Back in January I came across a way cool website – conduit.com – that allows you, me, the world to build custom toolbars that others can install to make browsing the internet easier.  It was a quick decision to throw some industry links up, add a few icons and see if local agents found it to be helpful.  We called it the Phoenix Real Estate Toolbar.

The toolbar is split up into different sections, but what we’ve found is that agents use the Real Estate Tools section the most – receiving about 45% of the total clicks.

It’s really no surprise this section is the most popular, considering that’s where you’ll find quick links to the most popular real estate websites here in the valley – flexmls, zipform, cromford report, etc.  It might also have something to do with the popular Free Marketing Tools list with links to sites such as postlets, armls.diversolutions, flickr, craigslist, etc.  Since it’s useful quick links agents seem to use, it’s useful quick links we’ve added.

Today we’ve added two new links to the Real Estate Tools section – beefing it up even more.

One of the links (in the ARMLS section) leads to the ARMLS Property Hotline registration page.  We introduced you to the new Property Hotline a couple weeks back.  Buyer Acquire has set up a local phone number that you can call to receive listing information on properties – free of charge.  I had an agent stop by my office and tell me how handy it has been when there are buyers in the car asking questions about listings they pass.  Follow the link to register for a free a password.

The second link has yet to be introduced here on the blog, but I’ve talked about it on facebook, twitter, and am currently discussing it at this months office meetings.  Docusign Express – the latest freemium service to benefit real estate agents.  This tool is game changing.  There is now no cost to have clients electronically sign documents – no cost to email a file to a client and have them click a few buttons that creates an officially “signed” document.  Know that Jim “the broker for John Hall” Sexton accepts documents that have electronic signatures.  I’ve heard some companies do not – verifying is always better than assuming.

A quick example of how FREE ESIGN is a game changer.

Let’s assume your client is not standing right next to you and you need a quick signature on a document.  The document happens to be a John Hall company form that you got from the company intranet.  It’s a fillable form that allows you to fill it in without printing it – kind of  like ZipForms.  You save the form to your computer – knowing all it needs is a signature from your client before turning it into your office.

In the old days (last week) you would have probably opened an email, attached the PDF and sent it to your client.  Your client most likely printed the form, signed, and faxed it back to you.  Fast forward to today.

Today, you click the Free E-Signature Tool link from the Real Estate Tools section of the toolbar.  Then choose “add file” and select the PDF from your computer.  Once it’s uploaded, you select FREE ESIGN and type in your information and your clients information and click send.

Your client immediately receives an email – agrees to the terms of service with the click of a button – “adopts” a signature with the click of a button – drags and drops their initials or signature in the proper place and clicks Submit.

You immediately receive an email that says your document is ready with valid signatures. You email it to your office – file complete – no printing needed. Once again, the broker for John Hall & Associates accepts valid e-signatures.

Re-read, then practice on your friend.