Posted by Wes (DFW, TX) on February 21, 2003 at 14:11:15:
Hi Ken(NJ),
Thanks for the more detailed explanation of what you can do with templates. That’s exactly the kind of functionality that I was hoping for!
Yes, the standard Contact Management features are what we can really utilize in any REI business.
Thanks for the info, Ken.
Wes
Using ACT! software for your REI business… - Posted by Wes (DFW, TX)
Posted by Wes (DFW, TX) on February 18, 2003 at 10:54:11:
Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to pass along the results of my research in looking into the use or ACT! 6.0 (the latest version) as one of the core software applications to assist with running my REI business.
ACT!, now published/developed by Interact Commerce Corporation (http://www.act.com/), is considered the #1 Contact Management software application and has 80% of the market share in this category. The latest version of ACT! (6.0, possibly earlier versions as well, but I’m primarily interested in the latest version since this is the one I would be purchasing) is already integrated with Outlook, WinFax Pro, and QuickBooks.
There is already a version of ACT! for the Palm OS, and a version of ACT! for the Pocket PC is in beta (go here to sign up and be notified when this has been released: http://www.act.com/ppcsoon/index.cfm).
Add to this dominance the fact that there are 150+ add-on products that can enhance the already great functionality of ACT! for your specific business needs (http://www.actaddons.com/). Just some of the add-ons that might be useful in an REI business are Accounting, Financial, Addressing/Shipping, and especially Real Estate! Yes, believe it or not there are some Real Estate specific add-ons for ACT!.
Here is a link to the category listing of all the different add-ons for ACT!:
http://www.actaddons.com/category/category1.asp
And, here is a link to the list of Real Estate add-ons currently available for ACT!:
http://www.actaddons.com/category/category1-rz.asp#realestate
It looks to me like the add-on that will be the most generally useful for most Real Estate Investors is the Trans/ACT! Residential Agent add-on (Trans/ACT! Residential Agent -- AddOnStore for ACT!). There are also some RE-based add-ons for commercial properties and remodelers and rehabbers.
I would also recommend any book written by Douglas J. Wolf (an ACT! Certified Consultant) for learning more about how to use ACT!.
Also, William Bronchick uses ACT!, as he states in his article “Getting Started as a Real Estate Entrepreneur” (Account Suspended).
Anyway, I just thought I would pass along the information.
Happy Investing,
Wes
Act works great! - Posted by Ken(NJ)
Posted by Ken(NJ) on February 18, 2003 at 18:46:38:
I use Act for my full-time REI. I set it up with a couple of different templates, based on if I am dealing with a seller or a buyer. The templates are easy to set up, and include the questions I want to ask of any seller or buyer. I tried to make the answers in drop-downs. For example, I always ask where they heard about me. The answers I typically hear, like newspaper, bandit sign, referral, ect., are all in drop-downs. Since it is a database, I can search for any of the criteria, or multiple criteria. I can answer the question, “How many leads did such and such newspaper get me,” with a quick search. Over time, the information is quite valuable.
Act also has a handy notes feature. I enter in notes from my conversations. That can be really helpful when someone calls later. I have had sellers call me months later, and I can call up all of their information.
Ken(NJ)
Or try… - Posted by John
Posted by John on February 18, 2003 at 13:06:08:
‘Online Agent’ written by RE professionals for RE pros.
http://realestatepro.fnis.com/products/on-line-agent.htm
Re: Using ACT! software for your REI business… - Posted by Travis (Dallas)
Posted by Travis (Dallas) on February 18, 2003 at 11:53:50:
After you get it up and running, let us know how you like it and how you are using it.
Thanks for the info.
Travis (Dallas)