November 4, 2022

Technology Tip - Handling Business "the Old-Fashioned Way"

From the Desk of Patrick Wahl, Technology Committee Chair:

Happy November, Everyone!

If you have been in the brokerage business long enough, you have probably received a long-winded e-mail from someone explaining a complicated subject or strategy or, perhaps, expressing frustration with how a deal is progressing.

The Tech Committee would like to remind everyone that, even with all the fancy gadgets and programs we have access to, our voice is the most valuable tool we have.

Please – when you feel tempted to write a 5 paragraph e-mail or exclaim how someone is not treating you the way you want to be treated – pick up the phone and call.

The phone – and your voice – will take you farther than e-mail ever will.

October 3, 2022

Technology Tip - Spam Call Protection for Your Business

From the Desk of Christopher McCarthy, Technology Committee Member:

Entrepreneurs, who ever thought you would have to go and register your phone number with different databases that manage caller identification and provide call spam protection. Did you know robocalls can hijack or spoof your number resulting in the number being blocked and damaging your company's ability to contact customers? Commercial real estate agents (cough), this means to plan out the use of all the phone lines you use.

Four (4) databases that take the lion’s share are:

Verizon Business

First Orion (See below)

Hiya Inc. (See below)

Transaction Network Services (See below)

First Orion, Hiya, and Transaction Network Services ("Analytics Engines") have partnered to streamline the telephone number registration process. This free portal helps entities reach these Analytics Engines that support major wireless and wireline carriers in the US.

September 12, 2022

Technology Tip - Realtors Property Resource^® (RPR) -- A NYSCAR Broker Member Benefit!

RPR® is the nation’s largest property database, exclusively for REALTORS®. RPR® puts data, tools, and reports at your fingertips so you can respond to questions and requests instantly, and position yourself as an essential part of every transaction. It offers everything you need to "wow" your clients and close more deals.  Learn more ... 

August 8, 2022

Technology Tip - Timeline Development of a Property Using Google Earth

From the Desk of Patrick Wahl, Technology Committee Chair:

The timeline for development of a property and the property’s historic uses is information that is not always clear or readily available. One way to view how a property has changed over time is using Google Earth to review historic images. You might see when an expansion occurred, when the roof was replaced, when the parking lot was repaved or sealed or other items of interest.

Look for the  symbol at the top bar in Google Earth to review images that commonly go back to the early 2000s and sometimes even earlier.

Please reach out to me at patrick.wahl@cbre-rochester.com with any questions.

July 7, 2022

Technology Tip - Google Earth Mobile App

From the Desk of Patrick Wahl, Technology Committee Chair:

The Google Earth Mobile App is a great way to measure distances while in the field. The App can be downloaded in the App Store.

I used the App this morning when the public record did not align to the size of a building I was touring. Using the Google Earth Mobile App, I was able to measure to within 1% of the actual building size. You can also use the Google Earth Desktop App if you are at a computer to measure ground distances and even building heights.

Please reach out to me at patrick.wahl@cbre-rochester.com with any questions.

June 10, 2022

Technology Tip - FEMA Flood Maps

From the Desk of Patrick Wahl, Technology Committee Chair:

Wondering if a property requires flood insurance? Check the FEMA Flood Maps in the Flood Map Service Center: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home.  This is a great tool to use when you are performing your initial due diligence on a property.

Please reach out to me at patrick.wahl@cbre-rochester.com with any questions.

May 9, 2022

Technology Tip - eCode360

From the Desk of Patrick Wahl, Technology Committee Chair:

The NYSCAR Technology Committee encourages agents to become acquainted with www.ecode360.com. Most of our local municipalities have uploaded their governing code to be readily available online. This is particularly valuable to review for a quick reference for the viability of a certain use at some certain property. For example, if you would like to put a medical office use within a retail complex like 125 White Spruce Blvd. in the town of Brighton, you could review the zoning code here: https://ecode360.com/9440853 - to determine that medical office is a permitted use in the BF-1 district in the town of Brighton. Sometimes the zoning code leaves things a little less clear and a call to the Town Planner is warranted.

Please reach out to me at patrick.wahl@cbre-rochester.com with any questions.

April 6, 2022

Technology Tip - How to Measure Buildings and Site Areas using Aerial Imagery

From the Desk of Patrick Wahl, Technology Committee Chair:

Wondering how large a building or site area is?

You can perform aerial measurements using Google Earth or the Monroe County Parcel Mapper. The systems will measure straight lines, perimeters and areas.

Please reach out to me at patrick.wahl@cbre-rochester.com with any questions.

February 28, 2022

Technology Tip - Historic Environmental Records

From the Desk of Patrick Wahl, Technology Committee Chair:

The NYS DEC keeps historic environmental records for properties in New York State. It is common that a Seller does not have or does not want to share environmental information pertaining to a property.

A free and simple way to receive a basic understanding of the publicly available environmental history of a property is to submit a FOIL Request to the NYS DEC requesting records pertaining to the property. You may also want to submit a FOIL Request on the properties surrounding the subject property. You may submit a FOIL Request to the NYS DEC HERE.

Please reach out to me at patrick.wahl@cbre-rochester.com with any questions.

2021 RAC NYSCAR Technology Archive