The headline asks the question. In Arizona, forms software is a monopoly controlled by the Arizona Association of Realtors, which simply means that the solution available to us is satisfactory to no one.
That much is very sad, since filling in the blanks on PDF files is about as easy as you can get in the world of dedicated applications. It’s built into the Acrobat API. Even so, ZipForms is an amazingly buggy, amazingly Window-centric piece of crap.
Do you know of anyone out there who is pushing the envelope? I suspect the AAR is planning to make a change, but I know it will just be another half-assed Windows kludge. Is there anyone, anywhere doing better work?
The iPhone is the perfect platform for writing contracts, since, with electronic signing, you could transmit an executed copy to your client, to the other agent, to title, to the lender, to the inspectors — to anyone, just like that. If paperless doesn’t also mean deskless, it doesn’t mean enough to suit me.
Technorati Tags: disintermediation, real estate, real estate marketing, technology
Sean Purcell says:
Don’t know much about the iPhone. One of my partners is already using some type of tablet/laptop thingy (sorry to get so technical on you) and he absolutely loves it for the reasons you mention: the clients sign the screen and he has an executed contract waiting to be emailed to all the usual suspects.
July 6, 2008 — 2:05 pm
Tom Vanderwell says:
As a lender, I’d love to get those type of contracts rather than one that’s been faxed 15 times and you can’t read it!
July 6, 2008 — 4:08 pm
Stephanie Edwards-Musa says:
Greg, I would so drop Verizon in a heartbeat to get an Iphone if we could do that. Something tells me it will be a while though. Here atleast..I would guess zip forms or similar would be the first to put out an application to be used that way before any AR did.
July 6, 2008 — 5:40 pm
Will says:
“The iPhone is the perfect platform for writing contracts”
Say What?!? Not at all. The iPhone is a terrific little phone/browser/email device that plays music and can hold photos. It is NOT something to present a contract and have someone sign. The screen is simply too small.
“since, with electronic signing, you could transmit an executed copy to your client, to the other agent, to title, to the lender, to the inspectors — to anyone, just like that. If paperless doesn’t also mean deskless, it doesn’t mean enough to suit me.”
Sorry you hate Windows so much but, as the commenter above alluded to, your solution lies with a TabletPC. I got a Lenovo X61 tablet (11.1″ screen) with the active digitizer (made by Wacom) that acts just like a real pen, including pressure sensitivity. Combine that with the platform from VREO and you have a terrific, on the spot, mobile office that can write, edit, present, and sign contracts. Bluetooth pair it to a good mobile phone (such as the Treos with Windows Mobile – bad phone, great modem) and you have wireless net access anywhere. Or do it in a coffee shop with wifi. Then you can email it off to all those parties.
So does Apple have a tablet? I mean one made by them? No? Oh… when will they have one? Not for the foreseeable future? Oh. Guess I’ll just have to stick with my kludgy but way more ahead of the curve windows based devices that don’t lock me in to a system or handful of software packages.
July 6, 2008 — 5:54 pm
Upstart Agent says:
I’m not surprised by the idea, but I doubt we will go to no paper anytime soon. I still have agents that don’t understand you can get the computer version of the contract and email it to clients, lol.
July 6, 2008 — 7:45 pm
Roger Bintner says:
Greg, try Docusign…you can find them at http://www.docusign.com Friends of mine use them in Texas, they are based in Washington, but are competing agains the MLS that does a good job with forms.
July 6, 2008 — 8:00 pm
Dan says:
I love the tablet PC No one even blinks when you ask them to sign the screen. I guess the sign at the cash register credit card readers has everyone used to the idea. I still find myself making paper copies when everything is fully executed. (for backup). Plus on a full sized keyboard I can type faster and my old eyes can read the email without too much effort.
July 6, 2008 — 8:54 pm
Josh Morgan says:
As a matter of fact I do…http://www.escrowmonkey.com/subscription/agent.php
I’m a PR guy, and they are a client.
July 6, 2008 — 11:54 pm
Josh Morgan says:
Greg,
Check out http://www.escrowmonkey.com/subscription/agent.php
The platforms they support are Mac, PC and yes, iPhone. The founder is a serious Mac user.
July 6, 2008 — 11:55 pm
Eric Blackwell says:
@Dan- The old eyes thing is what gets me as well. I am going to go for either the iphone or the new sprint model soon, but while I really WOULD like to use it for forms and such, I tend to think that the screen is too small.
Greg- I hear you about zip forms though….
July 7, 2008 — 2:31 am
Greg Swann says:
> Check out http://www.escrowmonkey.com/subscription/agent.php
Pre-registration only right now, which is cool. Feel free to send me any detailed information. We honor embargoes.
July 7, 2008 — 7:02 am
Jon says:
I should start with a disclaimer- I work for one of the “evil” software form companies (www.autorealty.com). I think the reason that electronic signatures have not made more head way is because a majority of agents are intimidated by the technology. In addition, I do not think the industry can expect true acceptance until lenders and title companies start embracing a shift towards the technology.
I frequently travel to give software training classes at various associations and MLS’s and always make it a point to mention electronic signatures and other new technologies at the end of every class. I can not begin to tell you how many blank or frightened stares I get after mentioning signature solutions so while I am sure that you ready to embrace these changes, I am not so certain about the rest of your peers.
A good place to start though is educating agents about electronic signatures and dispelling some concerns that they might have about using them. You would be amazed at home many agents think that they are not even legal.
July 8, 2008 — 7:40 am
Steve says:
Checkout http://www.EscrowMonkey.com for the latest on paperless real estate transaction services. FREE to agents!
August 19, 2008 — 10:15 am