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My 2014 Goal is to Become Entirely Paperless

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Franklin Homes Realty LLC

clutterThe other day while sitting with buyers at a Franklin TN new construction site, they decided to write a contract on a new home. I had already uploaded my Tennessee documents into Echosign awaiting signatures. All my clients had to do was sign with their finger. It was so easy and entirely paperless.

This reminded me my 2014 goal is to become entirely paperless. The goal is to use apps such as Evernote, Echosign and Cartavi to make my file management easier. The major advantage I see to doing this is the ability for both buyers and sellers to have unlimited access to their own virtual file.

I recently had a situation where a buyer kept sending me requests about one particular neighborhood. She had forgotten that I showed her a home in the neighborhood already and she didn't like it. With Evernote, I could have set her up to have access to that information. It would have eliminated many calls and texts messages saying, "What about this house?"

Last year, I implemented electronic signatures through Echosign. That alone has been a major time saver for me. No more driving to client's homes to get signatures on documents. Not to mention, the ease of getting signatures from out of town clients.

I am already using things like Open Home Pro for open houses. It's so easy for buyers to sign in. The best part--they receive an email with photos and information about my listing before I've even left the open house.

With all the wonderful apps that are available to real estate agents, there's no reason for me to delay any longer.

My 2014 goal is to become entirely paperless.

Posted by
Tammie White, Managing Broker/Owner
CLHMS, CRS, GRI, SFR
Franklin Homes Realty LLC
Franklin, TN
(615) 495-0752 
GET REAL. GET LOCAL.
 
This posting with the content written here and photographs displayed are the intellectual property and opinions of Tammie White of Franklin Homes Realty LLC. Any party who uses this material without the written permission of Tammie White is subject to copyright infringement and possible lawsuit.

Comments (24)

Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Tammie. I really like the idea but what if the other party has no assess to these things? That is the real question. Good luck.

Dec 25, 2013 09:39 PM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Hi Tammie,

As I sit here surrounded by paper of some sort, I would like to say that we are making progress in the paperless direction, but I have to admit that I am torn about it.

Happy Holidays and a Pfanntastic 2014

Dec 25, 2013 10:22 PM
Jill Watts
Realty Pro, Inc. - Vancouver, WA
A Luxury Experience at Every Price Point!

I use docusign too.  It doesn't always send the documents out to my clients though and that could become a legal problem.

 

Dec 25, 2013 11:59 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Tammie, I've been paperless since January 2010.  I have yet to find a way to be entirely paperless.  At the end of it all, my clients receive a paperless file. This is so much more efficient! I wish you all the best in 2014 and beyond!

Dec 26, 2013 12:33 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Larry - If you could see my office right now, you'd know why I want to go paperless.

Michael - I will still have a trail, it just won't be of actual documents but virtual documents.

Debbie - That webinar was the motivation for going entirely paperless.

Jared - My brokerage office is paperless but I am not. The goal is for us both to be paperless.

Sheila - Obviously, if clients want a paper copy I will create one for them. However, if my clients have a computer, I will be training them in the use of e-signatures. It makes everything so much easier for everyone, including them.

Peter - Exactly my reason for doing this.

Jill - I use EchoSign and haven't had that occur.

Kathleen - I have been trying to go entirely paperless for awhile. When Tom joined me, I thought it would just be easier to have paper for him. I think that was a mistake. The virtual file is going to be so much more efficient than my current system of some things virtual, other things paper.

Dec 26, 2013 03:07 AM
Randy Shamburger
Movement Mortgage - Greenville, SC
FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional Mortgage Expert

Hey Tammie, nice idea. Excellent post, thanks for sharing.

Have a Big day,

Randy

Dec 26, 2013 04:10 AM
Adrian Willanger
206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA
Profit from my two decades of experience

Hi Tammy, I like your commitment to go paperless. Yes it is time to make it happen we have some great tools at our disposal. 

Dec 26, 2013 05:41 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

I have been paperless for 5 years now! Everything in the computer and electronic signatures ALMOST always!

Dec 26, 2013 08:39 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Tammie,

Good for you, and I know your the type that once you set your mind to do something you will.  All the best in 2014. A

Dec 26, 2013 11:13 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Good luck on being entirely paperless. My company still wants paper copies of everything with checklists on top which is so behind the times.

Dec 26, 2013 11:31 AM
Rosie Crow
Serving Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Missouri City - Sugar Land, TX
Exceeding Expectations. Delivering Results

I use Dot Loop, but it is hard to be entirely paperless when other companies are not up to speed with technology.  I've had to scan docs with handwritten sigs and upload it to Dot Loop.  I never heard of Evernote. i got to check that out.

Dec 26, 2013 12:29 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Tammy best wishes with your total parperless goal for 2014.

Dec 26, 2013 12:42 PM
Bill and MaryAnn Wagner
Wagner Real Estate Group - Ocean City, NJ
Jersey Shore and South Jersey Real Estate

Tammie,

We have been using Cartavi for a couple of years and as a result we have no paper files. In case you were not aware, Docusign recently purchased Cartavi and will be integrating functionality. We love the fact that when we receive a document we can open it directly in Cartavi from our iPads and the file is stored to the transaction immediately. Also, when our administrative assistant receives and uploads a file we receive an immediate notification.

Dec 26, 2013 09:36 PM
Tracy Oliva
West USA Realty - Arizona - Fountain Hills, AZ
The Oliva Team Arizona Agents

Good Morning an this is a great goal!!  keep up the good work and good luck in 2014, E

Dec 27, 2013 12:14 AM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

I am on the same kind of wavelength. MobiLe Agent in technicolor letters.

Dec 27, 2013 09:10 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Tammie, that's wonderful goal for 2014 - and you are right, we have all the tools available for that! (Actually, I have all my transactions as a soft copy since 2005! though it was not paperless)

Dec 28, 2013 07:48 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Randy - Thanks for stopping by.

Adrian - Agreed.

Barbara-Jo - The signatures are electronic but the paper management is not.

Alexandra - I sure do.

Debbie - Our office is entirely paperless but I am not.

Rosie - I know other agents who use Dot Loop.

Jennifer - Thanks.

Bill - I was aware that DocuSign bought Cartavi. I'll need to figure out if I need to make a change to that program instead of EchoSign which I really like.

Ed & Tracy - Same to you.

Cheryl - It's a goal more agents should strive for.

Praful - I want to be entirely paperless.

Dec 28, 2013 12:06 PM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

I am having issues with people who do not want to use an electronic signature. I guess as time goes by this issue will go away. For now a driving I will go to get that signature that is needed.

Dec 29, 2013 08:54 AM
Brian DeYoung
also affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Heritage Realty - Ithaca, NY
The Realtor with personal investment background

you are a brave woman.

i hope 2014 is your best year ever.

Dec 29, 2013 11:03 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Sussie - I've found older people are the most difficult to convert to e-signatures.

Brian - If you say so.

Dec 29, 2013 11:50 AM