Keeping up with your growing list of contacts

When I decided to move into the mortgage financing business, I realized very quickly that there were a good number of people that I would be interacting with, on a daily basis........lenders, clients, prospects, realtors, lawyers, appraisers, lenders, property inspectors, financial planners.

It was after my first year, that my husband asked me how I was keeping track of everyone. I pulled out the piles of business cards that I had been collecting over that first year and my husband shook his head in disbelief. He told me that we were going to purchase a database management software program to help me get organized and I must admit that I was delighted to know that my own memory was going to finally get a break.

We purchased a software called ACT. I went ahead and downloaded their 30-day trial version and by the 2^nd week of utilizing the software, I was hooked. It was no longer a "nice to have" but moved to a "must have". Now in my third year of business, I know that I could not have possibly managed the contacts I have today. I now have just over 600 contacts in my database and each day I add another name or two. The software has allowed me to organize the data to retrieve customized reports and also help me to keep in touch with business partners, clients and prospects.

As my business continues to grow, I know that it was one of the best purchases I have ever made for my own business.

This blog was submitted by Elizabeth Blair, a Licensed Mortgage Agent with Mortgage Edge located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.

You can contact Elizabeth directly by phone at (905) 510-5785, by email at Elizabeth@missmortgage.ca or visit her website at: www.missmortgage.ca

Elizabeth is licensed with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario and is also a Member of IMBA (the Independent Mortgage Brokers Association of Ontario) www.imba.ca