I always print my comps for data entry. Has anyone found a solution that is just as efficient without printing? I would like to find my comps and get them maybe into a file for printing, possibly a PDF so they are easily accesible and easy to input. Sometimes you have forms where you input all of the age, sqft, address, in a row so I lay them out in front of me and go through the form with tab. Sorry for the poorly worded post but I would like a solution so someones help would be greatly appreciated.

I use a split screen on my computer showing my mls page with the comps on one side and the form I'm filling on the other. Saves me paper and ink and a lot of time.

Yeah... split screen or dual monitor is the only way to fly. I use an enormous HP monitor and just run stuff side by side. We do print our data to CutePDF and save in folders that we eventually archive out to an external USB drive. I feel weird about printing stuff that will be thrown away in an hour or two.

Split screen or big screen. I had two screens then decided to use one large screen.

Split screen sounds good to me. Can someone out there advise how I can set my computer up that way?

Just google "split screen" . . . . or "XP Split screen" or whatever operating system you have and "split screen". "microsoft split screen" gets you there too. It's been a built-in feature for years, at least since 2007.

If you're printing anything out you're like stuck in the 90's.

You have to check to see if your video card will support it. If not i'm sure they make something to use two monitors. I use 2 23" monitors and love it.

If you want to save comps you can print to pdf and save them on your hard drive in a folder. Primo pdf is a free program and works very well.

Getting a second monitor changed my life! The time it takes to do the data entry has decreased dramatically.

Not to change the subject, but I am stuck in the 90's in terms of printing out maps for the properties I have to photograph. I get the maps from google, and then plan out my route.

No GPS?

Nope! When you are out and about doing a whole bunch of properties to photograph at one time, to me it is much easier to print the maps and then sort them out to make a route. The alternative would be typing in all the addresses and trying to figure out which one to do in what order.

Maybe I am too old fashioned, but the latter sounds to complex and time consuming for me.

I have a GPS but I always print out the maps before leaving the office. At times, my GPS will have a mind of its own...does a Star Trek version of "takes me to where no man has gone before". Maps have saved my bacon, more than once.

You're lucky if your MLS has all data needed. Our MLS has no GLA (or wrong one), and many other missing fields. So, for each order I have to do tax record research for Subject and each comp, and write it down on MLS sheet. I am using printer, inks, and paper because I have no choice. Double or triple monitors will burn my eyes and crack the neck, and I like 90's better.

If you do an advanced search on "going paperless" you will find a very useful discussion on the topic. That discussion totally changed the way I do BPO work. I now print out just one sheet of paper per order (sometimes a few more), and work directly from website to order input, saving the finished product in pdf format to hard drive upon completion (except there are a few forms that don't permit the pdf save).

I rarely print out maps (although I had to last weekend on a real mystery address). If I need help figuring out the most efficient travel route, I use Google Maps to plot out the various addresses, and rearrange the order until I've figured it out.

My GPS also has a feature where I can input multiple addresses, and it will arrange in most efficient driving pattern. I have to relearn this feature every time I want to use it, so mostly stick with the Google Maps. I also use the multiple stop address feature in Google to plan the best route if I am showing multiple listings to a particular customer.