Amerivest Realty on RingCentral Connect

Challenges with Our Old Phone System
Previous to RingCentral, we hosted an on-premise phone system. The system often had technical issues which required costly consultants to repair. More importantly, these issues were often total outages which were not only inconvenient, but also adversely affected our business, potentially causing loss of revenue for the brokerage and our associates.

Additionally, system configuration was always challenging. As real estate professionals, most of our associates work outside of the office, relying on their cell phones to properly conduct business. Our system could forward calls to cell phones, but this was an insufficient and inelegant solution because we had no way to monitor or manage calls from our office.

At Amerivest Realty we pride ourselves on the service we provide to our associates and their customers, and strive for an efficient office and business practices, and we knew the on premise system was woefully inadequate to meet these goals.

Why We Moved to RingCentral

The timing was right to make a decision on a new platform because we were about to open an additional office in a new area code in Orlando Florida. We wanted a single system to accommodate all offices, but the cost of expanding the on-premise system was exorbitant. As we researched the market, we were impressed with RingCentral’s service offering.

In addition to solving issues with hardware and remote associates, RingCentral also let us combine phone and fax services into a single number. We have less to manage, our associate have less to manage, their customers have simpler communication channels, and we could retire the old fax server.

Are We Happy with RingCentral? Yes!

Our switch to RingCentral reduced our telecommunications costs by almost 30 percent, and RingCentral’s cloud-based phone services have exceeded our expectations.

Our IT expense savings were greater than anticipated because RingCentral is configurable by non-technical people. In fact, RingCentral is so easy to use that I mostly set up the system myself. I needed assistance with number porting, but RingCentral’s support team made that process painless.

We were able to set up over 150 extensions and port 200 phone numbers in just a few weeks. Now adding or removing extensions is simple and handled by our administrative staff.

As Amerivest Realty grows, we trust RingCentral to provide for our telecommunication needs. We have confidence in the system to provide for our needs and control costs. As we expand our business, we feel confident in RingCentral’s service growing with us.

About Amerivest Realty
Amerivest Realty is a visionary real estate brokerage firm driven to provide customers and real estate professionals a rich experience through community involvement, best-in-class technology and superior service. Amerivest Realty Associates are well connected, knowledgeable, passionate, have strong roots in their local communities and unwavering integrity. Amerivest Realty provides associates with a full suite of real estate technology tools and training to enable them to do their jobs efficiently, enabling them to better serve their customers. This technical expertise combined with a corporate devotion to quality and customer service sets Amerivest Realty apart from other brokerages.

Amerivest Realty has 4 physical locations and serves 8 cities: Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Marco Island , Naples, Orlando and Sanibel/Captiva in Florida and Portland Oregon, with more coming soon.

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“Amerivest Realty is poised to grow to the next level through intelligent use of modern technology, enabling our Associates to do more in less time and to make their buyers and sellers happier and better informed customers” says Joe Ballarino, President of Amerivest Realty.

The new websites for associates are highly customizable, allowing Amerivest Realty Associates to create their own brands, develop their own content and have control of the design, down to minute details including customized real estate property listings search. By building upon a popular content management system (CMS) this incredible flexibility is possible along with unparalleled ease of setup for the associates and ease of use by their customers.

Moving to the Form Simplicity transaction management platform has been a significant time saver for Amerivest Realty’s real estate brokers and Realtor associates. The associates submit all their paperwork through this online system, keeping all relevant files together digitally. This allows the associates and brokers to work on their own schedules. They communicate through the software at their convenience, and both can access and store files relevant to them after real estate deals are completed.

Moving to a cloud based customer relationship management system provides Amerivest Realty staff a suite of tools to better serve the associates through timely access to information from anywhere, digital task lists and reminders, automated emails, asset management and transaction tracking.

The new cloud-based telecommunication system truly frees Amerivest Realty associates to be mobile in their work. Whether accessed through their mobile device or desktop software, this system gives the associate a single unified number for both phone calls and faxes, as well as access to voice mail from anywhere in a simple well-organized digital environment.

About Amerivest Realty
Amerivest Realty is a visionary real estate brokerage firm driven to provide customers and real estate professionals a rich experience through community involvement, best-in-class technology and superior service. Amerivest Realty Associates are well connected, knowledgeable, passionate, have strong roots in their local communities and unwavering integrity. Amerivest Realty provides associates with a full suite of technology tools and training to enable them to do their jobs efficiently, enabling them to better serve their customers. This technical expertise combined with a corporate devotion to quality and customer service sets Amerivest Realty apart from other brokerages.

Amerivest Realty has 4 physical locations and serves 8 cities that sell: Bonita Springs homes and condos, Cape Coral property, Fort Myers homes and investment property, Marco Island condos and homes, Naples, Orlando property and Sanibel/Captiva land and investment property in Florida and Portland Oregon, with more coming soon.

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

Judy Gietzen, Amerivest Realty Associate, was installed as the 2012 President of the Bonita Springs-Estero Chapter of Woman’s Council of Realtors on December 3, 2011. The annual awards and installation event, accurately dubbed “Evening to Celebrate!”, was held at the Wildcat Run Golf & Country Club in Estero, FL.

Nearly one hundred fifty guests, among them Florida state Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto, welcomed the new WCR officers, and the recipients of the chapter’s annual achievement awards.

Here, too, Judy shone as a “WCR Star”, receiving the Pat Lord Humanitarian of the Year Award for 2011. The award is conferred on an outstanding WCR member in recognition for freely giving of his/her time and talent to one or more organizations through many hours of volunteer service and continual commitment.

As chairperson for Relay for Life/Estero in 2011, Judy’s team tripled participation in this American Cancer Society fundraising event.

In Judy’s own words, she is a WCR member because, “I believe in giving back to the community”. When I spoke to her, she did not elaborate on her simple statement that she likes to “live, work and play”. She doesn’t have to: Her actions speak volumes.

Amerivest Realty is proud to claim Judy Gietzen as one of our own!

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Dominic has a great sense of market awareness for pricing and marketing homes. He uses cutting-edge tools & technology to bring outstanding results to all his clients.

Dominic is a leader in real estate serving as a Director of the Naples Area Board of Realtors and a District 5 Vice President for the Florida Chapter CRS. His many designations include Broker Associate, Certified Residential Specialist, Graduate of the Realtor Institute, Accredited Buyers Representative and a Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource.

He is a dedicated Real Estate Professional, providing clients with Superior Service at all times. He uses local knowledge to educate buyers and sellers of the current market conditions and always has the best interest of clients at heart.

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This award honors a NABOR member who has volunteered their time to instruct classes and/or volunteered their time to help preserve and enhance REALTOR® education at the local board/state level.

Steve is a highly skilled professional, who always strives for excellence in everything he does. Servicing his Buyers and Sellers with their Real Estate needs or fellow Realtors become better and therefore more educated Real Estate professionals. We can be honored to be associated with him at Amerivest Realty!

Please contact Steve at (239)293-4327 and check out his website at www.NaplesLocations.com

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This award is given by members of the local Naples area board to recognize a fellow members outstanding leadership and contribution in helping fellow realtors to further their own professional development and knowledge. Birgit is self motivated person who always strives for perfection in everything she does, whether helping her clients with their real estate needs or fellow agents become better real estate professionals. You can contact Birgit for all your real estate needs on (239)595 6165 or visit her web site at  www.SimplyNaples.com

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Our own Judi Geitzen was recently installed as the    President Elect 2011 for the Naples Chapter.   If that      wasn’t reason enough to celebrate she recieved the  Top   Producer Award for 2010 AND Outstanding  Officer’s Award for hosting the First Annual Golf Tournament.

Congratulations Judi on your awards and we wish you   success in your 2011 Presidency.

For more information on the Naples On The Gulf Chapter CLICK HERE

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Amerivest Realty recently caught up with Blake Owen one of its newest agents. He is a busy guy and we’re glad to finally catch up and sit him down to get the scoop on the 5 W’s of Blake Owen. Blake is an old timer when it comes to Real Estate in Naples. His parents, a team that has worked for years in the area, have taught him the business and he has branched out on his own. He is very familiar with Naples since he has been coming to visit his grandfather who moved here in the 60’s.

Growing up Blake lived in Illinois and spent 4 years during his childhood in Brazil, coming back to the US for college at Bowling Green State University where he majored in Hotel Hospitality. After spending a few years going down that path, he became a Golf Pro and spent time working at Lely, Windstar and Pelican Bay.

Finally, Blake decided to make the real estate profession his focus.  When I asked Blake what made him want to come to Amerivest Realty he claims that he had met Joe Ballarino and felt like he would always be on the cutting edge of technology. He was impressed by the website, the ranking and the continued success of the web presence.

Blake doesn’t have a particular area that he specializes in Naples, he says “Bonita to Lely, I work it all!”. His wife, a Wealth Strategist and Attorney and their 2 dogs keep him busy on the home-front, along with his many charitable works. Having served as the Director of Hospitality for the The Naples International Film Festival he’s excited about the event coming in November at Silverspot in Mercato.

Welcome to Blake; We love your enthusiasm and Good Luck!

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

Welcome to Lisha Middendorf.

Lisha is a Cincinnati Ohio native that came to live in Naples full time 3 years ago.  She and her husband owned Midwest Heritage Homes and were custom builders and designers.  Lisha ran the marketing area of the business where she gained her vast knowledge in advertising and customer relations.  When Lisha and her husband moved to Naples she immediately knew she wanted to get into Real Estate and found that home and condo rentals was her niche.  She worked 2 seasons for a small brokerage until she decided that she wanted to work her own rental business supported by the Amerivest Realty system.

At Amerivest Realty Lisha felt that she would have a great advantage in starting her business since Amerivest Realty has a great program for agents dealing in rental property.  Lisha does most of her business in the Vanderbilt Beach and Naples Park area so naturally the North Office in Naples Park was her first pick.

With her husband’s help, Lisha’s business has taken off.  Together they make their clients feel confident they are leaving their property in good hands.  Lisha’s husband does most of the maintenance work as well as offering his remodeling business services.

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Jennifer Monville

 She is a newbee on the scene of Naples Real Estate, having just received her Real Estate license in 2008. 

Jennifer and her family; husband and 2 daughters moved to Naples from the Miami area where Jen worked at the Miami airport at Gate Control for over 5 years; Wow, what a change from living in sleepy Naples and working Real Estate!  She is very happy she made the change both in her family life and her professional career.  “The schools here are great, the taxes and insurances are low and we have more house for the money in Naples” she says.  That is great news for Naples!

Jennifer has been spending most of her time doing short sales….” mostly because that’s where the business has been!” she laughs, but she has really found her calling because Jen has a 100% closing ration with all her short sales and does all of the leg work herself.  She is calm and cool and patient; a must in the short sale business!

We welcome her to Amerivest!

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

Grace in front of Amerivest 5th Avenue Office

I’m so happy when I get a chance to talk to a new agent at Amerivest Realty…..not only do I get to find out more about them but it also gives me an insight on how we can improve our company and get some tips from their experiences.

I sat down with new agent Grace Stafford last week.  If you haven’t met Grace, she is a bright, upbeat lady that always has a kind word and has a great disposition!  Grace came to us from Keating and Associates here in Naples and has joined our 5th Avenue office as a floor agent.  She is originally from New Hampshire but has been in Naples for many years now; 10+ of these years as a Realtor in Naples.

When I asked Grace why she came back to Amerivest Realty her reply was “I love Joe Ballarino!”  She’s so funny! ” No seriously, she says, I think he is brilliant and creative and keeps a professional office staff”.  She is also very happy about getting her own website and fax number that other offices didn’t offer her when she was asking around.  “I really like the Wiki, it is full of the forms and answers to questions that I have” she says.

Grace has 2 listings in Aqualane Shores and enjoys Olde Naples but has had many closings in the Naples Park and Connors Park neighborhoods since she lives there herself.

If you see Grace, you may want to say Hello and Welcome……she will probably stop to talk with you about her 2 favorite subjects….her grandson and her 5 dogs!

Amy Richard

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

2009 Real Estate Transaction Sides
Amerivest Realty:   + 97.48%
Firm #2:   + 55.52%
Firm #3:   + 54.17%
Firm #4:   + 40.32%
Firm #5:   + 21.55%
Firm #6:   + 15.49%

2009 Real Estate Transaction Volume
Amerivest Realty:   + 25.00%
Firm #2:   + 14.63%
Firm #3:   -  0.96%
Firm #4:   -  1.52%
Firm #5:   -  6.64%
Firm #6:   -  6.78%

“We’ve had consistent growth year after year.  There’s no reason to expect it to slow either, with the addition of a 2nd office on fifth avenue in downtown Naples late last year” said Joe Ballarino, President & Founder.

Statistics were gathered from within Sunshine MLS Broker Market Share Report and include all closings in Naples & Bonita Springs geographical areas.

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• JP Antonmattei – 2010 NABOR President
• Toni Stout – 2010 NABOR Director
• Joni Albert – 2010 WCR President
• Lynn Bower – 2010 WCR Secretary

Several hundred Realtors gathered at the Ritz Carlton Beach Resort for the installation banquet Friday night and they were treated to an evening of ceremony and entertainment, highlighted by the vocal talents of JP’s wife Laurie.  Also on hand was Jan Carlo Antonmattei, JP’s soon to be 8 year old son who lead the group recital of the pledge of allegiance flawlessly.

Amerivest Realty prides itself through it’s slogan, On the Web, In the Community, Here for You – the individuals cited herein are a shining example of how Amerivest Realty lives up to that slogan everyday.

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“During these challenging and exciting times, Jenny and I are continually making decision to help expand our brand and build Amerivest Realty Of Lee Island Coast to become Lee County’s number one real estate company. We are pleased to announce we have secured a fantastic new office location; our new office will be located at 7800 University Drive, Suite 400.

As many of you know this is a top rated business location and the hub for Real Estate offices in Ft. Myers. This location will better serve our team members, their clients and our ability to expand and recruit more top agents. The end result will be enhanced name recognition and brand awareness, increased market share, and greater web presents which all lead to more business and income opportunities for each of you.

Jenny and I often talk about how blessed we are to have attracted such a fantastic group of professionals and caring individuals. We thank you for your loyalty and support.”

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

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http://twitter.com/amerivest

Come tweet with us!

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The Naples Florida office is proud to announce the award presented Saturday Night at Grey Oaks! Digg It

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The winning article discusses the equipment, systems and processes needed to setup a paperless office. Amerivest Realty offices are paperless in the way the accept listing and sales contracts from their associates. All documents are processed electronically and stored in their password protected intranet client database system.

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

The program starts with a comprehensive CMA tool. This assists Amerivest Realty independent agents with the preparation of an accurate market analysis report which is then supplied to a seller when deciding on the offering price. These reports range from 20 to 50 pages of in depth market statistics and home selling information.

The balance of the program is dedicated to marketing the home, especially it’s multi-media technologies. After uploading a few still shots and entering some simple text, a complete set of multi-media marketing materials about the property are created instantly, including:

Narrated eTour: A professional voice over describing the property and it’s amenities is heard with background music, while photos of the property are displayed. Complete with mapping and email functions, flyer download and more.

Narrated Video: A matching narrated video is created and uploaded to Google for added exposure. The video then appears embedded on the listings detail page on Amerivest Realty market area web sites to enhance the consumers experience.

Web Casting: Agents can group properties together with a personal bio and area information to create a complete webcast that they can post for visitors to their Amerivest Realty agent website.

Flyers & CDs: A flyer is also available as a .PDF for emailing or printing. In addition, all the properties multi-media presentations can be downloaded to a CD with a custom label for distribution.

Finally, the narration is used for a “Toll Free” call tracking system. Agents assign property codes for each marketing venue and can track the activity from each.

For more information contact your local independent Amerivest Realty office.

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

For the full release: Amerivest Realty Gains Naples Market Share
as posted on the Naples Florida Real Estate Blog

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_hnt/episode/0,1806,HGTV_3855_49362,00.html

Congratulations to Dan & Pam Buckley!

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

The domain www.AmerivestPrint.com has been upgraded accordingly. “We are looking forward to high-quality materials, low pricing & minimums and short delivery times,” said Joe Ballarino, President & Founder of Amerivest Realty. “AmerivestPrint.com creates a one-stop site where you can create, order, print and mail all marketing with the utmost of ease”.

About QuantumDirect, Inc.(parent company of QuantumMail.com)
QuantumDirect, Inc., founded in 1986, provides customers with inexpensive, high-quality direct-mail services for lead generation. Our goal was to increase customers marketing success by making their direct mail easier and more efficient than ever, giving them more time to focus on activities best handled personally.

Amerivest Realty | Real Estate

“Those honored are very deserving,” said Jo Carter, NABOR’s president. The theme for the event, which takes a year to organize, was “The Pride of Ownership.” It attracted a crowd of about 250.“It’s our biggest night of the year to honor our board members that have participated,” said Penny Wilson, a marketing representative for Midwest Title in Naples and chairwoman of this year’s event. “Most people do not get paid to do this. It’s all volunteer.”

For the past three years, Carter has nominated Ballarino, a former NABOR president and president and CEO of Amerivest Realty in Naples, for the Realtor of the Year award. The honor — the highest given out by NABOR — recognizes Realtors who have helped shape the profession. “He’s served in so many areas the members of NABOR, always with a smile. He’s always willing to help,” Carter said.

The Realtor of the Year winner was kept secret until Saturday night. “It’s fabulous,” a shocked Ballarino, 42, said after receiving the award. “It’s by far the highest honor I could get.” The award, he said, is extra special coming from NABOR. “I keep trying to give more,” he said. “I seem to get more back every time.”

During his presidency, Ballarino spearheaded the development of NABOR’s first leadership training program and set the stage for the association’s involvement with Habitat for Humanity. Under his rein, NABOR was the first to donate to a political action committee working to save the Naples Zoo and it gave $10,000 to a disaster relief fund to help victims of Hurricane Charley.

Over the years, Ballarino has served on numerous NABOR committees, including budget and finance, intranet, logo and multiple listing service, or MLS. He has been instrumental in revising MLS rules and in the design of http://www.naplesarea.com/, NABOR’s official Web site. He helped develop the SunshineMLS, a computerized multiple listing service for Naples and Bonita Springs. Ballarino also has been active in the Florida Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Read the full article

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Amerivest Realty agents get a deep discount on their first order and a standard discount on all future orders.

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