Let me start my first blog with a confession.  I HATE TO WRITE.  As a past president of the Crystal Coast Chapter of Women's Council of REALTORS® and the Carteret County Association of REALTORS®  the part I hated the most was that #!*# monthly newsletter.  I got thru it but I spent a lot of time complaining about it.  I guess my friends Amy Hahn and Marian Goetzinger are going to drag me into the new age of internet blogging kicking and screaming.  I will say that I have taken the whining and complaining end of this to a fine art.  Oh well they say confession is good for the soul.

Now for the problem that finally got me off of the fence and into the blogging world.  I am practicing in a resort market so naturally most of my clients and customers are not locals.  Quiet often I am emailing contracts from my forms program.   Presently I use Zipforms.  Whenever I send contracts by snail mail I either use a highlighter or sticky notes to show my clients were I need for them to sign, initial or date.  Is there some way that I can do this from the Zipforms program? I spent 30 minutes this morning printing, highlighting and scanning contracts to email which seemed like wasted time.  If anyone knows of an easier way please let me know.

Paula Stadiem    

Broker/REALTOR®; ABR;GRI; SRES; SRS

2004 and 2005 President Crystal Coast Chapter of

            Women's Council of REALTORS®

2007 President Carteret County Association of REALTORS®

2008 Carteret County REALTOR® of the Year

Pine Knoll Shores Realty

320 Salter Path Rd. Suite Y

Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512

 

 

 

 
Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: Free Tools For Real Estate Agents
Post is included in group: Tech Corner

17 Comments on First Time Blogger Needing Help

NOV
20
2008
170,845 Points

Try not to think of it as writing.  Think of it as talking and you just type what you say.

2:58pm • #1
1 Featured Post

Welcome aboard.  I love to write and that is one reason I jumped in feet first here.  I am the original dinasour when it comes to this stuff.  However, there are some great people here and they will help you with anything you need.  Once you get rolling, you will change your attitude about writing.  Just think of it as talking to friends, not writing the great American novel.  Just have fun.

3:01pm • #2

Congrats, wish I could offer advice on Zipforms but don't have experience using them.  I too am new and have not gotten up the nerve to blog...still lurking.  Good job, I hope to read many more from you in the future.

3:07pm • #4

Go to my blog for some additional added tips think you will enjoy the one on Blogging

3:09pm • #5
255,579 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Welcome, another NC convert!  Can't help you on the scanning issue, but best of luck here.  I'd suggest joining the ARNewbies group for lots of help getting started.

 

Active Rain Newbies

3:16pm • #6
844,766 Points 213 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Not to worry.

Writing is an acquired skill.

The more of it you do, the better at it you will be.

Just write what you're thinking and all will be right with the world.

If you can type.

 

3:22pm • #7
2 Featured Posts

I think Heath's suggestion of just think of it like writing what you say is an excellent analogy. It's not as hard as it seems, but definitely easier for some than others. Try not to over think the whole process and just do it!

3:34pm • #8
490,668 Points 41 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Well if you have learned nothing else today it is that many people do not actually ready through a blog before they comment :-) 

Unfortunately I do not use zipforms myself but if the forms are saved as either a PDF file or a Word file you should be able to pull them up and highlight them with the tools in either of those packages and then resave before you email.  The caveat to that is that you would need Adobe Acrobat 9.  You could download a free version and try it or try in word to see if it works.

Hope that is a bit helpful to you.

3:36pm • #9
161,783 Points

Paula,

Welcome to Active Rain.  You started off with a bang, and hope you will continue to participate.

4:48pm • #10
141,027 Points 5 Featured Posts

Paula, looks like you are getting some help here.  Does that mean that you won't come to me for help anymore...cause I'd miss you!

5:32pm • #11

Not on your life.  I think one of my major goals in life is to annoy you.  I believe I am getting very good at it.

7:54pm • #12
NOV
21
2008
113,179 Points 1 Featured Post

I like to email right from Zipform, so I just add instructions like "initial on line #100" "sign on line #200", etc. It would be too much trouble to try and take the form into another program to highlight anything, in my opinion.

12:17pm • #13
NOV
24
2008
127,796 Points 1 Featured Post

I had the same issue as you a recent as last week.  I had an out of state client I had to send forms to for them to sign.  I emailed them straight out of Zipforms and just added instructions, just as Leslie explained above.  Even with that said, it took several phone calls and emails for my clients to send back properly filled out paperwork.

If there is an easier way, I would also love to know how.

1:27pm • #14
167,762 Points 1 Featured Post

I like to write about interesting things in our area, fun things to do, and other facts that someone moving into the area would be interested in. I also love to post interesting things about our local history. I always try to include an interesting photo or cartoon as well.

3:29pm • #15
NOV
25
2008
120,191 Points 5 Featured Posts

Paula, This was really a great blog.  Good to see you got several comments from it but nothing that really solved the issue.  Maybe we'll have to call tech support.  By the way, I really like the way your blog looks.

3:37pm • #16
182,327 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Welcome to AR, you will get past it eventually like we all did, or not... it actually becomes fun.

3:55pm • #17
250,305 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Paula,

Great that you finally decided to join AR. You can get just about any question answered here by clicking on the Search tab and then entering your topic. Anyhow, welcome and happy blogging. 

4:02pm • #18

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Paula Stadiem

Pine Knoll Shores, NC

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Pine Knoll Shores Realty

Address: 320 Salter Path Rd. Suite Y, Pine Knoll Shores, NC, 28512

Office Phone: (252) 727-5000

Cell Phone: (252) 422-4220

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