Rules Roundup for July 2022

Rules Roundup for July 2022

by | Aug 25, 2022

The Rules Roundup provides a monthly accounting of RMLS rules violations and courtesy notifications. Our Data Accuracy team manages all reports of property listing errors, tracking 34 specific issues outlined in the RMLS Rules and Regulations, and is responsible for addressing subscriber questions and concerns regarding listing accuracy.

HIGHLIGHTS

One of the most common listing violations concerns missing school information. Elementary and High School are both required fields, so selecting “other” when entering a listing will result in a violation notice. Let’s talk about why listings are entered without school names and how to prevent that.

The number one reason this field is left blank is because the appropriate school did not show up on the drop-down list. School names populate on the drop-down list based on the area number that is selected.

If you do not see the correct school’s name, first verify that your area number is correct. Here are a few key tips that will make finding your area number a breeze and help you find the school you are looking for.

1. You can find maps labeled with commonly used area numbers and maps here: Toolkit > Forms and Documents > All Documents > 1200-1299 Property Listing Menu > 1200-1209 Area Maps and Lists.

2. You can also use the Map Search to find the Area number:

    • From the menu bar select Search > Map Search.
    • In the Locate field on the right, above the map, enter the address and click Go.
    • Verify the pin is in the correct location.
    • At the top left, click the Layers button and turn on the Area layer. This will display the area numbers on the map. (You may need to zoom out a bit to get them to show)

3. If you have verified that your area number is correct and the school is still not showing, check with the school district to verify that the school is still open and hasn’t changed names recently. Also ensure that the school in question is a public school and not a private school – private schools are not included in RMLSweb.

4. Lastly, you can always contact rules@rmls.com to inquire about schools or let us know of any school information changes.

    FORMAL VIOLATIONS

    The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

    The committee did not review any cases in July 2022.

    INFORMAL VIOLATIONS

    Listings missing Tax ID information are consistently the top informal violation within RMLSweb. Sometimes the missing tax information is due to an error of omission. Other times, it may be because the listing is a new construction property that does not yet have a tax ID number available. Data Accuracy sends courtesy notices out to remind agents of the need to provide the tax information (when available).

    The chart below shows the next three most frequent informal violations from July 2022.

    This pie chart shows the remainder of the informal violations last month.

    Data Accuracy Department Statistics 

    • Listings Reviewed: 21,179
    • Notices Sent: 2,782
    • Violation Notices Received: 418
    • Courtesy Notices Sent: 2,044
    • Phone Calls Received: 447

    How to Report Violations

    Subscribers have multiple options to report violations, including a Report Issue button on every RMLSweb listing. Subscribers can email our Data Accuracy team at dataaccuracy@rmls.com or call them at 503.395.1916. When there are increases in specific violation types, we sometimes place notifications on RMLSweb.

    Rules Roundup for July 2022

    Rules Roundup for June 2022

    by | Jul 12, 2022

    The Rules Roundup provides a monthly accounting of RMLS rules violations and courtesy notifications. Our Data Accuracy team manages all reports of property listing errors, tracking 34 specific issues outlined in the RMLS Rules and Regulations, and is responsible for addressing subscriber questions and concerns regarding listing accuracy.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    Coming Soon-No Showing (CSN) listings are a popular choice to drum up interest in a property that is not quite ready to show. Before publishing a listing as coming soon it is important to determine the date you would like to begin marketing that property.

    The Date Marketing to Begin field (Broker / Agent information tab) is the date the property will move out of CSN status and into ACT (Active) automatically. Please make sure to enter the date you will be prepared to show the property in this field.

    A common mistake with this field is filling in either the current date or the date the agent wants the CSN to go live – but these mistakes cause the listing to go Active within the next day. Important Note: We do not have a way to convert a property back to CSN once it has gone Active.

    So, unless you want to settle for a status change to Withdrawn (WTH), please make sure to enter the date that marketing of the listing should begin.

    FORMAL VIOLATIONS

    The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

    The committee did not review any cases in June 2022.

    INFORMAL VIOLATIONS

    Listings missing Tax ID information are consistently the top informal violation within RMLSweb. Sometimes the missing tax information is due to an error of omission. Other times, it may be because the listing is a new construction property that does not yet have a tax ID number available. Data Accuracy sends courtesy notices out to remind agents of the need to provide the tax information (when available).

    The chart below shows the next three most frequent informal violations from June 2022.

    This pie chart shows the remainder of the informal violations last month.

    Data Accuracy Department Statistics 

    • Listings Reviewed: 22,859
    • Notices Sent: 2,951
    • Violation Notices Received: 396
    • Courtesy Notices Sent: 2136
    • Phone Calls Received: 475

    How to Report Violations

    Subscribers have multiple options to report violations, including a Report Issue button on every RMLSweb listing. Subscribers can email our Data Accuracy team at dataaccuracy@rmls.com or call them at 503.395.1916. When there are increases in specific violation types, we sometimes place notifications on RMLSweb.

    Rules Roundup for July 2022

    Rules Roundup for May 2022

    by | Jun 22, 2022

    The Rules Roundup provides a monthly accounting of RMLS rules violations and courtesy notifications. Our Data Accuracy team manages all reports of property listing errors, tracking 34 specific issues outlined in the RMLS Rules and Regulations, and is responsible for addressing subscriber questions and concerns regarding listing accuracy.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    Agent reported violations are down 16% year-to-date from this time last year. This may be due to overall low inventory, less overall violations, or just less reporting of those violations, but it’s important to remember that RMLS relies on our subscriber’s assistance to help identify inaccuracies so that we may both address the inaccuracies and inform subscribers on how to avoid such errors. Accurate data matters highly to everyone in the real estate industry. Check out The Lifecycle of a Reported Issue to learn more about how we process these entries.

    FORMAL VIOLATIONS

    The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

    The committee did not review any cases in May 2022.

    INFORMAL VIOLATIONS

    Listings missing Tax ID information are consistently the top informal violation within RMLSweb.

    The chart below shows the next three most frequent informal violations from May 2022.

    This pie chart shows the remainder of the informal violations last month.

    Data Accuracy Department Statistics 

    • Listings Reviewed: 21,391
    • Notices Sent: 2885
    • Violation Notices Received: 409
    • Courtesy Notices Sent: 2147
    • Phone Calls Received: 460

    How to Report Violations

    Subscribers have multiple options to report violations, including a Report Issue button on every RMLSweb listing. Subscribers can email our Data Accuracy team at dataaccuracy@rmls.com or call them at 503.395.1916. When there are increases in specific violation types, we sometimes place notifications on RMLSweb.

    Guide to RMLS Committees (Part 2)

    Guide to RMLS Committees (Part 2)

    by | Mar 2, 2022

    In the first installment of this series we examined our Rules and Regulations Committee and Hearings Committee. In this edition, we’ll look at our Technology, Forms, and Service Advisory Committees.

    As mentioned in our previous article, committees are led by a chairman who is a member of the Board of Directors, and the remaining committee members are subscribers who volunteer to participate.

    Technology Committee

    The Technology Committee’s purpose is to review software and services that may be of use to RMLS subscribers. Products and services are either suggested by RMLS staff or subscribers, or a representative of those products and services has directly approached RMLS about gaining access to a data feed of all RMLS listings, which requires approval by this committee and the Board of Directors.

    The Technology Committee, which also acts as a quality assurance resource, makes recommendations to the Board of Directors based on:

    • Compatibility with RMLS systems
    • Whether the solution a product or service offers fits a distinct subscriber need
    • Affordability for RMLS and subscribers
    • Ensuring that the service does not create an unreasonable drain on RMLS support services

    The work of the Technology Committee is responsible for making services such as Remine, ShowingTime, and Cloud CMA available to the RMLS community.

    Forms Committee

    Listing forms are the lifeblood of property listings, describing the features and attributes that define the property. Our Forms Committee, which typically meets a few times per year to review hundreds of potential listing form changes, is responsible for researching, defining, and recommending forms changes to our Board of Directors for approval.

    Potential forms changes can come about because of:

    • A need within the marketplace
    • Legal changes
    • Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) compatibility
    • Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Fair Housing Act considerations

    ‘Main’ listing forms cover the features and attributes of all property listings, while ‘supplemental’ listing forms are available for specific niche cases (e.g., Auction Supplement, Condo Supplement). A forms change may affect the attribute name, description, or number of characters / photos / features / attachments, or it may involve the creation of an entirely new supplemental form.

    RMLS focuses on staying in compliance with the Fair Housing Act with terminology choices, and we will not implement any form change that violates a RESO standard. Additionally, brand or product names are not used for forms descriptions. Examples of forms changes include changing “Master Bedroom” to “Primary Bedroom” and creating a Condo Supplement form.

    RMLS staff compile and review forms change suggestions on a monthly basis, preparing them for the Forms Committee. After the Forms Committee, or a designated sub-committee, researches and decides to recommend a change or addition, any necessary changes are reviewed by our lawyer to ensure legal compliance before being submitted to the Board of Directors for review and approval. After Board approval, the forms change package is sent to the RMLS Software Development team, which focuses on implementation.

    When the forms changes are ready for release, RMLS creates redline documentation (redline example) showcasing the changes for subscribers along with notification articles on RMLSweb. We also offer “RMLSweb Updates” classes for a limited time after a release to help subscribers adjust to the forms changes.

    Any subscriber that wants to suggest forms changes, products or services for inclusion with RMLS can send their ideas to suggestions@rmls.com.

    Service Advisory Committee

    The Service Advisory Committee (SAC) provides representation for subscribers who belong to REALTOR® associations that are not shareholders in RMLS, which includes the Portland Metro Association of REALTORS®, East Metro Association of REALTORS®, and Clark County Association of REALTORS®.

    The Service Advisory Committee holds two seats on the RMLS Board of Directors. The Current Chairman of the Service Advisory Committee is Hector Garcia, who represents the Mid-Valley Association of REALTORS® in Marion County, and the second seat on the board is currently filled by Lori Palermo, representing the Springfield Board of REALTORS® in Lane County.

    Subscribers belonging to these non-shareholder association can bring their concerns, questions, and feedback regarding RMLS to their SAC representative.

    Guide to RMLS Committees (Part 1)

    Guide to RMLS Committees (Part 1)

    by | Feb 24, 2022

    Ever wonder what role committees play in shaping how RMLS functions?

    We have five committees that serve an integral role in developing the technology, standards, rules, and judicial functions of our MLS subscriber community.

    Each year the RMLS Chairman of the Board selects a committee chair for each group drawn from a member of the Board of Directors, who are then confirmed by the other board members. Aside from the Service Advisory Committee, the committees are filled by volunteers from the RMLS subscriber community. 

    Rules and Regulations Committee

    The Rules and Regulations Committee has two main functions. The first is that they meet monthly to review formal complaints of alleged rules violations. They are empowered to impose sanctions. 

     When a formal violation is received, an emailed letter is sent to the subscriber accused of the violation, asking them to reply to the allegation. After the reply has been received, the complaint and response are presented to the Rules Committee to review and then determine the sanction if deemed necessary.

    Sanctions are recorded anonymously within our monthly Rules Roundup article series. 

    The second function of the Rules and Regulations Committee is to discuss subscriber-submitted requests for rules changes, making recommendations to the Board of Directors.

    Hearings Committee

    The Hearings Committee exists in case the recipient of a sanction requests a hearing to appeal the decision of the Rules and Regulations Committee. Hearings are conducted in accordance with the procedures applicable to REALTOR® Professional Standards hearings.

    The Hearings Committee is composed of the Committee Chair and volunteers from the various committees at local associations who have undergone professional standards training.

    Hearings are relatively rare but when they do occur both the complainant and respondent are asked to attend the formal hearing. After each side has had an opportunity to present their case, the Hearings Committee will decide on whether to uphold the original Rules and Regulations Committee decision. This decision cannot be influenced by other violations and will not result in any increase of sanctions beyond the original amount that was imposed.

    In the second installment of this series, we’ll look at our Technology and Forms Committees.