We try to develop marketing materials that really makes it easy for the customer to understand exactly what our service does. We’re pretty proud of this piece below because we think it clearly spells out what we do.

It’s our version of a 7-step program to securing your digital assets using online backup.

Here's what we do for your business

Step #5 is an important step that using cardboard boxes, CD or hard drives is something you just don’t get – re-assurance. Step #6 is really the major benefit – hassle free storage of your digital assets. It’s probably the most efficient way to store your records and that leads us to Step #7, the ability to restore files anytime and from anywhere. Let’s see you do that with files on a hard drive in an office or CDs stored in a drawer. In essence, online storage is like having a virtual filing cabinet that provides the utmost security. We’ve said this a few times before but it’s worth repeating – your files are probably more secure if stored with Filetwin then if they were stored in your own office. Since Filetwin is a great application for “cloud computing” here’s a good analogy. If any type of disaster happened on the ground, all your files are safely secured above the mess below. When you need those files, you simply call them down from the “cloud” and – viola – you’re back in action, or in this case, back in business.

If you like to continue this discussion in person with one of our Backup Specialists located here in the U.S., please feel free to contact us at 1 877-310-2884.

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Over the course of the past few months, our writing team has taken it upon themselves (in case you couldn’t tell) to become the authority on backing up digital assets for the real estate industry. We actually research each state and examine the regulations that pertain to Brokers in that specific state. So far, we’ve covered twenty (20) states. In fact, we didn’t realize that until we counted the pushpins on our map.

We’ve had several people comment that they really enjoyed our writing style and ask us how we do it. There’s no real secret other than – just start writing and then go over it once or twice to make a few edits to tighten the grammar. OK, but how do you just start writing you ask? You do need a plan. The way we addressed coming up with a ”plan” was to look at things as though we wanted to become the authority on a specific topic. So we decided we wanted to talk about state regulations as it gave us a lot of opportunity for new blog articles on a regular basis. Guess what?? We have actually become the authorities on online backup for the real estate industry just by doing the amount of extensive research we’ve done so far –  and we still have another 30 or so articles to write.

So if you’re a real estate broker and have questions about how online backup can help your company, please give us a call at 1 877 310-2884 and one of our U.S. based Backup Specialists will be glad to continue this conversation.

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We’re back today with another installment in our continuing series of blog articles related to the duties of real estate brokers when it comes to retaining transaction records. Today, Idaho is the center of attention. If you are a Broker in Idaho, you’re required to keep transaction records for three (3) years.

According to section 54-2048 of the State of Idaho Real Estate Commission, a transaction file contains the following documents. For all pending, closed or fallen transactions, the original or a true and correct copy of:

• Signed closing statements, if applicable;
• Written and signed brokerage representation agreements, if any. A responsible broker who is representing both the seller and the buyer in a transaction shall retain properly executed brokerage representation agreements in the transaction file, and, if appropriate to the transaction, a properly executed “consent to limited dual representation” statement. A responsible broker who has a signed brokerage representation agreement with only one (1) party to the transaction, either buyer or seller, must only retain that one (1) agreement in the transaction file;
• All offers accepted, countered or rejected, which must each be retained in the manner required in section 54-2049, Idaho Code;
• All offers presented to the seller and not accepted by that seller shall be clearly marked and dated as rejected. The original or a true and correct copy of all rejected offers must be retained in the files of the selling broker for the statutory records retention period in section 54-2049, Idaho Code.

Section 54-2049

Records required under chapter 54-2049 that are to be kept and maintained by a real estate broker, including trust account and financial records, transaction files and other records are to be kept in the broker’s files according to this section. The following records must be kept by a broker for three (3) calendar years after the year in which the event occurred, the transaction closed, all funds were disbursed, or the agreement and any written extension expired:

1.  The original or true copy of all accepted, countered or rejected offers;

2.  Listing or buyer brokerage representation agreements and “consent to limited dual representation” forms;

3.  Transaction files and the contents required in section 54-2048(3), Idaho Code;

4.  Trust account ledger records; and

5.  All trust account reconciliation records, as defined in this chapter.

In summary, Idaho’s rules are in line with the rest of the U.S. when it comes real estate record retention. Filetwin can effectively service your backup requirements for digital files. We focus on businesses and regulated industries in particular, so if you’re interested in learning how we can help your company maintain proper business practices and keep your digital assets safe, please contact us at 1 877 310-2884 and one of our U.S. based Backup Specialists will be glad to continue this conversation.

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