Do You Feel A Draft In Here??? - 07/27/07 01:31 AM
When we begin our work with real estate agents, we build their transactional templates in our online transaction centerand then process their files according to those templates.  In order to maintain control of the transaction, we process the online transaction while giving the agent full access.  That means, the agent can see every single note, task, email, document, etc.  Sometimes, it feels a bit risky to be totally exposed. 
It is much like the feeling you get sitting in that small exam room on the paper covered table with nothing but a hospital gown on.  You are really quite vulnerable.  It takes a … (11 comments)

Breakthrough the Limits of Communication - 07/26/07 11:57 PM
Have you ever been in an appointment and found your mind wandering with worry of how many people are trying to reach you and how long it is going to take you to answer all of their voicemails?  I have found over time that the more accessible you can be, the better you will ultimately manage your time.  I know this may sound contradictory, but hang with me.
How many ways can you client reach you? - and I don't mean multiple phone numbers.  Here is how I communicate with my clients:
Phone - I have an office line.  I let people know … (7 comments)

How Is Your Team Fighting the Daily Battles? - 07/26/07 01:50 AM
When working with a team it is imperative that you work together through the thick and the thin of all circumstances.  We have a saying in our office that is the first rule that new team members learn and are expected to practice from the moment they start: NEVER throw a team member under the bus.  It will not be tolerated - period.  It isn't tolerated by other team members and it isn't tolerated by management.
The Roman Army was one of the most disciplined armies in history.  They created and fought in what is known as "testudo" or the turtle formation.  … (5 comments)

Houston, We Have A Problem!!! - 07/23/07 10:52 PM
I write about online transaction management all the time.  It is what I do.  It is what I know.  For the past few years, it has become a huge part of what I am.  Most of the time, when I write about online transaction management, I fear that most agents are just reading blah, blah, blah with their eyes glazed over.  I fear this is the way most agents feel about transaction management in general.  So, I challenge you to read this and respond!
I have spent many years investigating online transaction management platforms.  My platform of choice is SureClose, but all platforms are … (9 comments)

We've Come A Long Way, Baby! - 07/23/07 04:15 PM
Today, I am sitting on my living room couch enjoying pure chaos around me.  My 13 year old niece is visiting from Texas and watching her with my kids is pure joy.  What, time with the family??  But IT IS A WORK DAY!!
Ah, this takes me back to the days where I was completely overwhelmed managing 200+ transactions a year, dragging paper files back and forth from the office to home because there just weren't enough hours in the work day.  I spent my "home" time cooped up in my office yelling down stairs for every one to "keep it down".  Why … (12 comments)

SureClose Helpful Hint for Today (emailing pages as attachments) - 07/20/07 11:53 PM
Did you know that you can email the Summary page and the Terms page from your file as an attachment?  I would love to think that all parties to each transaction diligently log in to SureClose to find the information that we have so carefully entered into the file.  I am a realist, though.  Many years in escrow and transaction management have contributed to my cynicism.  So, here are a couple of nice touches to add to your process in anticipation of being the only person to ever look at your beautiful on-line transaction:
1) Once you have your Summary page complete … (2 comments)

The Scales of Justice Swing Both Ways - 07/20/07 10:44 PM
I don't like to rant.  I like to stay positive, I like to educate, I like to contribute to the betterment of the people around me.  Some days that is harder than others. 
We currently have a transaction that my transaction team is processing that I was called in to assist on.  That usually means trouble.  This is a transaction where the Agent that our team is working for represents the seller.  This is also a transaction that was dying a slow death.  It has been hanging around for so long that we had all given up hope of it ever … (11 comments)

How Colorful Are You? - 07/19/07 12:19 AM
Have you ever completed a paint-by-numbers picture?  Until it is entirely filled in, it isn't complete.  It just doesn't look right until all the numbers with their corresponding colors are shaded.
What if your transaction were a paint-by-number picture?
Realtors = 1-Blue
Escrow Officer = 2-Red
Lender = 3-Green
Buyer/Seller = 4-Yellow
                             Inspectors = 5-Purple
Each color is important to complete the picture.  Some may be used more than others, but the painting is not complete without each and every one. 
Now, here is where I'm going to get a little philosophical on you.  If all these pieces are the colors, what would the canvas be?  What can effectively bring … (12 comments)

How Did You Spend Your Day Today? - 07/14/07 12:50 AM
I am happy to report that we currently have 21 transactions in escrow. (We've already closed 12 others this month).  We also have around 70 listings on our current inventory.  Guess what we did today....We spent a beautiful and fun day out in the sun at hole number 13 at the Santa Clara South County Realtors golf tournament.  We had a wonderful time with Della Martinez and her crew from Stewart Title Company.
Now, here is the best part and why you should read this post:  While we were there, we had loan documents come in on two of our transactions, we … (10 comments)

Helpful SureClose Hint for Today (Associated Files) - 07/12/07 09:14 PM
This is one of my favorites:  If you have a listing that sells (we all hope for these) and you convert your listing file to a closing file, SureClose will keep these files linked to each other.  I love that the listing file stays intact so that if the closing transaction falls through, you can revert right back to your listing file and not have to worry about removing the cancelled buyer's information.  As you are processing your closing file, however, you will surely have several opportunities that you will need to refer back to your listing file. 
Instead of having … (2 comments)

Use your head or I'm gonna make you wear the helmet!!!! - 07/07/07 01:34 AM
  We have a standing joke in our office...we have a bright yellow bike helmet, and if you do something really moronic (I mean, it appears to everyone that perhaps you forgot to bring your brain to work), you have to work in the helmet for the rest of the day.  I'm proud to say, it has been a very long time since I have had to pull out the helmet for anyone on my staff.  Although, a few have come close at times...you know who you are and you know what you did.
There are some Realtors that we work with … (13 comments)

One more day and order will be re-stored - 07/06/07 01:06 AM
Here is a real TGIF...My Operations Manager has been on vacation this week. 
Boy, do I miss her! 
Sure, the workload has been a bit heavier than usual.  That is OK, though.  I'm happy to have the business (we appreciate each and everyone of our Realtor clients).  Here is the thing, I miss her!  I have said many times what a phenomenal group of people I am blessed to work with.  I REALLY MEAN IT!  I have never worked harder than those days that I sit next to Sandy Dennis and crank out those transactions, but I have never laughed harder either. 
Now, … (7 comments)

Helpful SureClose Hint for Today (Contact entries on Summary page) - 07/04/07 01:22 AM
When you add a contact on SureClose, there are a couple of things to watch for:
1) If you have more a buyer or seller that is a couple, you may enter them as one entry but the system does not have a way to differentiate which phone number belongs to each of them.  After you have added the contact, you can click on the entry to edit is and add the client's name in front of the previously entered phone number.
This is the way the system would default:         
Remember, the more information you can add here, the better.  If you have … (8 comments)

Do you think I work too much????? - 07/03/07 12:57 AM
I recently wrote a post entitled ...You Might be a Real Estate Workaholic.  Tomorrow is my middle son's birthday.  He'll be 9 years old tomorrow.  As my husband and I were reminiscing about the day he was born, my husband pointed out that this is the ultimate real estate workaholic story.  I must admit that as I write this, I am a little ashamed at the embarrassing truth but here it goes:
Nine years ago today, I was a closer for a title company in Dallas, TX.  Needless to say, we were an extremely busy office and the files always seemed to … (10 comments)

Helpful SureClose Hint for Today (Creative uses for the Terms Section) - 07/02/07 11:37 PM
There are always a few bits of information that we need to access quickly as we process our files and field questions from callers.  We have discovered that the terms section of our files in SureClose is a great place to store this information for fast, efficient access.  Here are a few things that we store on this page as a general term:
1) Property access - If the property is tenant occupied, this is a great place to put the tenants names and phone number.  If there is a lock box at the property you can note it here.  This also works … (0 comments)

Helpful SureClose Hint for Today (Posting the Escrow Number on a Listing File) - 07/01/07 11:26 PM
So, if you are a SureClose user I'm not sure if you noticed this yet or not but there is no place on the Summary page to post your escrow number on a listing file.  Want to know why????  The developer of the software is from Southern California.  In Southern California, the escrow is not typically opened until after the property sells.  So, there really wasn't a need for an escrow number to be posted.  Now, in Northern California, we are different aren't we?  We like to get those escrows open as soon as we have a listing so we can … (4 comments)

A Story of Real Estate Success - 07/01/07 01:23 AM
OK, use your imagination as you read this, I'm going to tell you a story:
Once upon at time there was a very successful Realtor who was extremely productive.  He closed over 100 transactions a year.  He knew that he could not continue to be successful in this way and continue to grow if he was always in the office.  So, he bought a tablet PC and he implemented an online transaction management system.  His new, trusted companion (his tablet PC) went everywhere with him.  Now, he could access the MLS, generate listing agreements and purchase contracts on Winforms online, and pull up all … (3 comments)

 
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Beth Young

Houston, TX

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PropertyInfo Corp. - SureClose

Address: 1980 Post Oak Blvd., 5th Floor, Houston, TX, 77056

Office Phone: (713) 881-7853

Cell Phone: (832) 489-3609

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