I hate it because I receive more than my share of the obnoxious stuff, it really hate it because it wastes too much valuable time.  A little background before I continue might be helpful - my website is with Point2Agent and to make a long story short, I use their POP3 for my email. If I apply even the smallest filter against spam I end up not receiving important email which means nothing gets filtered. I receive several hundred spam emails a day, it's making me crazy!!!

A year or so ago, while looking for a solution I came across www.mailwasher.net. I tried the program but had a hard time getting it to work seamlessly with my mail program - so I uninstalled it.  Well.... since I still have so much spam I went looking again and found MailWasher was still around and decided to give it another go.  I'm not sure if a larger company bought them out, but the program is working quite well now.  The learning curve for the consumer is very slight plus there's a built-in learning curve to teach the program what you consider spam.  It's all in your control within the settings.  What I really like about it, is the bounce feature which allows you to determine which emails get bounced back to the offender.  This creates the appearance of your email address being invalid - it that cool or what!!!  I call it

                                

Here's a screenshot of how mail is deciphered within their table:

MailWasher opens in another window so all the sorting is happening prior to any junk making it to your inbox.  The choices are all yours.  I've only been using it for a few days, but would say it's picking up about 70% of spam.  The other 30% seems to slip through but I think it's because of using Point2 for my POP3.  I'm using the free version for now but will probably buy the paid program.  It's not expensive at $39.95.  I looked for a coupon code and came up with this Promotional Code SDFTHGJ to save $10 (US) on MailWasher Pro!!  I'm not sure it's still good, but can't hurt to try.  They also give a money back guarantee so you can always return to the free version.  I sincerely hope this helps a lot of others out there who are being so disrupted by the hated stuff.  Let me know how it goes.  Also if you have something you're using and are happy with it, please post it here.  That goes for POP3 ideas as well.  I'm not sensitive to a little hijacking. 

Gail MacMillan - Broker
Home Sweet Home Florida Realty, Inc.
www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com 

Cross posted on:  http://activerain.com/blogs/homesweethomeflorida

Heads-up!  This website is making the rounds (via email) and not a word of it is true. 
It gets people all riled up thinking there's very bad people living around them.  I have
no idea what the creators of these menaces hope to gain, but I'm sure it's not
good.  I received it yesterday and, of course, plugged in my address (minus the street
number).  Lo and behold the bad guys were everywhere.  I was talking with the friend
who sent it and she had a felon living on the golf course(?)  So we checked Snopes.com
and learned the truth:  http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/felonspy.asp .  It would
probably be best if we don't click the link at all!  But I had to just once more.  I wanted to
see if the fake felons were generated from the people who had just put their address in. 
So I put my girlfriend's address in (minus the street number)....well nothing came up on
her street, so that seems safe.  I still have a creepy feeling about it....if you have to check
it out just don't put in your street number.  Let's play it safe.

 

Gail MacMillan Broker-Realtor®
Home Sweet Home Florida Realty, Inc.
At Home With Diversity (AHWD)
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
e-PRO Internet Certified (e-PRO)
Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI)
Relocation Specialist
Titusville, Florida
Cell: 321.544.6808

www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com 
Also posted to: http://activerain.com/blogs/homesweethomeflorida

 

                           
This morning I had the unpleasant experience of this malware.
I'll describe it's behavior so you'll recognize it if it lands on your
computer.  It operates as a series of pop-up screens which mimic 
the look of Windows Security Center.  I ran a virus scan but nothing
showed up.  Still something just didn't feel right so I compared the
logos which were close, but not the same.  There were 6 or 7 warning
screens which eventually all lead to the pop-up requiring registration
for the latest updated Windows Security Center(?) - your first red
flag.  In the bottom right toolbar you'll see a red circle with a white X
as well as a shield which looks like the Windows Security Center icon.
It's tricky though, because it describes it's own behavior while IT's
happening.  Arrgg!!!  Another screen will start scanning for spyware,
it's bogus as well.  It's very confusing - just stay calm.  I tried going
to Microsoft's website but received a message "Navigation Blocked"
due to unstable internet browsing.  During all this, my system kept
shutting down and restarting.  I think you have enough here to
recognize it if it shows up.  The fix:

I ran Windows Defender 3 times only to have the malware come
back.  It seems it just keeps replicating itself.  I tried to reconfigure
the start-ups in MSCONFIG only to have the icons reappear upon
restarting.  Finally I disabled Windows Defender and downloaded
Computer Associates Anti Spyware which seems to have put an end
to the problem - perhaps!  Here is an example of what you might
see - but the messages I received were only similar in nature.

This trojan can also change your home page, default search engine,
internet security zone settings and enable ActiveX controls.  It's a 
ploy to get you to download it's rogueware and it attaches to the
registry.  It appears Windows Defender was unable to prevent this 
malware from reasserting itself.  A virus scan will not pick this up
because it's not really a virus - it's pop-up malware and requires
anti-spy software to remove it.  I hope this description helps should
you encounter this event.  Feel free to contact me if you have any
questions.

Gail MacMillan Broker-Realtor®
Home Sweet Home Florida Realty, Inc.
At Home With Diversity (AHWD)
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
e-PRO Internet Certified (e-PRO)
Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI)
Relocation Specialist
Titusville, Florida
Cell: 321.544.6808

www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com   great website - check it out - pass it on
Also posted at:  http://activerain.com/blogs/homesweethomeflorida  

Also posted on ActiveRain:  http://activerain.com/blogs/homesweethomeflorida

 

 

I'm sure many of you have tried various services for having faxes go directly to your email account.  Who has the most reliable service?  While price is not most important, it does rank up there.  If you use an 800# is it worth the extra fee?  Who would you absolutely stay away from?  All comments appreciated as I want to get this set-up immediately.  Thanks a bunch.

Gail

Can someone tell me if this scenario is possible?  Tablet PC, Treo 700 acting as the modem to connect to the internet with the Tablet - anytime, anywhere. So far I think this all works. Now the kicker - I would REALLY like to have VOIP added to this package with a Bluetooth device to connect to the VOIP provider via the Treo. This would provide international long distance connectivity anytime, anywhere.  Making the big question this:  Is there a VOIP service that doesn't need cable or DSL, but can use whatever satellite our cell phone uses?  If I'm dreaming wake me up, but it sure is a nice dream.  Are any of you using some sort of variation of the above, is it working well for you, and what is it costing you per month?  Thanks for your input.

Gail

In our office we have a transaction fee of $150-200.  I have never passed this fee along to any of my buyers/sellers.  My feeling is that we are compensated per our agreements and the transaction fee is just another junk fee.  Obviously I have internal disagreement on this issue.  I eat this fee and make it part of my presentation whenever I can, that I do not and will not charge you (my customer, ect).  What do you do in your offices?  What are your personal feelings on this topic?  Is the DOJ ever going to rule on this and I wish they would.  I spent 10 years in mortgage banking and saw many a-junk-fee passed along which really only added to the company's bottom line.  As a nation I hope we're not irreparable in the fairness department.  Just my 2¢

Are any of you using Skype?  A couple days ago I downloaded their software and quickly discovered that my microphone headset was acting up.  I could here the test message just fine but Skype could not hear me.  I adjusted the volume settings, made sure the microphone was not on mute, etc.  No luck.  So I bought a Linksys phone for Skype.  Before opening the box I cruised around and learned there are other options besides the phone.  There is a special Motorola bluetooth over the ear piece with the USB part for $90 ($50 on Ebay), there is also a phone adaptor which, I guess, converts the regular cordless phone to work with Skype.

If you are using this service would you mind sharing your experience with it and what hardware you finally settled on.  Are you really happy with Skype and have you found unique ways to use it in your marketing?   Once again, thanks in advance for sharing.  Looking forward to reading your comments.
Gail
http://www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com

COULD THIS WORK???  I'll start this way - if an agent has devoted the time and energy to get their PI over (say) 5000 would you agree this agent is serious about their job?  Assuming the answer is yes, could we then harness the power of Handshake to display their listings State by State on our websites.  If we get an inquiry on one of their listings could we work out a referral agreement?  This would seem easier to manage than rooting through the thousands of requests that come to us per the current system.  Do the benefits outweigh the effort?  Is anyone doing this now?  Through the Reliberation Blog and Message Boards I've come to feel like I know some of you well enough to say it would be my pleasure to display your listings on my website.  I'm having a difficult time accepting Handshake in it's current incarnation and I'm seeking ideas to bring Handshake to a new level of usefulness.  I would rather spend the time adding the selling areas of selected agents vs weeding through the pendings and new listings daily.  So I'm tossing it out there for a good old-fashioned brainstorming.
I'm really hoping we can get together on this.  Have a fun St. Patrick's Day.

Gail MacMillan - http://www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com

Would some of you with experience managing associates be so kind as to pass along lessons you've learned over time that really made a difference in moving your sales people toward a rewarding career in real estate.  As you might guess, I've recently accepted the challenge to move our production to the next level.  We've several new associates that have a lot of potential and I'm humbled at the prospect of mentoring their success while increasing overall production.  While I pilot this program forward I must also maintain my own production (no small time task here).  I'm aware that burnout is to be avoided, and it's one of my greatest fears.  SO, lessons you've learned, books which have helped you be a better leader, sources for successful sales meetings or anything else you care to share would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you so much

Gail MacMillan - http://www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com

In the past week or so I have had many emails come to my inbox empty.  No from, No subject, no source info.
Just the closed envelope.  I don't think it's any new type of virus, but I am curious how this would happen.  Anyone else seen this or know about it?

p.s. call me weird using OE over Outlook.  One of these days I'll check it out (it's on my computer)

HANDSHAKES  --  aaarrrgggg  --  Are we busy people, uh, I think so.  Do we mostly want to shake hands, uh, I think so.  Do we have time to check "everybody" out, uh, I don't  think so.  I have another P2 website (another topic) and someone blocked me for content - YIKES!!!! blocked content on my Professional Website http://www.HomeSweetHomeFlorida.com.  which is my pride and playful joy.  Literally when I have time to play that is where I go.  Someone in my area, who I happen to have great respect for, docked me once for content.  I emailed and we spoke on the phone.  The brochure I print from the P2 Brochure, had referenced "for pics and VT visit www.etc.  When brought to my attention, It WAS removed. Stupid Question #2 is: how can I find out who blocked, for no reason I'm aware of, and try to come to an understanding?

Feel free to run with this one. We could start the Stupid Question Club (Tee-Hee).  OK - so I've got this great PI Score on P2 (1/2/4 as of 2/22/07). Don't we all look at that Executive Report?  I see the same websites ALL THE TIME - however, I don't see them in the top rankings in the P2/PI World.  WHY IS THAT???????  Are they too busy making money to play the P2/ PI game?  Am I flattered to be #1 in Florida, #2 in the USA, #4 in the P2World - of course I am.  Did I consiously plan this - heck no - didn't even tune in 'till a month ago.  And have I come a long way Baby - yes, because it made me look at the tools that I was not utilizing.  So how nice for me, I'm some kind of SuperStar that has 1/100th (or something) the traffic these Executive Report SuperStars have. My "stupid question" is can someone explain this to me?????
Signed:  FeelingNotSoSpecial-InTitusville,Florida