Realtor®Mag Quotes Cheryl Ritchie.

                                   Realtor®Mag Quotes Cheryl Ritchie.

 An article, written by Michael Antoniak, in Realtor®Mag quotes our own Cheryl Ritchie.

This techie guru is always working on real estate solutions using  her PC, iPad and iPhone. Cheryl has unbelievable patience to learn, test and then share her knowledge with others.  Congratulations, Cheryl, on getting some well deserved publicity.

                                                                

 

Strategic Efficiency: It’s Waiting in the Cloud

 

 

 

 Quoted by Cheryl:

"Cheryl Ritchie, ABR, CRS – associate broker – RE/MAX 100 – Dunkirk, Md.

Cheryl Ritchie leaned heavily on Apple Tech Support to upgrade her Mobile Me account to the iCloud service and make it fully functional on her iPad, iPhone, and PC. (Read her recent blog post about this.) Utilizing iCloud will ensure work documents and photos are synced on whatever hardware she’s using.

That’s just one component of her cloud strategy. Ritchie also uses Evernote for saving Web clippings, creating to-do lists, and managing projects. “It’s almost replaced Word for me,” she says.

Ritchie’s Dropbox account allows her to organize and share files; DocuSign handles contract signings, and she’s been beta-testing the latest version of Top Producer, which she’ll rely on for contact management. Once she adds QuickBooks to her cloud, she says she’ll have everything she needs.

“The real benefit of working in the cloud is how it sets you free as an agent,” Richie says. “In the past we were confined to a desk in a brick-and-mortar office. Now, with these cloud services, I can be anywhere and have whatever I need on whatever device I am using. It just makes me more efficient. I am finally truly mobile.”..''

 Realtor®Mag Quotes Cheryl Ritchie.

Margaret Rome Mentioned in Realtor® Magazine...The Answer Is Blogging!

Margaret Rome Mentioned in Realtor® Magazine...The Answer Is Blogging!

A Facebook message from one of my favorite people..Carra Riley! 

                                       

"Margaret, Tom was just reading the new Realtor Magazine and read a wonderful Open House tip from you on page 18! There you go Rocking the World! Great to be back reading about the "Rome Way!"

 Since I did not have a copy.. Google found this quote from the magazine.

''Pick a theme. Margaret Rome, broker-owner of HomeRome Realty in Baltimore, says you have to make the event fun. She’s hosted a popcorn-and-champagne soiree, a block party with a huge BBQ pit, and an evening cocktail party at the homes of her listings. The events garnered attention and directly led to the sale of the home.''

 

Last  year around this time, we had this event...Realtor Magazine's Open House Master Series and the First ActiveRain Open House

All of these things happened because of blogging. I did an unusual BarBQue open house on a Thursday evening and, of course, blogged it. The Washington Post picked up the story..Active Rain, The Washington Post, and My Name in Print 

                                          

That was quite exciting and there was a story on the front page of the REAL ESTATE section including a mention of Active Rain! Turns out I didn't need to run around and buy copies of the Washington Post;  the article is  online with this headline.. "How do you make an open house stand out? Sometimes agents go to extremes, but the glitz doesn't always help."

Sometime later I got a call from REALTOR® Magazine asking if I would be their Open House Master.  Funny thing ...I don't  even do open houses...well not traditional 1-3 Sunday Open Houses. Even tell my clients up front...no  open houses.

So how does someone who is known NOT to do Opens wind up as the Master Open House Realtor® ?

The answer is Blogging!
              

...and here are a bunch of blogs written about open houses. You will find even more by searching "open  house" on ActiveRain.

Open Houses Can Be For the Birds...A Busy Baltimore Weekend.

One Phone Call, One Listing, Two Sales and a Whole Bunch of Blogs!

Realtor Magazine's Open House Master Video is Here! First ActiveRain Open House Update! -

Spur of the Moment- ActiveRain OPEN HOUSE...Join Us! 3738 Bixler Church Road 21158 Today!

The ActiveRain Open House Was Awesome

UPDATE! First Active Rain Open House Gathering in Baltimore, MD...Starts TODAY! -

6300 Red Cedar Place #406 Heather Ridge- Baltimore, Maryland 21209

Most Prices are Firm....A Three Day Open House -

A Three-Day Open House! Yes...Three Full Days!

Active Rain, The Washington Post, and My Name in Print

Not Your Every Day Open House -

 Wednesday Night Open House..Are You Kidding Me?

Margaret Rome Mentioned in Realtor® Magazine!  The answer is Blogging!

Realtor Magazine's Open House Master Video is Here! First ActiveRain Open House Update!

Realtor Magazine's Open House Video is Here! First ActiveRain Open House Update!

All those hours of trying to look good and sound professional for the camera paid off - the video of the First Active Rain Open House is here!

You'll recall that REALTOR® Magazine was here for two days last month. They came to shoot a video about techniques for successful open houses for their Masters Series. It was the perfect opportunity to get ActiveRain friends together - and we had a great time. On the first day we had an open house at one property and followed it with a delicious crab dinner and great conversation. The second day, the cameras followed us again, this time starting in the early morning for a workout at the gym (C Tann was amazing!) and then to the second open house. What a treat it was to have so many ActiveRain friends there, and finally meet the legendary Lenn Harley.

Realtor Magazine's Open House Video is Here! First ActiveRain Open House Update!

The First AcctiveRain Open House is history, but preserved forever thanks to REALTOR Magazine. It was a two-day marathon, and from all that time and filming, they boiled it down to about 7 minutes of video! You'll see some familiar faces in the video - how many can you pick out?

Once again, I thank all my good friends and new friends for coming together to make the First Active Rain Open House a great success.

First Active Rain Open House Gathering – Day Two and Done!

First Active Rain Open House Gathering – Day Two and Done!

My second day of open houses and filming for REALTOR® Magazine's Masters Series started very early with a workout at the gym. Katie and Gabe filmed a bit of my session while John, my trainer, did not go easy on me just because I was in the spotlight. C Tann-Starr came along for the "fun" and Katie and Gabe were able to use the wonderful facilities of Life Bridge to get in much needed workouts. Katie, who is training for a 1/2 marathon, picked up a few pointers from John.

Then it was back home for a few phone calls, some emails, placing my print ads, shower, etc. After that, I head to the Spring Hill Open House for an 11:30 a.m. interview with Katie and filming by Gabe. We finished about 1:00 pm as the AR members started to arrive.

Martha Brown and Margaret Woda ("the other Margaret in Maryland") arrived, as did Ellie McIntyre, Kim Jones, Bridget McGee, Ann Hruby, Helen Dellheim, and my daughter Erica. I managed to snap just a few photos in between showing the house and being filmed and interviewed. Helen and Anne were also interviewed separately. My friend and favorite lender Bob Bennett joined us along with Andrew Lowery from Precise Home Management - everyone needs a butler! C Tann-Starr was there, of course, and I was so glad that Lenn Harley chose this for her first AR Gathering.

Being surrounded by a film crew, best friends, terrific agents all with cameras in hand, and my daughter...well it doesn't get any better. And did I mention the weather was a glorious 50-degree sunny day? Perfect for Gabe's filming my "For Sale" sign.

My seller did a beautiful job of putting the house in show house condition! What a pleasure and a delight to show. When the open house ended, we went for pizza at Upper Crust to sit around and chat, take more photos, and enjoy more bonding for the AR members. We topped it off with a little personal shopping... Anne had brought her daughter's wonderful handcrafted jewelry for all to see.

It has been exciting and challenging. Two days of open houses, ActiveRain friends, a workout, meals and bonding…and then I found out that they will use only five to six minutes from the hours and hours of filming and interviewing!

There are blogs galore about this event – here are a few more since yesterday's post:

AR Gatherings Are Lifes Little Blessings When Done The Rome Way by Martha Brown

Sorry folks, I can't write your offer right now- I'm off to attend Margaret Rome's Active Rain Open House. by Ellie McIntire

Lenn Harley comes to Margaret Rome's first ever Active Rain Open House to see me by Richard Iarossi

Margaret Rome's AR Open House - A Gathering of "Old" Friends by Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

The ActiveRain Open House Was Awesome by C Tann-Starr

Live From The Hilton At Pikesville: Realtor Magazine Goes To The Gym With Margaret Rome

Thanks to all the Rainers who came to the Sunday night dinner and yesterday's open house. It was great to see everyone, and you made it all better for being part of the First Ever Active Rain Open House Gathering!

Good Things are Happening in Baltimore...REALTOR® Magazine + Active Rain Gathering Please Join Us!

Good Things are Happening in Baltimore...REALTOR® Magazine + Active Rain Gathering Please Join Us!

This is the email I received from Katie Tarbox (Senior Editor, REALTOR Magazine):

"I read a newspaper article about some of the unique open houses you've held. I'm looking for a REALTOR.... for our Masters Series.... I'm wondering if this might be you. Let me know if you're interested."

..and then this one:
''I'm so glad you've decided to agree to be filmed for our Open House Master video series...."

Good Things are Happening in Baltimore...REALTOR® Magazine + Active Rain Gathering

Such a great opportunity and I wanted to share! How can I figure a way to get publicity for ActiveRain. Everyone knows when you get AR people together the energy and the ideas really pop, and the sharing is incredible. So why not combine this opportunity for national exposure with the fun of an AR gathering?

Good Things are Happening in Baltimore...REALTOR® Magazine + Active Rain Gathering

Next Sunday March 7, there will be an Active Rain Gathering dinner in Baltimore, followed by an open house on Monday, March 8, at a magnificent historic home in nearby Greenspring Valley. Why would you want to be in Baltimore for Sunday into Monday?

• REALTOR® Magazine will be in Baltimore filming me for those two days – Sunday and Monday, This is a great opportunity to get some national publicity for Active Rain members.

• Sunday dinner is on me for the first 10 Active Rain members who sign up for the gathering. That's a real Baltimore crab cake dinner with unlimited salad bar and bread at the Olive Branch located just off the Baltimore Beltway.

• The open house will be Monday March 8th 1-3 – so call me for details. 410-530-2400 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 410-530-2400 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

• Rain god Bob Stewart has promised extra points for Rainers who attend the gathering and blog about it.

• If you've ever been to a Gathering, you know how much fun it is. If you haven't, now's your chance!

You've all heard of Broker's Opens...how many Rainers can we get together for dinner and the First Ever Active Rain Gathering Open House in Baltimore?

Good Things are Happening in Baltimore...REALTOR® Magazine + Active Rain Gathering