What do brokers think of the partner offerings in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR’s) REALTOR Benefits® Program? We asked three REALTORS® from around the country to comment on the partners and products that are helping them succeed.
zipLogix a “Win-Win Solution” at Weichert
At Weichert REALTORS®, headquartered in Morris Plains, N.J., more than 50 offices are using zipLogix’s zipForm® 6 Professional software and the relay® transaction management site to access, complete and store the real estate forms they need. Kathleen Donohue, manager of Real Estate Forms and Compliance, says the brokerage started using zipForm® in 2009 when they switched from a similar package because zipLogix was less expensive and offered more functions and flexibility. “It was a win-win solution,” says Donohue. “Plus, it’s intuitive and easy to use, and it provides all the forms that our associates need.”
Donohue says that Weichert is now reaping multiple benefits from using zipLogix’s form products: “Our associates have a single repository for all the forms they use,” she explains. “And it enables them to produce professional-looking forms that are legible. This reduces errors in processing the transactions, compared to handwritten forms.” She adds, “We also avoid problems with having multiple versions of forms floating around.”
Because the zipLogix product is so easy to use, all agents are comfortable working with it. “In fact, we’ve completely stopped using paper forms in our Pennsylvania offices,” says Donohue. “We’re trying to wean offices in states off of them as well; agents there are already very reliant on ZipLogix’s online forms.”
‘Unfailingly Reliable’ E&O Coverage from Victor O. Schinnerer
Brokers need to protect themselves against legal entanglements. That’s why Mary Worrall Associates in Honolulu has relied on Victor O. Schinnerer and Company, Inc. (Schinnerer) for errors and omissions insurance (E&O) for more than 20 years.
When buying E&O Insurance, a broker hopes never to be in a situation where coverage is needed; but, if there is a problem, it is good to know the Schinnerer coverage will protect you. Mary Worrall knows from experience that Schinnerer delivers when her brokerage has been represented in court. “We’ve found that they select very good, very suitable attorneys to represent us,” she says. “We’re very satisfied with the attorneys and have even had them come to our staff meetings to give seminars on risk management and specific areas of concern. That’s been tremendously helpful.”
Worrall believes Schinnerer is especially well suited to serving brokers. “They’re very sensitive to our business environment and seem open-minded in dealing with things we may do differently than offices in other parts of the country,” she says. “Their office is very accessible and very responsive, and they are unfailingly reliable. Most importantly, they’re willing to listen to you as a client.”
Xerox Helps Southbay Brokers ‘Stand Out from the Crowd’
A high-end brokerage needs high-end printing capabilities. That’s why Jim Van Zanten, CEO of Southbay Brokers, headquartered in Manhattan Beach, Calif., boosted his printing capabilities with the help of Xerox. In 2011, Van Zanten transitioned his office photocopiers, scanners and printers to Xerox devices. “We like Xerox’s technology and think it is superior to competitors’ products,” he says. “They give us more capability and flexibility.”
Now, when different REALTORS® hold open houses for a property, Southbay revises the flyer with their information. “This enables us to look as professional as we are,” says Van Zanten.
Van Zanten added a Xerox Production 700 Unit, which he describes as a digital printing press, and hired a graphic designer so that Southbay could produce marketing materials in-house. The result is tremendous savings in both time and production costs. “Instead of agents having to scramble around, they simply print them out here,” Van Zanten points out. His team produces slick, four- and eight-page brochures, and prints as many or as few as needed. “This is much more cost-effective than having them commercially printed.”
Agents also order blank door-hangers and wine tags and then custom-print them in-house. “There are a lot of different options people can use to stand out from the crowd,” Van Zanten says of Xerox print capabilities.
Find These and Other Popular Offers Online
zipLogix’s offerings, Victor O. Schinnerer and Xerox represent just a sample of the more than 30 leading companies offering value-added offers and savings for you and your agents through NAR’s REALTOR Benefits® Program. Visit www.REALTOR.org/RealtorBenefits for the latest information and offers.
