I’ve just started using Google Apps for Your Domain as a way of offering a “paperless transaction” to my clients. I set up an account through my domain for each of my clients (i.e. - smith@michelleberry.com), give them the password and I then set up their calendar and email with particular dates and labels (email). I be sure to share my calendar with theirs and theirs with mine. They can log on anywhere, anytime and check their transaction’s deadlines (on their calendar), they can also check my calendar, review copies of their documents and send messages to me or anyone else involved in their transaction. I’m currently “live” with my first client; she loves it and I love knowing that I can check her calendar and know when to schedule appointments or even just give her a call.

I also like that my clients have the option of forwarding the email to their “every day” email. So they have the choice of logging in, or just recieving copies and calendar reminders via their current email.

I’ve been using GAFYD for a short while, just on a trial run basis, before I introduced my current “live” client to it. I’ve found that I like using it as a sort of transaction manager as well. I can log into each client’s account (smith@michelleberry.com) and be sure that I’ve delivered copies, scheduled their appointments, etc. It also works seamlessly with buyers that are using the http://www.pdxhomequest.com service that I subscribe them to (with their consent, of course).

It may not be an application that everyone will want to use, but I thought I’d share my experience with GAFYD. It did take a bit of time and real usage to get the settings tweaked just right, but now I feel I have it down pat.

Good luck to you all and here’s hoping we all have a prosperous 2007!