a la mode to give away 2005 Mercedes Roadster at NAR to promote newly expanded product line

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — In what promises to be one of the biggest draws at the annual National Association of REALTORS® 2004 Conference and Expo Nov. 5 – 8 in Orlando, a la mode is giving some lucky agent their very own silky gray, two-seat 2005 Mercedes SLK 350 convertible.

The giveaway celebrates the debut of several new marketing, productivity, mobility, and listings presentation tools, which a la mode will be introducing at the show.

“Last year, we gave away a new Mercedes CLK convertible, and our booth was absolutely swamped” a la mode Product Manager Rusty Lindquist said. “This year, we chose the Mercedes SLK because it’s a brand new model for 2005, and it embodies the same high standards and cutting edge design as our software.  And just as they know that Mercedes produces everything from off-road vehicles to these sleek roadsters, they’ll likewise see that we’re not just a website company either.”

Among the new products being introduced is XSellerate, a daily productivity, marketing, and customer relationship management suite. XSellerate manages a busy salesperson’s schedule, contacts, follow-ups, communications, and ongoing marketing campaigns.  The company designed it as an ideal upgrade for users frustrated with Homestore’s Top Producer system or FNIS’ Agent Office software.

Also being added to the a la mode product line is Agent XSites Mobile. From any wireless Internet-enabled device, such as a PDA or most new cell phones, agents can read all of their e-mail, write and send messages in “real time” as though they were at their desktop, view and edit their schedules, manage listings on their XSites, and get instant notification as new leads generated by XSellerate are captured on their XSite.

a la mode’s revolutionary new XSites eSignature system, which allows every agent and broker to give their clients online, secure, digital document signing, will also be unveiled at the conference.  A boon especially to relocation specialists – who normally endure days of delays, potential “cold feet”, and significant expense sending paper documents via overnight courier – the online signature system allows buyers, sellers, and agents to sign any document in PDF format electronically, instantly, even when separated by thousands of miles.

The interactive, Flash-based listings system for which Agent XSites have become famous is also being introduced as a standalone product for inclusion in any third-party website.  Known as Listings XPress, any agent can link it into their own site with a single line of code, yet have all the multimedia property tours, visual property parameter searches, street mapping, and IDX connectivity of the full Agent XSites system.

“It’s perfect for someone who’s invested a lot of money in a custom site and doesn’t want to start over, yet sees that our Agent XSites have much more inviting listings searches and presentations than their existing site”, commented Lindquist.

a la mode will also introduce a new, even more robust version of its flagship Agent XSites complete website system, with a completely new wizard design, enhanced interactivity features, and vastly improved listings management.

XSites have rapidly become the system of choice for agents nationwide seeking to capture Internet-savvy buyers and sellers, who can spot the “old technology” feel of most real estate sites instantly and move on to the next agent when they do.  XSites, to the contrary, are loaded with the newest technology, creating an instant comfort level for these high-spending, quick-moving clients.

“The beauty of our Agent XSites are that they all run on our XML-based engine behind the scenes.  When we upgrade the engine, every one of our more than 4,000 clients gets the new features with no disruption of their site.  Web sites built on older technologies simply can’t do that, and as a result, agents using those sites are left further and further behind the advance of Internet technology.  Unfortunately, their buyers and sellers know it, and they look elsewhere”, Lindquist said.

Registering for a chance to win the Mercedes takes just a few minutes, Lindquist noted, and there are no strings attached.  Any agent may register at the a la mode booth at the show or by going online to www.alamode.com.

###

About a la mode

Founded in 1985, a la mode develops desktop tools, mobile tools, web sites for real estate professionals, mortgage brokers, and appraisers. a la mode’s flagship product, WinTOTAL form-filling software for appraisers leads the residential appraisal industry.  a la mode’s Mercury Network, a vendor management platform for lenders, provides the most experienced local appraisers in an HVCC-compliant, easy-to-use loan ordering and management application. a la mode’s mission-critical products are used by hundreds of thousands of appraisers, agents, inspectors, and lending professionals to complete the nation’s real estate transactions.  The company’s state-of-the-art offices are located in Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, and Washington, DC.  To learn more, visit www.alamode.com.