“Get your apps together – Take some better pics”

“Get your act apps together – Take some better pics”

There is an old adage: The best camera is the one you have with you. More often than not, that is your phone. The stock camera app on your phone is great for taking a quick pic when your kiddo does something cute or you are in a rush to capture the moment. I say free yourself of the stock camera and buy a few upgraded apps that can help you create more creative and eye catching shots. The camera on your phone won’t replace the need for professional photography when it comes to showcasing real estate for sale, but it is usually the most convenient way for all of us to capture images. Step up your picture snapping skills folks!

Below is a snapshot of a few photo apps that I use. The Apple App Store and Android Market are full of camera apps that do all kinds of amazing things to photos as you take them and do a bit a post-editing. Most of these cost less than a couple dollars and will really take your photo capturing skills to the next level.

I hope you’ve found this info valuable and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out via: Email - Phone - Text - HeyTell - Skype - LinkedIn - USPS - FedEx - Smoke Signals

Rob Wiebusch – VP of Ops, Omaha Title & Escrow www.OmahaTitle.com 402.740.5008

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Dear Curtis

Dear Curtis,

Hi Curtis we are Omaha Title & Escrow a title company in Omaha Nebraska. 

Over the past few months we have had a card board cut out of you all over our office!  We have been taking your picture all around our office helping with day to day tasks and are finding you quite helpful.  We love what you do, and who you represent (we mostly love shopping at Hy-Vee food stores for all our company events!)

With the day to day grind we try to have fun at our jobs, and we love what we do.  We love seeing a new homeowners face when they have purchased their first home, along with all the other life changes that come with buying or selling a home. 

We know you are terribly busy especially with your new show "Around the World in 80 Plates"  but we all think you are really swell, and would be overjoyed if you made an appearance at an Industry BBQ hosted in our parking lot.  

We want to have the BBQ in June on any day you are available!  We sincerely hope to hear from you!  The perfect recipe for summer fun ... Curtis Stone, Great Clients and Good Food!

Your Friends

Omaha Title & Escrow

OmahaTitle.com - Pinterest - Facebook - Blogger

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iLoveOmaha Photo Contest

Do you love Omaha? We love Omaha, and we want to see what you LOVE most about Omaha!

Submit your favorite/best picture taken of Omaha, or what makes you love the place you call home. The only rule is the picture has to be taken in the Omaha area by YOU.

We also love Pinterest, and we have an iLoveOmaha Pin board in which we will feature your photo, the most repins or likes from our iLoveOmaha page pin board will be our winner.

All you shutterbugs get out there and snap some pics! Visit the Omaha Title facebook page to enter, under the contest page.  We look forward to seeing all the great pictures of Omaha.

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Title Tips

Did you know you can access free basic information online for several Counties in Nebraska?

All you need is an owner name or address.

Nebraska County Contact Information     http://www.revenue.ne.gov/PAD/counties/counties.html

Click the county for contact info. AND Watch for the “parcel search” link to look up details on property in that County. Some of the information available on these sites includes: date/amount of last sale, tax key #, owner name, brief legal, picture of property/improvements, assessed values, year built, # of bedrooms/baths, etc...  (not all counties have online parcel search access, but at least give a phone# to call for info)

Also you can enter just the house number if you are unsure how to spell the street name.

Please feel free to use this resource and/or share it with your clients.

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The Value of Customer Service

Remember the day of the full service gas station?  You would pull up and they would pump your gas, clean your windows and check your oil while you waited comfortably inside the car.  These days, most people don't know about this kind of customer service.  At Omaha Title we want you to have an outstanding customer experience every time you put your hard earned business in our hands.

Don't let customer service be a thing of the past!

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“Digital Footprint”

The key to success as a Realtor® is building a brand with a solid reputation. Your digital brand is extremely important with today’s ever changing communication patterns. You make connections everyday and there is a high probability that the people you meet do a little homework on you. What will they find? Will it be the message that you want them to find? Does your digital brand represent the ‘real you’?

 is a great place to start, expand and leverage your digital footprint. This site is perfect to share your professional experience, success and niche as a real estate professional. Those potential clients that walked into your open house last week are going to look online for more information about you. Use every free resource that LinkedIn has to offer so potential clients and contacts find the message that you want them to find.

Make your online impression a professional one:

-Grow your network. Contacts>Add Connections

-Fill out your entire profile. (Starting with a professional photo!)

-Update your status at least once a week. (The shelf life of an update on LinkedIn is much longer than networks like Facebook & Twitter)

-Recommend connections and request recommendations to add depth to your profile.

-Above all: Be authentic and apply your same face-to-face networking skills when using an online network like LinkedIn.

I hope you've found this info valuable and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me: Email - Phone - Text - HeyTell

Robert Wiebusch - VP of Ops, Omaha Title & Escrow http://www.omahatitle.com/ 402.740.5008

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The Gift of Technology

Access to the MLS = $30 Per Month

Advertising = $50

Full tank of gas = $60

iPhone = $300

Access to all your files to stay in contact with your buyers and sellers anytime - anywhere = Priceless!

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Don't get stuck with a stapler ... Give Omaha Title & Escrow a call today

Working in an office the movie Office Space is often talked about and quoted.   Remember Milton and his stapler? 

 Bill: "Milt, we're gonna need to go ahead and move you downstairs into storage B. We have some new people coming in, and we need all the space we can get. So if you could just go ahead and pack up your stuff and move it down there, that would be terrific, OK?" 
Milton: "Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler... "  Don't get stuck with a Milton.

New Staplers for everyone ... wait, how about no more staplers?  Getting excited?  We are excited about new technology this year, and can't wait to tell you about it.   Omaha Title is going green with our iPhone/iPad app, Android mobile app and our mobile website.  Did you also know our title department is completely paperless, and this year our escrow file will be paperless as well?  Access your files the way you want anytime anywhere. 

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Contract reminder of the month - February 2012

Heartfelt Legals

Does your heart skip a beat when you have to amend a purchase agreement for preventable clerical mistakes?  An agreement for the sale of real property is unique in the eyes of the law and thus the requirements to have an enforceable purchase and sale agreement for real property are significant.  Among other requirements, the statute of frauds requires an agreement to contain a legally enforceable description of the real property.  Agreements for the sale of real property that fail to comply with the statute of frauds are unenforceable.  The reason behind this rule of law is to prevent individuals or entities from fraudulently claiming they entered into a real estate sales contract.

Real property, as distinguished from personal property, can be loosely defined as land.  Real property encompasses the surface and everything attached (that is, Buildings), everything below the surface (such as minerals) and the airspace above the surface up to a certain altitude.  Maintaining accurate property records and conveyances requires a uniform methodology for physically describing real property across different jurisdictions.

The listing agreement is a contract between the seller and the listing broker.  It sets out the conditions of the listing and begins the foundation for the sale.  While the details of the agreement should be negotiated, a listing agreement for land and improvements must include an accurate legal description.  The county websites do not always provide a complete or correct legal description.  You can find useful and accurate listing information by contacting Omaha Title.  You can submit a request to our team at ts_listinginfo@omahatitle.com.  Include the property address, County, specific information you are looking for, need by date, your name and email address.  Your heart will be happy to find out that Omaha Title provides listing information for no cost.

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Endorsement of the month - February 2012

Keep your property "healthy" with the Commercial Environmental Protection Lien Endorsement (ALTA Endorsement 8.2-06)  This endorsement insures against existing recorded federal and state environmental protection liens.

ALTA Endorsement 8.2-06 (Commercial Environmental Protection Lien) (10/16/08)

ENDORSEMENT

Attached to Policy No.

Issued by

STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY

The Company insures against loss or damage sustained by the Insured by reason of an environmental protection lien that, at Date of Policy, is recorded in the Public Records or filed in the records of the clerk of the United States district court for the district in which the Land is located, unless the environmental protection lien is set forth as an exception in Schedule B.

This endorsement is issued as part of the policy.  Except as it expressly states, it does not (i) modify any of the terms and provisions of the policy, (ii) modify any prior endorsements, (iii) extend the Date of Policy, or (iv) increase the Amount of Insurance.  To the extent a provision of the policy or a previous endorsement is inconsistent with an express provision of this endorsement, this endorsement controls.  Otherwise, this endorsement is subject to all of the terms and provisions of the policy and of any prior endorsements.

STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY

Copyright 2006-2011 American Land Title Association. All rights reserved. The use of this Form is restricted to ALTA licensees and ALTA members in good standing as of the date of use. All other uses are prohibited. Reprinted under license from the American Land Title Association.

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PC vs. Mac PC spoof ...

Sure, we could compare PCs to Macs. But we make it a point to never argue about religion. So I guess the guestion is are you a PC or Mac?  More Importantly are you for The Other Title Company or Omaha Title?

We are having some fun over here at Omaha Title.  Throughout the rest of the year we will be doing a series of the PC vs. Mac spoof videos.  Your Other Title Company VS. Omaha Title & Escrow.   With all the cool technology at Omaha Title we can't imagine a better way to tell you all about it.

  Omaha Title & Escrow continues to be on the forefront of technology and servicing our customers.  Connecting with Real Estate agents the way you want to be communicted with.  Mobile websites, apps, texting, etc. Omaha Title is the complete package.  

Remember today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.  Let us worry about tomorrow ...

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Endorsement of the Month: January 2012 - Zoning

Endorsement of the Month!!!!  ALTA 3.1-06 (Zoning w/ Completed Structure):  Insures that a property and it's current use(s) are in compliance with the relevant municipal zoning ordinances and classifications.

 ENDORSEMENT

Attached to Policy No.

Issued by

STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY

1.   The Company insures against loss or damage sustained by the Insured in the event that, at Date of Policy,

a.   according to applicable zoning ordinances and amendments, the Land is not classified Zone _____________________;
b.   the following use or uses are not allowed under that classification:
c.   There shall be no liability under paragraph 1.b. if the use or uses are not allowed as the result of any lack of compliance with any conditions, restrictions, or requirements contained in the zoning ordinances and amendments, including but not limited to the failure to secure necessary consents or authorizations as a prerequisite to the use or uses.  This paragraph 1.c. does not modify or limit the coverage provided in Covered Risk 5.

2.  The Company further insures against loss or damage sustained by the Insured by reason of a final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction

a.   prohibiting the use of the Land, with any existing structure, as insured in paragraph 1.b.; or
b.   requiring the removal or alteration of the structure on the basis that, at Date of Policy, the zoning ordinances and amendments have been violated with respect to any of the following matters:

i.    Area, width, or depth of the Land as a building site for the structure
ii.    Floor space area of the structure
iii.   Setback of the structure from the property lines of the Land
iv.   Height of the structure, or
v.   Number of parking spaces.

3.   There shall be no liability under this endorsement based on

a.   the invalidity of the zoning ordinances and amendments until after a final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction adjudicating the invalidity, the effect of which is to prohibit the use or uses;
b.   the refusal of any person to purchase, lease or lend money on the Title covered by this policy.

This endorsement is issued as part of the policy. Except as it expressly states, it does not (i) modify any of the terms and provisions of the policy, (ii) modify any prior endorsements, (iii) extend the Date of Policy, or (iv) increase the Amount of Insurance. To the extent a provision of the policy or a previous endorsement is inconsistent with an express provision of this endorsement, this endorsement controls. Otherwise, this endorsement is subject to all of the terms and provisions of the policy and of any prior endorsements.
[Witness clause optional]

STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY 

Copyright 2006-2011 American Land Title Association. All rights reserved. The use of this Form is restricted to ALTA licensees and ALTA members in good standing as of the date of use. All other uses are prohibited. Reprinted under license from the American Land Title Association.

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The Power of Xobni Through the Eyes of Omaha Title

“Xobni” which is inbox spelled backwards creates rich profiles for every person you've communicated with through your Outlook email account. Xobni displays relationship statistics, contact information, threaded conversations, shared attachments, and information on a given contact which is pulled from social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. This tool is very handy when prospecting for business or having more meaningful conversations without having to leave your email account. I have used Xobni for a couple years now and it has really helped me take back my inbox by providing some organization and rich data about the people that I communicate with via email. Xobni has a free version of their software that can be downloaded at www.Xobni.com. When downloading the software it will index your entire email account to organize and gather meaningful data about those who you connect with through email. It appears that Xobni has several versions of their software in beta testing on the Gmail, Android and iPhone platforms.

I hope you found this info valuable and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me via email/phone or text.

Author ~ Rob Wiebusch – VP of Ops, Omaha Title & Escrow

Connect W/ Omaha Title & Escrow

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