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Hiring Consultant

BY MARIWYN EVANS

Better shop around

Need technology help Let an expert handle it.

Whether you’re installing a network in your brokerage or just trying to integrate the software and peripherals at your home office, a little expert help from a computer consultant can make a difficult job easier. Unless you’ve hired the wrong person, that is.

Before you turn some unknown geek loose on your system, follow these consultant selection tips from Fritz H. Grupe, an emeritus professor of computer information systems at the University of Nevada in Reno.

* Define your project goals before you hire. To get your thoughts straight, develop a one-page request for proposal. For a complex project, consider hiring a consultant to help you set goals.
* Set cost parameters. You can expect to spend $100 or more an hour for training or hardware installation. To get a handle on how much time the consultant should reasonably spend installing a system, ask the equipment’s manufacturer.
* Check references. No other factor is as important in choosing a consultant. Read résumés and check references randomly from a complete list of clients—not just those satisfied customers given as references. Ask whether the consultant delivered systems on time, under budget, and in line with client expectations.
* Match the consultant to the need. If your main objective is installing a network, a software consultant’s expertise isn’t beneficial. And you’ll save money if you don’t hire a high-level person to do a simple job. On the other hand, hiring someone who doesn’t have enough experience or the right experience can result in your paying the person to learn how to do your project.
* Search for industry savvy. Although you almost certainly don’t want to hire a consultant whose goal is to put you or your company out on the technology frontier, you do want a consultant who’s up on current trends. Otherwise you run a risk of ending up with obsolete technology.
* Start small. If you have a large project, break it into smaller segments to test out the consultant on one piece first.
* Make sure you know whether your consultant also sells hardware or software. A vendor is probably less interested in helping you find the best solution than in selling you product.
* Keep customization under control as customized programs can increase costs rapidly. Today, there are so many real estate–specific software packages that you should be able to find one that meets your needs. If nothing seems to fit all your needs, prioritize your processes and look for the one program that can do the most important tasks well.


With these tips, and by involving your IT people in the process, you’ll be more likely to hire the right consultant, whether or not you speak geek.

Case study: hiring in real life

BC Risi’s years as a senior sales engineer in the telecommunications industry gave him a leg up when it came to choosing a technology consultant. But he still recognized the importance of in-depth due diligence before hiring a consultant to install a network in one of the two brokerage offices of Oneiric International Inc. in Elk Grove, Calif., where he’s president.

Risi started his search in the phone book, looking for consultants who had experience in networks—and ideally with real estate brokerage, investment, or financing companies. “It took a lot of phone calls,” he recalls. Search engines and recommendations from peers are also good sources, he says.

First, Risi focused on candidates’ expertise, looking for consultants who’d completed multiple certification programs in programming languages, networking, and other specialized technology subjects. “I think of these certificate programs as the equivalent of the practically oriented higher education of computer science, the GRI or CRS® if you will,” he says.

Second was finding a consultant who could communicate well. “Most users don’t understand the technicalities and couldn’t care less. What they want is a consultant who can explain the differences in computer options available and the pluses and minuses of each.” This skill is particularly important because many people expect a Rolls Royce when they can only afford a Volkswagen, says Risi. A good consultant can explain what makes the Rolls worth the price or what you can realistically expect from a Bug.

Risi’s $20,000 project was completed on budget in little more than six weeks. He was satisfied, but next time, he says, he’ll spend more time ensuring that the new system has the scalability that’ll let his company keep expanding without the need to replace equipment so rapidly.

FACTOID

Women make 57 percent of all consumer electronics purchases.
—Consumer Electronics Association

$15000 consultant to plan the way for schools Andover Townsman, MA - 15 hours ago The committee has approved hiring a consultant to help write a strategic plan, a road map of where the district is headed in the next three to five years. ...

Schools explore 'super' district Berkshire Eagle, MA - Nov 20, 2008 Officials are seeking a grant to cover the cost of hiring a consultant and planning committee. By Derek Gentile, Berkshire Eagle Staff GREAT BARRINGTON ...

Big Decisions for new city of Menifee Menifee Live, CA - Nov 20, 2008 The city council has directed their staff to look into the cost of hiring a consultant to help them draw up the district boundaries needed to comply with ...

City wants sustainability director Columbia Daily Tribune, MO - Nov 20, 2008 Inc. One option proposes hiring a consultant to create a sustainability plan, and the other involves hiring a sustainability director who would oversee ...

Search Engine Guide Mediapost.com, NY - 23 hours ago Whether you're performing SEO for your own site, hiring a consultant or firm to provide SEO services, or you are the SEO provider serving various clients, ...

Fincher wants forecast of city revenues TMCnet - Nov 19, 2008 Fincher expressed interest in hiring a consultant to review all current and future revenue. This suggestion was questioned by council member Charlie ...

How a Consultant Uses Content to Create New Revenue Stream: 4 Tactics MarketingSherpa.com (subscription), RI - Nov 19, 2008 “Once I started that process, I realized that hiring a consultant wasn’t my first choice,” says Ellis. “Companies are best served when they do things ...

Filling Chevrette's shoes EastBayRI.com, RI - Nov 19, 2008 Though they didn’t have a vote in the matter, Mr. Chevrette and a Seekonk High School graduate both spoke out against hiring a consultant. ...

Council might reconsider manager search Sequim Gazette, WA - Nov 18, 2008 Prothman proposed hiring an interim city manager for eight to 10 months, hiring a consultant for discussions on what direction the city wants to take and ...

Menifee trying to decide how to split city into districts Press-Enterprise, CA - Nov 18, 2008 Gary Thompson, the city finance director who is temporarily serving as city manager, suggested that the council consider hiring a consultant to ...

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 Hiring a Financial Advisor  Hiring an IT Consultant  Buisness Managment Analysts  FAQ buisness consulting  Hiring a Consultant 

 Hiring a Financial Advisor  Hiring an IT Consultant  Buisness Managment Analysts  FAQ buisness consulting  Links 

Hiring Consultant

BY MARIWYN EVANS

Better shop around

Need technology help Let an expert handle it.

Whether you’re installing a network in your brokerage or just trying to integrate the software and peripherals at your home office, a little expert help from a computer consultant can make a difficult job easier. Unless you’ve hired the wrong person, that is.

Before you turn some unknown geek loose on your system, follow these consultant selection tips from Fritz H. Grupe, an emeritus professor of computer information systems at the University of Nevada in Reno.

* Define your project goals before you hire. To get your thoughts straight, develop a one-page request for proposal. For a complex project, consider hiring a consultant to help you set goals.
* Set cost parameters. You can expect to spend $100 or more an hour for training or hardware installation. To get a handle on how much time the consultant should reasonably spend installing a system, ask the equipment’s manufacturer.
* Check references. No other factor is as important in choosing a consultant. Read résumés and check references randomly from a complete list of clients—not just those satisfied customers given as references. Ask whether the consultant delivered systems on time, under budget, and in line with client expectations.
* Match the consultant to the need. If your main objective is installing a network, a software consultant’s expertise isn’t beneficial. And you’ll save money if you don’t hire a high-level person to do a simple job. On the other hand, hiring someone who doesn’t have enough experience or the right experience can result in your paying the person to learn how to do your project.
* Search for industry savvy. Although you almost certainly don’t want to hire a consultant whose goal is to put you or your company out on the technology frontier, you do want a consultant who’s up on current trends. Otherwise you run a risk of ending up with obsolete technology.
* Start small. If you have a large project, break it into smaller segments to test out the consultant on one piece first.
* Make sure you know whether your consultant also sells hardware or software. A vendor is probably less interested in helping you find the best solution than in selling you product.
* Keep customization under control as customized programs can increase costs rapidly. Today, there are so many real estate–specific software packages that you should be able to find one that meets your needs. If nothing seems to fit all your needs, prioritize your processes and look for the one program that can do the most important tasks well.


With these tips, and by involving your IT people in the process, you’ll be more likely to hire the right consultant, whether or not you speak geek.

Case study: hiring in real life

BC Risi’s years as a senior sales engineer in the telecommunications industry gave him a leg up when it came to choosing a technology consultant. But he still recognized the importance of in-depth due diligence before hiring a consultant to install a network in one of the two brokerage offices of Oneiric International Inc. in Elk Grove, Calif., where he’s president.

Risi started his search in the phone book, looking for consultants who had experience in networks—and ideally with real estate brokerage, investment, or financing companies. “It took a lot of phone calls,” he recalls. Search engines and recommendations from peers are also good sources, he says.

First, Risi focused on candidates’ expertise, looking for consultants who’d completed multiple certification programs in programming languages, networking, and other specialized technology subjects. “I think of these certificate programs as the equivalent of the practically oriented higher education of computer science, the GRI or CRS® if you will,” he says.

Second was finding a consultant who could communicate well. “Most users don’t understand the technicalities and couldn’t care less. What they want is a consultant who can explain the differences in computer options available and the pluses and minuses of each.” This skill is particularly important because many people expect a Rolls Royce when they can only afford a Volkswagen, says Risi. A good consultant can explain what makes the Rolls worth the price or what you can realistically expect from a Bug.

Risi’s $20,000 project was completed on budget in little more than six weeks. He was satisfied, but next time, he says, he’ll spend more time ensuring that the new system has the scalability that’ll let his company keep expanding without the need to replace equipment so rapidly.

FACTOID

Women make 57 percent of all consumer electronics purchases.
—Consumer Electronics Association

Attorneys will focus scope of lease issues Marion Star, OH - 21 hours ago Daniels said he also would urge hiring a consultant, a sentiment that Councilman James Gilsdorf, another member of the joint panel, also has expressed. ...

Officer had previous conviction The Daily Advertiser, LA - 1 hour ago The petition states that Verret "set up a scheme" by hiring a consultant to do an evaluation of the police department. The consultant issued a report and ...

THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE: Young seeks a more blue OC Daily Pilot, CA - Nov 13, 2008 ... wiring in Costa Mesa was met with some concern Wednesday night as the City Council looked at the possible cost of hiring a consultant to do a study. ...

Hospital lease remains at standstill Marion Star, OH - Nov 4, 2008 "I'm not in favor of hiring a consultant just to say, 'We want to renegotiate the lease. You tell us what goes in the lease,'" Thomas said. ...

Commission considers conservation zoning Jamestown Press,  USA - Nov 12, 2008 Baker suggested that the commission actively contribute to the process of zoning ordinance revision by hiring a consultant to generate recommendations for ...

Tightening the Belts Russia Profile, Russia - Nov 12, 2008 Hiring a consultant for as much as $1200 per day to work on an anti-crisis project that could take up to several weeks to complete can cost as much as a few ...

Appleton library expansion plans may be delayed Wrightstown Post Gazette, WI - Nov 11, 2008 By Steve Wideman • Post-Crescent staff writer • November 11, 2008 APPLETON — Hiring a consultant to design specific spaces within a new or expanded Appleton ...

Blue Springs revises its standards for multifamily housing Kansas City Star, MO - Nov 4, 2008 The work was done without hiring a consultant, so there was no extra cost to residents, she said. City officials hope the changes will attract quality ...

New plan to help Lynn merchants using fed funds The Daily Item of Lynn, MA - Nov 10, 2008 Marsh said the city is looking into the possibility of hiring a consultant to work on the project. “In addition to the antique poles installed downtown, ...

Slack tax revenue forces Lake Stevens to cut three jobs HeraldNet, WA - Nov 10, 2008 The city is considering hiring a consultant to help with an economic development plan, though it's not in the budget yet, she said. ...

Common Misspellings include affort, efford almsot, alomst alsot, aslo allthough altho, althought, altough adn, anbd assocation availaible, availble, availiable, availible, avalable, avaliable, avilable baceause, beacuse, becasue, beccause, becouse, becuase bedore, befoer, befor benificial bu comany, comapany cmoputer, coputer concider, consdider consulant controll coudl, sould deffine develope eahc endig engeneer, engieneer equippment, equiptment, equiptment equialent, equivelant, equivelent, equivilant, equivilent, equivlalent experiance, expierence expalin fidn firt, firts focussed fomr, frome froniter ahev, ahve, haev, hvae, hvea halp heigher, higer importanace importamt inudstry infomation, informtion intenational, interational, internation inot jstu knwo,konw, kwno, nkow, nkwo laguages larg leanr, leran levle littel amke, mkae, mkea makse, mkaes moeny moreso, mroe, omre ened enxt nto, onot lonly, onyl nother, otehr particuarly, particularily, particulary peopel peice practially, practicaly, practicly probablly, probaly, probly, probly, prolly, prolly proccess, proces profesor, professer, proffesor progrom progroms rela reconized reccomendations, recommedations refernces, refrences relace sasy, syas scince, scinece seach selectin seinor shoudl, shoudln, sould sose sofware smoe, soem somene strat sytem technnology, technolgy tahn, thna taht, tath, thast, thgat, thta, thyat hten, tghe, ther, thge, tjhe their, ther theese htey, tehy, tyhe htikn, htink, thikn, thiunk, tihkn htis, thsi, tihs ethose, thsoe tiem, timne, tiome todya twpo univeristy, universtiy, univesity, unviersity unkown wanna, watn, whant, wnat wass, weas, ws vell waht, whta wehn, whn whther iwll, wille, wiull eyars, eyasr, yeasr, yeras, yersa
 Hiring a Financial Advisor  Hiring an IT Consultant  Buisness Managment Analysts  FAQ buisness consulting  Hiring a Consultant