Frequently Asked Questions
>> Why do I need a special software program for commercial brokerage?
>> Why is REA 9 so much better than ACT! or Outlook?
>> Why have I never heard of REA?
>> How long has REA been in business?
>> Who uses REA?
>> Can
I access the REA database remotely?
>> Will REA data be available on my Blackberry, iPhone or other PDA?
>> Does REA 9 work with Outlook email?
>> What does REA 9 cost?
>> Can I import my existing data?
>> How much time does it take to learn REA 9 ?
>> How do I get started?
>> What does REA stand for?
>> Exactly what is REA 9 ?
>> What kind of results can I expect?
>> What will I need to run REA?
>> What if I have a question?
>> Do you offer training?
>> Your question not answered here?
Q: Why do I need a special software program for commercial brokerage?
A: Commercial brokerage has many things in common with any sales position but what makes it unique is the connections among and between properties, owners, investors, tenants and so on.REA 9 allows you to create the relationships you want with hyperlinks between records.REA 9 works they way you think because it was developed solely for use by commercial brokers.
Q: Why is REA 9 so much better than ACT! or Outlook?
- REA was specifically designed for commercial real estate brokers by commercial brokers.
- REA has all the features of ACT!, plus the ability to create your own links between records and a complete property database.
- REA keeps your clients up-to-date and excited with its exclusive Project Marketing reports. No other program has this.
- REA connects seamlessly to Outlook, keeping your contacts and schedule up to date on your smart phone.
- REA tracks all of your sent and received emails and automatically attaches them to the contact and company. No other software can do that.
Outlook is not a contact manager as even Microsoft will tell you. It is software for amateurs, not professional brokers. It is a great e-mail program. ACT! is only a general purpose contact manager, not designed for commercial brokers.
REA 9 is a contact manager combined with links to properties. REA makes your daily life easier for cold calling, email marketing and gives you a tremendous advantage for listing presentations.
Q: Why have I never heard of REA?
A: The main reason is that will never be found in a retail store like Best Buy. We have always sold the REA program direct to the end user.
Q: How long has REA been in business?
A: REA was founded in 1984 when the IBM PC first shipped. The founder, Tim Creagh was a commercial broker working with a partner and was frustrated by the fact that they could not keep track of who they called and consequently were stepping on each other’s toes. Tim had done some programming and decided to write a database program containing contact and properties that could be shared by multiple users. Today, we are on version 9 of that vision.
Q: Who uses REA?
A: Our client base consists of over 80,000 brokers from all sizes of firms.
We also have many boutique firms of 3-10 brokers. Our reach extends all over the world to offices in Canada, Russia, China, Africa, Australia, India and the Ukraine to name a few.
Below is a partial list of companies with REA licenses:
CB Richard Ellis
Century 21
Coldwell Banker Commercial
Colliers International
Grubb & Ellis
CORE Network
CORFAC International
CRESA Partners
Cushman & Wakefield
DTZ Barnicke
ECP Commercial
ERA
Gebroe Hammer
Greiner-Maltz
GVA
Hotel Brokers
International
Jones Lang LaSalle
Keller Williams
Lee & Associates
Liberty Property Trust
Lincoln Property Company
Marcus & Millichap
Massey Knakal
NAI Global
Newmark Knight Frank
ONCOR International
Prudential
RE/MAX
Royal LePage
RREEF
Sperry Van Ness
Studley
TCN Worldwide
The Staubach Company
Trammell Crow Company
Transwestern
Windermere
Q: Can I access the REA database remotely?
A: Yes there are several methods. The most common is a VPN (virtual private network) connection. It works this way: With an internet connection, you click an icon on your desktop to launch a direct connection to the computer where the REA database is hosted. When you start REA, you are connected via the VPN to that database. See our web site for other connection options.
Q: Will REA data be available on my Blackberry, iPhone or other PDA?
A: One of the outstanding benefits of using REA is its tight integration with Outlook. REA synchronizes the contacts and calendars in both programs. So, you synchronize REA and Outlook and then Outlook sends the REA data to your PDA of any sort, BlackBerry, Treo, Windows Mobile or iPhone.
Q: Does REA 9 work with Outlook email?
A: Yes! It is one of the aspects o REA 9 that our users love. REA 9 attaches a copy of all outgoing and optionally, all incoming e-mails to contacts and/or companies whether they are sent via REA or from Outlook. If you unfortunately lost all your Outlook data, it would still be in REA 9.
Q: What does REA 9 cost?
A: Our single user license is $695. Your investment includes 1 year of comprehensive technical support, all web training seminars and product updates. You own the software and no other fees are ever required. Some people ask us why REA 9 is higher priced than other software programs. The answer is that specialized tools always cost more. A racing car is more expensive than a pickup and REA 9 is the fastest program on the track! In addition, we constantly update our software with suggestions from our partners, (you).
>> Click here for multi-user and bulk purchase pricing, call us toll free at 888-290-5770. Or e-mail us at sales@gorea.com.
Q: Can I Import my existing data?
A: Any data that can be saved in an Excel spreadsheet can be imported into REA. That includes contacts, properties and so on. In addition REA has automated import functions from Outlook, ACT! 6.0 and REA 8. The link below provides video presentations on how to import data into REA 9 . >> Click here to see our video lessons.
Q: How much time does it take to learn REA 9 ?
A: That depends on you. If you have used another contact manager, it will take very little time to use REA 9. Some users become proficient in 30 days by using REA9 every day and leaving it open on their desktop. We offer a weekly Getting Started web session so that you can get over the learning curve immediately. Plus, we add to our video training library on a regular basis.
Q: How do I get started?
A: Contact us either by email at support@gorea.com or 858-729-0154 and ask for support and we will assist you by logging into your computer and getting REA installed, connecting to Outlook e-mail and importing your contacts from Outlook, ACT! 6.0 or REA 8. The trial version of REA 9 will perform for 30 days from the install and if you become a customer, all your work is accessible. As a partner, our firm provides you with 1 year of technical support, free program upgrades and access to our web training. We are committed to doing everything we can to make you successful with REA 9 .
Q: What does REA stand for?
A: Real Estate Assistant. Our program is your best virtual assistant you could ever have.
Q: Exactly what is REA 9 ?
A: REA 9 is a property/client tracking system created for the commercial real estate industry. REA goes far beyond the functions of a generic contact manager by integrating property information and linking it to contact records for owners, sellers, agents, vendors, and tenants. REA is the only complete solution for commercial real estate professionals and works more like a >> Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) than a simple contact manager.
>> Test Drive REA right now. Download FULL program for FREE!
Q: What kind of results can I expect?
A: With REA you can create a comprehensive property and contact database. You can quickly produce marketing pieces, sale or lease comp reports and find buyers, tenants or properties that match your needs. You can share information as you see fit and keep information that is sensative private. REA will get results faster and with less effort than anything else you can find for commercial real estate professionals.
Q: What will I need to run REA?
A: Here are the system requirements forREA 9 :
- Minimum 266 MHz processor (Pentium III or higher recommended)
- Minimum 256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM or higher recommended)
- Minimum 300 MB of available hard disk space
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows 2000 Server
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- CD-ROM drive
- SVGA (800x600) or higher resolution monitor
- For systems with 5 or more users, a full version of Microsoft SQL server is highly recommended.
Q: What if I have a question?
A: Here are three ways to get answers:
1. Use the REA Manual
You can find answers to many of your questions in the REA Manual (go to the Help Menu in the REA program) and the REA Help System (F1 while in REA).
2. Call or e-mail us
Registered REA users can e-mail questions to our technical support staff at support@gorea.com.
Or you can call our support hotline at (858) 729-0154 Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Q: Do you offer training?
A: We certainly do! We provide On-Site Training and Online Training. The following information will help you decide which of these options is right for you:
On-Site Training
Since REA has many features for commercial real estate that other generic contact manager programs don't have, here's an opportunity to become an REA power user in a hurry!
You'll be amazed at how quickly and logically the REA program functions, and how it can streamline your business.
We have 3 different sessions available that can be customized for your needs:
- 1/2 Day (4 Hours, $1,000.00 plus travel expenses)
- 1 Full Day (7 Hours, $1,500.00 plus travel expenses)
- 1 1/2 Day ($2,300.00 plus travel expenses)
All sessions are presented by Tim Creagh, the creator of REA.
To schedule your On-Site Training, please send an e-mail to tim@gorea.com, or call us tollfree at 888-290-5770.
Online Training
Learn REA without leaving your desk! Our trainers can connect directly to your monitor and personally teach you how to use REA.
These sessions are tailored around your needs and are billed by the hour. Hourly charge for online training runs $200/hour.
To schedule your Online Training, please send an e-mail to tim@gorea.com, or call us tollfree at 888-290-5770.
Online Webinars
Another way to learn REA without leaving your desk! Open free to new customers for 1 year, or to those with a current maintenance contract. Check out our >> webinar schedule.
Q: Your question not answered here?
A: >> Chat with us now (7:00am - 5:00pm PDT, Monday - Friday (except holidays)).
