How to Use C.A.R.’s New Site

By Rick Broida

If you’ve ever seen an episode of one of those home improvement shows, you know that the best part is when the homeowners get their first look at their newly redesigned room. You might feel the same way when you see C.A.R.’s new Web site. The designers gutted the old one, leaving only the URL (car.org), and replaced the interior with new colors, a new layout, and loads of useful new features. Let’s take a tour.

Media >> At the top of the left-hand column (pictured above), you’ll see the Media section. This is where you’ll find a library of videos, blogs, and other media. You’ll need to be a C.A.R. member to access some of this content, but any videos embedded on the home page are fair game. The clips will come from various media sources and focus on real estate-related topics. Also in the works: a C.A.R. podcast library.

Content >> The center column (pictured above) rounds up links to a daily dose of news, reports, and information—click the headline or the “More” link to read the full story. If you’re interested in what your fellow real estate professionals are reading, click the Most Bookmarked button. One of the site’s best new features is personalized bookmarks, as discussed in the next section.

Bookmarks >> Bookmarks are Web 101: When you find a page or site you like, you bookmark it for later viewing. The new C.A.R. site takes that idea one step further, offering site-specific bookmarks: When you find a piece of content you like, you can click the “Bookmark” link (which appears in a new toolbar alongside Print and E-Mail) to add it to your personal collection. When you return to the C.A.R. site and sign in, you’ll see your bookmarks neatly organized in the gray box below the search bar. Click any link to load the corresponding story; click on any of your bookmarked links to revisit the story or save for future reference.

Quick Links >> Look to the far right-hand column and you’ll find the Quick Links box, which is home to an assortment of useful links. By default, the box lists various tools, such as WINForms® (both Online and Desktop), Clarus REsource™, and Relay Transaction Management®. Click the “Brokers” bar to find broker-specific links, the “Consumers” bar for information for home buyers and sellers, and the “Members” bar for info on new members, benefits, committee appointments, and so on. Many of these links also are found within the navigation bar at the top of the C.A.R. home page, but, like the box says, they’re assembled here for quick access.

As you explore the new site, you’ll notice that the Quick Links box also appears on every main section page.

Calendar >> Below Quick Links resides the C.A.R. calendar, which provides a month-at-a-glance overview of current and upcoming education events, industry events, and local association meetings. Click any date to get the details regarding whatever’s scheduled for that date. Click on a highlighted day, and an important feature, the “View By” function, becomes visible. This feature, located just below the calendar, allows you to sort corresponding events by day, week, or month. On the left side of the screen are the expanded descriptions of the upcoming events.

Members Only >> Like the old sales pitch goes, membership has its advantages. C.A.R. members get to access special areas of the site, including the aforementioned real-estate forms software WINForms®, various economics research data (including housing stats like median prices/sales), access to the Newsline podcast, and most of the items found in the legal section: Q&As, real estate law information, standard forms information, and so on.

A Member Profile is generated automatically, but members also have the option of enhancing their own Web default page and profile—information that will appear when consumers and/or other REALTORS® use the site’s “Find a REALTOR®” tool. Consumers can link to your C.A.R. profile from Realtor.com’s “Find a REALTOR® White Pages” link. To get started with your C.A.R. listing, log into the site and click the “Manage Your Profile” link in the Bookmarks box.

Other New Enhancements

• Improved search functionality, including section-specific searches and the ability to search for “related pages.”

• C.A.R. now can send you Red Alerts and updates regarding events and membership-related information.

• Faster membership validation process.

• Easier login information retrieval, including via text message.

• Easier to use print, e-mail, and download capabilities.

• Multiple RSS feed options, including content-specific feeds.

• You can share an article with others by submitting it to the major social networking sites.

Rick Broida is a freelance writer and a contributor to numerous outlets including Wired Magazine, CNET, Family PC, and Popular Science; he also is the author of How to Do Everything with Your Palm Powered Handheld, 6th Edition.