All Forum Posts by: Mark Shaver

@Nathan Shankles, choose CRM first. This can be done in 2 ways (image by Geograph.org.uk):

1) If you are far from IT, it will be more convenient to use a specific REI CRM. In this case:

• You will immediately get the main features you need for REI
• You are likely to have a problem integrating additional programs beyond what CRM developers offer.

Realeflow CRM ranks first among REI-specific CRM software.

2) If you're not afraid of IT, you'd better take the general CRM right away. You will have complete freedom to later integrate specialized software (multi-channel dial-up, marketing automation, visitor tracking, batch-skip tracing,...)

Citrix Podio, this is the #1 CRM according to real estate investors. It integrates well with the many software programs that real estate investors need.

I sent you the DM lists of major REI-specific and general CRM software.

@Aaron Caddel, using the API can be a bit difficult for RE investors at an early stage.(Although I think it's easy to use the API, you only need to learn once). (Although I think it's easy to use the API, you only need to learn once). For this reason, RE investors often use Zapier.com as a ready-made bridge. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapier). Zapier developers tirelessly build bridges to hundreds of cloud programs using their APIs. Zapier is well integrated with all major CRM programs. If Zapier isn't integrated with some CRM, then it's a good reason to wonder - should we take it?

Podio CRM is the honorary first in the Top 50 CRM for REI. Investors choose Podio CRM for two reasons.

1) An internal reason. Investors can easily customize Podio to fit their next marketing strategy. Podio is not a CRM, it's a CRM builder that investors can constantly customize to fit their business processes. For this reason, many of the REI CRMs is based on Podio.

2) An external reason. Investors can easily integrate multiple cloud services (calls, SMS, Email, Virtual Assistant tracking,...) with Podio. 

Investors can easily integrate multiple cloud services (Email, calls, SMS, virtual assistants time tracking,...) with Podio:

• Podio's renowned CRM and cloud services create seamless integration with Podio
• If a cloud service hasn't created an integration with Podio, Zapier provides 2 bridges - one between Podio and Zapier, the other between Zapier and your desired cloud service.

@Heather Johnson, I use free Sweet Home 3D to a hassle-free drawing:

and render it in 3D:

VA Hire Ceremony Script:

"Do you Investor take VA to be yours?

And Do you VA take Investor to be your head?

Do you Both Promise Your hearts to each other?

Will you walk hand and hand wherever life's journey takes you?

Will you keep living, learning, loving, and growing together for the rest of your lives?"

@Diego Marec, do not expect that the first virtual assistant will do everything you need and you will be with him for the rest of your life.

Virtual assistants come quickly and go even faster. Build your relationship with virtual assistants in the expectation of their inevitable care. Make sure you spend minimal time checking the next virtual assistant:

• Create screencasts to train the next virtual helper for different software
• Write call scripts as a framework for a virtual assistant cold calling
• Set up a CRM with call recording.

Then you can quickly train and check in the next virtual assistant.

@Toby Liebergesell, you wrote: "I wanted to see if anyone had tips on how to stay organized or what technology you use when it comes to communication with your agents, property managers, contractors, and lenders?"

Wikipedia: "Customer relationship management (CRM) is one of many different approaches that allow a company to manage and analyze its own interactions with its past, current and potential customers."

Use any general CRM to develop relationships with your business partners - agents, property managers, and lenders.

You wrote: "Is there a CRM in particular that stands out when it comes to analyzing deals, making offers, asking your property manager if it is in a good neighborhood, getting bids from contractors, etc..."

Use REI-specific CRMs to analyze and prepare deals, making offers,...

I sent you a direct message with tops of general CRMs and REI-specific CRMs.

Podio

Many investors also use Podio CRM and create their own CRMs based on it, with functions such as analyzing deals, making offers,...

Jennie, I sent you a direct message with the information on 50 CRM, which are popular among real estate investors.

You wrote: "I'm looking specifically for one that isn't too complicated, can help us scale, and is easy to integrate with Carrot."

Carrot' website supports full direct integration with CRM software:

• Zoho CRM
• REIPro.

Carrot websites can embed forms from CRM software:

• Freedomsoft
• Realeflow
• Buyers on Fire
• Podio
• Infusionsoft.

Forms from other CRMs cannot be embedded into the Carrot site only partial (without automation via JavaScript).

Jennie, for more information, see the article "CRM Integrations Overview" in the Carrot' help center:
https://help.carrot.com/tutori...

Hackathon (hacker + marathon) is a very popular format for IT meetings. Hackathon members together create something useful - program, screencast, article, video,... Our Zoom hackathon will be like a Zoom meetup.

During the hackathon, you will import your data from the Excel spreadsheet into Podio (image by Pixabay.com):

You will find the link to the Zoom room on the event page 5 minutes before the start of the meeting.

Hackathon (hacker + marathon) is a very popular format for IT meetings. Hackathon members together create something useful - program, screencast, article, video,... Our Zoom hackathon will be like a Zoom meetup.

During the hackathon, we will create a REI cold script of seller survey (image by NeedPix.com):

You can find the link to the Zoom room on the event page 5 minutes before the start of the meeting.

Most investors manage virtual assistants using the top-down method. It's difficult for them to raise virtual employees who can completely replace them.

Our company has a department that deals with real estate investments. It consists entirely of virtual employees. The office in our investment department is built from bottom to top. Virtual employees take care of their own training, create written procedures, determine their salary, hire and adapt new virtual employees, etc. It is only a matter of time before our virtual employees learn everything. Then they will be able to call sellers and buyers themselves and conduct a wholesale transaction from finding a seller to finding a buyer.

 You wrote: "I also think that I'd have value to add to the conversation with a conventional wholesaler as I have a lot of experience with Podio development and process development as well as a different perspective since I do land and presumably they do houses."

Matthew, I agree with you. The communication with people from other market niches allows you to look at your business from a very different perspective.

When I was choosing a CRM for real estate investment, I was surprised that so many investors choose Podio CRM. First, Podio is not a CRM, but a project management system. Secondly, Podio is little known even as a project management system, there are many more interesting systems - Asana, Trello, ... However, I trusted the investors' opinions and started using Podio. Now I understand why Podio is the honorable 1st place in Top 50 CRM for REI.

Michael, search starting points are:

• Articles and practice of using virtual assistants on BiggerPockets
• Freelancer Exchanges and agencies that offer REI virtual assistants 

Image by Pexels.com: