Trick#1: Track Your Email: readnotify.com

Have you ever sent an email and wondered whether the recipient received it? If so here's a great way to track your e-mails and not only find out if it was properly delivered, but also if it was read, how long it was read, if it was forwarded, and if an attachment was opened.

These folks have a neat system that allows you to add a few additional letters to the recipient's e-address. That's it. They take care of the rest. You can even set up a message to self-destruct after it has been read.

This system is a truly glorifies "return receipt" on steroids but it goes way beyond the old standard certified mail and provides you with valuable intelligence.

It's a great way to find out what's going on.

Trick #2: See Where That Short URL Is Taking You

Do you get nervous when an e-mail arrives with one of those funny little URLs to click on? You know, the ones that look like http://tinyurl.com/freestuff32. You can be sure that the link you are looking at is going to end up at a place that is masked in the shortened URL

These folks have come up with a neat little one trick Pony that will quickly show you where you will end up if you click the little suspect link - before you click. Just paste the shortened URL into the box - click - and Shazam - your eventual destination is revealed without exposing you to the possibly nefarious villains.

Most shortened links are legitimate, but if not, this little service could save your neck.

Great Place #1: Sell Your Junk At The Best Price

We'll bet you have a bunch of old electronic gadgets and devices in a box or stored someplace around the house or office. We'll bet, too, that sometimes you scratch your head and wonder why you're keeping these old cell phones, iPods, calculators, camcorders, laptops, monitors, etc.

This great place will help you clear some space - and maybe add a few shekels to your bank account. You simply enter the name and model of the product and its general condition. When this neat program searches, quick as a wink, you'll get a list of the companies that will buy your heirlooms and the price they'll pay. And, if no one will pay you for your trash, they'll give you a list of local places where you can have it recycled.

Clean up - either way.

Great Place #2: Convert Files -- No New Software

Every once in a while you may want to convert a file to a different format. For example from a Word document to a PDF file. Here's the hitch - often we need special (and sometimes costly) software to accomplish this.

To help you with this, these nice folks let us upload our file to their special on-line program where they automatically convert it to whatever file format you choose. Then they email it right back to using the format we requested. They will also provide you with web browser button so you can convert files from all your favorite websites with a click. The free version will handle all but the largest files.

Nice to know that service is there. It's quick and easy and, unless you need to convert lots of files on a regular basis, you can save some big bucks. And, oh yes, it's with their compliments.

Copies of all previous "Real Estate CyberTips" columns complete with all direct links are available at REcyber.com

Published: November 8, 2010

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

John M. "Jack" Peckham is the Executive Director of REcyber.com (the Real Estate CyberSpace Society). In that capacity he oversees the development and delivery of the latest up to the minute Real Estate Cyberspace tools, strategies, networking structures and services that the Society provides its members to leverage their effectiveness, visibility, professionalism and earnings. As host of Real Estate CyberSpace Radio, he provides over 40 hours of programming to help listeners integrate the power of the Internet into their daily business lives. He is the author of several real estate books published by Prentice Hall and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich including his latest Master Guide to Income Property Brokerage from Wiley Publishing. A columnist for the Boston Herald for nine years, his syndicated columns have appeared in over 100 papers nationwide. Jack loves to sell real estate has been involved directly in the sale of over one billion dollars in Real Estate. Today he sells in his jeans and fuzzy slippers as a one-man shop and has closed over $40,000,000 in sales on the Internet recently in 20% of his working time. The balance he spends directing the affairs of the 10,000 member Real Estate CyberSpace Society. The Society awards the RECS (Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist) Designation to members based on the current criteria. He served as Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), is a Past President of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and has been honored as the Massachusetts State Realtor of the Year. You can reach Jack at or by calling 617-523-4441.