How Hot is HotDocs
April 24, 2020

How Hot is HotDocs

Riva Schwartz | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with HotDocs

Hot Docs is the engine. We use it for real estate forms. It makes it easy to generate a group [form] based on the same transaction.
  • It allows you to fill a form OR to use the Q&A approach.
  • It takes a particular fact pattern and applies it over several forms.
  • It does not allow an edit to a form to be saved. If you edit a form and close out, you have to start all over again.
  • It should fill in certain items that are usually the same , with an allowance for revising if necessary.
  • Lender credit cannot be shown as a "minus" on the closing disclosure , even though it is supposed to be.
  • There needs to be a signature line on the Seller Closing Disclosure.
  • It is not compatible with the newest version of WordPerfect (X9).
  • It makes it easy to fill out the form.
  • I really only use it for the one form, it doesn't do as well with the other forms.
There used to be a product called Easysoft but I didn't like it as much - I might look at it again.
The support is fine, but make no mistake it is PAID support because you have to purchase it each year in order to keep the updates.

Do you think HotDocs by CARET delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with HotDocs by CARET's feature set?

Yes

Did HotDocs by CARET live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of HotDocs by CARET go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy HotDocs by CARET again?

Yes

I use it for bank closings, used to use the HUD-1, now the closing disclosure and the seller closing disclosure.

Evaluating HotDocs and Competitors

  • Vendor Reputation
I would evaluate all similar software.

HotDocs Implementation

If you use WordPerfect X9 - choose"no word-processing software."
Change management was minimal
  • Doesn't interface with WordPerfect X9, our word-processing software.

HotDocs Support

ProsCons
Quick Resolution
Good followup
Knowledgeable team
Problems get solved
No escalation required
Immediate help available
Support understands my problem
None
Yes - It comes with the package - you have to pay for a "subscription" annually.
Yes - A long time ago I assisted the developer with debugging.
Twice. Once, right before a real estate closing, I had left the form open on my computer, the computer shut down and the program wouldn't launch - I called product support, in a panic, and they got me up and running before the clients showed up.
Second time - right after purchasing new Windows 10 computers, we couldn't install the software because it was not compatible with our new WordPerfect X9 software so they had to do a work-around.

Using HotDocs

ProsCons
Like to use
Relatively simple
Easy to use
Technical support not required
Well integrated
Quick to learn
None
Could be more intuitive - could even "suggest" fill-ins with the option to take or not take the suggestion.