System and method for managing transactions relating to real estate

Abstract

A system and method for managing real estate transactions is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of contacts including buyers and sellers of real estate, receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of vendors each associated with at least one phase of a real estate transaction, accessing vendor data based upon occurrence of a particular phase of the real estate transaction and communicating data relating to the vendors to a contact upon occurrence of the particular phase of the real estate transaction. The system includes means for conducting each of these steps.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for managing real estate transactions comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of contacts including buyers and sellers of real estate;    (b) receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of vendors of real estate related services, wherein each vendor is associated with at least one phase of a real estate transaction;    (c) accessing data relating to at least one vendor based upon an occurrence of a particular phase of the real estate transaction; and    (d) communicating said data relating to said at least one vendor to a contact upon the occurrence of the particular phase of the real estate transaction.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a commission based upon a sale of vendor service to said contact.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a commission based upon the communication of data relating to the vendors to a contact upon occurrence of the particular phase of the real estate transaction.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of sales agents.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of generating reports relating to activity of said plurality of sales agents.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving and storing data relating to real estate listings.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of transmitting data relating to said real estate listings to said contact when said contact requests said data.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing vendor data occurs upon signing of a real estate listing agreement.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing vendor data occurs upon signing of a buyer agreement.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing vendor data occurs upon signing of a binder agreement.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing vendor data occurs upon closing of a contract for a sale of real estate.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing vendor data occurs within a predetermined time period following a closing date for a real estate contract.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing vendor data occurs within a predetermined time period preceding a closing date for a real estate contract.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of assigning a move consultant to a contact upon the occurrence of a particular phase of the real estate transaction.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the steps of accessing and communicating data relating to vendors is conducted by the move consultant.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of notifying the move consultant of the occurrence of a particular phase of the real estate transaction.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 storing, for each contact, data relating to goods and services provided thereto; and    communicating reminders to said contact based upon said data relating to goods and services.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of issuing an access code to each contact to permit each contact to obtain discounted goods and services provided by the vendors.  
     
     
         19 . A method for managing real estate transactions comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of contacts including buyers and sellers of real estate;    (b) receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of vendors of real estate related services, each vendor associated with at least one phase of a real estate transaction; and    (c) assigning a move consultant to each contact to facilitate communication between said contact and at least one of said plurality of vendors upon an occurrence of a particular phase of the real estate transaction.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of determining a commission based upon a sale of a vendor service to said contact by said move consultant.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of determining a commission based upon the communication of data relating to the vendors to a contact by said move consultant upon the occurrence of the particular phase of the real estate transaction.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of real estate agents.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of receiving and storing data relating to real estate listings.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of accessing data related to at least one vendor upon an occurrence of an event selected from the group consisting of signing a listing agreement, signing a buyer agreement, signing of a binder agreement and closing of a contract for a sale of real estate.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , further comprising the step of notifying the move consultant of the occurrence of one of said events.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of providing the move consultant with access to a database containing information relating to a plurality of contacts.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of providing the move consultant with access to a database containing information relating to a plurality of vendors of real estate related goods and services.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of: 
 storing data relating to goods and services provided to each contact; and    communicating reminders to said contact based upon said data relating to goods and services.    
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of issuing an access card to each contact to permit each contact to obtain discounts on goods and services provided by the vendors.  
     
     
         30 . A system for managing real estate transactions comprising: 
 (a) means for receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of contacts including buyers and sellers of real estate;    (b) means for receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of vendors of real estate related services, each vendor associated with at least one phase of a real estate transaction;    (c) means for accessing data relating to at least one vendor upon an occurrence of a particular phase of the real estate transaction; and    (d) means for communicating said data relating to said at least one vendor to a contact upon the occurrence of the particular phase of the real estate transaction.    
     
     
         31 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising means for determining a commission based upon a sale of a vendor service to said contact.  
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 30 , further comprising means for generating reports based upon the determination of commissions.  
     
     
         33 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising means for receiving, storing and presenting text and graphics relating to real estate listings.  
     
     
         34 . A system as recited in  claim 33 , further comprising means for transmitting said text and graphics to said contact when said contact requests said text and graphics via Internet communications.  
     
     
         35 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising means for analyzing surveys received from said contacts relating to performance of a real estate company and employees thereof during a real estate transaction.  
     
     
         36 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising means for storing, for each contact, data relating to goods and services provided to said contact and means for communicating reminders to said contact based upon said data relating to goods and services.  
     
     
         37 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising means for issuing a coded access card to each contact to permit each contact to obtain discounted goods and services provided by the vendors.