There are CD ROM directories like Phone Disc Powerfinder, Pro CD, or 88 Million Names available at stores like COMPUSA that allow you to locate virtually anyone in America who has a phone. They are extremely easy to use and can be a wonderful tool for the real estate professional trying to increase their production.

The following list of ideas may give you some ideas that will easily justify the decision to purchase one of them. The street price on this resource tool ranges from $49 to $79. After considering just a few of things you can do with them, you’ll surely decide to add one of them to your technology tool chest.

1. Establish a geographic farm - choose the neighborhoods that you want to work and transfer the names directly into your contact manager. You’ll be able to market to the homeowners by name to increase your effectiveness.
   
   
2. Just Listed cards - notify the neighbors of the home you just listed in order to locate buyers and other homeowners interested in selling.
   
   
3. Just Sold cards - notify the neighbors that you were successful in your marketing efforts. It’s a great way to build your professional reputation.
   
   
4. Locate Childhood friends - track down your childhood friends to rekindle friendships and establish business relationships.
   
   
5. Locate classmates - you won’t have to wait for your class reunion to get a directory of classmates to offer your services. And even if they are not in your hometown, they might know someone who is moving to your area and can refer you.
   
   
6. Locate relatives - no matter where in the country they have moved, you’ll be able to find them if they have a phone. Keep them up-to-date with your family and your business.
   
   
7. Open House invitations - maximize your weekend efforts by promoting your open house to the neighbors. Even if they don’t send one of their friends, they might come by themselves.
   
   
8. Seminar invitations - pinpoint the people you want to invite to learn how to buy and sell homes: First-time homebuyers or sellers trying to maximize their equities.
   
   
9. Searching for a home for a buyer - select an area where you need a listing, possibly because there is nothing currently on the market. You’ll be able to tell the homeowner’s what you need.
   
   
10. Cold-call directly from Phone Disc - select the people you want to call and use the phone dialer built-in to these timesaving tools. You’ll be able to make more calls because you won’t waste time punching in phone numbers.
    
    
11. Locate non-owner occupied homes - you win two ways because the non-owner occupants are prospects for buying a home and the owners are prospects for a listing.
    
    
12. Introduce a new buyer to the neighbors - with the buyer’s permission, it will be easy to let the neighbors know who will be moving into the area. Just one more way, to promote your success and turn it into future business.
    
    

Pat Zaby is the President of PREP™ Software, developers of the REAL Suite that includes contact management, presentation, financial, and multimedia in one integrated package. He has been a REALTOR� since 1968 and has been involved with automating real estate agents for over 12 years and speaks to tens of thousands of people a year on the subject.

PREP™ Prospecting is easy-to understand, requires less keystrokes, and gives you more control than any other contact manager. It comes loaded with valuable letters, postcards, action plans, and telephone scripts that you can start using immediately. Wizards guide you through tasks effortlessly that are tedious routines in other programs. The data moves seamlessly throughout the entire PREP™ suite of products.

If you are thinking of changing from another contact manager, PREP™ Prospecting has automatic imports to transfer your data effortlessly so you can start enjoying the marketing power you expect from PREP Software. For information on competitive upgrades, phone 972-991-1998 or [email protected] or the website at http://www.prepsoftware.com.