Well dont know about everyone else but, I have been blessed latley cause im so busy. My Question is, Is there a way or a software program to pic up your speed on data input for bpos?, Right now to do everything it takes me 2 to 3 hours. I would like a way to cut that in half. Any ideas or suggestions?

WHEN COMPLETING YOU BPO ORDERS, HAVE THEM ALL FILLED OUT ON THE FORM AND THEN JUST INPUT THE DATA. I TYPE REALLY FAST SO IT DOES NOT TAKE SO LONG... 2 TO 3 HOURS FOR EACH ORDER IS WAY TOO MUCH TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RATES SOME OF THESE COMPANIES ARE PAYING FOR YOU TIME AND WORK!

2 to 3 hours???? Wow. You should be able to get a straight forwead BPO on a house in a subdivision in about 30 minutes max. I would bet that you are trying to make adustments for every difference. If so, there is no need for that.

30 mins is about the rate I am going. Except this week I have been so frazzled it's taken me about 45-60mins. Just need to get back on track. I don't know of any software that would help with entering them. I usually print my comps then just enter them online.

thirty minutes---here's what I do.
I have my mls program up and the bpo at the same time. Copy comp info from mls without having to do this twice; real quick.

I use a second monitor to expand my desktop over two screens. This allows me to virtually eliminate paper print outs of comps (I print to a pdf file and open the pdf on the second screen when needed) and it has cut my production time to under 30 mins. avg per order. Windows XP allows easy set up of second monitor as long as you have the port. Most laptops have one on the back. Desktops may require a new video card with a second output. Here's the route to set-up: Control panel, Appearance and Themes, Display, then settings tab. The cost of a second monitor has been recouped 10 fold as I have eliminated paper and INK costs.

cjmj...that was what I am planning to do, but right now my desk is too small! someone i know has that set up and it is perfect!

until i get that second monitor sometimes i just do a split screen with the mls and the bpo site.

I found a flat screen after using an regular older monitor for a couple of months and it works well when you have limited space. When you have it set up, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it. Good luck Danni. Once you get them under 30 minutes your job satisfaction goes up and best of all you get more time to sleep at night!

I am a newbie and some of you are really fast at these bpos. I am keeping track of my time doing allof my bpos.

Excluding travel time, for CC it takes an hour and one half or more to do the input, review sales comps and listing comps.

For AVM it takes the same.

Transunion is the only one with less than one-half hour.

I also keep print out of all my comps and any other resources (dataquick, title companies, mls) that I use on a bpo just incase somewhat needs clarificiation and then I can try and remember my analysis and reasoning for a bpo. They have been help when someone wants clarification.

I am analyzing way too much compared to what you folks are doing.

I have been doing bpos for less than a month and have done 18 so far; I guess with more experience I will find ways to cut the time in half.

THANKS EVERYONE What great ideas the two screen, I think will help a lot ill do that, cause I do go in and print all list and sold comps, takes time,This is great when everyone helps everyone, intstead of being mean lets keep this up! Thanks kimbo God bless you all!

thanks cjmj. when i got this new computer i asked about what i needed for a second monitor (besides the monitor itself). i think i will visit my local compusa over the weekend and get what i need!

Heres a TIP, Not for everyone just my opinion, but if you have time read "Joel Osteen",Your Best Life Now, 7 steps to living at your full potential! What a book changed my life, and my business has tripled and my life is much better now, one year! Thanks Everyone, "ever wonder why some get more work or invites that others dont?" Thanks and God Bless

I set my printer tp print two pages per sheet. It's tiny to read, but it prints faster and I save ink and paper. I like the two screen idea. I never thought about it. It takes me about 45 minutes to pull comps, upload pictures and input data. If it takes over an hour, than something is wrong. Eventually, I'm sure you'll get a good system going for yourself.

I put my comps in a table view and run through and fill in everything I can from all of them all at once (about 3 minutes) then pull up the detailed view to finish off.

Even a PITA rural property where you have to scratch for comps and screw around should take an hour or so.

I'm going to try the 2 screens and see if that helps. Right now it's taking between 1 hr (CC) and 2 hrs (RRR). My goal is everything in an hour! A lot of mine are old homes - or multi families - so comps aren't all that easy. And I try to stay in the same town/city as values change so much.

ggwwttre - what do you mean by a "table view" of comps?

I guess I'm being picky or just suffering from dial-up service, but I average about 1-2 hours to find comps, fill out forms and upload pictures. I don't adjust for EVERYthing, just the major differences that I see as impacting value. I keep the mls minimized while I work on the form so if I forget something, I can go back to it easily. I do print a copy of every comp used with my notes and adjustments, and Iprint a copy of the completed BPO, as well.

Concepts...

I mean the list of comps that looks like a spreadsheet. On my software, and most, you can choose which columns are in that list... so I set up the columns in the same order as the questions on the form.

I upload my photos from camera first; shrink them, file them. Pick out my comps; have that screen ready, minimize it; pull up bpo form, fill in. When you get the system down it shouldn't take that long. Be sure your photos are small so the photo upload doesn't take so long.

How do you do the split screen thing?Usually i have to click back and forth.Ky realtor i know how to cut and paste but how do you fill it in so fast.

Here is the stage i am at now,best time for a bpo 30 minutes cc,if it's really hard comps or unusual property about 1 hr 15 mins.
I used to print all of the comps nig waste of time,ink and paper.Most of the bpo's ask mundane questions that you can go ahead and fillout before pulling comps,that's the first thing i do and then save then i upload photos and save.Now on the bpo input form i highlight the actives and solds then click print,amke sure you choose print selected and not print all or it will print everything.Now i write in the comps then i stick the paper in a clipbaord and stand it up next to the computer screen so i can type as i go down the page.This has helped cut my time in half,the only pain int he butt in my mls is ti doesn't list square footage so we have to hit the tax id link to bring up the tax record to get the square footage,it would be nice if it was listed on the comp so you wouldn't have to open a new screen each time.

Super Realtor.... Minimize both screens, then put them side by side or one on the bottom and on on the top. One half of your screen should be the MLS and the other half the BPO. Resize them to fit your screen.

The thing that is slowing me down recently is the increased number of Photo's required of the subject and many with required photos of all comps. Active Comp photos are a real problem in my area because the listing agent has to enter them and it is often 2 weeks before some get posted and are of poor quality.

I just received notice this AM that one client will no longer accept photos with "any car part" in the photo!!! Now that one will really cause some problems if enforced!!! Wonder what they will do when we send the tow truck bill in??? LOL.

I have not tried the dual screen approach for BPO's but have used it in years past in Engineering work. the split screen makes everything too small on my 20 Flat Screen and totally unreadable on a standard CRT. May give the dual a try, sounds interesting and most of the time I never need paper back up... but just wonder what I would do if I did. Actives data can change and you would have no way to verify what it was when you looked at it.

I do referee BPO for a couple of lenders.... one of the "errors" I often report is the active data is not what was reported on the BPO... but that is something that changes real time and if the other BPO sources did not maintain print outs to show that is what it was at the time of their ananlysis... they could be looked upon as inaccurate or even untruthful....

The split screen does make things small, so I just minimize and click back and forth. Comp photos---our mls has a policy that if photo is not received in three days, the listing is removed.

Also, our mls requires square footage and lot size to be input in three days. I think one of the people on the mls committee does bpo's, so all the info is there. If your mls or bor does not do things right, get involved and change things.

Pictures first. Crop out excessive sky, people walking. I never get my car in the photos, but I do get cars parked in the neighborhood and often driveway. Lighten if in shaddows from trees, sharpen if necessary. Save photos to BPO file, upload photos from file. Open file, fill in everything that is "same" like city, zip code, property type, b/b/g, etc. Save. Open MLS, search, narrow by features. Narrow by distance. Narrow by date. Half/half top bottom screen. Cut/paste MLS # (if needed), address, listing price, sq. ft., DOM. Save. 1, save, 2, save, 3, save, 1, save, 2, save, 3, save. Comments. Save. Evaluate- price. Save and complete.

If I am lucky enough not to have a toddler using me as a personal jungle gym, it takes about an hour, maybe 2 depending on photos and avail. comps. Toddler time can make an entry upwards of 4 hours of stop/start. :rolleyes: LOL This is why I got into this line of work instead of a 9-5: so I *can* take that time for the baby. That means most of mine get entered between 10pm and 3am.