Providing you with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed with Short Sales.

What tools do you use to make your job easier?

Here's what I consider to be my most valuable short sale tools:

Greenfax.com-I am totally paperless and like to have proof of what was sent in in my computer files. I also use this to fax stuff in to myself.

Carbonite.com- backing up all of my files since I don't have a paper copy

HP Tablet PC-So I can sign and markup what I need to without having to print and scan in.

Microsoft Excel-to calculate the net proceeds on deals and do a net sheet
Microsoft Word for my short sale letters, faxes and preparing an index for my packages.

PDF Converter Professional 6.0- To prep, write in changes and consolidate my sales contracts, listing agreements, addendums. I also use this to prepare my own preliminary HUDs

Tags: sale, short, tools

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wendy Rulnick on August 12, 2009 at 9:13am: I'd like to know more about Caronite. My "system" is files in in folders, email (outlook folders) and word folders....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lynn Pineda on August 12, 2009 at 11:07pm: I use Data Deposit Box for backing up files as I try to run a paperless office too. I also have a HP Tablet PC...I couldn't imagine functioning without a Tablet. I use PDF Annotator which sounds like it might be similar to PDF Converter. I can insert documents into the Annotator to sign, delete pages, move them around etc.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Don Duft on August 22, 2009 at 8:04am: Carbonite is so easy. Your files are automatically backed up in the background or at night. When you change a file and save it it has a yellow dot to imply it is not backed up and a green dot when it has been backed up. All files in your My Documents and if you use Outlook all pst files there also are automatically backed up using the double encryption employed by banks. Having been an IT Program Manager I have managed the planning, design and implementation of complex backup systems for large Federal Deparrtments (DOD & IRS). For me it was a no brainer decision to use Carbonite and I can access my files anywhere - anytime. There is no limit on the amount of storage you get and I signed up for 3 years at less than $150. I also am going paperless. IF the Bank needs hard copy faxed I use Myfax.com and never have to worry about a missed page - by uploading my files to myfax.com. Wendy - IF you do not have a backup site I fully endorse Carbonite. My grandson could set it up its that easy. IF you are backing up to a hard drive in your office - what happens when you have a fire that destroys your office - pc and backup HD? So remember your outlook files are protected also. It backs up your pst file which is all your files and addresses and email accounts - the heart of Outlook. For contacts I use Plaxo.

Wendy Rulnick said:
I'd like to know more about Caronite. My "system" is files in in folders, email (outlook folders) and word folders....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Don Duft on August 22, 2009 at 8:20am: I use Zipforms for contracts and Docusign for signature, the NAR endorsed ESIGN SW (ESIGN laws were passed in 2001 at Federal & Satte levels). I recently upgraded to Adobe PRO which I found online at $149.95 at surplussoftware.com - a much improved version over Adobe Standard. My contacts are by Plaxo.com which allows me to synch my contacts with my Desktop, Laptop and my cell. I use Carbonite for my backup site. Myfax.com for all incoming and outgoing faxes - great to get confirmations of success without worrying whether all pages went thnrough. I use the MS Office Professional 2007 Suite of products and rely on Outlook for all my email correspondance (carbonite even backs up your outlook pst files). I operate from my home office 90% of the time and take my laptop with wideband access thru Verizon. To stay in constant contact I rely on my Blackberry where I can access all my emails which I scan periodically to see what has came up that is hot. Great for texting to the X & Y generation as well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bryant Tutas on September 7, 2009 at 6:45pm: Check out this PDF eitor for $19.95 INCREDIBLE!!!

http://www.pdfill.com/index.html; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jared Hokanson on September 9, 2009 at 11:40pm: How much do you pay for your fax service?

Don Duft said:
I use Zipforms for contracts and Docusign for signature, the NAR endorsed ESIGN SW (ESIGN laws were passed in 2001 at Federal & Satte levels). I recently upgraded to Adobe PRO which I found online at $149.95 at surplussoftware.com - a much improved version over Adobe Standard. My contacts are by Plaxo.com which allows me to synch my contacts with my Desktop, Laptop and my cell. I use Carbonite for my backup site. Myfax.com for all incoming and outgoing faxes - great to get confirmations of success without worrying whether all pages went thnrough. I use the MS Office Professional 2007 Suite of products and rely on Outlook for all my email correspondance (carbonite even backs up your outlook pst files). I operate from my home office 90% of the time and take my laptop with wideband access thru Verizon. To stay in constant contact I rely on my Blackberry where I can access all my emails which I scan periodically to see what has came up that is hot. Great for texting to the X & Y generation as well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bryant Tutas on September 10, 2009 at 8:41am: Jared, I use Myfax for $45 a month. I get 2000 pages out going and 200 incoming. Seems to be enough so far,; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tad Navle on December 10, 2009 at 6:19pm: I work in a paperless office:
Here is my equipment

Carbinite - for all back-up and remote file accesss ($50/ yr)
MetroHiSpeed. com - for faxing - ($14/ month 1000 pages in/out)
ScanSnap S1500 - scanner - amazing piece of equipment ($350) comes with Adobe Pro - this is a must have

I use Outlook for all email, tasks, contacts and calender -----combine this with Google Apps and Sync ($50/yr) and you can access from any computer using your gmail account

Folders on the laptop for storage

Newest item - Google Voice - one number (free) and have it forward to any phone(s) you want i.e. cell, office where ever
I also use MajicJack for VIOP phone service - works great!

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Permalink Reply by Rosemary Brooks on December 14, 2009 at 11:29pm: Can you fax from MajicJack? I could not figure it out.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gigi Fernando on January 4, 2010 at 7:24pm: Another great tool that is a back office management tool to document all status and send the entire short sale to the lender is Short Sale Commander. I too am paperless and this is the best back office tool that I have used in the last 5 years of doing short sales. It does everything for you. You can set access rights for agents, sellers, etc to see status of where the short sale is in process, you can upload pics and everything gets packaged up professionally and sent to lender. Lenders love getting these packages too. I love it.

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Permalink Reply by Gigi Fernando on January 7, 2010 at 2:33pm: Hi Jasper,
Yes, sounds like a great tool as well. Short Sale Commander also allows access for users that you set up for access and at what level. It too also packages up short sale very nicely with the 1st 2 pages that is created by the system, makes it very professional looking. I looked at probably 3 short sale tools and price wise, I found this affordable and easy to manage. Some of them out there is just too overpriced. I'm looking to add commercial short sales this year so I'm very happy to have a great tool to store and package up nicely for the banks.

Gigi

Jasper Silvis said:
Thanks for the advice on HP Tablet PC. I just might get one.

I use ShortSaleBuilder.com as my back office. In my team, we have 3 partners, 1 primary Realtor (many others but primary one does extra stuff for us), 1 attorney/negotiator, 1 title agent dedicated to us, other staff members, and students we coach. We needed a place that allows us to set permissions on who sees which cases and what they can actually add/change/delete. Short Sale Builder is our choice though I have also heard good things about Short Sale Commander and Realeflow. Nothing beats a good back office.

I just got a completed short sale package for a case that goes into foreclosure in 2 days. I got the extension due to the completeness of the package and the organization/presentation from Short Sale Builder. I know this sounds like a pitch, which is why I did not include an affiliate link.

Take care.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Canifax on January 15, 2010 at 9:02pm: Magicjack... I tried several times last year and "occasionally" it would go through. I use RingCentral now with an auto-feed scanner to fax out. Ring Central is excellent.

My Magicjack has died on me for the last time. I used it for about 1 year (or tried to). Many issues with it sometimes not being recognized, sometimes a 'broken' message displayed, etc. They have a 'upgrade.exe' on their website and when used with a few registry hacks I was able to get it working a few times. But now is dead for good.

Rosemary Brooks said:
Can you fax from MajicJack? I could not figure it out.; ▶ Reply to This