Welcome to the Online Transaction Group

I have tried using Relay. I found in cumbersome and a bit "cluncky" if you will. All of my files are already in pdf docs so I just quit using it as it seemed I was doing a lot of repetitive work. I now save them as files on my harddrive and with an online backup service.

From Buddy: I would not even consider doing a transaction without a TMS system. The decision for me here in Georgia was pretty easy to make. It is offered free to members of Georgia MLS. Our version includes all state forms, the electronic signature package, document box and faxing. Did I mention free?

It is great that you have that member benefit in Georgia! Hope most all Realtors there are taking advantage of it?

Does anyone know of any other State or Local Realtor Board offering Transaction Management systems as a member benefit or at a discount in price to itsMembers?

David Fialk
David@ChoiceRealty.com

Does anyone know of any other State or Local Realtor Board offering Transaction Management systems as a member benefit or at a discount in price to itsMembers?

The Northern Kentucky Association of REALTORS offers TansactionDesk as a member benefit but we do have to pay extra for DocBox.

Arizona Associaton of Realtors offers Sure Close for $500.

The thing I like most about RELAY, aside from storing documents online that can be easily accessed by various people with password protection, is the "Activity List" that you can customize. I have templates set up for representing buyer, seller and both and they generate daily reminders of each step in the transaction as it comes due. It take quite a bit of work getting the templates set up, but once they are done and working well, it is a great tool.

[ Larry: I have templates set up for representing buyer, seller and both and they generate daily reminders of each step in the transaction as it comes due.]

That is the pleasure of working with Online Transaction Management Platforms! I too have set up numerous template messages and tasks in both SettlementRoom and in Relay, when I was using it. These task templates have become invaluable as listings are staying active much longer than they did two + years ago, and require continuous attention.

The benefit is that as soon as the task is accomplished, the Seller receives email notice. All too often Listing Agents do various things in the marketing of a home, and the Seller doesn't know what is being done until they ask the Agent what they are doing to sell their home.

As an example, there are a number of things I do in marketing a listing. These are the tasks I apply immediately after taking a new listing. They are set up so that I receive an email reminder prior to the due date. All I need to is check the box and apply these Tasks to the Transaction when I obtain a new listing.

• • Choice Realty Listing
    Description Relative Modified
    Customize Choice Realty Web Site 01 After Listing Create Virtual Tour 01 After Listing
    Customize Realtor.com 01 After Listing
    Digital Photos 01 After Listing
    For Sale Sign 00 After Listing
    Home Feature Flyer 02 After Listing
    Internet Marketing Update 03 After Listing
    Lock Box 01 After Listing
    MLS Entry 01 After Listing
    MLS Listing & Sales Activity_Past 60 Days 60 After Listing
    MLS Listing & Sales Avtivity Report_Past 30 Days 30 After Listing
    Obtain Back Title Information 03 After Listing Realtor.com_15 Day Internet Marketing Update 15 After Listing
    Realtor.com_30 Day Internet Marketing Report 30 After Listing
    Realtor.com_45 Day Internet Marketing Report 45 After Listing
    Realtor.com_Initial Internet Marketing Report 06 After Listing
    Obtain Sellers Disclosure 03 After Listing
    Showing Desk 00 After Listing
    Showing Desk-38 Day Activity Report 38 After Listing Showing Desk_10 Day Activty Report 10 After Listing Showing Desk_24 Day Activity Report 24 After Listing Thank You for Listing 01 After Listing

In addition to these Tasks, there is continual communication and marketing. Likewise, I have message templates for many of those activities.

Larry, would you mind logging in to the Sample Transaction we have created in Relay and add a few activity lists. I will do the same in SettlementRoom. This way, others can see how easy it is, and more importantly, how benficial it can be!

To obtain log in information for SettlementRoom or Relay, just send an email to:
Relay@DavidFialk.com

SR@DavidFialk.com

David Fialk
732-283-3400

MRIS here in the Washington, DC area offers Relay at a discount of $49 per year. In the past, I too, have found these programs to be cumbersome and repetitive without enough customization. However, at this price I am considering giving this new platform a try.

Lynda K. Bloom, e-PRO - Weichert, Realtors

Rockville Maryland Real Estate

[From Lynda: I too, have found these programs to be cumbersome and repetitive without enough customization. ]

The key to working with Transaction Management Platforms is deciding how much you want your client involved in participating in their transaction online. Once that decision is made, it is just a matter of taking what you do in marketing a listing or sale transaction normally and putting that thought process together online.

Yes, it will take some thought and time in setting up activity lists, tasks and templates messages. But once done, the time saving is invaluable.

The up side? Your Clients will truly appreciate what you do and be appreciative of being so involved.

David Fialk
David@ChoiceRealty.com

I, too, have been using the Transaction Desk program, thanks to my membership in the Georgia MLS. As far as hoping the Realtors are taking advantage of the program, I definitely see an increase in co-workers using it, but feel pretty sure that we're still in the minority (although perhaps I am wrong).

Even though I've been working with the program for a couple of years now,I know I am still not using it to it's fullest capability. I love having templates in place for transactions from listing to selling, to closing, and I love being able to access all files or uploaded documents (such as Seller's Property Disclosures, plats, covenants, etc.) available no matter where I am working. Thanks to our GAR input sheets being in place in TD, I can also totally input details on properties and then pass them on via e-mail to the clients for signatures.

Okay! Here's the confession....I don't know how to utilize Fax Back or Doc Box, but would welcome input.

jhaymore@remax.net

www.haymorehometeam.com

The Florida Association of Realtors (REIS - subsidiary of the afformentioned) has provided Transaction Desk for FREE to our Realtors for the past 2 years. We've watched the program grow and I have taught the fundamentals as well as advanced courses on this platform.

I love that I can send documents throughout the world and my customers can check the status of their listings, showings, and even closings online - that is. . . some of my more technology savvy customers.

The real problem I have is Brokers who do not want to learn how to set up super user accounts for their sales associates and continue to provide hard copies of listing and sales folders for associates, and with their lack of knowledge, will not teach office staff how to document showings and phone calls on the net.

I offer to teach "Broker" and "super user" functions to place listing folders online with office clauses available for sales associates but I'm met with the attitude that "if the old ways work, don't fix them!"

Learning curve? Yes, always - if you don't learn "hands on", don't set up your transactions in advance, and don't practice using the system, you'll find it tedious and time consuming (not what you would want when you're trying to set up your listing or sale in a timely manner).

Jolita Wagoner, ePRO, GRI, TRC, yada yada

Instructor, Florida Realtor Institute

Giumenta School of Real Estate

REIS Transaction Desk Instructor