Hey all,

Im looking for a way to manage my bpos, i currently use quick books to account for them once im done, and have a spreadsheet that i simply change, but is there any program that can seperate my orders by company, tell me if i have my pictures yet, due time reminders etc. ?

If you have them setup in a spread sheet, then you should be able to do a data sort on a particular column or field, as long as you highlight the area you want to sort first and do the data sort, everything on one line should stay in place. Takes about 10 seconds to do.

I have them on a spread sheet where it shows: BPO No., address, Company, date assigned, date finished, payment date, Fee and due date.
I also use DocToGo and I sync them with my iphone to use the GPS with a simply Copy and Paste.

I just use an excel spreadsheet, and change the colors of certain fields when I complete certain parts of the order. It would only make sense to me, but it's fast and easy.

ok ok ok fine.... after about 2 hours of tinkering i have a excel spreadsheet that i like, ive entered conditions so that it automatically changes color depending on company, if its over due or not, if im missing photos, interior or exterior, and added a nice $ total so i can see what all my troubles will give me

i have 27 pending bpos with approximately 10 different companies so i was going crazy trying to organize it..... now that it is all nicely organized i can clearly see that i am not sleeping tonight...haha

thanks for your feeback guys

Can I take this one step further? What do you use to keep your reo listing tasks straight? I have been looking around on line for the last day or so, but would love to know who is using what. I have three different web sites that I have to do tasks on, utilites are driving me nuts - and it is almost lawn mowing season. I can't seem to keep dates straight and just when I think I am caught up on billing, I find ones that haven't been paid. I need some kind of software that keeps it all straight. I would like something that when I put in the new listing it gives me a task list or spreadsheet with all the junk that needs to happen. Is there anything out there that gives you a general task list, and gives you a way to keep track of when the utilities are on, when they need to go off, what has been paid, what still needs done? Now, for all you awesome software guys that know their way around computers don't tell me I can put it together myself. Just so you know, I took typing on a typewriter in high school so I did not learn anything about computers - I'm lucky I can get the stupid thing on most days. I did do a search here but I do not think I am using the right words to see if this topic has been covered. I'm sure it has, but I can't find it. If someone just wants to give me the right search words - that's fine.

QuickBooks Pro, Act, Microsoft Office Pro, Excel, all can configured to aid in these tasks and many other things like reminding you to pay your taxes, and budget for your E&O, Car insurance, etc.

Like contact management software - the best one is the one you actually use, as the biggest problem always is people not taking the time to actually enter the data in them.

Microsoft stuff can be complex or easy - it is wild to see what all it can do and how the different programs interconnect, the biggest problem I see now is there are a zillion different versions out.

Like TB says, a program like Excel works great - and can be setup to do many tasks on an ongoing bases.

TazaREO
REO Maestro
Res.net AMP
Aspen IAgent

Those are a few of the online programs that I know of. As for substantially less expensive versions, I haven't found one yet either.

I use QuickNotes - stickies for my computer desktop and keep lists there, winterizations and date done, property checks with last check date, repairs lists, task by property. You can also print each one, like the property check list, and you can set up memoboards, I have one for REO and Personal.

It seems to work for me right now.

i love quicknotes,

i have quick books, and i must admit it was a pain to set up to simply keep my accounting of my bpos.... error this, tax code that... ugh...

ill take a look at those programs as for now, my assistant handles my reo's on a spreadsheet also.

i recieved a bpo landslide this week from companies i never hear from, and all my regulars left me all alone... back to work for me.

regarding bpo's and tracking-

I tried unsuccessfully , different systems-

I keep a clipboard with ledger sheet-
as I get orders- I write the date rec/ address, city, company,
fee, date due and then I have a column I put X in for pics done
and column for report done I X.
I know it's Fred Flinstone tracking but when I go out to take pics, I grab the clip board and it's all there.

Then I have a large ledger sheet that I use to track orders done/paid by the month..it's dark ages compared to what a lot of you do but it's a system that's easy for me to update/ reconcile.

I've set up things in the past with programs and I keep returning to the simple old ledger.

I use google docs for bpo tracking. I can access it anywhere in the world and it's free.

Built my own online system that is rather bad-[censored].

I'm in the process of integrating it with MLS and automated data entry. I should be able to turn orders within four hours once it is finished. 90% of that time is the photo turnaround.

The coolest part is that I'll be able to do an order, start to finish, from my droid.

Well this is what I have been using abviously I change sections or add companys but when I get bored I try to add additional items such as charts, graphs etc. that you can see.

I have put a lot of work into this but you can download a version to see it if you want here:

[url=http://rapidshare.com/files/409614513/2010.xlsx.html]BPO Payments[/url]
Copy & Paste the link below:
http://rapidshare.com/files/409614513/2010.xlsx.html

Keep in mind you can mess up excel files quickly if you do not know what you are doing. I have plans to add tracking not only like I do in graphs but by company and per month to see how many orders as well as money per company I get. Take a look at it if you want.

This has proven to be my best source of tracking everything with BPOs for my business. I have it in excel 2010 which I just got the other day but I believe it will open in any version on excel. Also I don't know why the link is not working correctly in the final post but in my preview it is right so you might have to copy and past the rapidshare link ONLY.

[color:#FF6666]I tried to fix the URL but it did not work. :([/color]

Ryan, you're a techie! I'm pretty good on the computer, spreadsheets, software, all kinds of website stuff, but the phone - hehe. I can talk and text! well, I guess I can take pics too.

Aw shucks, you got me. But, please be advised that compliments won't get you anywhere. On the other hand, a sixer of cheap beer could provide exponential returns.

Building a system that is borderline AVM with Realtor intelligence is easy. The automated data entry is the part that is causing problems. Yes, vertical integration sucks. Most of the off-shore companies are lousy in terms of TAT and quality, or they cost more than my indentured servitudes (kids). Finding the delicate balance is harder than the Warrior Pose in Wii Fit. Sending the data entry to my associate's office in China is still a possibility, but they seem to be under the impression that $6 an hour is a decent rate. That's BS. $2 an hour (3-4 orders/hr) is more in line with their local pay scale.

The automated data entry tools I've reviewed are all lacking in some regard (unmaintainable, lack of resources for continual updates, price, etc). I could build one that is far superior to the existing offerings, but I don't have time for the upkeep. An extra field could be added to Form G without notice, or a certain unnamed company could switch to a [div/span] based javascript-callback model designed by a 14 year old in the comfort of their mother's basement. I've come to the conclusion that a semi-intelligent sentient is needed to avoid these types of problems.

Shannon, when the stars align, you get the shotgun seat in user acceptance testing.

Ryan