This is the latest in a series of 'Buyer's Guides' that feature questions to ask and options to consider before making a new purchase. See our previous guides to purchasing a CMA, CRM, Document and Transaction Management, Electronic Signature, Ad Network, IDX/VOW, and iPad App.

What are Back Office Solutions?

So much of the business of a real estate broker goes on behind-the-scenes, in your back office. Functions such as accounting, lead routing, reporting, and agent management often fall into this category and are managed with back office software. Each back office solution is different, so it's important to understand what you expect from your technology.

Questions to Ask

There are some important questions to ask when buying any real estate technology product and some that are unique to choosing a Back Office solution.

First, let's look at general questions you'll want to ask.

• What are my objectives for this piece of technology and will this product help me achieve those objectives?
• What is my budget?
• Does my MLS or Association have any agreements with any vendors that might help me obtain this product at a discount or for free?
• What kind of customer service and training programs are available? Are there webinars and, if so, are they recorded so you can view them at any time? Is the vendor's online help sufficient?