Consumption, Consumption, What's Your Function? - Electronics

NOTE: With winter upon us, In the Loop with DotLoop has designated the next month as Home Energy Month and will feature articles on how you can reduce your home's energy consumption through simple steps. DotLoop is dedicated to making every aspect of the home buying and owning experience as eco-friendly as possible.

I'm sure your garbage man hates you this week. The presents have been unwrapped and the trash bags are piling up on the curb and now, your garbage man cannot help but cringe as he drives down street after street of empty Barbie boxes and discarded white elephant gifts. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" plays tauntingly through his head as he grips another over-flowing trash can and lunges it into the back of the truck.

Meanwhile, across town, the executives at the electric company are pouring through boating catalogs as they anticipate their post-Christmas boom thanks to little things called gadgets.

Gadget Gold

Earlier this month, we started off our "Winter of Dis-Consume" by explaining how keeping devices plugged into your wall wastes energy and costs money. Now that the holidays are behind us, all of those gadgets you got need to be plugged in and charged.

ENERGY STAR

One of the easiest ways to save energy and money with your home electronics is to simply buy ENERGY STAR products. They work just as good as their energy-sucking counterparts and can shave up to 90% of the energy costs to run them.

Desktop Dithering

As mentioned briefly this past September, simply switching from a desktop to a laptop can save you up to 80% of the cost of running a computer from your home. Laptops also make for great portable devices, allowing you the convenience of taking your work with you wherever you go.

Unplug

It can't be said enough: unplug what you're not using. Even if you buy the newest laptop, with the best ENERGY STAR battery, keeping it plugged in when it's not in use still wastes electricity. Unplug every thing you're not using, or better yet, use a power strip.

Recycle Those Beta Players

Have you gone Blu-Ray this year? Done with that Zune of yours? Recycle your old electronics by finding a local recycling center here, or have a yard sale. After all, one man's Salad Shooter is another man's food dehydrator. Either way, you're looking at some gourmet cooking.

DotLoop on BuinessWise Radio

Tune in this Monday and Tuesday evening between 5:00 and 5:30 (EST) as Austin Allison explains how DotLoop rocketed to success in 2009.

No More Waiting & Wondering

Simplifying Real Estate Transfer

Think how much more pleasant it would be if you could eliminate the worry, wondering & waiting after you've submitted a bid for a piece of property. G. Austin Allison,


President and CEO of DotLoop, has found a way to do this. DotLoop is a cutting-edge real estate technology company that delivers innovative solutions to the real estate industry. He founded the company after being burdened by the inefficiencies that existed in every real property sale or purchase. Austin joins us to explain how this process simplifies real estate transfer for both parties, and where he sees the company going this year. WNKU 89.7 & 94.5 FM or WMKV 89.3. Week of 12/28, Mon, Tues during the 5-5:30 segment.

Find more information about BusinessWise here.

Happy Holidays From DotLoop!

Everyone at DotLoop wishes you a very safe and happy holiday.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Consumption, Consumption, What's Your Function? - Windows

NOTE: With winter upon us, In the Loop with DotLoop has designated the next month as Home Energy Month and will feature articles on how you can reduce your home's energy consumption through simple steps. DotLoop is dedicated to making every aspect of the home buying and owning experience as eco-friendly as possible.

A few weeks ago, I discussed my Hefty bag solution for drafty windows, focusing on insulation. It was a good way to start off this series by focusing on energy literally thrown out the window. I was pleasantly surprised that my words made it all the way to the White House when, just a few days later, the President called insulation "sexy". Thanks for the plug, President Obama.

Of course, insulation and Hefty bags were just one part of that equation. After all, it wasn't just the lack of insulation that wasted energy in my college apartment, it was the old, drafty windows themselves.

Windows Crash

Unless you're reading this from a prison cell or a basement apartment (not to be redundant), you probably have a good amount of windows in your house or building. But did you know that windows account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill? Drafty or obsolete windows (think single-paned) can be a burden to your bank account by letting conditioned air (warm or cool) leak out.

A Royal Paned

You can keep your windows from wasting your money through a few simple steps. Here are just a few examples:

• Clean your windows
  No, I don't mean debug your computer or buy an iMac. Busting out the Windex can not only help you naturally heat your home in those cool winter months (clean windows let in more sun), it can also help keep you in shape.

• Close the curtains
  During the day in the summertime. This can help keep your home cool. Transversely, opening your curtains in the winter can help warm your home naturally.
  

• Add window film & weatherizing strips
  Adding a protective inner lining to your windows in the winter or weatherizing the gaps in older windows can help keep your come toasty in the winter.
  

A more complete list can be found at the U.S. Department of Energy's website (returning the free plug, Mr. President).

It's Curtains For You, Wasted Energy

Of course, if you really want to cut down your energy bills, you can always opt to get new windows. The upfront costs can be hefty (no pun inte--okay, you caught me, pun intended), but with the Federal Tax Credit incentives, they may just be worth it. Aside from making sure your new windows are double-paned, make sure they work for your environment. After all, you'll have different window needs in Anchorage than you will in Atlanta.

Here are a few tips:

• Make sure you have the ENERGY STAR label on your windows (but try to get them to not stick the label on the actual window. I hate that--why do you do that, window manufacturers?

• In temperate climates where it's both hot and cold, you'll want windows with both a low U-factor and low SHGCs (solar heat gain coefficients; they help reduce heat absorption).
  

• The lower the U-factor, the better the insulation. In colder climates, focus on finding a low U-factor.

• If you're building a new home, selecting the right windows can help you in the long-run by allowing you to install a smaller HVAC system.

Holiday De-Lights!

With Christmas soon upon us (hurry, better get to Walgreens to get your wife a last-minute gift!), here are a few links to fill you with inspiration and/or envy. 'Tis the Season!

• Happy
  
  
• Holidays
  
  
• Everyone!
  

Consumption, Consumption, What's Your Function? - Water Heaters

NOTE: With winter upon us, In the Loop with DotLoop has designated the next month as Home Energy Month and will feature articles on how you can reduce your home's energy consumption through simple steps. DotLoop is dedicated to making every aspect of the home buying and owning experience as eco-friendly as possible.

In our last post, we tackled heating tips, advising you against keeping your heater turned up when you're away from your home. With this post, we'll discuss tips on keeping your water heater in the best shape possible and how you can be more energy-conscious without having to sacrifice warm showers.

3-2-1 Blast Off!

But first, let's have some fun. The video below, courtesy of MythBusters, shows just how dangerous an unchecked water heater can be for you and your family.



As you can see, sleeping underneath an ill-tempered water heater may make for a fun trip to the moon, but it also comes with a hefty ER bill, too. As such, you'll want to get your water heater in tip-top shape, which means getting it checked at least every three to six months.

Money Down the Drain

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a residential water heater is the third largest energy expense in a home. Some more surprising facts:

• On average, it takes more hot water to cook than it does to wash the dishes by hand afterward (5 gallons vs. 4)
  
  
• Hand-washing dishes uses less hot water than a dishwasher: 4 gallons on average compared to 12
  
  
• Taking a bath or showering both use the same average amount of hot water (20 gallons)

Controlling Water Heater Costs

You don't have to heat your bathwater on the stove just to save money, though. Simply follow these simple tips to keep the warm springs flowing:

• Use less hot water. Simple enough, right? Try conserving water by doing dishes by hand, for example.
  
  
• Turn down your water heater's thermostat. Sure, hot showers are nice, but you don't need to look like a steaming Terminator when you come out of the bathroom. The average temperature for a shower is 107.5 degrees Fahrenheit, so keeping your water heater turned up to 140 degrees isn't necessary (the U.S. Department of Energy recommends a setting of 120 degrees). Also: use the vacation setting on your water heater when you won't be home for more than two days.
  
  
• Insulate your water heater. Covering your water heater can help keep precious heat from being wasted. Be sure to follow your manufacturer's recommendations, though. Never cover the burner compartment.
  
  
• Get a newer, more energy efficient water heater. Okay, so this one is not as cheap to do, but if you're in the market, investing in a new water heater may save you money in the long run. Most water heaters last 10 to 15 years, but the U.S. Department of Energy suggests you start shopping after the seven year mark to keep from being unprepared if your water heater goes out. When selecting a new water heater, make sure your new it has a high ENERGY STAR rating.
  
  

Let The Sun Shine

If you are in the market for a new water heater, why not go with a solar water heater? With more than 94% of consumers considering solar water heaters a good investment, and their ability to offset 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the course of a 20-year period, solar water heaters may be the greenest (and, ultimately, cheapest) way for you to feel even better while taking hot showers on a cold day.

Consumption, Consumption, What's Your Function? - Heating Tips

NOTE: With winter upon us, In the Loop with DotLoop has designated the next month as Home Energy Month and will feature articles on how you can reduce your home's energy consumption through simple steps. DotLoop is dedicated to making every aspect of the home buying and owning experience as eco-friendly as possible.

It's definitely winter at DotLoop Headquarters here in Cincinnati; last week's windchill was about 9 degrees. As such, I thought it would be fitting to discuss heating, specifically, what you can do to keep your heating costs from eating up all of your holiday funds.

A Sweater Makes Everything Better

Sometimes, the best way to reduce your heating bill is not to use your heat at all. The old mantra from mom is the best solution to keep the meter from running: Put on a sweater!

You don't need to have your thermostat set to 80 degrees in order to keep warm--just pull a Huxtable and put on a sweater. By keeping your body covered, you'll not only save money on your bill, but you'll be stylin' while at it. When you do wear your best knitted sweater, be sure to slap on a pair of socks, too. Warm feet will not only keep your toes toasty, but will aid in keeping your whole body feeling warmer.

Don't Let Your Windows Waste Warmth

We'll tackle window insulation as its own post a bit later, but make sure your windows don't seep in too much drafty air. One of the biggest wasters of heat is to keep your storm windows up during the winter months (yes, I've done this before).

Insulation

Last week, we discussed insulation as a way to trim back your heating bills. You can't put on an extra sweater for your whole house, so insulation is your next-best bet. Along with covered and sealed windows, new insulation will help keep your house nice and toasty when you do use the heat.

Get a Programmable Thermostat

Little known fact: while you're busy working for a living, your pets are home basking in the glory that is a 78 degree household, hogging all of that warm air for themselves. That may be nice for Spot and Muffins (and the energy company's stockholders), but it takes a toll on your bank account. Installing a programmable thermostat allows you to keep your house cool while you're away (or asleep--people usually sleep better in cooler temperatures), and warm when you are actually at home. You can easily program a thermostat to have your house nice and warm by the time you get home. But what about poor Spot and Muffins? Hey, they have fur coats, don't they?*

Open Your Oven

After you bake yourself a hearty meal (or bake a cheap frozen pizza), don't close that oven door! Why waste heat you just paid for? By keeping your oven door open (or similarly, keeping your bathroom door ajar when you take a hot shower), you can help dissipate heat that would've been trapped to the rest of your house. Sure, your house may smell like mozzarella, but you may just save enough money on your heating bill to buy a nice dinner in a warm restaurant next month.

Challenge the Chills

When it comes to heating your home, everyone's comfortable temperature, what's "comfortable" will vary from person to person (DotLoop's CTO, Matt Vorst, always keeps his office at a balmy 30 degrees Fahrenheit, mostly because he likes a nice and cold office, but partly to keep the frozen steaks in his desk drawer from going bad).

But, if you find yourself constantly cranking up the heat, you may want to try other means of keeping yourself warm. After all, homes waste twice as much energy as cars in America. According to Jamie Gerdsen, President/CEO of Apollo Heating & Cooling, by adjusting your thermostat by a single degree, you can save up to 3% of your energy bill for every 8 hours of use. By doing your part, not only can you help keep the planet more green, but you can keep more green in your wallet.

*PETA: angry letters can be sent to info@dotloop.com

Consumption, Consumption, What's Your Function? - Insulation & Sealing

NOTE: With winter upon us, In the Loop with DotLoop has designated the next month as Home Energy Month and will feature articles on how you can reduce your home's energy consumption through simple steps. DotLoop is dedicated to making every aspect of the home buying and owning experience as eco-friendly as possible.

My junior and senior years in college were spent in a tiny, tiny apartment right next to a KFC. The rent was cheap despite the finger-lickin' location and for the most part, it worked out fine for my roommate Jim and me.

The one caveat, however, was the fact that the walls of our building seemed to be insulated with tracing paper. While this wasn't always a bad thing (if we ran out of space in the freezer, we could always just keep a frozen pizza nice and cold by placing it on a window sill), it eventually took its toll on us.

Being the ever resourceful college kids that we were, Jim and I covered our windows in plastic garbage bags (evidently, this also provided us protection from the ter'rrists, too) and our tiny apartment didn't seem so drafty.

Insulation Proclamation

When people talk about making homes more energy-efficient, the most common example is insulation. According to the US Department of Energy, only about 20% of homes built before 1980 are well-insulated. The old stand-by of using plastic bags has always been a low-cost favorite, but for those of us who don't think that Hefty bags make a good design statement, there are even better resources available today. I'll run through a couple of examples here, including some more natural ideas out there (mushrooms?). A more complete list can be found here.

Blanket Insulation

Anyone familiar with the Pink Panther commercials knows about blanket insulation. The most common are made of fiberglass, but various other materials can be used, too, including wool. Outside of a trash bag alternative, blanket insulation is the easiest way to insulate your home and can be applied without any professional help. Blanket insulation has its pros and cons (getting fiberglass out of your lungs is tough, so wear a mask), but is probably the most ubiquitous type of insulation out there.

Spray-Foamed Insulation

For those a bit more ambitious with their insulation, spray-foam insulation not only gives you a good way of adding insulation to existing finished areas and irregularly shaped walls, but it can be fun to apply, too (just imagine reenacting scenes from Ghostbusters). Spray-foam insulation is made from materials such as polyurethane, phenolic, and other less-pronounceable materials (polyisocyanurate?) and has been a popular alternative to blanket insulation.

Green Insulation Alternatives

The irony of using the more popular insulation techniques mentioned above is that the actual manufacturing of the materials is not very eco-friendly. More natural insulation products have been around for centuries (for example, my own house, built in 1924, has horse-hair insulation) and like all good ideas, they haven't gone out of style. Wool has already been mentioned, but straw-bale and cotton insulation is also growing in popularity.

A Fungal Future For Insulation?

Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre have created a new process of growing insulation out of mushrooms and seed husks, a product they call Greensulate, with their company Ecovative Design. Already in use in some residential and commercial projects, the naturally-grown insulation can withstand a blowtorch and just may replace the Pink Panther as the product of choice.



Keep Yourself Insulated

Whether you use the latest in low-tech organic insulation or slap on your mask and spray your attic in fiberglass, insulating your home is one of the best ways to save energy. With the heating and cooling of homes accounting for 50 to 70% of home energy usage, and with the recent home energy tax credit, now is the best time to consider insulating your home.

Consumption, Consumption, What's Your Function?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

NOTE: With winter upon us, In the Loop with DotLoop has designated the next month as Home Energy Month and will feature articles on how you can reduce your home's energy consumption through simple steps. DotLoop is dedicated to making every aspect of the home buying and owning experience as eco-friendly as possible.

When I was younger, I used to go into my brother's room and turn off his lights when he wasn't in there. He always got mad at me, threatening my very livelihood with his usual wit ("I'll kill you next time you go into my room, punk"). For him, it was a matter of privacy; for me, it was a matter of waste. Even at the ripe old age of twelve, I knew that keeping the lights on in an empty room costs money.

The above video, recently featured on NBC's Today Show, shows not only the obvious (keeping your lights on does waste money; so there, Kevin), but also highlights some surprising facts. Big screen TVs, for example, cost less to operate per hour ($.06) than a plugged in phone charger sans phone ($.10).

More energy is wasted keeping our homes and buildings powered than spent stuck in traffic, and the average family spends a whopping $2200 a year on energy bills alone.

So next time you leave your house, make it a point to unplug and turn off anything not needed, and instead of turning up that thermostat, put on an extra sweater. Your bank account will thank you, even if your brother doesn't.

"The Future Is Simple At the DotLoop"

With the new home buyer's tax credit being extended into 2010, how can buyers and sellers make the most of their time and quickly close the deal?

DotLoop CEO Austin Allison explains.

NAR Photos

For you viewing pleasure, check out these pictures from the National Association of REALTORS Conference in San Diego.

Enjoy!

First NAR, Now the World

It hasn't quite been a week since the National Association of REALTORS Conference in San Diego ended, but with our national debut behind us, DotLoop is ready to take on the world.

I'm sorry, did you say world?

Yes, world. Says DotLoop CEO Austin Allison,"Our strategic plan has always been for converting the simplicity of the DotLoop solution that REALTORS and brokers from North America are now taking advantage of and taking that technology to an international platform."

Aside from the US market, we are looking to expand DotLoop's platform into other countries. Already,in fact, we've connected with agents and brokers from Portugal to Panama.

DotLoop's ease-of-use makes it the perfect product for agents around the world. Of course, we're starting right here at home in America, but don't be surprised if one day, you're buying your Italian home via DotLoop.

The Post-NAR Post

This past weekend (November 13 - 16), DotLoop made its national debut at the National Association of REALTORS Conference in San Diego, California. Not only did we meet some of the best and brightest within the industry, we got to show agents and brokers alike the future of Real Estate.

DotLoop Takes the Stage

DotLoop CEO Austin Allison presented the Real Estate Revolution on Saturday to a packed crowd and showed them just what the world's first online interactive negotiations platform can do for them.

And yes, that was a DeLorean at our booth: We're going Back To The Future of Real Estate, Doc!

DotLoop was a tremendous success at NAR and In The Loop just wanted to say thank you to all of the agents, brokers, and other real estate professionals who we met. The Loop is out of the bag now and we're ready to take on the world!

Thank you for a fantastic weekend, NAR!

For more information about DotLoop, please contact us at info@dotloop.com.

The Value of DotLoop

So, just how much does your time cost? Per week? Per day? Per hour?

If time equals money, then as an agent, you know how much money you're wasting. Driving to and from clients' homes, writing then re-writing contracts over and over again as the most minute of details change and adjust. Time is wasted battling fax machines and printers (along with time at your local office supply store spent looking for an ink cartridge).

Forms Software - The Best Solution?

If time is money, then you know that a forms software may be able to assuage some of the issues mentioned above. Great! Now I can type my contract out online and...

...and then what?

You'll still need to print off the contract (what was the ink cartridge model number for your printer again?). You'll still need to fax or drive the contract over to your clients and get their initials every time there is a slight adjustment to the terms. And, when all is said and done, you'll still need to store the contract in your filing cabinet, which costs you storage space one way or another.

The DotLoop Way

With The DotLoop System, you get three distinct advantages in one easy-to-use application: online forms, e-sign technology, and free on-demand storage capabilities. You also get a CRM system tied right into DotLoop, allowing you access to your client information at the click of a button.

DotLoop is the first online interactive environment designed exclusively for the real estate industry, allowing clients and agents the ability to adjust a single contract wherever and whenever. Your clients will appreciate the ability to review a contract at their leisure and without needing to meet you in a parking lot after work. You'll appreciate the time you'll save.

How much is your time worth to you?
_____________________________________________________________

For more information, visit dotloop.com.

DotLoop will be making its national debut this weekend at the National Association of REALTORS Conference in San Diego. Be sure to look for us in booth #2627 if you happen to be in town!

Amor for Agents (And Brokers, Too)

Full disclosure: We at the DotLoop Company are useless. It’s true. Not that we’re not a great business with plenty of resources and amazing employees—we are. But, like a string-less guitar or a deaf DJ, we need another component to make us useful.

And that component is you: the agent. You are the coal to our steam engine, the gas to our car, the plutonium to our DeLorean. You are why we're here and what fuels our every undertaking here at DotLoop.

The DotLoop Mission

And with good reason: DotLoop was designed for agents by a former agent, with the underlying mission of creating a digital den for agents and clients to gather and collaborate without having to suffer through the trials of traffic or flummoxed faxes.

Agent Feedback

Thankfully, our successful beta testing here in Cincinnati provided DotLoop with tremendous feedback from agents who told us exactly what they wanted in an online negotiations tool. Just a few weeks ago, we unveiled the latest iteration of DotLoop based on their suggestions.

Feedback Loop

Here's what agents and brokers alike have to say about DotLoop:

"Anything that can help me do my job smarter, faster and better - while improving my clients' experience - makes me want to deepen the relationship. That's how it is with DotLoop."
--Kevin Duffy, RE/MAX Unlimited REALTOR

"DotLoop is the future of online real estate sales. It's just a great, time-saving process that should be a boon to real estate agents everywhere. DotLoop simplifies the process, cuts down on the paper and the files. It's simply a better way to conduct a real estate transaction."
--Jody Aschendorf, HHB Partners of Cincinnati REALTOR

"There is absolutely no reason not to consider a system like DotLoop. From an efficiency perspective - from a Green perspective - however you want to look at it, it just makes sense."
--Joe Price, COO of Huff Realty Inc.

"DotLoop is a paperless, penless, faxless way of doing business. In today's economy, every penny counts. By using DotLoop, all parties to the transaction save on the hard costs of paper, ink and printer maintenance, as well as the irretrievable cost of lost time. The program allows for seamless negotiations, available around the clock, from any Internet access point, and gives everyone a clean, clear, concise version of 'the deal.' It's preferred by clients and agents alike. We also see DotLoop as a true edge over the competition, when implemented."
--Karen Schlosser, Vice President and Sales Manager, RE/MAX Unlimited, the largest RE/MAX franchise in Greater Cincinnati

Follow the Buyer: How You Can Communicate With Your Clients on Their Level

Quick, how do you send an e-mail? Quick, do you have Internet access? Do your clients?

It's 2009, right? So of course, you probably use e-mail as much as you use your Bic pen. Most likely, your clients are even more ubiquitous with the use of e-mail and the Internet. In fact, according to NAR, 84% of all home-buyers start the process online, looking up listings on various sites.

And soon, it will be 99%. Home buyers shopping today are more and more likely to not only know how to use e-mail and the Internet, but have grown up on it. To most new home buyers, it's second nature to send a tweet to a friend instead of giving them a call. In fact, just last year, texting has overtaken calling for cell phone usage.

So, why not meet your clients on their terms? You can satisfy your clients' needs by being on the forefront of technology. Have that Facebook account, tweet about new listings, blog about the newest report on a neighborhood's safety or school district rating. This will show your clients that you not only can relate to them on their level, but that you are working for them by providing another channel of communication.

DotLoop pushes the envelope even further. Now, buyers can go from viewing listings online to negotiating on that same listing online, too. They're already comfortable with the online world, now DotLoop blends the best of the online world with the best of the real estate world.

Your clients are online. You should be too. Join the DotLoop.

For more information, contact us at info@dotloop.com.

It's Alive! It's Alive!

Just in time for All Hallows' Eve, our mad scientists (re: programmers) have been working frantically, constructing not a monster, but a revolution: DotLoop 2.0!

We've updated the entire site--every pixel has been perfected to make DotLoop even more user-friendly and intuitive than ever before.

Check it out today at http://dotloop.com!

DotLoop 2.0 Kickoff Party!

On Friday, October 23rd from 4PM - 6PM, DotLoop will be unveiling its newest product, an all-new, enhanced version of The DotLoop System! Please feel free to contact Nick at nsweeney@dotloop.com for your invitation.

RE/MAX Rewards Winners!

On July 20th, DotLoop rolled out our RE/MAX Rewards Program for all beta users. It’s been 90 days and we now have our winners! Congratulations to Connie Rydzewski, Betty Poynter, and Julie Pruitt!

• Julie Pruitt was our Grand Prize Winner with a brand-new Netbook computer coupled with a year of free satellite Internet service and a full year of free DotLoop transactions!
• Betty Poynter won Second Place with a brand-new digital camera and six months of free DotLoop transactions!
• Connie Rydzewski was our Runner-Up and won herself a brand-new Tom-Tom GPS device and three months of free DotLoop transactions!

Congratulations you three! Your hard work, dedication, and leadership have helped DotLoop transform the real estate industry! We look forward to working with amazing agents like you in the future.

ESIGN: Easy

“By reading this blog post, you hereby agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms of use. Please review the following terms carefully. If you do not agree to these terms, you should not read this blog post.“

Ever order a birthday or Christmas gift from amazon.com? Ever use your credit card to buy a kitchy item from ebay? Ever buy concert tickets online using your checking account or debit card number? If so, you’re already familiar with electronic signatures.

What you may not be familiar with, however, are the legalities behind simply clicking a checkmark box before hitting “Continue.”

Luckily, the law is pretty straightforward about what constitutes a “legal” signature in the 21st century. With ESIGN (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act) and UETA (Uniform Electronic Transactions Act), there’s no need to put a pen to your screen to sign documents electronically.

Completely Legal

The ESIGN legislation enacted on June 30, 2000, very clearly states that any electronic signature is just as valid as any hand written signature. The UETA gives legal binding status to any electronic form or signature it produces.

More Secure

Not only are electronic signatures completely legal, in some ways, they’re even more secure than traditional pen and ink signatures.

Unlike forgeries, electronic signatures have to pass the scrutiny of computers, so unless you know that password exactly, you're not going to be able to forge a signature. And unlike the traditional name with 26 different possible characters, most passwords today use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. With the average keyboard housing 114 different key types, the password possibilities are endless, making it nearly impossible to forge a signature.

Some systems, like DotLoop, even require a unique question be answered when requesting a password change, adding a further layer of security to a signature process, so, even if you know a user’s e-mail address, you may not be able to change their password without information only they would know.

Electronic signatures have helped create a more efficient, effective, and trackable signature system than the old pen and paper autographs of yore. Nilesh Patel, an attorney for the Frost Brown Todd law firm in Cincinnati, says it best.

“You can attack a contract on many fronts, on the grounds of consumer protection, fraud, authenticity, etc. But your reason for striking it cannot be that the signature was made electronically.”

Overhead Costs

This week's posts will highlight some of the issues innate to the current real estate industry, and will explain the benefits of a more secure, efficient, and cost-savings solution with DotLoop. The issues will be addressed through the lens of online collaboration and will focus on three main areas of improvement within the real estate industry: security, efficiency, and overhead costs.

Today's post: Overhead Costs

Overhead Costs

There are many costs associated with having to retrieve data from systems that are not automated. Currently, many organizations hire an imaging company to scan their files and save them in their systems, adding another layer of administrative costs, storage costs, and possible security breaches.

The DotLoop Solution

With The DotLoop System, the traditional paper trail has now gone online, saving your company time and money, and allowing your documents to be stored more securely. No more wasted office space filled with file cabinets; no more hunting down archived forms; no more costly duplications. The DotLoop System allows you to securely store all of your documents with us at no extra charge. Plus, all of the information can be easily retrieved at the click of a button, cutting administrative costs.

DotLoop—A Fully-Integrated Online Solution

The DotLoop System was designed specifically to overcome the challenges of the traditional real estate negotiation process. DotLoop marries the technology with the traditional, creating a collaborative online environment that uses the Internet as a tool agents can use to connect with their clients, saving them time and money. DotLoop allows the agent and client the ability to interact on their own terms, dissolving distance and sending fax machines further into obsolescence.

More than just a forms software, DotLoop is a fully-integrated, wholly web-based negotiation platform allows users to create, adjust, approve, and sign documents and contracts in one seamless, online environment. DotLoop offers a comprehensive solution to the challenges of security, efficiency, and overhead costs in today’s real estate industry, creating a 21st century solution for 21st century challenges.

Get in the Loop

To learn more about how The DotLoop System can enhance your business, please contact us at sales@dotloop.com or go to dotloop.com.

Efficiency

This week's posts will highlight some of the issues innate to the current real estate industry, and will explain the benefits of a more secure, efficient, and cost-savings solution with DotLoop. The issues will be addressed through the lens of online collaboration and will focus on three main areas of improvement within the real estate industry: security, efficiency, and overhead costs.

Today's post: Efficiency

Efficiency

Business moves fast; if you can’t close a deal while you have your customer’s attention, you may lose their business forever. Faxing papers back and forth, having to meet clients in person, or agreeing to a deal only to not have the forms on hand can cost companies many lost opportunities.

E-mail has helped solve many of the inefficiencies associated with traditional communication by shortening the wait time between channels. But in many ways, even while increasing the speed of communication, e-mail still struggles to overcome the inefficiencies inherent with traditional mail. Sure, e-mail is digital, but is it trackable? E-mails can still be altered by any sending party, different organizations or people can be added and deleted from forwarded or replied messages with ease, and the ability to track the conversation from beginning to end, with all parties, is tenuous at best. E-mail is just that: electronic mail, with some of the same inefficiencies as traditional mail.

The DotLoop Solution

DotLoop allows for complete collaboration between all parties in one space. With DotLoop’s Automated Data Access, your forms are always ready for use, so that you’ll always be ready for an opportunity. Being able to confirm agreements with the click of a button saves you and your clients’ time and energy, which translates into savings for your company. With everyone on the same page—both literally and virtually—collaborations take place in real time, eliminating the need for special meetings and sending fax machines further into obsolescence. Having every field completely trackable not only gives you more security, but also eliminates questions about who agreed to what terms at what time.

DotLoop—A Fully-Integrated Online Solution

The DotLoop System was designed specifically to overcome the challenges of the traditional real estate negotiation process. DotLoop marries the technology with the traditional, creating a collaborative online environment that uses the Internet as a tool agents can use to connect with their clients, saving them time and money. DotLoop allows the agent and client the ability to interact on their own terms, dissolving distance and sending fax machines further into obsolescence.

More than just a forms software, DotLoop is a fully-integrated, wholly web-based negotiation platform allows users to create, adjust, approve, and sign documents and contracts in one seamless, online environment. DotLoop offers a comprehensive solution to the challenges of security, efficiency, and overhead costs in today’s real estate industry, creating a 21st century solution for 21st century challenges.

Get in the Loop

To learn more about how The DotLoop System can enhance your business, please contact us at sales@dotloop.com or go to dotloop.com.

Security

This week's posts will highlight some of the issues innate to the current real estate industry, and will explain the benefits of a more secure, efficient, and cost-savings solution with DotLoop. The issues will be addressed through the lens of online collaboration and will focus on three main areas of improvement within the real estate industry: security, efficiency, and overhead costs.

Today's post: Security

Cell phones, e-mail, electronic lock boxes, video conferences. The last twenty years have seen a tsunami of technological achievements that have helped bolster the real estate industry into the 21st century. Eighty-four percent of all home-buyers begin the transaction process online, viewing listing after listing on websites. More than 90% of real estate professionals use a cell phone to conduct their daily business. E-mail has swept the industry and now, even text messages are becoming commonplace.

For the most part, the real estate industry has been able to keep pace with the quickening rate of business, but there are still considerable gaps between the technology available and the processes implemented. By far the biggest hurdles have been the negotiation and transaction processes.

Many within the real estate industry are still struggling with decades-old storage and filing techniques. What should be a simple, automated process has been bogged down by manila folders with loose documents and vast wastelands of storage cabinets. Reams of paper are copied, faxed, and wasted each and every day. Some within the industry have taken to documenting their finished contracts using imaging companies, but even this wastes time and resources that could be better allocated growing the business or focusing on client needs.

Security breaches within this antiquated system have lead to wasteful lawsuits and wasted time. The market collapse of 2008 saw the revelation that some home-buyers did not even understand the forms that they were signing, leading to brokerages being sued by their own customers. This lack of collaboration between brokerages and clients has not only lead to a more unstable business model, but also helped create the current struggling market.

Security

Initialed changes to smudged contracts, illegible handwriting, over-faxed contracts, and lost documents not only waste time, but can create legal risks for companies and clients alike. One lost form can cost a company many hours of extra work at best and many dollars in legal costs at worst. Papers can easily get shuffled or lost and government regulations can leave organizations susceptible to potential legal ramifications or fines if proper tracking is not in place. With no concrete way to document and track changes to a contract or form, companies may lose important information or clients may dispute terms that at one time were agreed upon, but no longer available to see.

Such regulatory compliances and legal risks have motivated many industries to find better ways to organize their documents and information. Unfortunately, the real estate industry has not been quick to adapt to these new processes.

The DotLoop Solution

Using The DotLoop System, every adjustment can be tracked and time-stamped, creating one seamless document. Each field has its own history attached to it, allowing users to see what changes were made, who made them, and at what date and time, leaving a fail-safe audit trail for both you and your client. This level trackability has never been so ubiquitous or so easy to understand. Our entire system is backed up multiple times a day in multiple locations, with built-in redundancy, so you can rest easily knowing that your documents are safe and secure. DotLoop’s e-sign technology has been proven to be more secure than traditional signatures, and is even mandated by some sectors of the Federal Government.

DotLoop—A Fully-Integrated Online Solution

The DotLoop System was designed specifically to overcome the challenges of the traditional real estate negotiation process. DotLoop marries the technology with the traditional, creating a collaborative online environment that uses the Internet as a tool agents can use to connect with their clients, saving them time and money. DotLoop allows the agent and client the ability to interact on their own terms, dissolving distance and sending fax machines further into obsolescence.

More than just a forms software, DotLoop is a fully-integrated, wholly web-based negotiation platform allows users to create, adjust, approve, and sign documents and contracts in one seamless, online environment. DotLoop offers a comprehensive solution to the challenges of security, efficiency, and overhead costs in today’s real estate industry, creating a 21st century solution for 21st century challenges.

Get in the Loop

To learn more about how The DotLoop System can enhance your business, please contact us at sales@dotloop.com or go to dotloop.com.

Why You Need a Web Presence

The In the Loop with DotLoop blog is all about marrying the real estate industry with the technology of the 21st Century. However, some of you out there may still be asking yourself: what do I care? Why do I need to change and adapt to this new social paradigm?

The answer is simple: you don't. You don't need to have a web presence as long as you're comfortable with losing current--and more importantly--future clients. The fact is, a web presence is needed by almost everyone in almost every industry and the real estate industry is no different.

According to the 2007 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, a full 84 percent of buyers use the Internet to search for a new home. So, when 84% of all home buyers start the real estate transaction process with a click of a button, you had better be accessible via the same means.

Luckily, it’s never been easier to gain a web presence! Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are a great way to get started, and all are as easy to use as e-mail. You can also ask your broker if they have a web page available just for you, although you may need some technical help to fully utilize its potential.

I don’t know technology at all

Most social media sites are designed with the layman in mind. If you know how to e-mail, you know how to use social media. Most sites allow for easy creation of profiles by simply uploading a (professional) picture and writing some information about yourself. Make sure you add contact information, including e-mail, of course.

What do I do with it?

Think of your site as not just a brochure, but a way to interact and communicate with your clients on their level. No, you don’t have to dress up your site or try out the latest jargon, just be yourself and let your (potential) clients know your areas of expertise. Are you a seasoned condo agent? Do you know farm houses like the back of your hand? Are you apt at apartment buildings? Let the world know what you can offer!

How do I do this?

Oftentimes, the best way to connect with a customer is to offer them something of value, and then see if there is a need for your services. Blog about the latest real estate trends, offer up advice on selecting the perfect home, or even details such as how best to landscape a barren yard. When potential buyers find your blog of interest, you have that much more opportunity to acquire their services. Dotloop.com offers the latest in technology to assist the real estate industry, but our blog is about giving agents useful information that may not relate directly to our site.

Tips and Suggestions: Social Media as a Business Tool

Yes, social media sites are fun and free, but if you are using them as a business tool, you need to be cautious. Below are some tips to help you keep your focus while blogging, updating your Facebook or Twitter pages, and connecting with other professionals online:

No one cares what you had for dinner...

Unless that juicy porterhouse steak you ate last night was near a property you are listing and you are trying to trump up how accessible it is to delicious culinary treats, don’t use your social media accounts to announce mundane, uninteresting details about your life.

Instead, use the tools to bring more interest to your business. “Another day, another house sold!” or “Had a fantastic closing with a great client who absolutely loves her new home” are both perfect examples of how to use social media sites to your business’ advantage.
Remember: keep it conversational, fun, and informative. Interact with your customers online just as you would face to face.

Complaining doesn’t attract customers…

“@ TGIF’s…been waiting for an hour to get a seat…ugh”; “I don’t feel so good today…”; “Eww!”

Eww indeed. Nobody wants to hear people complaining about seemingly trivial issues, and your business account should be no exception. When you act on behalf of your company, what you put on the Internet should be a reflection of the company and not of you. Target doesn’t get sick, the bakery around the corner doesn’t complain, and neither should your business.

If bad news happens, especially within the industry, use it as a catalyst to showcase your knowledge on how you can help your customers navigate the murky waters of real estate.

Showcase links that discuss housing options for post-graduates, that give handy how-to advice on lawn care, that help people decide what type of housing is right for them. If you can turn an interest upswing into an educational opportunity, then you’re using social media to its best capacity.

Remember: no one cares about your bad day, but they do care about the industry’s bad day. Again, don’t confuse your personal issues with your business when it comes to what you put out on social media sites.

Keep your political views to yourself

Again, you are acting on behalf of your business, not yourself. If the president’s new plan will affect housing, a positive, neutral comment is fine, but a snide partisan remark may turn off some potential clients. Sex, politics, religion. Don’t mix them with your business’ message.

Educate your clients

Have a great link you want to share? Excellent! If it’s related to the real estate market, make a comment on what you think of it (but avoid controversial comments) and post it. Make sure you read all articles you link to; lest you link to some article that can make you look incompetent.
Linking to smart, intriguing articles focused on your business or industry can only help your business’ image. It shows you are involved in the industry and it lends you credibility with your clients.

Summing Up Social Media

Social media can help you reach clients and can help strengthen relationships with existing clients. Be smart about what you put on the Internet, be involved with your customers, and be ready to connect to a whole new audience in a whole new way. We hope these tips help make your web presence easier to navigate.

More DotLoop News

How many trees can be saved by using the DotLoop system? Click here to find out.

Your Home and Your Wallet

Waste costs money. Regardless of your social or political leanings, we can all agree that the costs associated with energy waste hurt individuals, businesses, our nation, and ultimately the world. It hurts us in many ways, the most prominent of which is our wallets.

Most home buyers today, especially those younger, first-time home buyers, are well aware that drafty windows and inefficient appliances only add more expense to what is already probably the largest purchase of their lives.

As a real estate expert, you can help guide such clients in helping them choose a home that not only fits their budgets, but also fits their lifestyles and energy-usage.

LEEDing The Way

With the cold months coming soon, now is the perfect time to brush up on your LEED knowledge. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification program and has become the standard by which all design, construction and operation of green buildings is based. The system was designed to give architects, planners, and building owners the information and tools needed to gauge a building’s energy performance.

You can find more information here, here, and here.

The more knowledge you have about how your clients can save money and time by using LEED techniques, the better. Homebuyers today are more conscious about the “hidden costs” of owning a home and with your guidance, they will make better decisions about which home to buy. This can only help your real estate business and your reputation as being the LEED agent in your area.

Hybrids Hog the Headlines

Most people, when they discuss environmental concerns, focus heavily on the transportation sector; mainly, hybrid cars. But did you know that more energy is wasted by poorly-ventilated or designed buildings? It’s true; almost 40% of all energy consumption in the US is consumed by buildings. Not only do poor insulation and old windows add hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in energy costs to a home every year, they also may end up harming the condition of the home itself. When we discuss energy savings, we must discuss buildings.

Location, Location, Location

Building or renovating a home or business to make it more energy-efficient is very important, but all the LEED codes and solar panels in the world won’t help you save any money (or energy) if the building is in a bad location. In fact, some research has even shown that most people waste more energy commuting to work than the building they work in uses.

So, if your clients want to make the most of their energy consumption, make sure they are looking at homes that offer a more walkable environment and easier access to areas like grocery stores or business centers.

Save Paper, Save Costs – How YOU Can Save Money Yourself

As a real estate professional, you can help yourself to many time and energy-saving techniques. Of course, the DotLoop system allows transactions and negotiations online, thus saving paper costs and waste, but there are other ways in which you can help your business expand while lessening your energy consumption.

Desktop Vs. Laptop

By simply switching from a desktop computer to a laptop (or notebook) computer, you can save up to 80% of the energy costs.

Public Transportation/Combining Trips

Meeting a client? Take a bus or streetcar to get there. Even if you do take a car, you can meet your clients close to a business district, so you can get more than just one thing done at a time. Saving money at the pump saves money for your business.

Being energy-efficient is not just about saving the trees (although it’s a great side effect), but also about saving money. If you can help guide your clients to homes that meet their needs and help them save energy costs, not only will you most likely gain a client for life, but you’ll help solidify your reputation as the “green” real estate agent.

DotLoop in the News

The DotLoop Company has been making the news lately. Click here and here to learn more.

"The Times They Are A-Changin’…"

Welcome! We hope that this blog will give you insight into bringing your real estate business into the online era as well as showcase news and innovation within the industry. With today’s fast-paced world, time can become your greatest adversary. With the right tools, however, time can be your greatest ally, and can give you that competitive edge to advance your business.



Condense For Your Business To Expand
The Internet can give you time, or take it away. Anyone who’s ever read comments sections or watched a cat play piano on Youtube knows how easy it is to lose time when using the Internet. But tools such as e-mail, customer integration, and online chats all help businesses condense the time it takes to complete certain tasks, allowing them to expand their business in other areas.



Spend More Time Helping Your Customers
When you use the Internet to your advantage, you can spend more time of the people that really matter to your business: your customers. Most customers today are mobile, always connected, and e-mail accessible. With the DotLoop System, you can tap into this same mindset, not only saving you and your clients’ time, but also meeting your clients on their level.



Get Connected With DotLoop
We hope that this blog can provide you with information not only about the real estate industry, but about how technology can help you navigate this ever-changing field.



With DotLoop, formerly MLS Contracts, we have created a system to help you free up time to focus on expanding your business and really connecting with your clients. Find out more at http://dotloop.com!