Zip tip: templates save time

All Texas REALTORS® have been able to download for free ZipForm 5.0 forms software since the beginning of the year. If you haven’t done so yet, go to TAR’s Web site at www.tar.org to get your copy.

Creating templates is one tool that can help you speed up the process of pulling together forms. A template is a collection of forms that you use for a particular type of transaction. For example, you might want to set up a template for listings. Here are the steps:

• Log on to ZipForm, click OK to create a new transaction, select Local for your location, then click OK. Click Cancel on the Transaction Header dialogue box.
• Click Tools on the menu bar.
• Click Users Manager and highlight the appropriate name profile. For most people, this will be Master.
• Click the Properties button, then select the Preferences tab
• Click to put a checkmark in the Use Template Data box. This step allows you to fill in information about yourself and your company that will automatically populate all the forms in this template.
• Click OK. Click OK again.
• To gather the forms you will use in this template, start a new transaction by clicking on File on the menu bar and selecting New Transaction. Select Local and click OK.
• Don’t fill in the Transaction Header. Click OK.
• The Add/Remove Forms window will open. Select form types from the menu on the left.
• For each form you want to include, highlight it then click the Current button. In your listing template, you might want to have a listing agreement, disclosure notice, lockbox authorization, and any other forms you usually fill out.
• Make sure to also include the Texas Association of REALTORS® cover sheet. When you are done, close this dialogue box
• On page two of the Texas Association of REALTORS® cover sheet, fill out the Listing Broker Information fields.
• Click File on the menu bar at the top of the screen.
• Click Save Transaction as Template. Type in a name for the template, such as Listing, and click OK.

The next time you start a new transaction for a listing, select your Listing template, located at the bottom of the Transaction Header dialogue box. (You must click on the down-arrow to see the list of options.) All your forms–filled in with your broker information–will be gathered and waiting for you.

Buyers & sellers, visit www.texasrealestate.com.
REALTORS®, visit www.tar.org.