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Managing Transactions with Microsoft Office Live

By Toni Hogan

Education & Training with ToniHogan.com

June 26, 2008 03:08 PM

I "discoverd OfficeLive" a few days ago. Yeah, it was just sitting right there on my Yahoo! page...well the ad for it was anyway. I was so excited to have found something that would allow me to share documents with my assistant so that I could avoid the expense of setting up a server in my office. I soon realized it was a lot more than a file sharing program.

As usual, I came to ActiveRain to find out if anyone else had made this "discovery." It seems the most common use is for the free website it offers. But, I couldn't find anything about my use for OfficeLive.

It is a low-budget (or no-budget) way to keep track of your real estate transactions. I found that I can:

Create multiple workspaces...and name them using the property address (or buyer/tenant name).
Upload transaction documents.
Allow client access to the workspace simply by sending them an email link.
Share your screen with a client to review or discuss documents or other transaction related items.
Add Seller, Buyer, Agent and/or Vendor task lists...copy and paste from Excel if you already have a standard task list
Add other types of lists with templates or "from scratch." Lists can be customized by adding or deleting columns and rows.
Add contacts.
Keep track of workspace activity either on the site or via automatic email.
Save documents directly to OfficeLive if you download the update.
Works with Outlook. I don't know how exactly since I don't use Outlook anymore.

This can all be done in OfficeLive Workspace. I just "discovered" during the writing of this post that OfficeLive Small Business has a Contact Manager and a Project Manager. The need for a Contact Manager is obvious. The Project Manager would seem like a great tool for REO agents. (Just a thought!)

OfficeLive may not be as robust as even the least expensive Online Transaction Management Program (OTMP), but it's much better than nothing or Excel alone. Now I have to go figure out if I can just "upgrade" to the Small Office version. Good thing I only have two listings now and have only input one and a half so far.

Hope this is useful information. I would love to hear from others who are using OfficeLive to manage their real estate business. Do chime in and share your ideas!

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Kimberly Grant

Exit Leon Crawford Realty - Huntsville, AL

Real Estate Agent - Huntsville Alabama

I'm not familar with Microsoft Office Live. I will have to check this out. Looks like it can be something that I can use from what you found. Thanks for sharing!

Jun 26, 2008 03:14 PM

Michael Sahlman

www.HomesForVIPs.com - Keller Williams Realty - Miami Beach, FL

e-PRO - Miami Beach Florida Luxury Homes

It sounds like a good program. I will have to check it out. Thanks for the post.

Jun 26, 2008 03:16 PM

Mara Hawks

First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL

Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

Sounds very intriguing. I'll have to check it out. thank you for sharing!

Jun 26, 2008 03:28 PM

Kathleen Murray

Realty Executives Mohave - Kingman, AZ

I find it a wonderful place to share documents and information to clients and other agents in a secure workspace.

I've also used it to share photos with team members, keeps a great contact list, I assign email addresses to specific listings...I could go on and on. Accessible from anywhere, not only does it provide me with a webspace, but email, and workspaces. What modules are you using?

Jun 26, 2008 03:31 PM

Toni Hogan

ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX

Kimberly, Michael, and Mara thanks for stopping by. Do check it out. Let us know what you think once you've given it a try.

Kathleen, I'd like to know more about how you've used OfficeLive. Please "go on and on." I just signed up for SmallBusiness and it linked the accounts but I can't seem to access any of the features. I guess I will play around with it for a while.

Jun 26, 2008 03:41 PM

Kathy McGraw

CELLing Realty - White Water, CA

Riverside County CA Real Estate

Hi Toni E. :) How's everything? No, I hadn't heard of this. what is the security guarantee for our clients information? I guess I am leery of anything that has to do with security that I haven't heard of before.....other than that it sounds worth a check out.

Jun 26, 2008 03:51 PM

Tom Davis

Harrington ERA,DE Homes For Sale, $$ Save $$ Buy Today ! - Dover, DE

FREE Delaware Homes Search!, $$ Save $$ - Find Homes! Delaware Realtor

Hi Toni and Jay,

Sounds Great! Will Have to dig into it! :)

Thanks,

World Class Delaware Realtor

Jun 26, 2008 04:34 PM

Hi Kathy (aka MB). I guess I am so naive as to trust something just because it's from Microsoft...Jay would probably strangle me if he read this. Anyway, this may or may not be what you're looking for but here's what I found.

How Microsoft Office Live Workspace beta helps to protect your documents

Microsoft Office Live Workspace beta is an easy-to-use Web-based application that helps you exchange business or personal information with the people you select. Like many Web-based applications, Office Live Workspace uses JavaScript to provide a rich and user-friendly experience.

Using JavaScript can place some Web-based applications at risk -unauthorized users can manipulate JavaScript to cause the following problems:

•· Phishing: JavaScript can be used to trick a user into providing sensitive information, such as passwords or other credentials, on a Web site that imitates the layout of a legitimate site, such as a bank.

•· Malicious actions: JavaScript can be used to launch an unwanted action on a Web site. For example, a JavaScript attack could direct the permanent deletion of all files from a site. Or an attack could cause the creation of inappropriate content on a site.

Office Live Workspace protection

While no Web site is free from risk, Office Live Workspace helps to protect your documents from malicious JavaScript attacks. Each time you upload a file to your site, or open a document for viewing or to download to your computer, Office Live Workspace scans the file or document for JavaScript that could cause potential damage. If any malicious JavaScript is detected, Office Live Workspace immediately removes it.

Documents affected by JavaScript removal

If JavaScript is removed from a document on your workspace, you may notice that some of the content in the document shows some unusual behavior:

Missing content: Certain images, such as photos, SmartArt Graphics, charts, or equations, will no longer appear in your document. Also, some text may be missing.

Odd formatting: Some or all of the content in your document may not appear as expected; margins or text fonts may have changed.

To view your document with all content appearing properly and formatting restored, on the toolbar, click Save As to download the document to your computer.

Jun 26, 2008 04:43 PM

Hi Tom! Thanks for stopping by. Let us know what you think.

Jun 26, 2008 04:46 PM

Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI

Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Toni, thanks for sharing this, I will bookmark and take a look at it when I get an opportunity. Sounds interesting, I usually do my own beta test, try one transaction, if it works then go more more.

Jun 26, 2008 10:28 PM

Good morning Missy! I finally got access to OfficeLive Small Business. I haven't done anything with it yet but it looks like it is going to make the whole concept of monitoring a transaction even better. I am going to add a few contacts today. It even has a tool for email campaigns. I'll have to check that out.

Jun 27, 2008 01:43 AM

Managing Transactions with Microsoft Office Live

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