Hawaii Information Service is moving its online forms feature to zipForm, an industry standard online form and transaction management system. Rather than working with forms within REsearch, you will connect to zipForm to access, create, and manage your Hawaii Association of REALTORS® (HAR) forms.
Starting May 17, 2011, you can get a head start on using zipForm with REsearch, to take advantage of the newest forms released this month by HAR. The official launch of zipForm will be on May 27, 2011, at which point you will be directed to use zipForm in REsearch by default.
Quickstart Guide
- Set up your zipForm account with HAR. Call 1-808-733-7060 or toll-free from the neighbor islands 1-888-737-9070. You will need to be an active, licensed REALTOR® with a valid NRDS (National REALTOR® Database System) number.
- Use zipForm for all new forms.The latest versions of all of HAR’s forms (including this month’s updates) are now available to you via zipForm.
- Complete any forms in progress by June 14, 2011. The ability to add/edit forms in REsearch will be removed on this date.
- While you will still have access to your old forms, we encourage you to download back-up copies.
Note: Non-REALTOR® REsearch users will need to contact HAR directly for form access.
Transition Details
HAR is assuming control of access to its forms through zipForm. As we implement this change, we have been working with zipLogix, creators of zipForm, to allow you to easily import your listing data into real estate forms (via MLS Connect).
Beginning Tuesday, May 17, 2011, you can begin to use zipForm when you access forms in REsearch. As HAR has recently released revised forms, you should use zipForm to create all new forms going forward.
The official launch of zipForm is Friday, May 27, 2011, when REsearch users will be directed to zipForm by default. In addition, you must complete any forms you have in progress by Tuesday, June 14, 2011. You will not be able to add or edit forms within REsearch after this date.
You will continue to have access to old, saved completed forms, although we may have to move them to a separate system. As always, we urge you to regularly download backup copies of completed forms to which you’d like to have easy access.
REMINDER: You will need to set up your access through the Hawaii Association of REALTORS® (HAR) to access zipForms. We encourage you to contact HAR as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this change being made?
HAR is taking over administration of all access to its standard forms, ensuring that forms are available only to those licensed to use them, and that users have uniform access to the most recent versions.
How does this affect me?
You will need to use zipForm to handle all of your forms online, rather than REsearch. This service is being made available to you at no additional cost, and will provide much more robust features and tools for managing your forms and transactions.
How do I access zipForm?
First, you will need to be a licensed REALTOR® with an active NRDS number. NRDS stands for National REALTOR® Database System, and it is administered by the National Assocation of Reators. You can learn more about NRDS here:
http://www.realtor.org/library/referral/whatismynarmembershipidnumber
Then, once you have your NRDS number, you can contact HAR to set up your login. Once setup is complete, you can log into zipForm.
Once in zipForm, you can import your listing information with ‘MLS Connect‘ by entering your existing REsearch username and password.
How do I contact HAR?
Please call the Hawaii Association of REALTORS® at 808-733-7060, or toll-free from the neighbor islands 1-888-737-9070, for assistance with NRDS numbers and zipForm. We encourage you to start this process now so that when our connection is live, you can make the switch immediately.
How do I use zipForm?
After you log into zipForm, you can easily import your listing data from REsearch. Simply select ‘MLS Connect,’ located under the ‘Tools’ tab in zipForm, and enter your REsearch login and password. A more detailed help article on ‘MLS Connect’ can be found here.
Is there training available?
If you are not already using zipForm for your business, there will be free classes coordinated by HAR to familiarize yourself with the service. To see the schedule of classes and to register, visit www.hawaiirealtors.com or call HAR at 1-808-733-7060 , or toll-free from the neighbor islands, 1-888-737-9070. There are also demonstrations offered by zipLogix. See the full schedule here, and here are upcoming zipLogix webinars:
What will happen to my current forms?
You will continue to have access to old, saved, completed forms, although we may have to move them to a separate system. As always, you should regularly download backup copies of completed forms to which you’d like to have easy access. We encourage you to create a local archive of your forms by saving them to your computer or printing and filing them. Larger offices or agents with a large number of saved forms will want to start this process as soon as possible.
How do I save or print my current forms?
Once in the “Forms” section of REsearch, you will see your folders listed by clients’ names. As you select each folder, a box will appear that displays all the forms contained within. Select the form you would like to save or print, and then click on the ‘Open’ button. Once the form is open, you can click the ‘Save’ icon to save it. You can also click the ‘Print Form’ option, which will allow you to print it for your hardcopy files.
You may receive a message saying that ‘Adobe Reader can only save a blank copy of this form’. Please ignore this message, as our tests have shown that it will in fact save the data already in the form when saved.
Can I still use the old forms in REsearch until they are removed?
HAR legal counsel Alan Kido advises: “As with all previous versions, members may continue to use an older version with care. The standard forms are merely suggested language to guide transactions. In the case of the new Purchase Contract, formatting and other aspects will be very different, so agents must read the provisions carefully. However, using the current version properly in the transition will not create liability issues as long as the parties and their agents agree.”
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