If a RMLS™ Rule is Broken, What Happens?

If a RMLS™ Rule is Broken, What Happens?

by | Oct 13, 2017

Not all REALTORS® who subscribe to RMLS™ have an intimate familiarity of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. This is why the Data Accuracy staff work hard each day to reach out to subscribers and correct issues that have been spotted in listings or address other concerns called in by fellow REALTORS®.

As Data Compliance Manager I’m relatively new to RMLS™ but one of my roles is to educate subscribers about the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations in our ongoing effort to ensure data accuracy on RMLSweb.

One of the most basic questions our subscribers may ask themselves is this: what happens when a RMLS™ subscriber breaks one of the RMLS™ Rules?

The answer depends on the rule, and whether a formal complaint was received. There are two types of issues that get sent to us. The most common of these is done using the report issue button that is found on the listing in RMLSweb, calling the RMLS™ Help Desk, or sending an email to rules@rmls.com. This is an anonymous process and is helpful to us in identifying errors on listings as well as rules violations.

The second type is the formal violation. A formal violation is not an anonymous process and involves accusations of rule breaking that could carry a sanction. These are far less common but we take them very seriously when they happen. Between January and July 2017 RMLS™ had received six formal violations. All of them were regarding various misuses of a lockbox (Section 5.1.l. Lockbox Access). Of those, three were for not following showing instructions, two were for entering a property while it was in pending (PEN) status and the last was for using it, the lockbox, for something other than real estate business. The six violations were reviewed by the Rules Committee and a total of $1,350.00 in fines were sanctioned. In one case, lockbox privileges were suspended.

The RMLS™ Rules and Regulations Committee has requested that reports about the number of formal violations, the type of violation, and the result get shared periodically with subscribers. RMLS™ will be reporting updates throughout the year, so keep watching for these reports throughout the year!

If a RMLS™ Rule is Broken, What Happens?

The New Coming Soon-No Showing Status is Coming!

by | Oct 6, 2017

Coming Soon Real Estate Sign

Over the last few years the RMLS™ Board of Directors and staff have received numerous questions, concerns, and comments regarding property that is being marketed as “coming soon.” In light of so many inquiries the RMLS™ Board of Directors formed a task force earlier this year to evaluate the concerns and identify potential solutions. The result is a new status called CSN – Coming Soon-No Showing. This new status indicates that there is a valid listing agreement between the seller(s) and the listing agent/firm, but that the listing is not ready to be shown. This listing is in the MLS, but not on market. This status tells other subscribers when the property will become available for showings.

Highlights of the new Coming Soon-No Showing (CSN) status:

  • CSN listings are considered an off-market status, like Withdrawn (WTH).
  • CSN listings are only viewable within RMLSweb.com.
  • CSN listings are not included on RMLS.com, Realtor.com, IDX, or syndicated feeds.
  • CSN listings are not included in open house or broker tours.
  • A property may be in CSN status for up to 21 days. After 21 days is reached the system will automatically change the status to Active (ACT) unless the listing agent changes it sooner.
  • CSN listings cannot be shown—by anyone. If a showing is to occur, the rules will state that the status of the listing must first be changed to Active (ACT) to allow everyone an opportunity to show the property.
  • Days on Market (DOM)/Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) counts do not accrue while in CSN status
  • The first photograph will contain a “Coming Soon-No Showing” watermark. When the listing is no longer in CSN status, the system will automatically remove the watermark from the first photograph.
  • CSN listings can be searched and viewed within RMLSweb.
  • CSN listings will be excluded from client prospecting auto-email notifications.
  • CSN listings are excluded from statistical reports.
  • Agent reports within RMLSweb will only display “No Showings Permitted” in the showing notification section.

Here are a few examples of how you could benefit from the Coming Soon-No Showing listing status:

  • It allows time to prepare a listing so that it is fully marketable the moment it goes active. With this new status, you can prepare all marketing around the date the listing will move to Active status. Listings under the new status are submitted to the MLS and have an MLS number.
  • This new status allows agents to market their listings in the MLS to other subscribers while finishing touches (such as new paint, flooring, etc.) are being completed.
  • A listing will not needlessly accrue Days on Market/Cumulative Days on Market. DOM/CDOM accrual does not begin until it moves to Active status.
  • It provides subscribers with the date of when the listing is expected to be active. By providing this date, the most interested buyers can get prepared to see the property when the listing switches to Active status.
  • It helps keep other subscribers informed of upcoming inventory. By including CSN listings in RMLSweb, subscribers will not be caught off guard by “coming soon” yard signs when driving through a community with a buyer.

We will be adding the new status in early 2018. Changes to the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations, listings contracts, and the Authorization to Exclude from MLS Addendum will be required as well as programming changes for RMLSweb. Watch the RMLSweb desktop for more information as we get closer to implementing this new status.

Remembering Gary Taylor

Remembering Gary Taylor

by | Sep 29, 2017

Earlier this month RMLS™ lost one of its biggest supporters. Gary Taylor passed away on September 13, 2017.

Gary was a subscriber since the inception of RMLS™ in 1991. He began his service to the organization in 2003 as a member of the Board of Directors. He continued to guide the organization for the next nine years—through 2011. He was chairman of our Rules Committee in 2005 and 2006. He headed up our Statistics Task Force in 2008 and our Hearings Committee in 2011.

Gary was a pillar of strength during our rockiest times, most notably as the Chairman of the Board in 2009. During his time as Chairman, we were not only in the throes of an economic downturn but our then-CEO Beth Murphy was out on an extended medical leave. In his role as Chairman, Gary led the organization with a stoic determination and his heartwarming sense of humor for which he was famous.

On behalf of all staff here at RMLS™, Gary will be missed more than can be put into words. Our hearts go out to all others who knew him as they will undoubtedly feel the loss.

A celebration of life for Gary will be held at 5pm on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at Edgefield McMenamins Blackberry Hall, located at 2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale, OR. Memorial contributions can be made through a site set up on YouCaring.