This document provides a list of over 100 online tools and resources for real estate professionals. It includes categories for marketing tools, client management, photos and graphics, research, video tools, communication tools, and tools from organizations like NAR and REALTOR.org. Many of the tools listed are free or low-cost options.
1. Matthew Rathbun, Director of Professional Development
ABR, ABRM, AHWD, CDPE, CSP, e-PRO, GREEN, GRI, SFR, SRS, SRES
Matthew@ColdwellBankerElite.com
www.EliteScoop.com
Useful Real Estate Web Tools
Online Marketing Tools
Free Property Video Creator
http://www.propertypreviews.com
Free Webpage Listing Submission
http://www.postlets.com
http://www.VFlyers.com
http://www.threewide.com
Free Single Listing Pages
http://www.RealBird.com
Free Virtual Tours Online
http://www.propertypreviews.com
http://www.homezonemedia.com
Electronic Newsletter
http://www.myemma.com
http://www.verticalresponse.com
Free National Home Finding Systems
http://www.Truilia.com
http://www.Zillow.com
Free Mailings
http://www.LowesRealtorBenefits.com (Awesome)
Coldwell Banker Elite | 100 Parkway Blvd., Stafford VA 22553 | 866-755-4610 ext. 373
2. Coldwell Banker Elite Tools
CB Elite Tools, Training and Information
www.EliteScoop.com
Internal Intranet - Documents, Forms, Video and Training
www.Intranet.ColdwellBankerElite.com
Coldwell Banker Elite YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/CBEliteMedia
CB Works - Agents Franchise Tools, Lead Handling, Profiles
cbworks.coldwellbankerelite.com
Elite Prospector - Marketing Program
http://v2.sharperagent.com/Login/cbEliteLogin.flx
Facebook
www.Facebook.com/ColdwellBankerElite
Free CE/PL Education Programs
http://elitescoop.com/education/
Twitter
www.Twitter.com/CBElite
CMA ToolKit
http://www.toolkitcma.com/tg.php?c=ncbs
OnLocation
http://www.youtube.com/coldwellbanker
Client Management Services
Free Contact Real Estate Contact Management Software
http://www.realfuturecrm.com/public
http://www.SugarCRM.com
3. Graphic and Photos Tools
Free Photo Management / Alterations
http://www.picnik.com
http://picasa.google.com/ (BEST)
http://www.Flickr.com
http://www.photobucket.com
http://www.sxc.hu - Graphic Sharing
http://www.wordle.net - Word Cloud Maker
Tilt-View Effects (Model effects)
http://tiltshiftmaker.com/
Free Opensource Image Software (like Photoshop)
http://www.gimp.org/
Photo Tools and Resources
http://www.Flickr.com
http://www.CreativeCommons.org
http://www.greedigitalphotos.net
http://www.frephoto1.com
http://www.freephotosbank.com
Free Presentation Sharing
http://www.slideshare.net
http://www.DocStock.com
Satellite Photos
http://earth.google.com
http://www.google.com/maps
Research and Reference
REALTOR® ProQuest
http://www.realtor.org/library
Address and Telephone Number (reverse search):
http://www.anywho.com/
4. Virginia Real Estate Board
http://www.state.va.us/dpor/dpormain.htm
Maryland Real Estate Board
http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mrec/
CLUE – Choice Trust (Home Owner Insurance Reports)
http://www.choicetrust.com
CIA Worldfact Books
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
Real Estate Market Information
http://www.restats.com
http://www.altosresearch.com/
http://www.rbintel.com (MRIS MLS Region Only)
Remodeling Value Report
http://www.costvsvalue.com/southatlantic.html
REO Transaction and Foreclosures
https://www.reotrans.com/index.cfm
Square Feet Conversion
http://www.prudentialcalbestrealty.com/convert_from.htm
Fredericksburg Area Demographic Information
http://www.fra-yes.org/
Market Research
http://www.realtor.org/research
http://www.housingmarketfacts.com/
Time Zone Converter
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html
WikiMLS of Northern Virginia
http://www.FranklyMLS.com
5. Calculate What Their Rent Will Buy
http://www.mortgage-calc.com/index.html
Census Bureau
www.census.gov
Find Tract and Block information:
http://factfinder.census.gov
Bureau of Labor and Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm
City Sites
http://www.citysearch.com/
Weather Sites
www.weather.com
www.nws.noaa.gov
www.bestplaces.net/climate/
Crime statistics
www.fbi.gov
www.fedstats.gov
www.bestplaces.net/crime/
www.FamilyWatchDog.com
Legal opinions
www.frascona.com/resource/jag1203payoff.htm
Foreclosures
www.foreclosure.com/shortsales.html
Free Demographics
http://www.freedemographics.com/
6. Date Calculator:
http://www.timeanddate.com/date/dateadd.html
Credit Score and Information
http://www.myfico.com
http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com
National Do Not Call
https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov/
Bandwidth Test
http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/
Google Maps
http://www.google.com/maps
School Report Cards
http://www.GreatSchools.net
EPA Model Guide
http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html
EPA Radon Guide
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/17/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html
EPA Lead Based Paint Booklet
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadpdfe.pdf
Virginia Property Disclosure
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/reb_consumer.cfm
Real Estate Appraisal Standards of Appraisal Practice
http://commerce.appraisalfoundation.org/html/uspap2008/index.htm
Demographics by ZipCode
7. www.ZipSkinny.com
GREEN Tools
Walkability of a House Location
http://www.WalkScore.com
Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/
Smart Growth Resources
http://www.smartgrowth.org
Green Real Estate Remodeling Guidelines
http://www.regreenprogram.org/documents/regreen_guidelines.pdf
Green Building Revolution (Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X8EgthqsQ0
LEEDS for Homes Guidelines
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3638
LEEDS FAQ for Green Homebuyers
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3658
RE Green Program
http://www.regreenprogram.org
NAR GREEN Council
http://www.greenresourcecouncil.org/
Appraisal Institute podcast on valuating green homes:
http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/profession/podcast.aspx
The Appraisal Journal Article on ICF construction valuation:
http://www.icfi.com/Markets/Community_Development/doc_files/apj1098.pdf
The Appraisal Journal Article on general green information and ICF:
http://www.icfi.com/Markets/Community_Development/doc_files/apj1099.pdf
HUD FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage
8. http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm
Ecological Footprint Calculator
http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/
Carbon Footprint Calculator:
http://www.terrapass.com/carbon-footprint-calculator/
Network to be “Green”
http://www.carbonrally.com/
ConsumerReports list of Green Goods:
http://www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels/eco-home.cfm
REALTOR® Tools
NRDS Number Locator
www.NRDS.InternetCrusade.com
REALTOR® Resources
www.REALTOR.org
Webpage Tools
Website Focus Group Info
http://www.clickdensity.com
Free Webpage Analytics
http://www.google.com/analytics
http://www.google.com/insights/search
http://www.websitegrader.com
Create Maps to Put on Your Site
http://www.zeemaps.com
http://www.Google.com/maps
Free Flash Website Creator
http://www.wix.com/
Meta Tag Designer
9. www.submitshop.com/metatags/metatags.html
Instant Messaging Widget
http://www.Digsby.com
Google Search Engine Optimization Guidelines
www.google.com/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf
Google WebMaster tools
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools
Open Source Web Development Tools
Zope
http://www.zope.org/
Drupal
http://drupal.org/
Joomla
http://www.joomla.org/
Plone
http://plone.org/
Blogging Starter Kit
(not an exhaustive list – just a few starters)
Recommended Reading
http://www.AgentGenius.com
http://www.Inman.com
http://www.CopyBlogger.com
http://www.ActiveRain.com
http://www.1000wattblog.com
http://www.TheAgentTrainer.com
Tools
http://www.MyBlogLog.com - Network of Bloggers
http://www.Google.com/reader - Blog Reader
10. http://www.Feedburner.com - RSS Subscription System
http://www.Dlvr.it - Deliver post to multiple SocMed Accounts
http://www.wibiya.com/Login.php
Desktop Blog Publishing
Ecto - http://www.infinite-sushi.com
BlogJet - http://www.codingrobots.com
Microsoft Live Writer (Free) - http://windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com/
Free Tools for Building a Blog
FTP Navigator http://www.Softwarea.com
Wordpress http://www.Wordpress.org
Free or Inexpensive Blog Systems
http://www.Wordpress.com
Create Free Newsletter from Blog Articles
ZinePal http://www.zinepal.com/
Free RSS Widget for Blogs
http://www.hashemian.com/tools/rss-atom-widget.htm
Post to Multiple Locations
http://www.posterous.com/
http://www.sellpoint.com
http://www.ListHub.com
Video Tools
Free Streaming Video software
http://www.UStream.com
http://www.Qik.com
Free Video, Chat and VOIP Services
http://www.Skype.com
http://www.TokBox.com
On-Line Videos
http://www.YouTube.com
11. http://www.Vimeo.com
YouTube download tool
http://www.SaveVid.com
Free iPOD Conversion and Hosting
http://www.Podbean.com
http://www.SourceForge.com/audicity
Free Video Capture Tool
http://www.Screen-o-matic.com
http://www.JingProject.com
Free Video for e-Mail Systems
http://www.eyejott.com
Broker Price Opinion Service
Broker Price Opinions
https://www.emortgagelogic.com/index.html
Online Meeting Tools
Free Conference Call
http://www.freeconferencecall.com
Meeting Scheduling
http://www.MeetingWizard.com
Group Meeting Scheduling Tool
http://www.timebridge.com
Doodle (my favorite)
http://www.doodle.com/
Communication Tools
Instant Communication Tools
12. http://www.meebo.com/
http://www.Skype.com
http://www.Digsby.com
http://www.TokBox.com
E-Mail Business Card
http://www.emailideas.com/
E-Mail Campaign System (FREE and Awesome)
www.MailChimp.com
SMS Messaging Service
http://smseverywhere.com/send.htm
Free Voice to E-mail systems
http://www.Jott.com
http://www.remeberthemilk.com
E-mail Business card Program
http://www.emailideas.com/
Send a message that automatically deletes after receipt
https://privnote.com/
Fax to Email System
www.MaxEmail.com
www.efax.com
Online Timelines
http://www.dipity.com
Document Management
On-Line Document Management
http://www.DocStoc.com
http://www.SlideShare.com
13. Online Document Storage
http://www.Carbonite.com
http://www.documentree.com
http://www.box.net
http://mozy.com/
Send Large Files (All files under 100mb)
http://goaruna.com/
Print anything to PDF, without Adobe (Free)
http://www.cutepdf.com/
Collaborative Services
Project Management
www.actionthis.com
www.basecamphq.com
Open User Contribution Sources
http://www.pbwiki.com
http://www.writeboard.com
http://www.wetpaint.com
Collaborative Team Services
http://www.Airset.com
http://www.Ning.com
http://www.basecamphq.com
http://www.goplan.info
Open Source Office Applications
http://www.OpenOffice.org
http://www.google.com/apps
http://www.campfirenow.com/
Social Media
Social Media Bookmarking
http://www.del.icio.us.com
14. http://www.sharethis.com
http://www.friendfeed.com
http://www.MyBlogLog.com
http://www.retagger.com
Twitter.com
http://www.Twitter.com
http://www.TwitStat.us - Search by phrase
http://www.isfollow.com - confirm followers
http://www.twitbuttons.com - Twitter Widgets
Facebook Tools
http://www.Facebook.com
http://www.Facebook.com/roost - Free Real Estate Info on Profile
http://www.Facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics - FB Stats
http://www.CheckFacebook.com - Marketing Info about Facebook
http://www.SeeMyListings.com - Free feed of your listings to FB Proflie
On-Line Networking and Resume Sites
http://www.Plaxo.com
http://www.linkedin.com
School Information
Area Schools Widget
http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/tools/localschools-widget/
http://www.GreatSchools.com
Misc. Tools
e-Signatures
http://www.docusign.com
Real Estate Contract Software
www.ZipForms.com
15. Survey:
http://www.zoomerang.com
http://www.wufoo.com
http://www.surveymonkey.com
http://www.polldaddy.com
Free USB Office Tools
http://www.xtort.net/office-and-productivity/floppy-office/
As Needed Graphic Designers
www.Imprev.com
Hotspot Directory
www.wifinder.com/
What Does Your Phone Number Spell
www.phonespell.org
Internet Training
www.learnthenet.com/
Tech Equipment Advice
http://www.epinions.com
Music Stations
http://www.pandora.com
Free HTML Editor
http://www.pspad.com/en/
All around useful Open Source tools
http://www.SourceForge.net
20 Free eBooks on Social Media
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/20-free-ebooks-about-social-media/
http://www.SocialBook.com - Social Media Handbook for Realtors
16. Radio Shows (listen and record favorite radio shows)
http://www.chilirec.com/
http://www.pandora.com
http://www.Blip.fm
WalkScore: Walkability Rankings Per Address
http://www.WalkScore.com
Online Conference / Roundtable System
Free Hosting of Your Own Online talkshow
http://www.talkshoe.com
REALTOR.org
REALTOR® Right Tools, Right Now
http://www.realtor.org/prodser.nsf/righttools/toolshome?opendocument&wt.mc_id=
RT0026
REALTOR® Quizzes - http://www.realtor.org/research.nsf/pages/topicreports
REALTOR® rookies - http://www.realtor.org/rmotoolkits.nsf/pages/rookiesmain_new
REALTOR® Website help –
http://www.realtor.org/rmotoolkits.nsf/pages/webresourcemain
REALTOR® International Representation -
http://www.realtor.org/international/index.html
Resort and Second Home: http://www.realtor.org/resorts/index.html
REALTOR® Legislative Issues: http://www.realtoractioncenter.com
REALTOR® Daily News: http://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/topstories/topstories
NAR Newsletters:
https://reg.realtor.org/roreg.nsf/pages/MyAccount?OpenDocument&Login
17. NAR President’s Report:
http://www.realtor.org/about_nar/presidents_report/index.html
NAR Field Guides: http://www.realtor.org/vlibrary.nsf/pages/RefShelf
REALTOR® (field in the blanks) News Releases:
http://www.realtor.org/PubRel.nsf/pages/Fillintheblanks
Personalized Marketing: http://www.realtor.org/rmotoolkits.nsf/pages/permark01plan
REALTOR® Banners: http://www.realtor.org/pac.nsf/pages/E-mailBanners
REALTOR® Ad Generator: http://www.nartools.com/adgenerator/#
REALTOR® Local Public Awareness:
http://www.realtor.org/pac.nsf/pages/LocalCampaign
REALTOR® Technology: http://www.realtor.org/technology
NAR Architectural Guidebook:
http://www.realtor.org/rmoarchitecture_guide/architectureguidehomepage
REALTOR® benefits: http://www.realtor.org/realtor_benefits
REALTOR® Store: http://www.realtor.org/store
Affordable Housing
http://www.centralvahousing.com/
http://www.huduser.org/rbc/
Broker Tools
Broker Recruitment Statistical Information
http://www.terradatum.com/brokermetrics.shtml#
43 Questions to ask a Sponsoring Broker
http://www.championsschool.com/Industry-knowledge/Questions-for-interviewing-a-
sponsoring-broker.php
18. NAR’s: Creating an Office Policy
http://www.varealtor.com/Education/OverviewEducation/CreatinganOfficePolicy/ta
bid/390/Default.aspx