The stock market’s biggest ‘unicorn’ failure

Investors have rained cash on Uber, Airbnb and other unprofitable companies.

Any one of these 15 money-losing companies could become the stock market’s biggest ‘unicorn’ failure ever.

David Rush holds a Guinness world record for cramming 100 candles into his mouth and lighting them. 

Sandeep Singh Kaila spun a basketball on a toothbrush for a record 1 minute and 8.15 seconds. Neville Sharp emitted a 112.4 decibel burp.

If those zany stunts can make it into the Guinness Book of World Records, there should be a category for something really important — the world’s biggest startup company failure.

There is certainly no shortage of contenders for this dubious honor.

Before 2015, the biggest bankruptcies (by funding) were Solyndra ($1.2 billion), Abound Solar ($614 million), and Better Place ($675 million). 

WebVan got a lot of publicity when it received $275 million in venture capital funding and failed in 2001 after three years of operation. More recently, Theranos received $500 million in venture capital funding and was a well-publicized disaster, with CEO Elizabeth Holmes and president Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani both convicted of multiple counts of fraud.

Those failures are large, but the cumulative losses of many startups that have not yet gone bankrupt are orders of magnitude larger. 

The table below shows the funds raised by the 15 biggest money-losing startups in the U.S. Cumulatively they raised $93.8 billion in startup funds and have lost $135.1 billion.

Only one of these 15 companies has ever had a profitable quarter — Airbnb had a $378 million profit on $2.1 billion in revenue in the second quarter of 2022. 

All of the other startups in the table have recent losses that exceed 10% of revenue and most exceed 30%.

Any hopeful arguments that profitability is just around the corner ring hollow when every company is at least nine years old and two are more than 20 years old. 

At some point, investors will say, “Enough is enough” and realize that it is a sunk-cost fallacy to throw good money after bad.

Eleven of the 15 companies in the table have raised more money than was raised by any bankrupt startup. 

The two biggest losers so far are Uber and WeWork.

So far, Uber has cumulative losses of $31.7 billion and WeWork $20.7 billion, with no end in sight. Uber’s stock price is down about 35% from its 52-week high. WeWork is down 71% and is now officially a penny stock.

Losses have to be financed and it is increasingly difficult for these companies to do so. 

Uber has cumulative losses of $31.7 billion  and WeWork $20.7 billion. Most of these so-called unicorn startups have seen their share prices fall more than 50% in the past year, and many of these stocks are down more than 90%. 

Most of these so-called unicorn startups have seen their share prices fall more than 50% in the past year, and many of these stocks are down more than 90%. WeWork isn’t the only unicorn turning into a penny stock.

These stock-price declines will make it increasingly difficult and expensive to issue more stock in order to raise funds to cover ongoing losses. Meanwhile, rising interest rates are increasing the cost of servicing existing debt and making it difficult and expensive to issue even more debt.

Many unicorns will surely soon go bankrupt or be acquired at fire-sale prices. A failure of Uber or WeWork would be 10 times larger than the previous records for lost venture-capital funding.

A wave of unicorn failures would send tremors through financial markets, but it is unlikely that the federal government would use a “too-big-too-fail” excuse to intervene.

Although the startups in the table are U.S. companies, unicorn startups in other countries have similar problems: European startups (Delivery Hero DHER, -0.90%, Deliveroo ROO, –2.44%, and Wise WISE, -0.78% ); Chinese ones (Didi DIDIY, -5.50%, Kuaishou 1024, -3.44%, Billi Billi , and Pinduoduo PDD, -2.60% ); Indian ones (Ola , Paytm , and Zomato 543320, -1.29% ), and Singaporean ones (Grab and SEA ) also have multi-billion dollar cumulative losses. 

New records among unicorn companies will likely soon be set all over the world — but they won’t be as benign as records for candle stuffing, basketball spinning, and burping.


This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of overwrite.ai and its owners.

Jeffrey Lee Funk and Gary Smith writes for Market Watch.

This story has been published from an article on 14th September 2022, without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


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Top 10 Most Cringeworthy Real Estate Typos

Everyone makes typos. Even the best writers get caught out. But when real estate agents are entrusted to sell properties worth millions of dollars, there really is no excuse for not paying attention to the smallest detail. 

Especially with the range of technologies out there that can help. Some blunders you simply can’t ignore. 

The ones that cause clients to doubt an agent’s professionalism, and reflect poorly on the agency they represent. These typos are very awkward because they are so very public.

One place where these awkward misprints are usually found is in a property’s public listing description.

Any experienced agent will tell you that the property writeup is a critical part of the listing process. An engaging description will not only set you apart from other agents and their marketing. It will serve to hook prospective leads and set you up with that all-important client relationship.

We’ve assembled a list of the most common slip-ups found in real estate write-ups.

Forget embarrassing Typos: use an AI writing assistant

Cut To Bloopers

1. SEPERATE …

Don’t be the reason to build a wall between you and your client – it should be ‘separate’

2. ACCOMODATION …

It’s a mouthful alright – it should be ‘accommodation’

3. FORMALLY…

Remember who said it first – it should be ‘formerly‘ 

4. PRINCIPLE…

Principles are for theoretical physicists. For foremost features – it should be ‘principal‘

5. DUEL …

Let’s hope there are no fights to settle – it should be ‘dual’

6. SORT AFTER …

If you want to remain in demand, don’t make this mistake – it should be ‘sought-after’

7. STAINLESS STEAL …

Best to not get in trouble with the law – it should be ‘steel’

8. INDEPENDANT …

Sloppy errors will have you singled out – it should be ‘independent’

9. EXTENTION …

Is this really the ‘extent’ of your spelling skills? – it should be ‘extension’

10. VOLTED …

You could be in for a shock if you get this one wrong – when it should be ‘vaulted’

Saving Face

Whilst we’re all human and make mistakes, clients are within their rights to expect their agent to cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’ when transacting their home.

Sometimes the typos or grammos go unnoticed but many of them do not.

Although they may appear trivial, research has shown they can have a real impact on your credibility as a professional agent. There are plenty of other agents a client can choose from so why give them an excuse to shop around.

Grammar Rules in Real Estate

Real-estate agents better take out that red pen. An article in The Wall Street Journal quoted that:

“It’s not just English teachers who notice misspellings in luxury-home listings; typos and missing commas can slow sales and drag down prices.

An analysis of listings priced at $1 million and up shows that “perfect” listings—written in full sentences without spelling or grammatical errors—sell three days faster and are 10% more likely to sell for more than their list price.”

Sanette Tanaka
Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Write better, read better, sell faster

And for the estate agents reading this, there are some great efficiency tools to help you. Intelligently automated writing assistants like overwrite.ai mean agents no longer have to worry about silly typos or bad grammar. The agent enters the key property particulars using the intuitive, user-friendly platform, and the property description is created in seconds.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

MENA’s Biggest AI Event Pulls in Top Entrepreneurs

Leading AI and Tech Entrepreneurs gather in a few weeks to discuss innovation and investment, at the Middle East’s biggest technology event.

AI Everything aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the state of AI technology and it’s long-term potential, while spotlighting rising stars.

And overwrite.ai Founder and CEO Ayman Alashkar, will be speaking across 3 days of exciting panels with fellow visionaries from a range of industries.

Did you know that each year the global real estate industry wastes more than 16 million hours, and US$2.5 Billion, manually writing real estate marketing content?  That’s enough to make 625 thousand trips to the Moon and back.   

overwrite.ai has fixed that. We are a leading AI writing assistant for the real estate industry. An efficiency tool. Augmenting human capability by instantly creating localised, high-quality Real Estate marketing content.   

And we are doing to the property marketing industry, what Docusign has done for document management. Total disruption.

“Dubai is epitomised by its passion for growth and innovation.

The AI Everything event puts Dubai on the map, highlighting the region’s enormous talent pool and potential.

Ayman Alashkar, CEO & Founder, overwrite.ai

A real estate economist and AI strategist with +20years’ experience as an asset manager, investor, developer and banker, Ayman founded the business in 2020.

To learn more about us and our ground breaking technology, meet us at Za’abeel Hall 7, stand P-B126.

We’re giving away 15 FREE 5-day passes. Email us at contact@overwrite.ai for the chance to win your FREE GUEST PASS.

Meet the rising tech entrepreneurs at AI Everything and North Star

Ayman will be taking part in 3 brilliant panel sessions. Watch him on

10th October @ the 10x Stage

Panel Discussion: Funding Winter? Availability and levels from seed to C today

  • Is the pool of cash for startups drying up and why? 
  • Pre-seed and seed challenges and how to get around them 
  • Bootstrapping pros and cons 
  • So you’re on your way: series B, series C buy in trends and downrounds 
  • Are any verticals bucking the trend or more less impacted at least? 

Moderator: Aby Sam Thomas, Editor in Chief, Entrepreneur Middle East (AE) 

Panelists: 

12th October @ the Rising Stage

Panel Discussion: Insight & Experience: Spreading inspiration and innovation – the ripple effect of successful ventures   

  • Build a business, birth a sector 
  • Sink or swim – when you swim, you swim far and wide 
  • Better than an MBA, the school of doing  
  • Inspiring and enabling leaders, defining new sectors, creating prosperity 
  • Stories from those who have flown the nest 

Panelists: 

Hear from leading tech startup entrepreneurs at #AiEverything and #NorthStar

13th October @ the Pitch Stage

Panel Discussion: What is prop-tech? The length and breadth of this sector and solutions 

  • Why has prop-tech not been in the spotlight as much as other “smart” products and services? 
  • What kinds of efficiencies and opportunities does prop-tech offer various stakeholders? 
  • Overview of our panelists propositions 
  • Imagining the future of the property market leveraging the latest and emerging prop-tech 

Panelists: 


Win one of 15 FREE 5-day passes that we’re giving away. Email us at contact@overwrite.ai for the chance to win your FREE GUEST PASS.



For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

Real Estate Agent insults buyer with emoji and loses deal 😂

Real estate agent responded with laughing emojis to an A$2.6million offer.

An Aussie real estate agent has been slammed for sending a laughing emoji in response to a potential buyer’s offer for a multi million-dollar property in Sydney.

In a text message exchange shared on Reddit, the agent asked the potential buyer to give him an offer he could ‘work with’ for the property.

The buyer responded with an offer of A$ 2.6million dollars and a 14-day settlement period, only to be told by the agent the figure was laughable and ‘wouldn’t fly’.  

‘I just sold (another property) for about A$ 2.7million, on 695 square metres,’ the agent replied, adding insult with a second laughing emoji. 

How the dialogue played out…

The bidder politely replied that while the emoji didn’t offend them, it might insult other customers.

‘I don’t  mind the laughing emoji but others may not appreciate it. Thanks anyway. Good luck,’ he wrote.

‘No disrespect intended,’ the agent replied.  

‘An escort rejecting your mother’s credit card has more professionalism than this. Keep it up Sydney Real Estate!’ Posted the prospective home buyer alongside a screenshot of the message exchange.

Not The Only One

The post was flooded with stories of other shocking behaviour from other real estate agents.

One person said their real estate agent used their open home to throw himself a birthday party. 

Here’s how it went:

‘He posted on Facebook ‘Hey guys, come on down this open house, it’s my birthday, let’s party!’ the person wrote.

‘I confronted him about what in the f**k he was doing, ‘Aw, I was just having some fun’.

‘Same thing happened to us bidding on a house. It was listed for “offers over A$ 610k” and we offered A$ 615k over the phone. The agent just laughed,’ another said.

‘A toddler pretending to be a real estate agent would do a better job than this,’ one said. 

Say What?

How far have you gone with your responses to “silly” client offers? We’d love to hear in the comments below!


This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of overwrite.ai and its owners. 

Eliza McPhee is a writer for Daily Mail, Australia

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

Are we at the dawn of the AI-created city?

Design pioneers and architectural AI visionaries have long thought about automating the creation of our environments. Now the technology is catching up to their ideas.

A radical shift into AI-assisted design is taking hold, with implications that could radically transform the feel and function of the places we inhabit.

Completely automated design is not quite there yet. This crop of generative, AI-assisted tools is rather new. But there are signs that we could be on the cusp of a revolution in how our buildings and cities are created.

Will these begin to take on a homogeneous shape, recognisable as AI-planned spaces? And is this the beginning of the ‘copy-and-pasted’ city – or do we already inhabit those, with the identical new-build properties that seem to crop up everywhere? 

A(I) Helping Hand 

Advocates argue that AI-based city design could remove burdensome manual labour, allowing architects, designers and planners to focus on creativity.

On the other hand, could AI accelerate more of the same – a ruthlessly efficient approach to stuffing more people into buildings and maximising rents. Whatever happens, AI assisted design appears set to radically change the future of architecture.

And nudging this AI-assisted world into reality are new tools backed by Silicon Valley, such as Delve, owned by Google subsidiary Sidewalk Labs, and SpaceMaker, which was recently acquired by computer-aided design giant Autodesk for $240m (£196m).

Future of Architecture

Unlike the painstakingly crafted line-by-line processes normally associated with architecture proposals, these tools allow the user to view and play with a huge range of variables – prioritising or adjusting nuances we may take for granted, like noise levels, temperature or window views – and then generating design options.

With the traditional approach, planning teams are limited by their time and their tools.

But by using AI-assisted tools, planners can explore hundreds, if not thousands of options, with their subtle differences illustrated on a 3D map so various stakeholders can view progress or collaborate as plans evolve.

SpaceMaker co-founder and CEO Håvard Haukeland says that AI assisted design can virtually eliminate what those in the industry colourfully term ‘Oh Sh*t Moments’: when a design has already been fixed, but the team had forgotten to carry out essential tasks like noise analysis, thereby potentially setting project deadlines back – sometimes quite literally to the drawing board.

Putting it into Context

But it’s not without its complexities or drawbacks. With all the variables, location-specific considerations, the context-dependent nature of floorplans for example, and the algorithmically impossible-to-pin-down overall ‘feeling’ of a place, it may be some time yet before machines are helping to bring about that renaissance

For now, it is the nuts-and-bolts stuff where the latest AI-generative tools excel. The design is not quite end-to-end – meaning, pushing a button won’t instantly generate you a building or district to your liking. 

But even these optimisations have the potential to change the look and feel – and function – of spaces.

Being able to analyse, calculate and map predicted temperatures, for instance, could help developers avoid creating urban heat islands, and create cooler conditions for residents as buildings and cities evolve. 

And as sustainability becomes a more pressing concern, it may be proven that our approaches to buildings and cities are woefully inadequate – and that AI-imagined geometric models surprise designers with the optimised shapes they take. 

New and Improved?

In time, as technology marches forward, it’s an exciting thought for what new, aesthetic forms may crystallise.

So, determining the future with algorithms needs to be considered “very carefully”. But more design options and therefore more variety can hardly ever be a bad thing.

If you look at history, he adds, revolutions in architecture have occurred across thousands of years and in the end, there’s always something new, better, or smarter that builds on the past.

Crossing The Line?

Take for example Saudi Arabia’s radical plan to build a linear city, branded ‘THE LINE’. It rethinks everything we know about how people live, work and play. A 170 km-long vertical city, designed around people, rather than cars. It describes itself as “A revolution in urban living. A city that delivers new wonders for the world.”

“You want to encourage positive mutations and that’s what the rapid processing and multiple iterations of AI and machine learning make possible,” Haukeland adds. “But also, to ensure that the output is intelligent, and not simply a reflection of the limitations of the inputs.”

If AI can take the more mechanistic day-to-day activities of planners and designers, and “autocomplete” some of the laborious processes, there are great advantages to this.

But designers will have to tread carefully and remain conscious of algorithmic bias.

Flair over form for the foreseeable

Imdat As, architect and co-editor of The Routledge Companion to Artificial Intelligence in Architecture: wonders what designers would work on if AI were to produce 90% of the buildings. 

“The top 10 designers – the Zaha Hadids, and so on – will always be there, with new ideas, new aesthetics. Those will be the designers who come up with a new design idea,” he says.

“And what if they trained in-house AI systems? Instead of, say, 10 buildings a year, they might build a million, all over the world. The power of AI for an architectural company could be amazing. The business structure could be: if you use my AI system, you pay royalties. It could change architectural practice models. I think there will be those types of changes.”

Imdat As, architect and co-editor of 
The Routledge Companion to Artificial Intelligence in Architecture

Stephen Barrett, partner at British architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, believes that AI will be able to take the more mechanistic day-to-day activities of planners and designers, and “autocomplete” some of the laborious processes. There are “great advantages” to this, he says: it frees up time and space to work on the interesting stuff, to innovate and create. 

“If you took a city like Paris and ran that as an existing data set, you’d have more Paris,” he comments, “which is not a bad thing. But would you ever have had a Pompidou Centre?”

One thing does, though, seem certain. Given the efficiency gains, AI-assisted design will play an increasingly important role in that future planning, developing, building. 


This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of overwrite.ai and its owners.

Edits have been made to images and headline.

Tamlin Magee writes for Raconteur (The Times and The Sunday Times)

This story has been published from an online article on 26th August 2022.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

Knowing your Client’s Personality type is your Secret Weapon

Ever wished that you could read your client’s mind and be one step ahead of them?

Understanding the way your client thinks is your secret weapon to bringing home that sale. 

We reveal the 4 most common personality types and the clues that could help you sell to them, better.

Getting inside their minds

Experts believe that individuals are wired to make purchasing decisions, based on their personality type. Which type is your client?

1. The Leader

This client type has come prepared; they did their research, and know exactly what they’re looking for. Super motivated, they have no time for small talk, wanting to cut to the chase. They’ll make decisions quick and generally don’t have the time to deal with sales people. Be on your toes, this personality type will be the one to walk into the home, take one look around, and sign the very same day. They’ll equally walk away in an instant if you pussy-foot around.

How do you sell to the Leader?

Tune in to these behaviours quickly, or risk losing them to a competitor. If they’re a Leader type, remember they need freedom to do just that, so let them lead the conversation, and to a degree, stay out of their way. Do not hand-hold (we’re not talking literally during viewings, although that’s equally not advisable!) and give them space to absorb the product, until they’re ready to ask questions.

2. The People Person

Common traits of this client type include them being talkative, easily excited and often extroverted. Their number one need is to connect with the sales agent. As the name suggest, they’re “people-people”, and value a personal touch, so stay close (and then close).

How do you sell to the People Person?

Tip 1: Do not be pushy! Drop the sales pitch, turn off “sales mode” and turn on “relationship mode”. These customers are people-oriented, so create an environment free of confrontation or pressure. 

“They enjoy the journey, have time to talk, want to get value from your expertise in the sales process, and value your knowledge in helping them make a sensible investment or find their dream home. Reinforce their beliefs, be a great listener, be available, be “with them” and support them. If you master this type and serve them really well, they’re going to be a walking, talking, billboard for you. Put lots of business cards in their hands.”

Tap in to key personality types

3. The Free Spirit

The Free Spirit is fun-loving and likes to have a good time. They’re extremely independent and are risk-takers. They are open to ideas, won’t mind being thrown a curve ball, but will be turned off by slick, rehearsed sales routines. They like to be in control of how and when things get done, so you could be in for an exhilarating but rocky ride.

How do you sell to the Free Spirit?

Get excited and celebrate with them! They’re creative people so make the sales approach equally exciting and celebratory, not boring and stale. Offer something they haven’t yet considered yet; you never know with this personality type just what might trigger that decision to buy.

4. The Task Master 

The Task Master will be your most challenging personality to deal with. They are punctual, meticulous, structured, and very detail-oriented. They are the total opposite of the Free Spirit. Dependability and reliability are their biggest needs in dealing with a sales agent.

How do you sell to this Task Master?

They are cautious and need reassurance, so going in full throttle won’t work. Don’t try to pressure-sell them; they’ll just shut down. They’re going to listen to every piece of information, so make sure it’s 100% on point. 

And be prepared for them having to “think about it” even after numerous conversations. The technique here is to have great follow through, stick with the plan, and unlike the Free Spirit, do not throw them any curve balls. Be dependable, and do what you said you were going to do. Eventually, your credibility and trust will win them over before the final purchasing decision. 

Know yourself, too

Knowing as much as you can about your client, as quickly as you can, will be a game changer. This is as close as you’ll get to being inside your customer’s brain and know what they’re thinking, so you know what your next move is. 

Yet, even armed with all this knowledge, you must also know your own personality or sales style. This will enable you to adapt your natural behaviours and manage their expectations. You’ll need to shape the relationship along the way if you want to establish effective communication.

As you get more confident, you can begin to adjust yourself, and integrate your understanding of your own personality into the sales process.

But with any human interaction, no amount of self awareness or clever second-guessing of their verbal or visual cues, will be of use if the foundations aren’t set around honestly and integrity. 


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

Soft Skills: The Intangible Qualities that Companies Crave

To do your job effectively, you need hard skills; the technical know-how and subject-matter knowledge to fulfil your responsibilities.

But in a forever-changed world of work, lesser-touted ‘soft skills’ may be just as important ­– if not even more crucial.

These skills are more nuanced. Low-profile. Think personal characteristics and behaviours that make a strong leader or a good team member.

Strong Words. Softly Spoken.

Employers are increasingly considering a candidate’s soft skills as closely as their experience and explicit technical specialties.

For some people, soft skills are innate. For example, there are those for whom being a good communicator or analytical thinker, comes naturally.

But for others, developing soft skills can be more challenging. Yet it’s possible for everyone to sharpen these characteristics. And that, say experts, is something we should all be doing.

What are Soft Skills?

There is no definitive list of soft skills, but the term essentially refers to abilities beyond the technical.

Confidence with certain software, for instance, is a hard skill. On the other hand, knowing how to analyse different software packages to figure out what a company should be using requires critical thinking: a soft skill. 

Another major soft-skill area is communication.

Effectively communicating with colleagues, clients and management requires dexterity and emotional intelligence. Empathy, teamwork and compassion are also skills that fall under that same umbrella.

Many soft skills are highly practical, like efficiency, prioritisation, organisation and time management – all traits that are becoming increasingly critical for remote and hybrid workers.

And soft skills aren’t merely useful at work – they’re generally invaluable. The same skills that enable workers to operate successfully within company hierarchy and rise to the top also breed successful interpersonal relationships, for instance.

A Notable Shift

As many of the highly technical parts of work are becoming increasingly automated, or replaced by technological tools, companies are instead looking for workers who can problem-solve, juggle larger responsibilities and work well with others.

Additionally, soft skills have become even more important in the post-pandemic, largely remote work landscape. For instance: communication can be much more nuanced and complex when workers don’t see colleagues face to face.

Communication can be much more nuanced and complex
when workers don’t see colleagues face to face.

Adaptability, too, is a soft skill – and the past two years have called for a lot of it.

It’s not to say that technical skills have fallen by the wayside, but companies have increasingly come to realise emphasising the interpersonal skills that hold organisations together are what drives great results.

Global job site Monster’s The Future of Work 2021: Global Hiring Outlook revealed soft skills such as collaboration, teamwork, dependability and flexibility are among the skills employers most prize in workers. 

Turning “Softer”

We tend to be aware of our strengths, but honing interpersonal skills starts with soliciting feedback to identify your weaknesses and blind spots. Improving them may mean forcing yourself out of your comfort zone.

If you want to improve your imaginative thinking or problem-solving, for instance, try sitting in on brainstorming sessions with the company’s creatives.

Emotional intelligence can be increased, too, by developing social awareness and learning to regulate your own feelings and respond to others with empathy. On top of improving job prospects, research shows that people with high emotional intelligence are less likely to experience stress and anxiety.

Hiring Mindsets

As a result, employers are actively soliciting candidates who have these intangibles. Hiring manager may ask candidates to demonstrate soft skillsets, or this “moon-shot mindset”.

For example, they may be asked to show a real-life example of passion or commitment, prove their resilience in a particularly challenging situation, or provide evidence of continuous learning at work.

To best prepare for situations like these, candidates should identify their strongest soft skills in advance, and be ready to demonstrate them.

Of course, technical skills and experience on your CV will always be important, but in the changed world of work, they’re not enough: you’ll still need to convince recruiters you possess the softer skills that will help you be a leader.


This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of overwrite.ai and its owners.

Kate Morgan writes for The BBC Worklife

This story has been published from an article on 25th July 2022.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

Tune In, Turn Up: Top Real Estate Podcasts

Social media marketing has engulfed the residential real estate business, providing a 24/7 reality show reel of real estate agents and their antics.

First Bloggers, then Vloggers, and now Tik-Tokers. It seems as though every agent has their finger in one or more social media pie, promoting themselves and their listings to a worldwide, property-hungry audience. 

This week we’re talking Podcasts. They’re not the newest medium on the block. But they’re what growing numbers of savvy agents are turning to.

Continue reading “Tune In, Turn Up: Top Real Estate Podcasts”

Surviving Summer in Real Estate

The summer real estate market. Long. Quiet. Boring. Often bearing little or no fruit, by way of sales.

For many real estate agents, it can be a hard slog.

And with many people already headed overseas for long-awaited revenge travel vacations, brokers could be forgiven for expecting another slow burn this summer.

But as we head further into the hottest season of 2022, things aren’t cooling down. On the contrary. There’s been an influx of buyers and sellers across many real estate markets worldwide.

Either way, how can agents remain as competitive as possible, and stay busy, whilst the heat rises?

This week we present four tips to take advantage of during the summer, and prepare you for the win:

1. Buddy-up With a Builder

Home renovations have soared since covid. The building trade boomed as people started to prioritise time spent at home. Added to this, a shift towards remote working meant extra space was needed to accommodate the “home office”. And summer is often when a lot of home refurbs take place.

Having a close connection to a contractor will therefore keep an agent up to date with new inventory. And in case of stock drying up, having an inside guy can get you an intro before anything comes to market. Use this time to make contacts while renovation work is underway.

2. Old is Gold

Never neglect old clients.

Agents shouldn’t let any influx of new prospects distract them from tending to old clients. It’s always important to contact them. Share valuable information. Remind them why they loved working with you in the first place.

Treating these past clients right is the key to drawing new business. Referrals and word-of-mouth are the secret to success for many top agents. Pick up the phone to previous clients and say hello. If they’re taking some summer down-time, they might be in just the right mood for a chat.

3. Become Early Adopters

Technology can truly help set you apart.

AI writing assistants can instantly create your property descriptions. 3D home tours transform the online viewing experience. Digital e-signing services enable rapid, secure legal transactions. All examples of efficiency-driven technology that significantly increases the efficiency of your business.

So when it’s quiet in the office, trial some new platforms. Test out a new efficiency tool. Look at ways to save time by using intuitive and user-friendly tech. You’ll soon find that adopting an open mind will only help your business evolve.

4. Know Your Worth

While many clients are taking the reins early on, agents still play an essential role. Buying a home is a huge financial undertaking that still unnerves many. Plus, it’s impossible to think that technology can ever replace a genuine, invested, human agent.

A simple phone call. An open house. A calling card. All work wonders when delivered in the right way, at the right time. And the summer months allow you to plan all this – to perfection.

Prepare for All Weather

So as the summer season gets into full swing, let these words of wisdom stick with you:

In real estate, you don’t have to build it for them to come — you just have to make it happen for those that do. And there will always be those that do. Whatever the weather.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

Real Estate Startups Just Got Hotter

The MENA region’s Real Estate and Startup industries just got a massive boost from the announcement of a strategic partnership between overwrite.ai and Houza.

In a sign of maturing Proptech industry times, world-leading AI writing assistant overwrite.ai, has partnered with UAE real estate portal Houza.com, to deliver a richer online experience for industry stakeholders.

Customers of the Agency-backed disruptive portal can now use overwrite.ai to improve their consumer engagement and operational efficiency.

overwrite.ai allows them to instantly create unique, search optimised marketing content.

Founder and CEO of overwrite.ai, Ayman Alashkar said: “We’re delighted to announce our partnership with Houza and its network of leading real estate agencies.”

Agents listing with Houza now get a massive 50% discount off their subscription to overwrite.ai

“Nobody prints, then signs, scans and sends paper contracts anymore. It’s all done electronically. So why would you still write your listing descriptions manually, when you’ve got overwrite.ai to instantly do it for you, saving you time and effort?”

Ayman Alashkar – overwrite.ai

overwrite.ai is transforming how the estate agents create property write-ups

Across the industry, real estate agencies are becoming more professionally managed, organising around the core principles of efficiency and productivity.

Since its inception in 2020, overwrite.ai has sought to deliver efficiency to estate agents. It’s our centre of gravity. That’s why we’re so excited to also announce the beta-release of our CRM integration API.

Ayman Alashkar – overwrite.ai

Estate agencies can now integrate overwrite.ai with their CRM to deliver the power of AI assisted writing right where it matters most.

*Houza customers: Contact your Houza account manager to claim your overwrite.ai promo code.
Applies to monthly plans only. Limited time offer. No minimum contract period required. Code valid for single use only.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

Remote Real Estate Agents: Tips to Stay Focused

Life as a real estate agent can be many things. Exciting. Emotional. Extremely Demanding. And with the rise of remote working, it can also give agents incredible flexibility.

Having the luxury of choosing your working hours comes with significant benefits. But working from home requires self-discipline and time-management. Especially for those with a family.

We’ve shortlisted some handy tips to stay focused and productive, while working from home.

1. Set regular office hours

It’s not uncommon for agents to work around the clock. Especially when they’re starting out and don’t want to miss a potential lead. But overworking to the point of self-neglect can quickly result in burnout, or ill-health.

Combat this by setting a regular work schedule. Stick to it as rigidly as possible. It’s the best way to set boundaries and protect your mental and physical health.

2. Create clear business goals

Set realistic and achievable goals for your real estate business. It’s an excellent way to stay motivated. You might set specific numbers for the following:

  • Open houses to attend each week.
  • New leads to find every day.
  • Listing appointments to complete each week.
  • Closings to achieve each quarter or year.
  • Follow-up emails you send to potential clients.
  • Marketing results you receive through various advertising channels.
  • Social media posts you make.
  • Time saving new tech products to trial.

3. Get dressed for work

Even if you aren’t leaving the house, dressing fresh sets your mental mood. Look sharp. Think sharp. It can help you mentally switch to “work mode” and motivate you to power through your to-do list. Plus, you’ll be ready to jump on a video call with a client or quickly meet a prospect as needed. 

4. Invest in the best tools

There are dozens of tools, apps, and software to help you stay organised and productive.

Trying out one or more of the following will not only boost your motivation but make boring tasks more fun and less time-consuming.

  • Asana is a project management tool for keeping track of tasks and goals.
  • Canva is a free resource for creating beautiful visuals for marketing and social media posts.
  • overwrite.ai is an AI writing assistant for estate agents which creates unique and engaging property descriptions, instantly.
  • RescueTime is for tracking work with reports on your online behavior, project work, and overall productivity.

5. Manage that Diary

Time management can help you avoid distractions and stay on task. Schedule blocks of time in your calendar and only work on a specific task during that period.

For example, try blocking off a couple of hours in the morning to work on new leads. Take an hour at midday for marketing tasks. Then spend the afternoon on viewings.

By setting times to achieve critical tasks, you’ll be more likely to stay focused, as know you have limited time to complete them.

6. Take a “mental commute”

Working from home can make it challenging to “clock out”. Take a few minutes at the end of the day to “commute” home.

Walk around your neighbourhood. Turn off work notifications. Change your clothes. Hit the gym. Make a home-cooked meal. Whatever it is, some after-work activity can help you turn off “work mode” and unwind.

7. Make time for marketing

Marketing yourself and your properties is essential in real estate. Your listing clients rely on you and your firm to market their home for sale or rent.

Creating a personal brand gives you a positive reputation in your community.

Schedule time each week for various marketing tasks, such as posting on social media, improving your listing descriptions, and sending email newsletters. Content should be unique, and engaging. Never copy and paste your marketing content unless you want to sound like every other agent out there.

Turn on “Out of Office”

Staying healthy and motivated when working from home comes down to priorities. You being at the top of the list.

Your viewings might be scheduled to the hour. Open houses might be in the diary. Your marketing can be on point. But if you don’t put enough effort in “out of the office”, your work life will eventually suffer.

Eat healthy meals. Move your body. Get enough sleep. It’s all about balance. You’ll be better positioned to take care of your real estate business when you take care of yourself.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

Six Summer ‘Revenge Travel’ Destinations

Summer 2022 – the ultimate season of revenge travel.

Travelling to make up for time lost, and opportunities missed, because of the pandemic. When everyone’s prepared to go a little further, or spend a touch more than normal, on a summer holiday.

That might mean going hard on a bucket-list roadtrip. Embarking on an adventurous, once-in-a-lifetime escape. Booking that indulgent island retreat. Even repeating a trip that had to be shelved.

At its heart, it reflects a newfound desire to travel like never before. 

So to help with your travel search, here are ‘Six Summer Destinations for 2022‘ shortlisted for you:

#1 Santorini, Greece

The island of Santorini is one of the most idyllic, insta-worthy destinations in the world. Quintessential Cycladic white homes with blue domes overlooking the sea, and endless denizen-run restaurants that meld tradition, gastronomy, and passion. Santorini is the crown jewel of the Cyclades. And there’s Grecian magic to be found in every corner.

#2 Marrakesh, Morocco

Marrakesh. Morocco. Multi-faceted and enchanting. From the merchants selling crafts in the Medina, to it’s high-end hospitality scene. Marrakesh is guaranteed to mesmerise.

#3 St. Moritz, Switzerland

Ski season or not, St. Moritz is a Swiss jewel. It has a charming city center, overflowing with shops and galleries, hiking trails and a picture-perfect lake. To say summer here is dreamy is an understatement.

#4 Pyramids of Giza, Egypt 

From the Pyramids of Giza to the Valley of Kings, your travel itinerary will be spilling over with a long list of enigmatic Egyptian tourist spots. And if you’ve always wanted to explore the ancient wonders of Egypt, this is the year. Not only will 2022 mark 100 years of independence from the United Kingdom, historians will also celebrate 100 years since the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun.

#5 Cannes, France

Celebs flock here each year, posing on the red carpet in their sparkling gowns and expertly tailored suits for the Cannes Film Festival. But summer in this French hotspot is much more than that. From the designer stores lining its beachfront to the harbour side European-style cafes overlooking the multimillion dollar yachts, Cannes’ glitz and glamour are well worth witnessing.

#6 Valle De Guadalupe, Mexico 

Valle De Guadalupe is Mexico’s wine country and perhaps its most burgeoning secret. In many opinions, way cooler than Napa (and more wallet-friendly). The area spills over with design-forward boutique hotels and upscale restaurants helmed by some of Mexico’s best chefs and a wealth of wineries.

Rediscovering Your Why

2022 is a chance for us to reconnect to the best holiday destinations in a deeper, more authentic way. Wherever the destination.

We’ll be reminded often of why we travel; those sparks of curiosity and adventure. We’ll appreciate every moment that comes with it. And we’ll be grateful for all the hard work that made it possible to get us there.

And for the estate agents reading this, there are some great efficiency tools to help you work remotely. Intelligently automated writing assistants like overwrite.ai mean you don’t have to be stuck behind a desk, to post incredible listings that’ll get you leads. You can get out there and see the world.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

Car essentials every agent should carry 

As a real estate professional, you’ve got to be prepared for everything.

Dashing between viewings. Meetings with sellers all over town. You’re always on the go, spending hours behind the wheel. 

You need a car kit that’s going to get you through anything the job can throw at you.

THE ESSENTIAL “MUST-HAVES”

The basics go without saying. Wallet. Phone. Business cards. Keys – but there’s so much more that the real estate road warrior needs. Here’s our list of 12 things we recommend you keep on hand at all times.

1. WATER 💧💧

Even in hotter climates, water is often something we take for granted. But when you’re out and about all day; you’re gonna get parched. So have plenty of water. And bring some for your thirsty clients, too. 

2. WET WIPES 🧻

From sandy footprints to greasy fingers and toilet breaks, wet wipes can deal with just about anything. 

3. SNACKS 🥯🍏

Three square meals a day? Not a chance, in this profession. So be sure to keep a stash of nutritious, non-perishable snacks on the go, for those back-to-back meeting days where there’s no choice but to refuel on the fly. 

4. SPARE SHOES 👞👠

No one wants to ruin their good shoes on a dirty building site, or lose a sale looking like you’ve just stepped out of a sandpit or puddle. Slip on your backup, not-so-posh pair, while keeping your fancy ones for the Show Home.

5. PHONE CHARGER 📶🤳

Waiting for clients can be boring. Killing time on your phone is a sure fire battery drainer. Keep an extra charger on hand at all times. Bonus points if you keep an external battery, too.

6. HAND SANITIZER 😷🤝

Goes without saying, even in our Post-COVID world. Agents are touching everything. From shaking hands to turning doorknobs. There’s no end to the number of touch points on the job. Have a sanitiser on you. Offer it to clients. It won’t go unnoticed, and it keeps you safe. And while you’re at it, throw in some face masks for added protection.

7. SMALL GROCERY BAGS 🛒

These are great for everything – from dealing with rubbish to tidying up an unexpected mess just before a client turns up for a viewing. 

8. ZIP TIES 🪢

These bad boys can solve a multitude of problems. Who knew zip ties could be put to so many uses? Securing swinging gates, carrying multiple keys, or fixing your most recent “Sold” sign. They’re basically the real estate version of duct tape, so bring ‘em with you.

GO THAT “EXTRA MILE”

Small, thoughtful touches are the kind of thing that clients remember, after you’ve left. So when it comes to the little extra touches that set your service apart from the other agents, the devil is in the detail.

9. MINTS  🟢

When that quick snack you grabbed before a viewing happens to have been loaded with garlic. This is guaranteed to have even the keenest buyer look the other way. Keep your breath minty fresh and save yourself the embarrassment.

10. BAND AIDS 🩹💊

Whether it’s a blister from the new designer shoes or a nasty little splinter, the last thing you need is a detour to the local pharmacy to slow you down. Pack a few Band Aids and be prepared for any first aid emergencies. Headache pills are also a game changer!

11. BUG REPELLENT 🦟 🦗

Mosquitoes. Flies. Giant Grasshoppers. Whatever bugs are distracting you from your sales pitch, they need to be repelled, ASAP. Running away from a wasp isn’t the lasting impression you’re looking for.

12. FLASHLIGHT 🔦

Late night viewings aren’t ideal. Disconnected power sucks. Keep a torch in your car trunk for those occasions when the light switches don’t work. You never know which competitor agent is lurking out there in the dark…

Keep this kit in your motor and you’ll be prepared for just about anything!


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

25 Workplace clichés to make you cringe

If I had a dollar for every smug muppet who dropped a cringe-worthy cliché on me over the years, I’d be a millionaire.

They’re cheesy.

Overused.

And completely unoriginal.

Here’s a list of overused office clichés’ that have no business being used in business.

They belong in the bin.

1. To be honest

Wait, you weren’t being honest until now?

2. With all due respect

Anytime a person starts a sentence with this, they’re about to disrespect you.

3. Pick your brain

Translation: I want to know what you know, and am too lazy to look it up myself.

4. Let’s get disruptive

You’re trying to be edgy and trendy; we get it.

5. Let’s see if we have the bandwidth

This typically means the person doesn’t have the time, money, or skills to do what you’re asking, but doesn’t want to admit it. It’s a stall tactic.

6. The fact of the matter is

This basically says, “What you’ve presented until now was not fact and I’m about to correct you.”

7. Let’s ideate together

Anybody can think. But it takes a true idiot to ideate.

8. Touch base

For everyone who’s not American, this is a baseball term. Good luck figuring out who or what ‘base’ is supposed to be?

9. Push the envelope

The last time I pushed the envelope, it ended up in the mailbox.

10. In the pipeline

The point of the pipeline is that when something goes into it, it’ll come out somewhere else entirely.

11. Loop back/circle back

So, we’re going to talk about this later, then…

12. Paradigm shift

Big words don’t impress me. Just say “change.”

13. Let’s take this offline

We can take it offline, but the conversation is going to be pretty much the same.

14. To be fair

It’s not fair if you’re not fair.

15. Let’s take a deep dive

This was the “cool” thing to say five years ago. Now it’s been drowned out (pardon the pun).

16. It is what it is

Yes, that’s true. It definitely “is what it is.” But the question is, what is it?

17. Low-hanging fruit

Someone who is talking about low-hanging fruit may not have much experience “reaching for the stars” (pun intended).

18. Move the needle

Everybody wants to “move the needle,” but without actionable advice this is a waste.

19. Think outside the box

Chances are high that the person who’s telling you think outside the box, is somehow firmly entrenched in a box of their own.

20. Get granular

You mean specific? Why don’t you just say “specific”?

21. This really has legs

It may have legs, but can it run?

22. Raise the bar

Raising our standard is great. But how’re we gonna keep it there?

23. Run it up the flagpole

We take it to our boss, who takes it to their boss, who in turn takes it to their boss. Once it reaches Ultimate Boss, what happens then?

24. Ducks in a row

If you’re vegetarian, substitute for eggs. Or don’t use at all.

25. My door is open

Your door is open, except when its closed.

A bit of Blue Sky Thinking

Let’s avoid smug phrases and stick to common sense uses of language. Otherwise we’ll all end up being nothing more than a bunch of smug muppets.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.

The Worst Cold Call Opening Line Ever

My phone rings.

Me: “Hello?”

Cold Caller: Long pause from automated dialler… “Hello. Is this Eva Colbert?”

Me: “Yes it is.”

Cold Caller: “Hello Ms. Colbert. How are you today?”

SERIOUSLY?!

Ice Ice Baby 🎶

We’ve all been cold called.

But the worst cold calls are when the caller asks you ‘how you’re doing?’, without even introducing themselves first.

It feels like nails on a frozen chalkboard. Very uncomfortable.

Why is a complete stranger calling to ask how I’m doing?

The best response, is “I’m busy”. This icy reply usually catches them off-guard. 🥶

Follow it up with a quick “Thanks. Bye.” and you can usually be rid of the inconvenient caller in seconds. Without even giving them a chance to dive into their pitch.

ProTip: Don’t say this!

But if you’re that cold caller, the last thing you want is to be bounced into the cold.

Increase your chance of success, by never, ever, ever ever ever starting off your call with “How are you today?”

Make it personal. Do your research.

It can be a hard habit to break, but you’ll get much better results if you introduce yourself first, then just get straight to the point with something more like, “Hi. This so-and-so from XYZ Company. I’m calling because….”

Capture your prospect’s attention any way you like.

Just make sure not to dive straight into the unsanctioned “How are you today?” intro.

It’s doomed to fail.


For informative and light-hearted news and views on the world of real estate, follow overwrite.ai on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.


overwrite.ai | the AI writing assistant for estate agents | Sign up for your Free 7 Day Trial.