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Paperless Challenge In Progress

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 311291

                               Paperless Challenge In Progress

Back in February 2011 there was an ActiveRain Paperless Challenge.

     paperless

The goal... to create a plan reducing the amount of paper used in real estate.

 Here are a few ways that allow me to use less paper but not quite paper-less.

My listing agreements are on my iPad but I still keep a paper copy.  Many of my clients do NOT use a computer,  email or even faxes and I have to work around this situation.

I still use MBAI forms and no longer keep a stack of out of date listing packets.  I still  print one Exclusive Right to Sell contract which I have signed by the seller, scan the original and keep it in the email folder for that listing. Disclosures are scanned separately so it is easy to print or email just what is needed to write an offer. My Fujitsu Scanner still makes it easy to take that one document and file it electronically.  

My contract offers are still  emailed to the client with highlighting for signatures and initials. I have phone appointment times to review the offer and answer questions. They sign and return by fax or email. The fax goes directly into my email. When complete, I combine with the same cover letter and email to all parties. For clients without technology, I am able to send the offer to a family member, lawyer or other trusted adviser for review.

I no longer print up broshures  for listings or MLS sheets  when showing property. I have each listing in the iPad and can have them in my photo gallery...so much easier than carrying paper copies.  I am always Looking For Ways To Eliminate Inefficiencies.

On listing appointments, anything can be pulled up on the iPad from a marketing piece on a specific property, to a blog about the neighborhood to showing my weekly  print advertising.

I have been able to entertain, 3 kids under the age of 4 at the same time, with a single Cool iPad Tool...no more coloring books and reams of paper for drawings.

The Challenge is to create a plan reducing the amount of paper used in real estate.  Did a Paper Truck Throw Up?    

I may be a bit old fashioned but I still want one original paper copy of the contract. I have not been able to cut that paper umbilical cord.

My goal (when I have time in between listing, selling and settling my properties) is to delve more into some of the things Cheryl is doing.  Realtor Plan to go Paperless starts with Evernote Cartavi & Docusign! 

 Right now I am a Paperless Challenge...in Progress  

 

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Posted by

Margaret Rome
HomeRome Realty
Broker/Owner/Realtor®

Baltimore, Maryland


Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

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Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I love a digital age! Maybe I'm a new breed :)

Sep 11, 2012 01:41 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Margaret......we've all come a long way to being as paperless as possible.  It's so much simpler, easier and easy to follow, lead and share what we need to too in an instant.

Sep 11, 2012 02:07 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

It looks like you have been moving toward a paperless workplace for quite a while Margaret. We just need to watch for new opportunities to reduce.

Sep 11, 2012 03:16 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Margaret, it's not so difficult to become a 'paper-less' in this age. At the same time, we should respect our clients comfort.

Our office is paperless - and I try to be paper-less while showing the homes (send tour info via email and I carry it with me on my smartphone) and at the same time, I try to be paper-less for my listings.

In fact, our office has become paper-less starting 9/1/2012!

Sep 11, 2012 04:11 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

The mortgage industry has worked toward this direction for some time, made some progress, but still has a long way to go.

Sep 11, 2012 07:28 PM
June Piper-Brandon
Coldwell Banker Realty - Columbia, MD
Creating Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

Margaret, you are an inspiration.  I have an Ipad on my list of things to add to my toolbox this year.  I can sure see how it would help.

 

Sep 12, 2012 02:43 AM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Margaret - So many people on AR have bought the Fujitsu s1500 scanner.  I am finally going buy one as well. It makes so much sense.

Sep 12, 2012 01:18 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566
It is a constant effort to reduce and streamline the paperwork process. Thanks for the mention up there!
Sep 17, 2012 04:37 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Laura, You were born in the digital age!

Anna, Always love it when you stop by.

Tom, Looking for ways to reduce and make things easier.

Praful, That is quite an accomplishment to have a paperless office.

Joe, Thanks for stopping by.

June, You will really appreciate using the iPad.

Gail. You will love it!

Cheryl, I am trying to streamline the process. Thanks for sharing all you good tech tips.

 

Sep 18, 2012 10:33 AM
Ernie Hernandez
RE/MAX - Cedar Park, TX
Central Texas Real Estate, NW Austin, Cedar Park
Thank you! I do most of the same things , BUT. I still have paper copies of the most important! With iPad and other apps I can just about do EVERYTHING! But I like some of the ideas you speak of and will implement them. Evernote is a work in progress but an amazing tool!
Jan 28, 2013 09:27 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome
Ernie, This topic fis an ongoing challenge. I have a settlement today. I have a copy of the HUD 1 on my ipad photos so it is easy to follow along And I use the ipad calculator at the same time.Impressive at the settlement table.
Jan 28, 2013 10:58 PM