Technology has taken the real estate industry by storm in the last decade or so, with brokers and agents now using email and ecommerce to expedite transactions and expand their businesses. Real estate experts with no technical experience can take advantage of these new tools with a little help from tech-savvy colleagues.

Linda Wasson, who had a successful career in the corporate world of real estate, now runs her own company, VirtualizedOffice.com, which provides administrative, marketing, and Internet support services to real estate professionals. Linda officially launched VirtualizedOffice.com in October 2006, but she had been planning the business for over five years. She knew that she'd need a well-designed, easy-to-use website to provide information on her business to prospective clients and technology support to existing clients.

In the early years of establishing VirtualizedOffice.com, Linda worked with various web design applications and hosting services. While these all work well for novice web developers, they didn't offer the breadth and depth of functionality and services that Linda needed as her business grew. When she discovered Homestead's Design Services and SiteBuilder, Storefront, and SearchLight applications, she was amazed by the variety and sophistication of the design options and tools available to her.

"Homestead enables me to customize projects for my clients without reinventing the wheel - or breaking the bank. Every time I want to add a new element or feature to my site or a client's site, it seems like Homestead is a step ahead of me. The website information, online tutorials, and tech support are excellent."

"With Homestead, I can easily provide an extensive array of website development options such as interactive online forms, onboard tools, flash technology, and integration with other sites. I also appreciate the comprehensive web traffic activity reports and the ability to brand every site I build with the name of my company. It's reassuring to know that as both my business and the Internet marketing needs of my clients grow, Homestead already has the products, services, and systems in place to support me."

Linda markets her company through direct mail tri-fold brochures and flyers, in-person presentations, and networking within several professional organizations. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to "test the water, and then, if you have identified a market, give yourself the green light and go for it. The transition from corporate employee to entrepreneur is a little daunting, but it's also exciting and fulfilling."

She adds that working from a home-based office can be full of distractions, but entrepreneurs can meet this challenge by developing disciplined work habits and monitoring their progress toward set goals, preferably in writing. She also recommends scheduling time every week to create opportunities for new business through marketing.

"When expanding to the web, look for a web hosting service that can grow with your business. A significant investment of your time and money is required in offline advertising and activities to drive customers to your site. Outgrowing an Internet partner can place a real stumbling block in your path to success, negatively affecting both your productivity and client satisfaction. Homestead's variety and quality of services aligned nicely with the long-range plans I have for my business."

For more information on Virtualized Office, please visit www.VirtualizedOffice.com, or contact Linda Wasson at .