Contents
1. Reason #238 for an Extranet
2. Westwood Sacks Paper

1. Reason #238 Why You Should Develop an Extranet... In October 1998, Bonz / REA, a Boston real estate advisory services firm, formed a task force to re-design its web site -- to include intranet and extranet features for sharing digital photographs, market analyses, reports, maps and site and building plans. The new site was launched in June 1999 and is currently being used to assist The Limited, Inc. with an $80 million sale-leaseback transaction. According to Bruce Ricciuti, "through the use of our Web Site we are able to effectively coordinate and communicate all aspects of the transaction with each designated party, i.e., seller, investor, lender, advisors, along with all due diligence providers, all contributing to a smooth transaction." ... BTW (computer lingo for "by the way") Wednesday's piece on national firms using extranets generated some lively comments. I'll report more in next Wednesday's Dispatch, August 4.

2. Westwood Sacks Paper Packages... How can the Internet save you time marketing 60 (non-anchored) retail properties? That's the question that Los Angeles-based Westwood Financial Corp. asked itself recently. The solution: Create a web site where potential investors can review all properties for sale and download (in PDF format) pro forma income statements, rent rolls, site maps, pictures and general information. Westwood acts as its own listing agent. To access the information, you must register as either a broker or principal and agree to a Confidentiality Agreement. After you register, Westwood can track exactly what information you download, which enables them to better monitor the sales process. ... Wow, sending paper marketing packages sounds pretty inefficient and old fashioned.

Question... What's your company's most successful use of the Internet? Send e-mail to me , and I'll report in a future Dispatch.

PikeTalk Poll... Last week's poll: Do you send e-mail to your landlord or tenants? Yes: 56 percent, No: 44 percent... Doesn't sound like real estate is a very wired crowd (I know!)... Let's continue the theme with this week's question: Do you send regular e-mail to your clients? ... Vote on the PikeNet home page and see the results instantly.

--Peter