That's very useful information, Top Producer isn't all that user-friendly either.

I'll definitely research those options.

 Thank you!

Kris look at www.realfuturecrm.com  its free up to 500 contacts..( I think that amount is right)..

I gave up Top Producer for REST, Real Estate Success Tools.

Vickie Nagy, http://www.besttrivalleyhomes.com/

One of the most knowledgeable people about different contact management programs is Gary David Hall. He has a lot of information on his web site at GaryDavidHall.com. If you contact him directly, he will help you find the best program for you based on your needs. I am a very satisfied user of Gary's products and service, and have no other ties to him.

So which did you pick to use? I also tried and gave up on Top Producer. It hogged too much memory and kept crashing my machine. And was a pain. I do need something that works with Outlook. Through Realty Executives I'm using Sharper Agent, but it won't integrate with Outlook. I'm interested in your final choice and why!

Would love to know what you decide - I, too, dumped Top Producer as too expensive and difficult to use.

Kris

great info thank you...

Rick

Jan. 22.07 Update:

I am replacing Eurekaware with REST. The main reason is transferring TP7i database. As you may know by now your TP database is held hostage and you will need professional help to transfer it to the new software. Please keep the comments going, also when you suggest a product let us know why you like it. Thank you all.

I have TP 6i and I use Outlook and I am looking for something different too.

I'm thinking of purchasing REST, but I would like to hear some more comments from anyone that has used it.  Are you happy with it?  How is the e-mail feature work.....does it sync up with outlook?

How about ACT for Real Estate?  I am looking for the best solution too!

I tried a free-trial for the NEW ACT 2008 for Real Estate and I found it to be like most ACT software...bloated, slow and too complicated.  I also tried Top Producer 8i, but didn't want to sign their 12 month auto-renew contract (since most everyone I talk to that has used TP usually ends up NOT using it after a few months). 

So, I've narrowed my choices down to REST and Advatage Xi.  Both seem like good platforms, but I'm just not sure.  I'd like to hear more from people that are using them everyday. 

I like REST becuse I might end up getting a MAC when my Dell finally kicks the bucket, and I've always heard good things about File Maker Pro (which is what REST is based on). 

Advantage Xi looks really good also.....it seems very intuitive and simple.  But, I don't want to be married to Microsoft Windows for the rest of my life....so that's one strike against it.

Choices.......

great tips thanks for sharing

I've decided to go with REST.After evaluating all the other options, REST "just works".  It's intuitive, it's attractive & it does everything I need it to do.  Plus, after speaking with Karen & Matthew at REST, I truly believe this is the platform that will not only work for me now.....but it will grow with me.

Hello Kris, Thank for adding this post in to the Users Group. There are many many in the profession that have wrestling with this issues for years and you gave a nice succinct post that deals with your decision making on your selection of real estate software. The comments really tell the story that there has been so much misinformation out there. I read here from a few about REST. I was very impressed with the company and their responsiveness to questions that I had. They seem dedicated to our interests and provide great tutorials as well as training. Other software supplier would be well advised to look at the model they set up. I haven't personally made the change but when I am ready to do so, REST , it is. They deserve the publicity here as they have been very responsive and obviously care that their clients are well served. Thanks again for bringing this post to the group. It's all about informed choice.

  This is good information....Kris....which one did YOU choose and why ?

               Doug

Just to update.....I'm 2 days into using REST and I have not had any complaints.  The buyer's remorse usually kicks in for me right about now (on day 2) for most of the Real Estate Tools that I've purchased in the past, but not with REST......I'm still thrilled with it and I'm actually excited about using it.

REST doesn't do a lot of marketing like Top Producer, so word of mouth from happy customers goes a long way.

If you are curious about it, go to their site and download the demo.....or just call them up and talk to Karen or Matthew.  I promise you, it'll be worth your time.

Kevin   

I gave up on Top Producer years ago - too clunky, too slow, not compatible with other programs. Since then we've been using ACT and have been very happy with it. Didn't like TransACT for real estate - just customized the regular ACT.

Is there a monthly fee for REST? Also, is anyone here a reseller of this program? I'd like to know if there is a trial version available. I don't like Outlook because of then notes section and how it is not very helpful when tracking real estate transactions and people. Too many categories could easily be created and then data becomes messy. Also, has anyone here tried Lead Commander which links with Freedom Voice? I have Freedom Voice, but I have not used it even though I pay the monthly fee. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Hi Kris~ Another powerful alternative that is very user friendly is WiseAgent It is quickly becoming a very popular transition platform from Top Producer, as it offers many of the same features and is more user friendly.

Hi Kris~ Another powerful alternative that is very user friendly is WiseAgent It is quickly becoming a very popular transition platform from Top Producer, as it offers many of the same features and is more user friendly.

I, too, am a Top Producer reform-ee.  I loved it at first but I was new to the CRM world...I grew to dislike it more and more everyday I used it.  Not to mention the monthly wallet raid that was required.

I made my own contact forms for Outlook and can now track the information I need and that is specific to my area instead of a generic CRM program that has things that I would never use...I always hated that.

I used to use a separate Exchange server (http://www.1&1.com/) for all of our email, contact lists, etc. I recently started using http://www.plaxo.com/ to maintain my contact list, calendar, etc. It has worked out very well for the way we work. Plaxo will automatically sync with Outlook and many other tools. The base version of Plaxo is free and you can get some enhanced features for a monthly price.

I'm curious...you already use Outlook Express (that's for email) why aren't you using Outlook to incorporate the contact management, activity tracking, calendar, syncing with PDA/Phone and email?

Hi Kris. Thanks for sharing the great tip! Keep them coming.

Kris...I agree TP does hold your database hostage. I have helped several agents migrate from TP to Outlook and although I consider myself a professional, getting your contacts out of TP and into another program isn't all that complicated as it is time consuming. Are their tricks to know...absolutely. Thanks for your post.

Hi Mr. Zugloff,

I hope you don't mind me posting a side question here.  Since you are intimate with crm tools (through your needs and research of products) I was wondering if you could help answer a question I posted here:  http://activerain.com/blogsview/574849/CRM-Management-Tool which is asking for a list of important features in a crm tool.  I feel some of the tools are bloated and wonder what you and others find useful within a crm tool and what features are not really used.  Any information would be great! 

Att. Jason _

For me automatic e-mail and mail plans are a must also to sync my information with Outlook and my Treo. Hopefully other agents will comment what they like here so make sure you subscribe to this feed. Good luck and keep us posted.

Anyone use Howard & Friends or Agents 1st Choice?  I, too, got Top Producer 8i and don't like it at all.  I am seriously looking at Advantage Xi (heard it is really good).  Agents 1st choice looks interesting because it can pull property data/photos from your mls, do really nice CMAs, have email/history tied to the contact, and have customizable web forms that can automatically import you leads to your database.  Advantage Xi take it further with lead capture, but you have to manually enter in MLS data.  I'll look into Wise agent and REST too.

Talk to Gary David Hall for more advice.. he is great!  (Unsolicited compliment) I don't work for him or get paid by him.. he is just a valuable resource  http://www.garydavidhall.com/

Don't forget Top Producer, Agent Office and a relatively new one out there called TheWiseAgent.  What ever the program -0- it is only as good as you use it -- hopefully for more than an address book and you will set up email campaigns with your clients

I had heard a lot about Top Producer and would like an easy system to use - thanks!

Thank you all for participating. I am looking into Advantage Xi and it looks like it will make its way to the Top 3. The good thing about it is that there is so much information about it so its easy to see if its going to work or not. They have over 100 instructional videos and 300 page manual available as well as 30 days trial. I will play around with it for a while and see what happens<grint>

So whats the final verdict?  Anyone want to argue what's the BEST of the BEST?!!

I am trying to understand which features are beneficial to you and would like to understand 'why' you choose certain products.  Also, what formats are beneficial to extract or export into other tools you may use. 

v/r

JW

Really great information in these post! Thank you to everyone for sharing! Paige www.paigewalker.com

Have used top producer 7i, and 8i, and Agent office.

Top Producer 8i just flat out sucks.  Sure it is a very powerful database...but as far as being user friendly it sucks...as far as being 'fast' it sucks.  Web based is highly over rated...it is just way to slow.

Agent office, i like much more, but just is not as powerful as I need it to be.  Not good with importing internet leads, and it's email program is terrible.

So I went searching....and without question advantage xi is the best CRM i have come across.

You get a free 30 day full working program.  download and check it out...tons of great video tutorials...but you hardly need them as it just makes sense...and it is very very powerful.

You won't be sorry...check it out.

p.s.  I know nothing about the other databases mentioned above...but i would stay away from any web based database...they are just way to slow (even with high speed)...with advantage xi...i pay $10 a month and they hose the database on their servers...i dont' worry about backing up my data at all...and the database flies...i just have to wait 10secs to 1 minute upon logging out while it 'synchs' to the server at their location...pretty slick.

What would you say about ACT! for real estate use? I have been told that was high up there with client databases.

To Amy and Jim,

I am very curios if you can tell me how long have you used Advantage Xi and what do you mean by the Advantage Xi lead capture capabilities or may be you can share any other cool features that you like. Because the program its not that well known I got flood of emails since you mentioned it. Let us know if you can take the time, we are very interested to learn.

Advantage Xi gets great reviews in this neck of the woods. I would love to learn more from current users...anyone?