Iggy that she addressed during her talk show. Her love for animals is well known, and DeGeneres has also taken time during the show to talk about Realtors.

    The show has a regular comedy bit, called "Real Realtors," that features actual promotional photos used by real estate professionals accompanied by some of DeGeneres' snappy one-liners. The segment opens up with "Movin' on up," the song more popularly known as the theme to "The Jeffersons" sit-com.

    A recent "Real Realtors" segment (see video here) features a collage photo (see photo at left) of family members who all work  in the real estate business in Cottage Grove, Minn. Among the Ott family members are: Floyd Ott and wife Laurie Ott (the Ott couple?), Tom Ott, Pam Ott-Morse, Sandy Ott-Norblom, Rhonda Ott-Swenson, Tina Ott-Angell and John Angell. TheOtts.com Web site includes this family photo and the description: "Stack the Otts in your favor."

    Another photo featured a Tucscon, Ariz., real estate agent outfitted in cowboy gear and a large moustache. DeGeneres had this comment: "Let's meet at the saloon at high noon and I'll show you some prospects I found for you."

    The Web site for the talk show asks audience members to send in photos of their real estate agents. The site does contain a misspelled three-syllable version of the Realtor word (a variation that makes some Realtors cringe, whether it is spoken or typed): "realitor."

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  • Leave Realtors alone -- and help a young family in need

    This is a funny video with a tragic ending. Ben Aaron Anglin, the young man featured in this video, was killed in a car accident shortly after filming this. Anglin left behind a wife and two small children. If you'd like to help support the family, a donation effort has been set up at the link below.

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  • Inviting the world to your open house

    Ioh_2 Rudy Mayer, a Realtor in Nashua, N.H., is inviting an Internet audience to virtually visit open houses, tour the neighborhood, ask him questions, and interact via a live video feed -- all from the comfort of their own computers.

    Mayer, who is affiliated with ERA The Masiello Group, is offering these virtual open houses via his Web site, InteractiveOpenHouse.com.

    Traditional open houses, he said in an announcement, "have been declining in attendance for several years -- they're a relic. With a record number of properties on the market, record gas prices and easier access to multiple photos and virtual tours online, buyers are less inclined to go out and drive around to traditional open houses."

    "The virtual open house will allow the buyers to tour the home room by room, by high-definition video, as well as tour the neighborhood and ... drive down the street," according to the announcement. Mayer, who will be in the house, will communicate with virtual visitors via a live video feed.

    Mayer's first open houses at InteractiveOpenHouse.com are planned from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, and on Thursday, Sept. 27th.

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  • Story of an entrepreneur: Doug Lebda

    Doug Lebda is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the online real estate space. He tells his story from start-up founder to selling his company to becoming an influential executive with Barry Diller's IAC.

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  • Hugh MacLeod on blogging, virtual worlds

    If you missed Hugh MacLeod's keynote at Real Estate Connect in San Francisco earlier this month, here's a clip from RainTV interviewing him about some of the topics covered at the event.

    You can check out MacLeod's blog and infamous cartoons at GapingVoid.

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  • Jonathan Miller on Inman TV

    Jonathan Miller, president and CEO of Miller Samual in Manhattan and author of Matrix and Soapbox blogs, discusses the housing market and appraisal pressure issues with Brad Inman on Inman TV.

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