1. Search for real estate software that is specific to your interest. For example, if you want to work with or evaluate rental income property, search for real estate investment property software, real estate investing software, or real estate investor software. The more specific your search, the more likely you will find the real estate software you are looking for without having to sort through thousands of pages.

2. Decide on a budget. How much are you willing to spend to buy a software program that could save you from having to re-invent the wheel, and perhaps save you countless hours of valuable time? Real estate software developers have taken the time to make your job easier, why not take advantage of it? The cost might be minimal or significant depending on your particular financial circumstance, just keep in mind that any worthwhile real estate software program will not be free.

3. Examine the reports offered by the real estate software. Look to see if the developer offers sample reports you can preview. Are they professional-quality, easily understood, and do they contain all the corresponding information you need? If you're planning to use the reports to make presentations, will they make you look good, and do they provide your name recognition? Realtors are keen on name-riders, so be sure that it's your name plastered all over the reports, not just the software company's name.

4. Examine the program's features and tools. Are they mere fluff, or are they genuinely meaningful? Will they make your experience with the program a pleasing one, provide you with time-savers, and offer you something unique, or are they just rhetorical phrases trying to sell you the program? Real estate software developers generally provide a list of the program's features. If not, or if you discover that the features and tools are nothing more than a shameless attempt to promote the product, move on to another website.

5. Make a judgment about whether the real estate software is user-friendly. A good place to begin is on the website itself. Is the software website well organized, creative, and easy to navigate, or lack-luster and confusing? Remember, the same company claiming that their program is easy to use undoubtedly designed the website. Look at screenshots when provided. Developers often include screenshots from the program, so you can preview the forms and reports close up and personal. Do they suggest clear minded design or just a half-hearted attempt to look creative?

6. Read the testimonials given by current customers. Most real estate software developers are ethical enough not to post testimonials that are made up over lunch. Generally, customer testimonials posted on a website are from real people that don't receive compensation to share their product experience. So you should be able to trust them.

7. Consider whether the program is stand-alone or requires a third-party software program. For example, real estate investment software programs are commonly applications for Microsoft Excel that function only if Excel is installed on your computer. This is not a bad thing (Excel is the most powerful spreadsheet program in the world and includes thousands of sophisticated functions that a stand-alone program might not include). However, keep in mind that Excel will be an added expense if you don't currently have it.

8. Look for the software's support policy. Once you buy the software are you able to call and talk to a live person, or is future contact limited to email, something less personal like a forum, or even worse, is there no means of contact at all? Moreover, who are you contacting? Nothing is more satisfying than being able to discuss the program directly with the developer, and likewise nothing more frustrating than buying real estate software from a company that remains allusive.

9. Check to see if the real estate software is downloadable. Unless it can be bought from the shelf, being able to download the real estate software will get it into your hands immediately. Moreover, downloads eliminate the packing, shipping and handling costs the developer must bury in the asking price.

10. Read the software company's profile. Most real estate software was developed by an individual sitting alone somewhere at a computer; with a name unrecognizable to anyone other than to family, friends, colleagues and customers. So read about the developer. Does the experience level support the type of software offered? Are there credentials? Is there a mailing address and phone number? If not, be less tantalized by that particular real estate software at any cost.

So there you have it. Straight from the mouth of one who has experienced the dilemma of having to find real estate software that would be right for the task. I've paid big bucks and small bucks. I've been delightfully surprised and overwhelmingly disappointed. It's the nature of software. But all in all, in that some real estate software that has been good has been very good, it made the search worth it, and my incorrect choices thankfully pale in comparison.
__________________________________________________

James R Kobzeff is an active real estate broker and developer of ProAPOD Real Estate Investment Software