We're taking the next step to automating our office and moving to a fully trackable transaction. ie) Sale of Real Estate, Purchase...

Does anyone have any input on a software application that can provide Transaction or Process Management?
Something using a single repository on our network that we can use to enter in new Listings that we have and monitor that listing throughout the sale process?

ie) Sale Contract requires disclosures to be delivered in 14 days, seller to receive Loan Contigency Removal in 7 days, Natural Hazard Report to be ordered, received and delivered to all recipients in 14 days.
These are all trackable events. We'd like to have these milestones monitored via software, labeled as complete when done or a warning alarm to "go off" when close to the required dcelivery date...

This is just the basics. I'd assume it can be tied into a contact management system as well.
Email clients or company personell when certain things need to be done or have been completed.

Any input from anybody?

Brett

I could easily write it but it would take some time. Would rather buy it as I'm no longer in the business of developing software.

We just purchased GoldMine by http://www.frontrange.com/goldmine/ and it has a real estate template with some predefined activity lists. You can also add your own customer activity lists that can be assigned on a customer by customer basis. We have installed it on our network and have two work stations active so far. You can also pass updates to each remote user via email which is kind of cool. This program will mark the actions on a customer by customer basis on a calendar with reminders.

This is a complete contact manager program but I think it might do what you are looking for. Please keep in mind we just installed it last week and we are working on building our custom activity lists. I did a lot of research and for the money it seems to be one of the most powerful. It interfaces with Word, emails and such so that you can send updates to your clients on a scheduled basis.

Now for the best news, I went to Office Depot where it cost $199. I took a $20 coupon for $75 + purchases and there is also a $75 mail in rebate going on right now so if you can find a coupon you can get the program for about $104 for each license. You do need a license for each active user.

Act! is another program that may work for you.

Is this sort of like Top Producer, SettlementRoom.com, or eFrogg? All have lists of tasks that have to be done for every closing and some have some pretty advanced contact management features.

Here's a place to start looking. There are at least a half-dozen vendors here:

http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Industry-Specific/Real_Estate/Online_Transaction_Systems/

Maybe I should have phrased my question differently:

What (defined as software systems) are people using to automate their Real Estate Business, in what ways are you using it successfully, in what ways can it be made better?

There is a message forum similar to this that seems to still be working in the 1970's where a system is a process documented on paper.

Are they "systematic processes"? Yes.

Will having them on paper save me time?
Well, maybe if I don't have to think every time.

Are they implemented using the best methods and means to save time and money?
NO WAY!!!! I'm still wasting time reaching for a manual on a shelf.

Isn't that why man invented machines and computers?

I'm thinking of trying SettlmentRoom again since it's nice to not have to fax or email documents several times.

Has anyone used SettlementRoom?

Setttlement room works great. I'm testing
realtybrokeroffice.com for day to day operation.

Realtybrokeroffice is a start to finish online management service...from lead generation to closing management.

Problem is you have to be a broker to use the service. The broker than opens an account for each agent.

http://www.realtybrokeroffice.com/product_components.html

I'm on a conference call now with Relay http://www.rebt.com. It's integrated with Zipforms/Winforms and works on a mac as well as pc. I use zipforms online through the Texas Association of Realtors, so it seems like a great tool. They said you can view the information on a PDA. The presenter uses it with a TREO.

I like Settlementroom, but the integration seems worth it. They have demos every Wednesday and Friday.

Dee,
Started using rebt.com 8 months ago. Our Realtors are able to access the software via our web based server from their homes etc.
We like it very much. I think you`ll find this to be the "Best of the Best".

I tried Realty Broker Office and wasn't completely happy with it. I decided to use WebExOne for our intranet and Track My File for transaction management. I would have preferred to find one product that could do both the way I like... but I could only get the functionality I wanted with the 2 seperate products.

I've used Relay for a while and don't like it as much as Settlementroom. I'm moving back to Settlementroom because it's more intuitive to third parties. When a client or lender logs in, they instantly know what to do in Settlementroom. I've sent assistants through Relay training and they still don't like it as much. I also noticed they charged me for their fax feature. With Settlementroom, you don't pay extra to use all of the features.