I’m a big fan of new technologies, and a good app often is a real lifesaver. I am not ashamed to accept any help I can get — especially if the only thing I need to do is tap the “download” button.

I’ve created a list of the five best work-related apps I use every day. These wonderful inventions can help you organize your schedule, remember passwords or keep your paperwork just a click away.

1. DocuSign (available on the Apple Store, Google Play and the Windows Store)

DocuSign is one of the most convenient tools around — for a real estate agent or any other businessperson. It’s easy to use and allows you to sign documents anywhere in the world! The app allows you to do tons of business from the road, which is ideal for any real estate agent — especially if you like to attend real estate conferences as much as I do.

DocuSign works with commonly used file formats (Word, Excel, PDF, text and image files), as well as with the cloud services we already use (Box, Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, OneDrive and more). DocuSign also recognizes and converts PDF form fields so you won’t have to redesign your form from scratch. (This is extremely useful for real estate agents!) All the resulting agreements are stored in the DocuSign cloud, which is encrypted and safe.

2. LastPass (available on the Apple Store, Google Play and the Windows Store)

I cannot imagine how I memorized and them remembered all of my passwords before I found this app. LastPass allows you to safely store all your passwords and access them from any device using just one LastPass login — the master password, which is the only one you need to remember.

If you work with a team, you also can set up a LastPass Enterprise account to secure your company’s assets. As the guys from LastPass point out, the more time your employees spend tracking down passwords and hitting the “password reset” button, the more it costs you in productivity — and in your bottom line.

3. Dropbox (available on the Apple Store, Google Play and the Windows Store)

After you install Dropbox on your computer, any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, smartphones and tablets, as well as to the Dropbox website! You can pack up everything you need in the cloud and access it from any device in the world that has this app installed.

Every time you edit any of the content on your devices, the same change will apply on all the devices where your Dropbox account is open. It’s a definite must for Realtors, who deal with hundreds of documents every day.

4. Waze (available on the Apple Store, Google Play and the Windows Store)

The Waze app helps you bypass traffic and save time and gas money on your commute. It’s very simple: All you have to do is drive with the app open. By doing so, you contribute to traffic reports in real time. If you want to participate more actively, you can report events as you drive by — all hands-free.

This app always calculates the fastest route to your destination based on the information collected. That’s why it’s crucial for as many of your friends as possible to join in so the app has as much information as possible. There also is a feature that allows you to create events and see a live status of your friends or clients as they arrive, for example, at your house party or viewing.

5. The Weather Channel (available on the Apple Store, Google Play and the Windows Store)

This app lets me know what the weather is like, what I need to wear and what the forecast will be. Forecasts include hourly, 36-hour and 10-day options in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

What I really like about this app is that it also gives you a “feels like” temperature. In Canada, this “feels like” reading often is different from the actual temperature. I never go out unprepared.

The feature I’m most excited about is the Social Weather module, where you can share your weather conditions along with photos. The system uses this information to improve its alerts. It’s amazing to be able to help others avoid getting wet!

These are just a few of the most helpful apps that can make your lives easier and boost your productivity. I hope you’re as excited as I am about discovering more of these futuristic tools.

Article curated from Inman

An agent’s ability to network — whether it’s with a mortgage lender or the landscaper — shapes a client’s experience when buying or selling a home and also can determine whether the client will refer or rehire the agent in the future.

Having a strong vendor network can lead to new business. However, meaningful vendor relationships go beyond compiling a list of phone numbers or putting a link on your website.

Here are three basic strategies — and specific suggestions for implementing them — that can strengthen your vendor relationships today and help you earn referrals tomorrow.

1. Interact on social media: Agents often post homes for sale and homes sold to their social media profiles. Likewise, many home maintenance and remodeling professionals post “jobs well-done” to theirs. An agent should be his vendor’s biggest fan. Sharing photos of newly installed cabinets or a finished basement on your page and tagging the vendor puts your favorite vendors in front of a valuable audience. Even more important, it shows your social followers — past and future clients among them — the kind of service they can expect to receive when they hire you as their agent.

2. Meet face to face: Many agents meet clients for coffee or lunch, but when was the last time you offered to do the same with your title lawyer? Keeping in touch with vendors in a meaningful way helps to keep both parties informed of each other’s business and helps you to better anticipate how each vendor will interact with clients, which can pay off down the road as you learn your vendor’s strengths and tap them for the clients who need them the most.

3. Publish a permanently accessible vendor list: Many agents hand out a list of service providers at the point of sale, but these lists get lost. At a minimum, make sure that your clients can access a vendor list on your website. A vendor page or access to a downloadable file means your clients can get in touch with these trusted professionals long after the sale is completed.

Some agents and brokerages offer a more robust online presence for their vendors, including messaging and scheduling capabilities. These features add value to both the vendor and client, so they’re a good investment.

Always remember that exchanging money or goods for referrals is illegal, per RESPA. But strong vendor relationships built on trust, friendship and mutual support lead to more sales from referrals and repeat clients. The bottom line is: When your vendors and clients benefit, so do you.

Article curated from Inman