REAL/Easy FOS - Front Office System Tour
Start FOS and Log In


       Now, you are ready to do the tour, you are switched to the Best Realty database for
the time being. Select the “FOS” icon (above) from your Windows desktop.

You should obtain the above login screen.

    For now, You do not need a password, Click: 
 

The FOS Desktop

Whenever you begin your FOS session, you will be greeted with the above desktop. The
main goal of FOS is to enable complete no-paper automation of your office’s phone
traffic. So, this desktop is designed to help a call coordinator or duty desk agent quickly
access the common tasks needed with a single click.

Other tasks such as listing data entry can be accessed in a similar fashion as in the Back
Office System (BOS) using menus and tools.

There are seven areas or components making up the FOS Desktop. Let’s take a look at
them.
 

1. At the top, the title bar shows the name of the program and version. The name of the
company is displayed, according to the database you are switched to – e.g. The Best
Realty Company.

2. Next, the (File) menu bar displayed above, is the same all the time. Setups and most
operations in FOS can be run from the menu bar.

3. The Listing Search tool bar. You can search the listing table by street name, or MLS
number or by Ad Code. Criteria entered here controls the properties to be displayed in the
property browse area #7.

4. The property browse area data display can also be controlled by setting different
Listing Filters to control the display. Here only a certain market area, or district, may be
desired.

5. The last browse bar includes List price filtering and Agent filter. The Online Date filter
is used when importing data from other sources such as Crest Edg.

6. This is the quick and easy to use tool bar. A majority of your work will be done from here. It does not contain all that is available from the Menu Bar (1.), but most of it. Note: The different areas - General, Common, Listings, Appointments and Communications.

7. This is the Property Browse, or main information area of the FOS Desktop. The
information displayed is dependant upon the tab that you click on

8. This status area show the listing highlighted above. Also listing count, and message
and appointment stats.

Now let’s take a look at a few of these items on the desktop.
 

Step 1—The Menu Bar

The menu bar is like any other menu bar in a Windows program. There are drop-down
items for each category.

       Click on File

Above are the key setup functions. First, you setup your company information, then enter
all of the agent, broker and other contacts that you will be needing for the call/duty desk.

Next, Click on Listings

The listings tab above has all the functions needed to keep your listing inventory data up
to date. If you have internet access while viewing a listing, there options to display and
print maps from well known web sites.

        Click on Appointments

     Click Communications.

These functions are used to setup your PC message, pager and email systems.

    Click on Reports

All aspects of the Front Office operation can be reported on with this tab. In addition, the
“Top” reports display high activity agents and brokers

      Click on Preferences.

Here is where you can customize your FOS appointment and tracking system. You can
even change some of the screen field labels to help your agents and operators.
 

Step 2 — Property Browse/Main Information Area

This area is showing the basic information on the listing that is highlighted above. Click
on the 15th Avenue property. Note that for split listings, all agents are displayed on the
Current Listing line.

Also note that key information such as list date, style, bedrooms, baths, and more is
displayed right below the browse window. And the next showing information below that.

Note also the bottom tabs running below the browse area. The browse area is actually the
first of many pages of information. The Photo tab provides quick access to photos of the
highlighted listing. The other tabs are for general use during calls include the IN/Out
Board to help direct calls to agents who are in he office, the Office bulletin to view office
announcements or tips, the Suppliers tab is used to help lookup and call sign, mortgage,
title and other companies, the Co-Brokers and Board Roster tabs show phone and other
information to help you contact co-broker offices and agents to confirm appointments or
do follow up calls.

In/Out Board & Duty Roster tab

By clicking on the In/Out Board & Duty Roster tab you can register the daily status of
agents presence, duties, appointments and messages. If this is kept up to date during the
day, you’ll be able to easily direct calls to them or know when to page or email messages.

Co-Broker tab

Above is the sample co-broker info tab.

Board Roster tab

And, the Board roster will appear as above. Note that a search box above can help you
quickly find a caller or agent that needs follow-up.

Populating this browse is accomplished by Add Board Member, importing data from your co-broker table in BOS or by importing from a comma separated text file.

Step 3 – View Details or Edit a Listing

You can double-click a listing or click the Listings category at the left and select Edit
Listing.

Above is the main, or “listing general” screen. Key location, price and contract date
information is displayed. Showing and lockbox information is also maintained on this
screen.

The tabs along the top are used to maintain more information pertaining to this listing.
Included are other screens to maintain more details about features, photos of the property,
the listing Agents, the seller and others under Contacts, Descriptions of the property,
Advertising history, and activity Journal.

Entering a Showing Appointment

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