Web Wise
Frequently Asked Questions about www.wra.org
Q. What's the best way to find information on the WRA site?
Q. What is Acrobat Reader and why do I need it?
Q. How can I print a Web page and not have the right side cut off?
Q. Why does my virtual business card in Find A
REALTOR® say "not available" behind some of the fields, like e-mail or cell phone number?
Q. I can't get into the Legal Services and other secure sections of the Web site, why?
Q. I don't know my member ID, how should I obtain it?
Q. Where can I find my license number?
Q. Is there somehow or somewhere I can find a record of the classes I've taken?
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ZipForm® Online Instructions
by kristi mikalsen
ZipForm® Online is a powerful new tool available free to members that lets you access your forms virtually anywhere you go. There's no need to cart disks back and forth or lose an important form because your disk has been damaged. With
ZipForm® Online, you can use your laptop, or any computer with an Internet connection, to access your forms-anywhere, anytime. It's that simple.
System Requirements
- IBM PC compatible Pentium II 300 or comparable
- MS Windows 98, NT 4.0, 2000 or XP
- 128 megabytes (MB) of Random Access Memory (RAM)
- 20 MB available hard disk space
- SVGA monitor and video card supporting a minimum 800 x 600 resolution and 256 colors
- Internet Explorer 5.5 or newer
- Any printer that can be configured with MS Windows print manager
- 56K modem with Internet access or broadband
Network Users Note: If sharing an Internet connection with multiple users, a broadband connection is required. Please contact ZipForm for further information on your specific bandwidth needs.
Download/Installation Instructions
1. Connect to the Internet.
2. Type in the WRA Web site address: www.wra.org
3. Click the "ZipForm" image located to the left of the screen or Click on Products/Services and select ZipForm.
4. On the ZipForm Product page, click on "I need to download the viewer."
5. Scroll down to step #1 and click on the link listed under it. Enter your 3-5 digit Company ID# ___________or use the lookup option to find your company. Click the "Submit Company ID" button. If a security notice appears click the "Yes" button to proceed.
6. Verify your company information. Click the "Correct" button if ok or the "Incorrect" button if the information is wrong. Follow the prompts if you selected the "Incorrect" button.
7. Enter your first and last name and personal e-mail address (the e-mail address and password are used to access ZipForm Online). Click the "Verify" button. If a security notice appears click the "Yes" button to proceed.
8. A notice to check your email will appear. Click the link located in your email notification to continue the download process.
9. An Order Form-Step 1 of 4 will appear. Enter and confirm your password for ZipForm Online. Click Next.
10. Order Form - Step 2 of 4 appears. Under the "To be added" column confirm that you have the Wisconsin
REALTORS® Association library. If you are with a company that has a custom library confirm that that library is included as well. Click "I Agree" to proceed to the next screen.
11. On the Order Summary-Step 3 of 4 screen confirm that your order is $0. Click "Place Order."
12. A confirmation of your order appears (Order Summary - Step 4 of 4). Click "Login" to begin using ZipForm Online.
13. The ZipForm Online Sign In screen appears. Enter your email address and password. Click "Sign In" to proceed.
14. Information concerning a form viewer will display. Click the link "Click here for the Form Viewer Installation file."
15. A "File Download" screen will appear. Click "Open" to download the file.
16. When finished downloading the installation wizard will start. Click "Next."
17. Select "I accept the license agreement" and click "Next."
18. Enter your full name and company name. Select the appropriate setting for the form viewer and click "Next."
19. Click "Next" to begin the installation.
20. Click the "Finish" button to exit the installation and return to the Sign In screen.
21. Congratulations! You have registered with ZipForm Online and downloaded the form viewer. You can now sign in to ZipForm Online and begin using the program. A link to ZipForm Online will always be available from the
WRA's Web site
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Adobe Acrobat: Another Step Toward the Electronic Transaction
by Stephen M. Canale, CRB, CRS, GRI, RAM
Because few business transactions are as paper-intensive as real estate, any technology that can ease the burdens of creating and handling paper documents is bound to be highly beneficial to the real estate industry.* The latest version of Adobe Acrobat is certainly one of these technologies that can reduce your reliance on paper.
With corporate, university and government Web sites commonly distributing documents in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) format, it's fair to say that most Internet-enabled consumers are at least somewhat familiar with this format.
It is important to point out that the tool most often used by consumers is the free Acrobat Reader
www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html
which simply allows their computer to view files already created in the PDF format.
From the professional's viewpoint, the full version of Acrobat www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/main.html
offers much more than the ability to simply download documents from the Internet.
Document Sharing
The primary use of Acrobat is for the conversion of documents from any application on your system into the universal PDF format. Regardless of the software that was used to create or scan a document, it can be converted into PDF format and then shared with customers, clients, prospects or members of the general public.
Whether you place such files on your Web site, e-mail them, or distribute them on CD or even floppy disk, the fact remains that others will be able to view these documents.
Additionally, these documents will retain the fonts, colors, graphics and layout that you used to create them, even though the viewing party may not own the same software (or even use the same computer operating system) as you.
To a real estate professional this represents a revolutionary new way to share information and provide better customer service. For instance, agents could place literally all of the documents that relate to a specific listing on their Web site.
This would allow visitors to see not only basic listing information, but also to review the seller's and agency disclosure forms, copies of a survey and title commitment, as well as additional marketing materials such as the property highlight sheet, floor plan and utility bills. All of this could be accomplished from any Internet location in the world, 24-hours a day.
Of course, such information could also be e-mailed to specific clients or distributed to prospects by copying the files to CD; handed out at an open house, for instance.
Electronic Forms
An often overlooked feature of Acrobat is the ability to use the "Forms Tool" to convert PDF files that you have created into "fill-in-the-blank" electronic documents. Such documents can include areas for text input, drop-down selections, radio buttons, checkboxes, and even digital signatures.
The creator of such an interactive PDF file retains full control over how others can modify the document. For instance, a commercial lease can be modified to allow a party to change only a limited number of fields, to restrict their changes to pre-defined selections, and even control the order in which the fields can be accessed. Acrobat can also track any changes or modifications made by others, thereby creating a complete record of the transaction.
The combination of all of these features into one universally accepted electronic file format creates abundant opportunities for any real estate professional to become substantially more productive and less reliant on the distribution of paper.
Whether you need to share information electronically, provide interactive forms to others, or simply wish to digitally sign documents for your own purposes, Adobe's Acrobat can make all of these processes both simple and effective.
Stephen M. Canale - GRB, CRS, GRI, RAM Training & Seminars in Technology, Sales & Marketing 734.481.9000 -
Stephen@Canale.com To subscribe to Canale's Tips & Tricks, visit
www.canale.com.
*Until Wisconsin passes e-commerce legislation, federal law regulating electronic commerce requires substantial consumer disclosures. Contact the Legal Hotline or private counsel for more information.
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