Trick #1: What Many Companies Hide From Their Customers

Here's the information so many companies try to hide from their customers --- how to get help once the sale is made. Usually you want help when you want it - and when you need it. But these rascals make it darn near impossible to find a phone number. Given that, how'd you like to have a valet that knew everything anyone would ever want to know about reaching customer phone support and help lines - and even how to short cut the automated messages to get right through to a human being?

Just go to this neat place and you've got it. It's like reaching a giant private Rolodex that contains often hidden support line information on a wide range of companies. Just about any field you would ever want is included such as: automotive, financial services, government, health and medicine, internet, media, phone companies, shipping, shopping, travel, and utilities.

We'll grant that there are some good guys out there who don't make it close to impossible to find their support phone numbers (did you ever notice that their SALES numbers are always very prominent?) But, when you're dealing with the rascals, this free place is a great time and aggravation saver.

Trick #2: Get Rid of the Creep

How many times have you had a great photo of yourself - but your EX sweetheart (or someone you don't remember) is standing right next to you and regular cropping would leave a fraction of your real self. Or maybe you have the best picture ever taken of you and your current sweetheart but someone right behind you just gave you rabbit ears.

Now you can "erase" all sorts of stuff from digital photos merely by "painting" over the object, and letting the program recreate the lost detail using "image regularization". This neat program amazingly recreates the lost detail. It also does a good job of eliminating the surprising thumb that sometimes ends up in the corner of your vacation snaps.

Quick. Easy. On the house.

Great Place #1: Browse The Human Body

If you use Google's Chrome Browser you're in for a treat. Now you can navigate the human body in an almost eerie way. The folks at Google Labs came up with this very unique on-line program allows you to take a virtual travel through a detailed 3D model of the human body.

You can peel back anatomical layers, zoom in, and navigate to parts that interest you. Just click to explore male or female anatomy. Then you can search and isolate muscles, organs, bones, nerve systems and more. You can also share the exact scene you are viewing by copying and pasting the corresponding URL.

Great for students - but equally intriguing to all.

Great Place #2: Win The Shelf Life Argument

At one time or another we'll bet that you've had an argument about shelf life of food in the refrigerator or freezer. How is it that a food as creamy as peanut butter can sit for months and months on pantry shelves without going bad?

This neat place has all of the answers. Here you can look up shelf life and storage information about any food. Just pick a food item from the products tab and - Shazam - everything you ever wanted to know about its shelf life appears - plus more on labels & packaging, safety & handling, safety & preparation along with even more on storage.

Now you can win the argument - but be sure you check here first to confirm that you are right.

Copies of all previous "Real Estate CyberTips" columns complete with all direct links are available at www.REcyber.com/reintelligence/cybertips.html.

Published: May 23, 2011

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.